Team Chevelle

quote:Originally posted by Kerry:In reality a GPS can't (shouldn't) display 0 feet (regardless of ones location to the mark etc) as 0 indicates a perfect result and that's simply not possible. Hmmm... I guess I'd have to disagree with that then. That's why we have EPE. If my EPE is 10' and my distance is "1 ft", then I can approximate that I am within "about 11 ft" of the proper mark. If my distance is "0 ft", then I can approximate that I am within "about 10 ft" of the proper mark. So, I don't think it is wrong (or impossible) to display "0 ft" -- it's still accurate, once you figure for the EPE. 0 does indicate a "perfect result" if your EPE is 10, of course. So, it isn't unreasonable, I would think, for a valid "0 ft" reading -- provided that you remember the EPE, of course... In any case, my main question has been answered. I'm still curious if Magellan units can be set to tenths or not though (i.e. 0.5, 0.2, 0.0 readings). Again, mainly just curious because I hear people saying "0.0" -- and I never see tenths. No biggie as far as accuracy goes though, of course. - John...

Agreed. - John...

That'd be great if you still have one! You've got mail... - John...

I have a brand-new, boxed 52x24x52 CDRW drive (which will go in pretty much any reasonable PC) available, coolclay, if you are still interested. I don't know what else I have that you'd want, but we can try to work something out if you're interested... - John...

Are you sure it won't work with the 315? I have a MAP330 -- and the cable is the same as for the 315 and 320 (in fact, the packaging says so). And, people have told me on several occasions that the cable for the SporTrak/Meridian can be used on the MAP330 also, although it doesn't fit quite right. So, it seems odd to me, if both of those things are true, that the same cable from the SporTrak/Meridian that will work on the MAP330 will not work on the 315 (even though the 315/320/330 seems to otherwise use the same cable)... But, I've never tried that -- I'm just saying what seems to be what everyone told me when I was first looking for a cable... - John...

Ok -- I sent an email off -- I'll reply here with what I hear back. Seems odd to me though that people don't know right off here in the forums -- since I assume there must be lots of people that do the monthly PayPal subscription, right? Just seems like it should be both common knowledge -- and clearly stated on the site somewhere with info for Premium subscribers, yes? Oh well. We'll see how it goes! - John...

quote:Originally posted by GeckoGeek:Let me try another angle. RS-232 requires some “odd” voltages. +5 is easy to get. +12 isn’t bad. But you have to get either –5 or –12V. Indeed. Actually, nominal for the chip you mentioned is 9v and -9v. So, I agree -- it gets odd. quote:or you steal the voltage off the handshake lines of the RS-232 port you’re interfacing to so you can send the proper voltages back to it. That’s what’s happening. I guess you know more about it than I then. I found it very unlikely that the serial port for his Thera is pulling ~9v from the PC's serial port... But, I guess it COULD be happening. But, if you know that is what is happening, then I guess I have to concede -- since I didn't think it was. Regardless, I still say his setup is going to work fine -- or, if it doesn't, it'll have nothing to do with cable power requirements... quote:Take a look at these http://www.qsl.net/ok1rr/control.html. It barrows just enough power off of the port to feed the port the voltages it expects to see. Agreed -- he's using the RTS pin's output to power the circuit. I was always under the impression that this was "not allowed" when it came to PC serial ports. Not that it wouldn't work, of course -- just that you weren't supposed to do it for real circuits. But, again, I certainly could have been mistaken on that. quote:But if that port is a Garmin without handshake lines, it may not work. Agreed. IF they built it to use power from the other end, AND the other end isn't providing power out of whatever pin they are using, then it might not work. Seems quite unlikely though. But, yes, possible -- provided that such circuits are "allowed" in such applications. - John...

