The cheap inside your Colorado 400

[raxxal]

Here is a picture of the GPS cheap inside your Colorado 400T.

 

Here are the specs:

 

1.Frequency:L1, 1575.42 MHz

2.C/A Code:1.023 MHz

3.Channels:14 / 32 <-- This don't match, Garmin is using 12 channels only.

4.DGPS:RTCM protocolWAAS, EGNOS, MSAS

5.Dimension(LxWxH):9 x 6 x 1.3 mm

6.Reacquisition Time:<1s

7.Hot start:1s

8.Warm start:33s

9.Cold start:36s

10.Sensitivity:Acquisition: -146dBm(Cold start)

Reacquistion: -156dBm

Tracking: -159dBm

11.Update Rate:Up to 5 Hz

12.Power Consumption:Acquisition: 37mA

Tracking: 22mA

13.Operating Temperature:-30 ~ 85

14.Storage Temperature:-40 ~ 125

15.Operating Humidity:5% ~ 95%(no condensing)

Edited May 10, 2008 by raxxal

[MtnHermit]

I have a bit of a disconnect with your post. How does a single photo of a ARM CPU and a list of specs equal cheap?

 

Garmim is largely selling intellectual property with the Colorado, not hardware per se. And, given the high prices people are willing to pay, quite sucessfully.

 

So, "Where's the Beef?"

[+g-o-cashers]

I think cheap was supposed to be "chip".

 

This is the MT3318 single chip GPS inside the Colorado. It has an embedded ARM core processor which does all of the GPS signal processing. I'm guessing there is another ARM that runs "Software".

 

Any one ready to take their CO apart? I'd love to know what is inside.

 

GO$Rs

[MtnHermit]

I think cheap was supposed to be "chip".

If true, that's a major brain fart made twice.

 

This is the MT3318 single chip GPS inside the Colorado. It has an embedded ARM core processor which does all of the GPS signal processing. I'm guessing there is another ARM that runs "Software".

Since you likely know more about this than I, wondering if MicroTek doesn't have a similiar single chip solution like ST where everything is in a single chip? The ST 2062 is going inside the yet to be shipped Nuvi 2x5 family. Further lowering the manufacturing cost of entry level GPSrs. My bet is we'll see $99 205's by Black Friday.

 

ST's Cartesio (part number -- STA2062) integrates a powerful 32-bit ARM

CPU core with a high-sensitivity 32-channel GPS subsystem and a powerful

set of connectivity peripherals, including CAN, USB, UARTs, and SPI. It

also provides on-chip high-speed RAM and real-time clock functionality.

While the Cartesio processor can work with other GPS RF products, it

perfectly couples with ST's STA5620 GPS RF chip creating a unique offering

that significantly reduces the form factor and bill-of-materials with no

compromise in performance. The STA2062 is housed in 16 x 16 x 1.4 mm LFBGA

packages with a 0.8mm ball pitch to comply with the automotive industry

assembly requirements.

[nick160460]

For those of you intersted the full history of that Great British invention the ARM Chip its available here

 

About Acorn Computers and ARM processors

 

and

 

Arm Architecture - Wikipedia

 

regards

 

Nick

 

ps I use a RISC PC powered by a Strong Arm Chip daily