"Big Screen" for your GPS?

[Atilla the Pun]

Would you pay for an external color map screen that connects to your GPS?

[Atilla the Pun]

I'm thinking of a screen size of 4"x5", but that could change from input to this poll or the cost and availability of LCD displays. It's all blue sky at the moment, but I think I see a way to do it.

 

AtP

[OFF RODE]

I have one....a laptop with NG TOPO! and set it to live track....not real good for on foot geocaching but works great for getting close.

 

"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." Yogi Berra

JeepNAz@aol.com

[+Goodguys]

My iPAQ, running OziExplorer CE works like a charm! The iPAQ easily manages scanned or other digital topo maps of almost any size (I've used maps 24 Megs in size) and its screen is easily readable in sunlight.

[Top]

I've thought of running with a laptop, but it takes too much space for me. Yah, yah, I drive an Expedition but still it takes up too much space. How about using a dedicated board like from http://www.arcomcontrols.com/ and secure it under a seat. Take the video output to an LCD screen attached via a mount or velcro. Just a thought and I bring it up for comments.

 

Top

[cidnimapa]

LCDs are the way to go, but what size? and what else can they do (to justify its price)? Current PDAs (PalmOS, WinCE, etc) offer colored or monochrome screens, though not very big. But they do offer other functions. Serial cables, software to connect the PDA and GPS are not difficult to come by.

[debicgps]

I used a laptop with fugawi so far, I think I'll be buying one of the smaller modular PC's that are coming out by the end of this year. You get the screen, but you also get a small PC, all portable and handheld really. And runs x86 software, not WinCE or the like....

[OFF RODE]

quote:

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Originally posted by Top:

I've thought of running with a laptop, but it takes too much space for me. Yah, yah, I drive an Expedition but still it takes up too much space. How about using a dedicated board like from http://www.arcomcontrols.com/ and secure it under a seat. Take the video output to an LCD screen attached via a mount or velcro. Just a thought and I bring it up for comments.

 

Top

---

 

Not enough room in an Expedition??? I do it in a

Jeep Wrangler! check out Ram Mounts for some ides.

 

"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." Yogi Berra

JeepNAz@aol.com

[Atilla the Pun]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Top:

I've thought of running with a laptop, but it takes too much space for me. Yah, yah, I drive an Expedition but still it takes up too much space. How about using a dedicated board like from http://www.arcomcontrols.com/ and secure it under a seat. Take the video output to an LCD screen attached via a mount or velcro. Just a thought and I bring it up for comments.

 

Top

---

 

There are numerous PC and PDA based solutions available, but I consider them to be too expensive, too small, or too fragile. What I'm thinking about is planned to be a 4"x5" LCD screen that is about 1/2" thick for easy viewing while driving. I'm hoping to keep the price under $200 and possibly have user definable maps. The last is going to be pretty iffy, I have a lot of hurdles to clear before even starting to think about that one.

 

AtP

[GS GLR Pilot]

quote:

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Originally posted by Atilla the Pun:

 

What I'm thinking about is planned to be a 4"x5" LCD screen that is about 1/2" thick for easy viewing while driving. I'm hoping to keep the price under $200

 

AtP

---

 

I'd buy THAT in a heart-beat, even without user-definable maps.

[Top]

JeepNaz wrote:

"Not enough room in an Expedition??? I do it in a

Jeep Wrangler! check out http://www.ram-mount.com/oem.htm for some ides."

 

It's the precieved space that the laptop takes up. My copilot has alot to say about it.Now if there was a GPSR with the viewable space of an eBook (3x4.5) that would be great. There's got to be a way to take the display signal and amplify it to a separate larger display.

[Top]

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by Atilla the Pun:

 

What I'm thinking about is planned to be a 4"x5" LCD screen that is about 1/2" thick for easy viewing while driving. I'm hoping to keep the price under $200

 

AtP

 

You can put me on that list of buyers also.

 

Top

[Atilla the Pun]

As always there is an option in addition to the ones listed. Look at the thread but don't vote. So, with over 475 views and only 25 votes I have to conclude that approximately 5% of the people cared enough to vote, and of those about 1/3 weren't interested. Looks like this project is officially dead.

Thanks for reading,

 

AtP

[DrewG]

Of course, you're assuming each of the page views is a discrete user. I would suspect that each of the people who voted brought up the thread once or twice more to see the ongoing results and discussion. It sounds like a great idea to me though. I've been trying to find an el cheapo laptop in just about that price range solely for geocaching and road trips. A Pentium 150 would suit me just fine, but they're awfully hard to find.