quote:Originally posted by Kerry:0 feet well at least this wasn't a serious question, perfect day or not. Actually, it was a serious question. I simply asked if my Magellan would ever READ 0 feet. I never asked if I could ever know that I was 0 feet from a target. I fully know that I won't be -- and I fully understand EPE. It was more of a firmware question: whether or not the Magellan MAP330 with v4 of the software ever actually SAYS "0 ft". That's why I specifically listed the firmware version and GPS -- since I thought it might make a difference. So, it certainly was a serious question. Thanks. - John...

quote:Originally posted by GeckoGeek:Unless you’ve read the technical specs for the unit it’s hard to tell. I disagree. I don't hvae to read the technical specs of the PDA to know that there is almost no chance that it is drawing power out of one of the pins on the PC via its cradle. It would be against spec to do so. It could damage the PC to do so. The chances that Toshiba/Audiovox decided to do try to pull any non-negligable power out of the serial port of an unknown PC are pretty much nil. They wouldn't do it. quote:The translation circuit can be so small that it fits into what looks like a normal cable. I think the cable for my StarTac phone is like that. The tech spec for the phone says it’s TTL level, but the ordinary-looking cable connects directly to a computer’s serial port. I would be quite surprised if this is true (provided that, to support the TTL circuit, it is drawing the power from the serial port). Maybe it does have such a cable -- but I would guess that, if they are drawing power to run it, they are drawing it from their own phone end -- not the unknown PC end. Again, it is very unlikely that they are drawing significant power (even to run a simply TTL circuit) from the PC's serial port. At least, at any level where it would matter and/or be harmful to pull the same power from anything else connected. quote:I don’t know what GPS is involved here. Garmins are OK. The big question in my mind is the PDA-phone. No harm in trying, but success is not guaranteed. I guess we can agree to disagree from this point on if you still think it might be a problem. If it works, great. If it doesn't work, I highly doubt it is due to some power draw from the serial cable within the cradle. It just isn't going to happen... - John...

quote:Originally posted by Renegade Knight:As i understand it. Paypal is automatic. "Other" will get you an email notice as your expiration is coming up. Just so I am clear... Do you mean for just the payment itself or the entry of the new subscriber info too? For example, I know that the payment is automatic -- I don't have to do anything and it just happens monthly. But then both PayPal and gc.com email me the new subscription code -- and I'm not sure if that is also automatically entered into my account -- or if I'm supposed to have to put it in each month. As I said, I put it in last month -- but couldn't this month. So, I wasn't sure if that was because there was a problem last month with the first attempted PayPal renewal -- or if it is a problem with this month just not accepting my new code. - John...

I'm a bit confused about Premium renewals. I have the auto-pay through PayPal thing set up. Each month, I get an email with the new subscription ID. Last month, the first auto-renewal failed due to a problem with my PayPal balance (a company PayPal debit-charged me twice and took my balance negative for a day). In any case, I got a message that it would auto-retry in a few days -- it did -- and worked fine. I got the email, went into the Premium Member page, put in the new ID, and everything was fine. This morning, I got this month's auto-renewal. I went and tried to put it in, but got this message: "Error: That subscription number was not found in the system. You may already be activated. Visit your my cache page and view your profile as others see you to see if you are listed as a premium member." Of course, my previous month hasn't quite expired yet -- so just looking at my page to see if I am a Premium member doesn't really tell me if I am for just another day or two -- or another +30 days. So -- my questions: 1. Do I need to enter the new subscribe ID/code each month? Or does it happen automatically as long as I was already premium at the time I bought it via PayPal? 2. Is there a place where I can see how much Premium time I have left? That way, it'd be easy to know if the currrent month's had been received. Right now, I can't tell how many days I have left. Thanks! - John...

quote:Originally posted by Alan2:No GPS can actually tell you when you're at 0. If it could, there would be no need of EPE. It could read 0 and you can be 20 feet aaway or it can read 20 and you can be actually 0 feet. Correct. I think I was very clear and have stated more than once in this thread that I fully realize that 0 is not really 0 because of EPE. Of course. I just wanted to know if getting to "0" (or "0.0") was even possible on the Magellans, since I had never seen it. I've seen "1 ft" -- and fully realize that is up to "21 ft" if my EPE is 20 ft. I thought I had made that clear -- sorry if you were confused. quote:The only way to verify how close you actually are is at a known and verified waypoint like a USGS benchmark. Correct. My question wasn't really about trying to verify how close I was at all. Thanks. - John...

