Wired receiver vs. Compact Flash with external antenna

redbeard · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 13

A few days ago I didn't even know these two were options. I was exclusively looking at CF units because I thought that was my only option to use with a Dell Axim PDA. Others tuned me into the idea of the "mouse" type receiver that connects to the PDA either by wires or Bluetooth (which I don't have). But recently I saw an ad for a system that seems to combine the two ideas. The reciever is a Compact Flash unit, but it has an optional external antenna that can be used to get a better signal - especially in a car.

This would seem to be the best of two worlds - use the external antenna in the car, and leave it behind when going around on foot. But I'm leery of anything that seems to good to be true. I haven't been able to find any reviews on this type of setup (but may have just missed them). Any ideas on this?

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:22 am Post subject:

Fear not. This is regular stuff (called active antennas or antenna extenders. Just make sure you get the right one, they come in MCX and MMCX variations.

Keep in mind however that the antenna connectors are not designed for frequent plugging/unplugging (it is HF equipment after all) so this may conflict with your (possible) desire to use the setup outside of the car, too.
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redbeard · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 13

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:23 am Post subject:

just different size. MCX has an isolator around the inner tube, MMCX doesn't
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Doghead · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:32 am Post subject:

You could enable on your older Axim X5 for bluetooth if you really wanted to. I bought an Axim X5 the first month after Dell began selling them. Of course no bluetooth, but with the purchase of a Bluetooth CF card, and the software it come with, you can enable Bluetooth on your Axim X5. As the Axim X5 has two expansion slots, you can use an SD card for the TomTom maps.

www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=LSE039-R2

My Axim X5 ran perfectly with this BT card with a Socket BT GPS receiver, in the car and on foot. Objectively though, this particular BT CF card now seems quite steep in price in today's market (still the same price as I paid), and you might be better off saving the cash towards a better spec PDA with BT as standard.

Just in case there was ever a problem, also had this Leadtek 9532, which had a cable to plug in to the Axim X5's serial port, which trickle charged the Axim X5 on journeys, as well as powering the Leadtek 9532. This combination also worked very well and was the most cost effective.

CF GPS cards will work in car and give you the option of using your Axim X5 outside (without BT). I can't remember exactly why but some information here put me off CF card receivers at the time, and didn't want to have to add another device by way of an antenna extenders (although I'm sure they are easy to use and work fine)

Recently upgraded to the Axim X50v, but theres still a lot I miss about the Axim X5 - longer-lasting battery for one.

Doghead · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:00 am Post subject:

How important to you is the facility to use your Axim X5 for satellite navigation outside of the car ? With TomTom Navigator you can only use it outside of the car on roads/streets that TeleAtlas have charted, and its not for roaming fields off-road. You’d need separate mapping software for that.

For use purely in car I’d recommend a standard GPS mouse with the correct cable-set for the basic Axim X5. This should cost in the region of £50 to £60.

If your intent on having your Axim X5 for both in-car and on-foot use, I’d do some work on the math. What will a GPS mouse with the Axim X5 cable set + a CF unit for enabling GPS outside the car come to ?

For the price of a BT CF card to enable your Axim X5 for Bluetooth, and say a Socket BT GPS unit from Expansys, (£62 + p&p) you could have just one overall system for both in-car and on-foot use, at what I would guess is a similar total price to the mouse receiver and CF GPS card.

redbeard · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 13

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