[Atilla the Pun]

Drew,

I was pretty discouraged when I wrote that last post. Since then I have decided to go ahead and research this anyway, even if it's just for me.

Thanks,

 

AtP

[+Tjodleik]

Please, do it for me too.

I have a Delorme TripMate. so a little more info from it, without using a laptop...... :-)

[Atilla the Pun]

Bergum,

This isn't going to be a PC, CE, or Palm device. This is going to be a proprietary device with a map in it that will read your data from your GPS and display your location and heading on a map.

 

AtP

[+GOT GPS?]

GPS units only have a data output, so that requires a separate processor, memory, and firmware in order to display the GPS info on a larger LCD display.

 

You will need to build a GPS that has a Video-OUT jack, and connect that to a small screen. Have to remember that color LCD screens are expensive, and a Palm 105 is comparatively cheap.

 

A stripped down PDA with a 4.5 inch display would be required for what you want.

 

You can get a Garmin Street Pilot III on Ebay, Id imagine, and put a magnifying lens on it.

 

How about this:

 

A Digital Camcorder that is designed to work with any GPS, and view the GPS info from the camcorder on a screen while in the car.You can save the Position Info to the Camcorder tape as you are recording, and have a Monitor hooked to the Camcorder with a Map Screen on it. Then the camcorder could tell you what mountain your looking at. Just imagine a Camcorder with Topo Software loaded on it, and you are hiking in the montains(No "where was this video taken" stuff)

 

 

My home page about GPS units and information

[+mrmom]

Recently I picked up a Garmin 176c (color). It has all of the features that that are being requested. Awesome unit. Superb color display.

 

176c

32Mb. Memory card

Mapsource roads & recreation CD

Auto quick release swivel mount

12V power cord

PC data cord

Best online price with 2 day shipping $745.00

[+mrmom]

Recently I picked up a Garmin 176c (color). It has all of the features that that are being requested. Awesome unit. Superb color display.

 

176c

32Mb. Memory card

Mapsource roads & recreation CD

Auto quick release swivel mount

12V power cord

PC data cord

Best online price with 2 day shipping $745.00

[Atilla the Pun]

Everyone assumes I'm taking the video off of a mapping GPS. You are wrong. You will be able to hook up your Magellan 315 to this critter (if I can make it work) and it will show your location.

 

AtP

[Top]

Attila your idea is great and I'm very interested in your progress with this. I did vote as soon as I saw your post. Don't get discouraged cause if it's reasonable in cost, I'll stand in line to get one.

 

Top

[Atilla the Pun]

Thanks for the encouragement, Top.

 

I guess we need to define "reasonable price". As I've said in several other posts, I would like to keep the price under $200. I am re-iterating this because people keep posting about their really cool $2,000.00 solutions to this problem. Not every geocacher has two grand to drop on that laptop or tricked out camcorder. They are really cool toys and I think it would be neat if everyone could afford them, but we can't, or choose not to.

 

The other reason I want to embark on this project is that the Magellan maps (and from what I hear Garmin maps) are waaaaay off. This is anoying. Which street am I on if I don't already know? I'm off a major highway by 50'-100' according to my GPS. Nothing wrong with the GPS except the map that's in it.

 

Also, someone may not need or want a better GPS than their Maggy 315 or their spouse may not like trying to make sense of the numbers. But a nice color map about the size of your palm (ok, the size of my palm) that never has to be refolded has merit, IMHO.

Respectfully,

 

AtP

[Atilla the Pun]

quote:

---

Originally posted by MrMom:

Recently I picked up a Garmin 176c (color). It has all of the features that that are being requested. Awesome unit. Superb color display.

 

176c

32Mb. Memory card

Mapsource roads & recreation CD

Auto quick release swivel mount

12V power cord

PC data cord

Best online price with 2 day shipping $745.00

---

 

Hmm, the display is a little smaller than what I'm talking about, 3.8" compared to 6.4" diagonal (a very minor point). However at nearly $600 for just the unit, plus memory and maps. Do you use this for geocaching? With what I am proposing you would simply unplug your handheld GPS from the mapping screen and start walking.

 

And as I said in an earlier post, I am very dissapointed with Magellan's maps. Other's have voiced dissapointment in Garmin's maps. I would like to be able to have the option to add 3rd party maps to my GPS, but the GPS manufacturer's have a defacto monopoly on maps for their units.

 

Oh, and on the subject of "reasonable price", I meant to type "around $200 US". Under would be nice, but looking a the price of color LCD's, I'm not counting on it.

 

AtP

[Atilla the Pun]

quote:

---

Originally posted by MrMom:

Recently I picked up a Garmin 176c (color). It has all of the features that that are being requested. Awesome unit. Superb color display.

