GPS SOFTWARE FOR PDA

[jay]

I have a Ipaq PDA and a Bluetooth GPS unit which i use in the car with Tom Tom navigation software. Does anyone know of any (preferably free) application that I could use on the PDA when on the water that would give me normal marine GPS functionality e.g. Lat/Long, SOG COG, waypoints, ETA etc . I don't particularly want chart plotting functionality - mainly because the charts cost a fortune though am open to suggetstions?

[pandos]

I have ocean navigator lite and memory map, both came together as a package and did not cost a lot. they work brilliantly and give full plotter like functionality.

i think the programme to display he gps info came in the ipaq bundle or i downloaded it from the hp site. I am pretty sure I tested the gps unit before I bought the map software.

hope this helps.

tony

http://www.gpspilot.com

http://www.maps-gps-info.com/fgpfw.html

http://gps.pdatopsoft.com

These may help in the search ...

You can of course get shareware Ozi-Explorer registered - which then entitles you to Ozi-ex CE ....

[jay]

thanks gents - useful leads though they all seem to still be about mapping. Theres bound to be just a console out there - and i will find it sooner or later!!
thanks again

[Ships_Cat]

I don't use PDA's for nav, just for other things, so can't answer your question directly, but in case this is another place you have not looked for ideas I have found http://www.mobilitysite.com/forums/index.php a very useful site for other IPaq/PocketPC PDA related things

Look part way down the page to "PocketPC Hardware Forums" and then to the Sub Forum "GPS Talk". A trawl though there or asking may turn something up - it seems to be a very active sub forum. There are also generally frequent references to other useful sites, notably the forums on www.aximsite.com (they have one called "GPS Talk" also).

As I say I am not into GPS on PDA's but the other forums on those sites have proved useful for other uses - mention the sites just in case you have not looked at them already.

John

[Inselaffe]

I use a PDA (Palm TX) with a Bluetooth GPS as a plotter using Pathaway (also for windows mobile) .
Its not free (60US)but I have used it very successfuly for the last three and a half weeks working along the Eastfriesian Islands. Very useful when trying to avoid the 'no go' bird and seal reserves with no markings but a hefty fine for straying in.
You scan in paper charts and then calibrate using two or more known points. I have managed it easily so that the accuracy is very good indeed (a few meters - much more that that of the maps considering that the sands are always moving).
No costs for extra maps and I like it that whats on the plotter corresponds to my paper maps so I can use both easily together.
Difficult to read screen in sunlight but you can do it, but I leave it in cabin and there its fine.
I also have a little etrex for the DSC, the palm was to just be a bit of fun really, and I use the paper maps most, but it has turned out cheap and really useful.
The other advantage is I use the palm for loads of other stuff on board - mp3 sound system, reading ebooks, playing games, watching DVD's etc -(a tidy small solution on a small boat), as well as all the other stuff from work and home.

Another simpler and free one with basic COG , SOG etc is Cetus

Hope this helps

PS sorry seems Cetus is only for Palm OS

PPS SBC sent me a link to Palm GPS info, it seems there is an equivalent
Pcket PC page on the site

Market pressure has been to produce mapping applications for PDA's and the wish for just data is less and less.
GPS Pilot and similar can be data only ... as with other installations ... you do not have to use maps ... But with the maps available via p2p and other sources ... why turn away if you can get hold of them ?

[jay]

To be honest i didnt realise there was so much pda mapping stuff out there. Im now going to spend the evening wading through all these links and see whats best for me. I havent found a good source of charts on the torrents sites i use yet though. I do have a old copy of cmap so i will see if those can be converted. Thanks again for your help - i shall now wind up swmbo by peering at the pc for the rest of the night!!