quote:Originally posted by GeckoGeek:Yeah, but at what voltage level? Some "serial cables" actually contains a TTL-level to RS-232 level translation circuit. But, in this case, neither his serial cradle or the cable going to the GPS would be doing that. Both are designed to attach to normal PC serial ports -- and therefore cannot rely on them for power. They are made to plug directly in. Therefore, nothing (as far as translation circuits) could fall in between. quote:The presence of a conversion circuit could be why the cable is so expensive. It's not just plug and wires. But in this case, he's using the cradle instead. The cradle, designed to be plugged directly into a PC serial port, would have to be safe for him to use like this. IMO. So, he should be all set... - John...

I commonly get a good WAAS signal here in Michigan -- seeing both birds quite well. The problem is that the nearest uplink station is several hundred miles away. People still argue whether or not WAAS helps or hurts here because there is no "close" uplink... In any case, with WAAS, I've seen EPEs on my Magellan MAP330 reported as 7ft. - John...

quote:Originally posted by SamLowrey:Thanks for the info, but I have to ask, is there any significant improvement? Well, this is from the README. I think these are the main improvements in v4.x over the current v2.0x... --- Software Enhancements and Fixes in Version 4.00: 1. The unit now supports the MapSend World Wide. 2. The unit now supports the MapSend Blue Nav. 3. Added features to show object description on map or database. 4. Added a feature for the database listing so that it will change the 1st char to the next or previous alphabet if the ZOOMIN or ZOOMOUT key is pressed. 5. Added "Advanced" NAV Units selection. 6. Added a "Map Utility" in the menu to allow the user to delete a second downloaded base map, detail map and change the base map between the default one and downloaded one. 7. Added a feature to draw a second line from current position to destination after an "GOTO" or "route" is activated. 8. Added maximum speed and average speed to navigation data customization options. 9. Added ability to search nearest to any object. 10. Fixed problems with waypoint projection with primary datum not set to WGS84 11. Fixed track history collection bug. 12. Fix problem with waypoints projection when distances less than 0.10 miles/nm/km. 13. Added warning messages when trying to save current position to a waypoint before first fix or the fix is 2D in auto mode. 14. Some improvements were made to map drawing. 15. Added "EPE" as NAV field choice. 16. Changed the compass design in Compass Screen. 17. Added Day Light Saving in the "SETUP" menu. 18. Added three NAV screens: DATA Screen, SPEED Screen and Road Screen. --- Hope that helps you. That's about all I know on it. - John...

quote:Originally posted by John & Bretta:2. The white-lie way: Contact Magellan and tell them that you bought MapSend Topo on EBay, but that it didn't come with the driver update disc and are getting an error about the version of your firmware when you try to use it. Recent MapSend Topo versions require that the device have v4.x of the software. They'll send you a disc with the update firmware on it. OOPS! I meant MapSend WorldWide Basemap! Not TOPO! The WorldWide Basemap software is what requires the v4.x firmware -- NOT the TOPO software. So, if someone goes the white-lie route, be sure that you say you have the MapSend WorldWide Basemap application that wants v4 of the firmware -- not Topo (which works fine with previous firmware). - John...

quote:Originally posted by GeckoGeek:Maybe. The question is does either device plan on using the power from a computer to run the interface? If so, it won't work since the power won't be there. Um, huh? What power? We're talking serial here. No device should be drawing power from anything on a serial port. That is not standard and not "allowed" really. There is no +5v source on a standard serial pinout, for example. You'd have to be drawing power from one of the pins intended for other purposes -- which would not be recommended. In any case, he doesn't have to worry about this. Neither his PocketPC nor his GPS are going to be expecting any sort of "power" out of the serial connection. - John...