 

176c

32Mb. Memory card

Mapsource roads & recreation CD

Auto quick release swivel mount

12V power cord

PC data cord

Best online price with 2 day shipping $745.00

---

 

Hmm, the display is a little smaller than what I'm talking about, 3.8" compared to 6.4" diagonal (a very minor point). However at nearly $600 for just the unit, plus memory and maps. Do you use this for geocaching? With what I am proposing you would simply unplug your handheld GPS from the mapping screen and start walking.

 

And as I said in an earlier post, I am very dissapointed with Magellan's maps. Other's have voiced dissapointment in Garmin's maps. I would like to be able to have the option to add 3rd party maps to my GPS, but the GPS manufacturer's have a defacto monopoly on maps for their units.

 

Oh, and on the subject of "reasonable price", I meant to type "around $200 US". Under would be nice, but looking a the price of color LCD's, I'm not counting on it.

 

AtP

[+GOT GPS?]

My GPS V with City Select software, is more accurate than Street Atlas USA. The Basemaps of the GPS V is crappy though. I think that MetroGuide is the way to go, if you can load it into a proprietary LCD Screen unit.

 

Since GPS units output Data, you would have to have a unit with a processor, lots of memory for the mapping, and a large hard drive in it, and also a good resolution like 1024x768.

 

There are subnotebooks that are larger than a PDA.

 

The Best bet is to get some used or broken stuff, and see if there is a way to do this cheaply.

 

My home page about GPS units and information

[+GOT GPS?]

Example parts list includes:

1)Six inch Color LCD Screen with a resolution of 1024x768

2)Pentium 300 processor.

3)Small 2 gigabyte Hard Drive(to store the mapping data).

4)USB 2.0 interface(for downloading mapping from a PC)

5)Serial port for connecting a GPS.

6)Firmware to operate the LCD Display Unit.

7)A plastic housing that is 0.75 inches thick.

 

When you are done with all this, you might as well find a used subnotebook computer on ebay, the type where you can fold the keyboard behind the Screen.

 

My home page about GPS units and information

[Atilla the Pun]

...you really don't get what I'm trying to accomplish here, do you? If I wanted a laptop or tablet (pen-top) PC I'd go buy one. This is not what I want for numerous reasons, including power consumption, cost, durability and many others. I'll grant that what I'm looking at is a niche market within a niche market. However I think the market is there, and if it isn't, it won't take that much to find out.

 

AtP

[+GOT GPS?]

To display mapping on an external device requires computing hardware.

 

What you are asking cannot be done.

 

I have been in electronics for years, and studied GPS technology.

 

Only 3 ways to see mapping on an external display:

1) Digital video out

2) Computing hardware to convert the data out of a gps into something that you can see on an external screen.

3)modify existing gps units to work with an external display panel.

 

My home page about GPS units and information

[Atilla the Pun]

quote:

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Originally posted by GOT GPS?:

To display mapping on an external device requires computing hardware.

 

What you are asking cannot be done.

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So certain are you? Always with you it can not be done.voice>

 

I might also add that I am not "asking" for anything, I am offering something if there is interest.

 

quote:

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I have been in electronics for years, and studied GPS technology.

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I worked in Defense electronics for over 12 years before starting a new career as a computer technician, sysadmin, network admin, etc. Many devices other than PC's use RS-232 serial ports.

 

quote:

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Only 3 ways to see mapping on an external display:

1) Digital video out

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I disgarded this idea right off the bat.

 

quote:

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2) Computing hardware to convert the data out of a gps into something that you can see on an external screen.

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Methods this might be accomplished by will be left as an excercise for the student. Let me just add that "computing hardware" does not absolutely mean PC hardware and software.

 

quote:

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3)modify existing gps units to work with an external display panel.

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This seems the same as #1 above to me.

 

No disrespect is intended in any of my above responses. I just want you to be aware that I am looking for a solution that does not yet exist and I am considering developing it. Wether or not I come to market with a finished product is another issue entirely.

Respectfully,

 

AtP

[Alpha6H]

The idea is a good one and I wouldn't mind having one. definitely would need the hardware/software to decode the NMEA strings and to post it and the map data on the screen.

 

As to the mapping software showing the road umpteen feet away from the user's position, as GIS specialist that pretty much boils down to the way the maps were drawn,what data was used to draw them, and how good of day the digitizer was having when they drew the centerlines. Most maps show only the plotted centerlines and do not neccessarily show the width of the road/highway. That and the normal errors from a GPS add up to some distance.

 

Definitely add me to the list to buy it if and when they come out!