Can a Palm TX connect to a Garmin handheld?

[+jsignal]

My old eTrex Legend is wearing out. So in my quest to replace it, I realize that consumer GPS technology has advanced a bit in the last five years. I was considering two options: Bluetooth GPS receiver + my Palm TX OR one of Garmin's handhelds... perhaps another eTrex or GPSMap model.

 

Using the Palm TX with a receiver would be very cool. Big screen, turn-by-turn routing with voice (if I got Garmin's Mobile 10 with navigation software), pocket query results, etc, all in two small devices (the receiver and the Palm).

 

But the Palm is not rugged, doesn't have replaceable batteries, the screen would be hard to see, etc. And it would be nice to not HAVE TO carry two devices to cache.

 

So I was thinking... would it be possible to connect any of the current Garmin handheld models to a Palm TX via a cable of some kind? And would any sofware for Palm recognize the GPSr? Like I said, there are numerous Bluetooth receivers that should work with my Palm TX. But I'd rather get a handheld GPSr and play around with connecting the Palm TX and that handheld GPSr via a cable.

 

Anyone ever tried this?

 

Thanks,

-Jsignal

[+fratermus]

So I was thinking... would it be possible to connect any of the current Garmin handheld models to a Palm TX via a cable of some kind? And would any sofware for Palm recognize the GPSr? Like I said, there are numerous Bluetooth receivers that should work with my Palm TX. But I'd rather get a handheld GPSr and play around with connecting the Palm TX and that handheld GPSr via a cable.

 

I got a Legend to talk to my Treo600 via an expensive ($50+) and unwieldy cable. I was able to move waypoints back and forth but never tried to make it talk to any mapping software on the treo.

[+NightPilot]

PC-Mobile sells a bluetooth adapter that you can connect to your Garmin to make it bluetooth-enabled. I have one, and it works well. You'll need a special cable, and you can either buy one from PC-Mobile or make it on your own - it's a 2.5mm (cellphone) plug to Garmin. It doesn't need to be very long, it just connects the adapter to the GPS. The Garmin must be set to NMEA interface for this, NOT Garmin.

 

I don't think you'll be very happy with the Garmin Mobile 10 software. I've seen nothing but problems with it on several forums. It's still beta, but probably should really be alpha. It crashes regularly, it seems. I haven't seen anyone happy with it.

Edited June 25, 2007 by NightPilot

[+Renegade Knight]

I connected my GPS V to my PDA and about drove off the road trying to track the two different screens. After that, I use the GPS as a GPS and the PDA stays in my pocket. Maybe when the GPS is integrated and I can wedge the PDA between the dash and the windshield....

Edited June 25, 2007 by Renegade Knight

[+NightPilot]

If you're using a PDA, there is no need to look at the GPS screen. There are lots of mounts available to put a PDA on the dash, but I find Velcro works very well for almost everything.

[+Renegade Knight]

If you're using a PDA, there is no need to look at the GPS screen. There are lots of mounts available to put a PDA on the dash, but I find Velcro works very well for almost everything.

True. I was comparing my two screens. The GPS is track up. The PDA was north up and the maps were Topo vs. a Street map. The PDA program did not give me the option of track up.

[+NightPilot]

Most Palm nav programs do let you choose north up or track up. I prefer north up, because it's easy to see at a glance which way I'm going, and I'm used to that after using a map for so many years. That's just me, though.

[+CWFI34]

My old eTrex Legend is wearing out. So in my quest to replace it, I realize that consumer GPS technology has advanced a bit in the last five years. I was considering two options: Bluetooth GPS receiver + my Palm TX OR one of Garmin's handhelds... perhaps another eTrex or GPSMap model.

 

Using the Palm TX with a receiver would be very cool. Big screen, turn-by-turn routing with voice (if I got Garmin's Mobile 10 with navigation software), pocket query results, etc, all in two small devices (the receiver and the Palm).

 

But the Palm is not rugged, doesn't have replaceable batteries, the screen would be hard to see, etc. And it would be nice to not HAVE TO carry two devices to cache.

 

So I was thinking... would it be possible to connect any of the current Garmin handheld models to a Palm TX via a cable of some kind? And would any sofware for Palm recognize the GPSr? Like I said, there are numerous Bluetooth receivers that should work with my Palm TX. But I'd rather get a handheld GPSr and play around with connecting the Palm TX and that handheld GPSr via a cable.

 

Anyone ever tried this?

 

Thanks,

-Jsignal

[+CWFI34]

My old eTrex Legend is wearing out. So in my quest to replace it, I realize that consumer GPS technology has advanced a bit in the last five years. I was considering two options: Bluetooth GPS receiver + my Palm TX OR one of Garmin's handhelds... perhaps another eTrex or GPSMap model.

 

Using the Palm TX with a receiver would be very cool. Big screen, turn-by-turn routing with voice (if I got Garmin's Mobile 10 with navigation software), pocket query results, etc, all in two small devices (the receiver and the Palm).

 

But the Palm is not rugged, doesn't have replaceable batteries, the screen would be hard to see, etc. And it would be nice to not HAVE TO carry two devices to cache.

 

So I was thinking... would it be possible to connect any of the current Garmin handheld models to a Palm TX via a cable of some kind? And would any sofware for Palm recognize the GPSr? Like I said, there are numerous Bluetooth receivers that should work with my Palm TX. But I'd rather get a handheld GPSr and play around with connecting the Palm TX and that handheld GPSr via a cable.

 

Anyone ever tried this?

Ooops Yep, I've used the TX and a Garmin 10 with Cetus GPS. Works pretty well.

Thanks,

-Jsignal

Ooops Yep, I've used the TX and a Garmin 10 with Cetus GPS. Works pretty well.

[+jsignal]

PC-Mobile sells a bluetooth adapter that you can connect to your Garmin to make it bluetooth-enabled. I have one, and it works well. You'll need a special cable, and you can either buy one from PC-Mobile or make it on your own - it's a 2.5mm (cellphone) plug to Garmin. It doesn't need to be very long, it just connects the adapter to the GPS. The Garmin must be set to NMEA interface for this, NOT Garmin.

 

I don't think you'll be very happy with the Garmin Mobile 10 software. I've seen nothing but problems with it on several forums. It's still beta, but probably should really be alpha. It crashes regularly, it seems. I haven't seen anyone happy with it.

 

I checked out the PC-Mobile site. It looks as if they are discontinuing that product. I still haven't seen any other solutions that would be reliable or are well-tested.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

-jsignal

[+QuesterMark]

Lots of interesting bluetooth adapters here: link

 

This place has some interesting (if expensive) cables: link

 

pfranc: link

Edited June 28, 2007 by 0ccam

[+NightPilot]

The pfranc adapter has a limitation, in that it can only be used in a car. Semsons is a reputable company that has been around for a long time. I think one of those adapters would work for you.

[+jsignal]

Thanks for the information. Those devices/connectors never showed up in all my google research. One of them is exactly what I was looking for. The car adapter is sold out anyway. Maybe the battery pack is the way to go... except then you can't use it in the car for long distances. There's no "perfect" solution!

 

-Jason

[+NightPilot]

I use NiMH batteries, and have a fast charger in the truck. When batteries go dead, it doesn't take long to change them and recharge the dead ones.