Total newbie needs help on Bluetooth

russgunn

Hi everyone! A total newbie to all things GPS here. I'm about to take the plunge into a Pocket PC GPS system and need some advice...

I've already got an iPaq H5450 and I'm considering using the Navman Bluetooth GPS4400 receiver along with Tomtom Navigator II UK software. Will I have any incompatibilty issues? Will they need any specialised setting up due to the different manufactures involved? What would be the best non jacket/sleeve type car cradle to use in your opinion? I would prefer one that has the power input built into the cradle instead of a loose connector that you push in once it's in the cradle. Any ideas?

As you've probably guessed I'm going with this combo in order to get the benefits of the lengthy battery life of the Navman receiver, plus arguably the better of the two software options with Navigator II.

Any thoughts on my setup or help would be appreciated.

Dave

If you're using TTN2 with the Navman 4400 then you should be okay, however if you're going to use SmartST Pro then yes there are compatibility issues. There are some lockup issues with the Navman 4400 and iPAQ 5450's, 5500's and 2210's, but Navman are working on a fix. The lockups are a cold lockup where you have to soft reset the iPAQ.

You won't need any special setups. With TTN2 you would just select COM8 (I believe or your Bluetooth COM port on the 5450) and then select NMEA 4800 as the GPS Driver. That's it.

From a mount perspective, check out the Brodit Mounts

russgunn

Thanks for reply Dave. Just to clarify, are you saying I shouldn't have any problems running the Navman GPS 4400 receiver with the Tomtom software, but I will with the PDA itself?

Also, can anyone explain the difference between a soft reset and a manual reset for me? How are these two operations performed on an iPaq?

phily

Hi,

I have just bought iPAQ2210 and Navman 4400 and also obtained an Arkon powered PDA mount. The mount is powered and has an amplifier for sound as well as in sockets for a phone and your iPaq and adjustable side grips.Check out their web site www.arkon.com

Hope that help some.

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phily

MikeB

Russ,

I am not sure what you mean by a manual reset. There are two types of reset on the iPaq: a soft reset; and a hard reset.

A soft reset is a bit like a Control-Alt-Delete type reset on the PC. It just resets the PDA stopping all running applications. This is achieved by poking the stylus up the small hole in the bottom of the 36xx/38xx/39xx/5450 or the back on the 2210.

A hard reset completely re-initialises the PDA to the factory shipped state. This is achieved by holding the two outer applications down and poking the stylus up the small hole and keeping it depressed until the screen goes blank. If you do this you will lose all your programs and data stored on the PDA (storage cards will be OK).

On the 5450 and 2210 series PDAs you can also remove the battery. This can often resolve hardware problems which a soft reset fails to.
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Mike Barrett

Dave

Quote: Originally posted by russgunn on 16 August 2003Thanks for reply Dave. Just to clarify, are you saying I shouldn't have any problems running the Navman GPS 4400 receiver with the Tomtom software, but I will with the PDA itself?

Correct. The problem is that some older legacy software written for Pocket PC 2002 will hang sometimes under Pocket PC 2003 (which is what the 2210 is using). TomTom Navigator 2 works fine, but Navman SmartST Pro does not (it hangs intermittently). Also you will find some programs like WisBar/Icbar hang, but programmers are bringing out newer versions of their products or patches to fix these issues. I'd say with everything I have installed, it happens on about 5% of apps. There have also been some complaints that 5450's lockup with Navman SmartST Pro, but I think it's mainly the newer 5550's that are having the problem.

russgunn

Thanks again Dave and to everyone else who replied. So, I'll go for the 4400 receiver and TTN2 option. I'll possibly sell my left over Navman software and the Tomtom receiver as a package on Ebay. Again, will these work together, even with the odd hang?

On another note, can someone explain if bluetooth is 'line of sight' technology? In other words does my GPS receiver need to see the PDA? Also, does a GPS receiver need a clear sight of the sky, like right next to the car window? I was thinking of hiding it in my boot while powering it permanently from my car boots 12v socket but I'm not sure if this will work? I'll only be using my setup in the car, not on foot, so tucking it away somewhere safe from prying eyes would be better for me. The 4400 receiver looks a bit like a speed camera detector IMO so it could be a target for theives.

Looking forward to your replies.

MikeB

Bluetooth is redio technology and is quite capable of transmitting through walls etc. I often have my Emtac upstiars but the PDA downstairs.

GPS on the otherhand is line of sight which will work OK in say the rear window of your car inside a tissue box or similar. But not within your boot where it would be completely shielded.
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Mike Barrett

Dave

Quote: Originally posted by russgunn on 16 August 2003

Thanks again Dave and to everyone else who replied. So, I'll go for the 4400 receiver and TTN2 option. I'll possibly sell my left over Navman software and the Tomtom receiver as a package on Ebay. Again, will these work together, even with the odd hang?

Regarding eBay, you can also advertise it in our For Sale/Wanted forum. You may find you get a quicker sale that way

russgunn

Nice one, thanks Dave. I'll do that before Ebay. With the Tomtom Bluetooth receiver going for £225 as a standalone unit and the Navman software at £139 on it's own (total £364), I was thinking of about £280 for the both of them, brand new and unused obviously. Sound reasonable?

Now just need to decide on the mount system. May go for Brodit as it looks classy and has the integral charger connection. Not sure where's best in my Golf IV to place it all though!

Decisions, decisions!

Anyone have one of the powered holders? Any good for those noisy 95mph motorway journeys? They look a bit too clumsy and large to me.

MikeB

Russ,

As you have a 5450 you can forget about hearing it above 5MPH unless it is amplified.

I use a Seidio amplified mount (tucked into the console) with a Brodit Active mount.

My advice forget the Golf go for a Roller

go in style.
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Mike Barrett

russgunn

Yeah, I did notice that my iPaq was rather quiet on other apps, even turned up to max. I'm guessing as I have tried it yet but I too think it may be too low to hear in the car. MikeB, what do you mean 'tucked away' in the console? I myself have my mobile on an angled mount to the left of my head unit so don't have much room left to play with in this position, expecially with a speaker type mount.

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