quote:Originally posted by Rubberhead:I looked on e-bay and the null modems were F/F null modem cables. You'll need a M/M Null Modem. I bought my DB9 M/M from cablewholesale.com for $1.93. I picked up some other cables too at the same time for other things. Total shipping for everything was $6.86. - John...

quote:Originally posted by SamLowrey:Arrrg, where is this "version 4"? All I see is version 2.08!http://www.magellangps.com/en/support/products/upgrades/upgrade_map330.asp I knew it was just a matter of time before someone mentioned that... Unfortunately, it is a long, ongoing thing with Magellan. They don't have their latest software out there for public download. And, if someone else puts them up, they send them notices to remove them immediately. So, there are three ways to try to get the latest version (currently v4.00, I believe): 1. The shady way: Find it on the Net. I don't have anywhere to direct you to, sorry. I didn't get it this way. 2. The truthful way: Call Magellan and ask them for it. Tell them that you want the latest version of their software. Beg them to send you a CD. They likely won't. 2. The white-lie way: Contact Magellan and tell them that you bought MapSend Topo on EBay, but that it didn't come with the driver update disc and are getting an error about the version of your firmware when you try to use it. Recent MapSend Topo versions require that the device have v4.x of the software. They'll send you a disc with the update firmware on it. Hopefully, Magellan will soon decide that sending out discs is a lame way to do it -- and just provide the latest update on their website. - John...

Ok -- so it can zero-out. Good to know. Thanks. As for my second question: Is there some screen that I'm missing with a tenths or hundredths place? All I see for distance is always just a whole number. Just curious if I'm missing some setting. Again, I realize that when we're talking less than a foot, it doesn't really matter since the EPE is well above that anyway -- but I'm still curious. - John...

I have a MAP330 running v4 firmware. As I try to approach a point, the best I have ever seen the unit's distance indicator is "1 ft". Do the Magellan's ever get to "0". Granted, I realize that EPE was like 20 ft at the time -- so it isn't like it matters that much as far as precision goes -- it is more out of curiosity for me. Is "1 ft" distance the best that the Magellan firmware ever shows? Or do people get "0"? I also see people sometimes talking about being "0.0". Does the Magellan firmware have a setting that shows tenths? - John...

quote:The Thera seems to be red headed step child of Pocket PC's when it comes to connectivity. Welcome to the world of the Toshiba/Audiovox non-partnership. My Genio e550G falls into the same boat. quote:I use the Serial Cradle as a Dashboard mount and attached the end of the cable to a GPS Serial adapter (14 bucks -- for connecting a PDA serial cable to a GPS Serial cable according to the website I found it on). THen I hook up the GPSV serial cable to the other side of the adapter. This should work fine, I believe. I do almost the same thing with my e550G. I have a serial cradle in my Durango. The serial cable from the cradle (which I would normally plug into a PC) goes into a small null-modem adapter and then that connects to the serial cable for my Magellan MAP330. They all work fine together. I'm not sure what that $14 "GPS Serial adapter" is unless it is just a null-modem adapter. If that is all it is, then you should be able to get them online for like $3. They are cheap. If it is something else, I'm not sure why you would need it. Basically, you should be able to connect the cradle's serial and GPSV's serial together with just a null-modem adapter and be all set. - John...

Unit has been SOLD! Thanks. - John...

So -- looks like Shuey has been gone for a while? I'm still waiting for him to answer my questions about the contest. Seems odd that he isn't around... - John...

euchomai: I'm pretty sure that mckee was kidding around -- and meant that scam specifically. In any case, it wasn't nearly that shady, mckee. Real work -- and they'll pay (they own me only US$350) -- as soon as they get around to it... They tend to be slow -- but still reliable in their payments. Normally, I wouldn't care about the delay -- I expect it from them -- it's just that I want that pack... - John...