Dell Axim setup

[RichardL]

Hi Doghead,



I've been struggling to get mmy Axim to work sucessfully with the EMTAC BT GPS. I now suspect it may be the Bluetake CF card that I'm using (the GPS connection crashes after about 5 mins) . Have you had any problems with the Bluemonkey card? Can you maintain a link to the GPS whilst navigating?



Cheers, Richard

[Doghead]

Rang eXpansys first thing this morning and after just going through a bit of the tech side with them, placed my order for a Socket Bluetooth GPS Receiver and a Socket Bluetooth SD Card for Pocket PC.



As I had already agreed to drop my sister off at Manchester Met Law (25 mins from home), eXpansys suggested that I might like to collect in person, as its just around the corner.



Did just that and reassuring as very nice premises on a smart business park with large warehouse attached (their car park packed)and friendly staff. Thanks Alex for processing my order and making sure everything ok. So now back home with the receiver and sd card which I will examine soon. Just need the TomTom software now, and the cradle & maybe few other bits. If this all works will get the same set up for the other Axim which is a special birthday present.



Many thanks for the info here and just hoping can get it all to work.

[Doghead]

Wayne - I'm still very new to GPS setups so just went to learn more about your setup pocketgps review EMTAC and it really is an impressive piece of kit.



Just realised that this is Emtac is the probably the same gps system Chris detailed at the beginning of his thread. (I'm slowly learning)



Get your point about being much more compact and neat without a lot of wiring and also adds the dimension of being able to use outside of car.



Very pricey though (as the software and other accessories not included) but now really am tempted to forget about my budget and go for this advanced bluetooth option.



Thanks.

David C.

[spoon]

I would`nt worry about the mix and match - I have the Axim with an EMTAC (Crux II) CF GPS and it works great - and would be more compact.



Wayne


_________________
AXIM

Crux II

[Doghead]

K - i've now had enough of being messed around by TomTom.



Can't find any company doing the complete TT Nav 2 package for the Dell Axim (with the Axim cable) and TomTom have not replied to 2 emails in which I ask for more information on when the cables might be available.



I bought 2 Dell Axims in March purely because I wanted a PDA so can use the TomTom, on the understanding that the TT Nav 2 would be available for the Axim early April as stated on TomTom's website.



One of these Dell Axim's was bought for a special upcoming birthday present which I wanted to give together with the TomTom Nav2 gear and it now looks very unlikely will have the TT Nav 2 setup by their birthday of May 5th. So got 2 Dell Axims doing nothing atm.



Probably will have to mix and match with something like a Holux now which I'm not happy about.

[Doghead]

Well just got off the phone with Widget UK - one of the suppliers TomTom names as their few resellers in Europe - and they got my order for two TomTom Navigator 2 for the Dell Axim.



Well just got off the phone with Widget UK - one of the suppliers TomTom names as their few resellers in Europe - and they got my order for two TomTom Navigator 2 for the Dell Axim.



On their website



www.widget.co.uk/asp/product.asp?recorprod=1&product=143&cat=45&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=



they have the TomTom Navigator 2 package availble designed for the Dell Axim.   £281.00 inclusive of VAT but this prices also includes the connecting cables between the GPS unit and the Axim.



They informed me they expect delivery tomorrow, but if the delivery does not meet their current backlog of orders, then they will meet my order from their next delivery which arrives early next week.

[Doghead]

Well TomTom say the TomTom Navigator 2 is compatible with the Dell Axim, but it doesnt seem they have shipped any tomtom cables which go with the Axim.



Can't find any supplier who has the TomTom Navigator 2 cable which goes with the Axim.

[Doghead]

If this site is expanding anywhere near that fast just goes to show GPS is really beginning to come of age to the wider public now. Its really good to have a dedicated GPS site like this to learn from and get info from the long-time experts.



Right I now understand Chris about the Bluetooth bit - thanks.



Chris, would you happen to have any recommendations of where I might source all the necessary TomTom kit from for the Axim?



They have it here at £269.99(incl. VAT - does not include cable, and not available until Friday 28 March 2003.) http://navcity.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php+products_id+362



I dont mind getting TomTom1 and going getting the free update later. Unless of course the new TomTom comes with better gear/receiver ect. In that case might wait a while for TomTom2.



Thanks if you can suggest anywhere - in the meantime I guess its pretty clear that I still have a lot more research to do about whats involved in a GPS system.

[chris16]

Hello Doghead

The bluetooth card is a card that fits into the compact flash slot on teh axim so that it becomes bluetooth capable. This leaves the SD slot for a memory card to store data/large TomTOm programme



Chris

[Dave]

The website and forums are now getting very large. We're seeing them double in size nearly every two months now.

[Doghead]

Wow - this is a far larger site than I imagined.



Came to this thread directly from a link on Google when running a search for info on Axim and TomTom, then registered.



Just found the main forums - Im sure to be back to learn more about GPS here. Thanks.

[Doghead]

I'm hoping it will be a great combo because its what I'm going for as well.



Got 2 Dell Axims being scheduled for delivery later today. Went for the cheaper model 300mhz

http://www.euro.dell.com/countries/uk/enu/dhs/products/series_axim5_handhelds.htm



This GPS technology is totally new to me.



Still got to get around to getting the TomTom kit. Presumbably I need this http://navcity.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php+products_id+362 but not available until Friday 28 March 2003.



Do I need to buy a lead from the TomTom gear to the Axim?



So you need some kind of flash memory card as well? Will have to find out why and what to go for. Chris you mention a bluetooth card but Im guessing thats just the logo because the Axim hasnt got bluetooth capabilities I dont think.



Darren - those Brondit mounts really look the business. Will try and source mounts from there myself. Only spedread the info (will re-read later today when Im more awake) - so not sure if they will fit the Axim. The Axims are supposed to be a fairly chunky size compared to many of the other established PDAs.



I went for the Axim because its got the new Intel chip the name of which I cant now remember which the new generation of PDAs are supposedly going to be built around, so its supposed to be partly futureproofed to some degree, where virtually all the other PDAs are still on the Intel StrongArm(?) chip.



Oh well - thanks - cya

[Darren]

Sounds like a great combo, I had heard that connecting an external GPS to a Dell via Serial was problematic because the serial port was designed to draw power from the PC when connected but your is a better albeit costlier solution!



As for the mount, I've never had any sucess with the stick on type , no matter what I do they invariably come off. You've bought it now though! I now use and swear by the Brodit mounts (see our review here and having just checked they, they have passive mounts for the Axim range.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[chris16]

Hello all

Lots of useful info here while lurking over the past couple of weeks

Thought I would let you know my choices especially as it includes the dell axim about which there is less info re compatibility.

I liked the look of the socket BTGPS and combined this with a blue monkey CF bluetooth card from expansys. I bought Tom TOm (after 1st march) (free upgrade awaited), a 256 SD card to store it on and a Arkon mount.

The only disappointment was the mount. It is powered (CM525) and the sound from the speaker is infinitely better than from the dell but the 3M sticker on the bottom is completely useless and would not stick it to anything , I will need to buy an upgraded sticker for this!.

Problems with setup ?

Only problem was GPS tom tom software would not recognise the GPS signal - solved by downloading latest edition from their website.

The signal from the BTGPS is excellent and on a quick test drive tonight it was finding 7-9 satellites quite easily.

Now to plan a longer trip at the weekend, hopefully now with less chance of getting lost.

Hope this is of some use

Chris

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