hp 2210 + GPS wiring into my car

AdmiralK · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:07 pm Post subject: hp 2210 + GPS wiring into my car

Hi, you lot were so helpful last time I thought I would try your extensive knowledge again.

I have the following 'stuff':

VW Golf GTi 1.8 T mk 4 - the car obviously
HP iPAQ h2210 - the PDA, of course
Alpine CDA 9831R - the car stereo headunit.

I have several questions, answers to any would be GREATLY appreciated...

1) I am torn between just getting everything Tom Tom, the bluetooth receiver and TT3 for my PDA, OR, Co-Pilot 5 and another type of bluetooth receiver. Any thoughts on this as to which is a good system would be appreciated. I've read many posts and articles on this excellent site and am no nearer deciding on what would be right for me. I want as good a system as possible with as little fuss (wouldn't we all!). Tom Tom seems more widespread but CP 5 seems to get the better reveiws. I envisgae wanting to use the speed cam facilities on this site.

2) When I get my gear is it possible to rig it up so that:

(a) The voice instructions come through my car speakers. My Alpine unit has a connection for Nokia phones apparently, would I be able to use any inputs into the car stereo? What would I need to buy and fit?

(b) Can I get the system wired in (so to speak) so that the PDA and BT receiver when in situ get their charge from the car? Ideally I would like it so that when I get in the car I just pop the PDA in a cradle and it is powered and also ready to give its audio output to my car speakers (see question above). And of course I'll want all the wires neatly hidden. Am I being too ambitious? Can this be done? Is there a suitable mount/wiring system available? I was looking at the brodit mounts for my facia as they seem to be safe without wrecking the dash should I need to remove the whole lot.

(c) Do you know if there are any firms that would do the work for me? Would a car audio installation specialist be suitable for instance?

As I said, I would be eternally grateful for any advoce on the above, many thanks in anticipation!

Darren · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 7:44 pm Post subject:

CoPilot is the better 'technical' solution using Navteq maps but TomTom has a far better user interface and 'looks' much nicer (IMHO).

As for hard wiring, yes of course, my 2210 is hard wired using Brodit's 2210 Active Cradle designed for just such a purpose. You can easily do the same for whatever BT GPS you choose by connecting it's power/charge lead via a cigarette lighter extension to a 12v source but remember that you can't juts chop off the GPS Receivers's plug as it accepts 5v and needs the electronics contained within the plug to adapt the 12v supply.

As for the sound output, you need a device such as Qubit's See here which allows you to interface your 2210 to a car-hifi.
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Darren Griffin

AdmiralK · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks Darren, I was just looking at the Brodit stuff again and it looks spot on. The Qubit mod looks like the missing piece of the jigsaw for me, thanks for the tip, I don;t know how I missed it although this site is so comprehensive I feel I have probably only scratched the surface.

many thanks again for your clear and solid advice, just what I was after!

8)

topgazza · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 11:42 pm Post subject:

Darren, talking of Bluetooth GPS. I have two sockets on the "boot" of my Passat Estate. Pluging the GPS into that and velcroing the GPS to the carpet side is an option. Would the signal still be OK and what GPS would be a good one? Unlike Admiral I want to keep my setup mobile so no hard wiring for me...yet!

Darren · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:35 am Post subject:

That would work fine although depending on the GPS you may have to switch it On/Off manually if it has a soft switch.

If you go for a BT GPS with a hardware On/Off switch it would be ideal, you could leave it on all the time and when vehicle power is off (assuming the boot socket is ignition controlled) then it would run until the battery discharged. As soon as vehicle power was applied it would start again.

Some that have hardware switches are Emtac, Royaltek RBT3000 and Fortuna ClipOn
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Darren Griffin

AdmiralK · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:23 am Post subject: Forgive my ignorance

I thought that these receivers had to be visible through the windscreen for best results. Does this mean that with one of the models you mention I wouldn't have to have the box on my dashboard but could in fact have it stowed neatly out of sight? Confused

topgazza · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:08 am Post subject:

Thats certainly my understanding, hence the question of which one is best. Hikers throw the GPS in their rucksacks for instance.

BT GPS is that a specific make as a number have "BT" against their name?

AdmiralK · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:44 am Post subject:

BT is Bluetooth isn't it?

So, this all opens up quite an interesting avenue for me. I wasn't relishing having a box littering up my dashboard, I'm not big fan of having retrofit stuff all over my car unless absolutely necessary. Can anyone recommend the best places to put GPS units in the car out of sight? Are some places better than others? Also, are any specific models better than others for this purpose? Is there a discernable drop off in performance?

Hunnymonster · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:52 pm Post subject:

I have my GPS unit velcroed to the underside of the parcelshelf in the rear of the car - out of sight of prying eyes and pretty good performance on the satellite front (acceptable most of the time).... although much improved since I added the external antenna...

My advice would be try it all around the vehicle in obvious hiding places - then you can think further about semi-permanently mounting it when you find the particular good spots in your vehicle.

topgazza · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:37 pm Post subject:

What about CF GPS? Read varying reports of quality. Sysonchip for instance. Are these any good or do they drain the battery on the PDA when out of the car?

topgazza · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 2:54 pm Post subject:

...also the Sysonchip BT GPS SOC 2S03 gets a good review here, Indeed superior to some of the others.

Darren · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:17 pm Post subject:

GPS Receivers don't work well through metal but users have reported good results with receivers in gloveboxes and under the rear parcel shelves. The only way to be sure is to test.

Where I mention BT it means Bluetooth, it's not a brand but a type, I would avoid CF GPS, they are far less adaptable than BT units. Even for hiking, with a BT unit you leave that stuffed in the toip pocket of the rucksack and can then pull your PocketPC out of your pocket whenever you wish to check your location. With a CF GPS you will have to walk the whole trail with you arm extended in front of you to maintain a fix!
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Darren Griffin

topgazza · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 6:00 pm Post subject:

Thats what I thought. Although my main use would be car. On that basis the Sysonchip BT is worth its rating?

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