First Handheld Gpsr?

[+Cornix]

The GARMIN GPSCOM 170 made #34 on the Top 100 Gadgets of All Time:

 

34. GARMIN GPSCOM 170, 1997

 

For the directionally challenged, 1997 was a banner year, as the GPSCOM 170 brought satellite navigation to the palm of your hand. It was the first device ever to combine GPS telemetry and navigation software into a single pocket-size shell.

 

Source

Is this correct or were there other handheld receivers before? What about the GPS 45?

 

Cornix

[+Poindexter]

The GARMIN GPSCOM 170 made #34 on the Top 100 Gadgets of All Time:

 

34. GARMIN GPSCOM 170, 1997

 

For the directionally challenged, 1997 was a banner year, as the GPSCOM 170 brought satellite navigation to the palm of your hand. It was the first device ever to combine GPS telemetry and navigation software into a single pocket-size shell.

 

Source

Is this correct or were there other handheld receivers before? What about the GPS 45?

 

Cornix

I think Magellans Nav 1000 was one of, if not THE, first handheld back in 1988. You could get one for around $2500.00

Edited February 23, 2005 by Poindexter

[+Cornix]

I think Magellans Nav 1000 was one of, if not THE, first handheld back in 1988. You could get one for around $2500.00

They call it "the world's first commercial handheld GPS receiver". They also claim that their Magellan GPS 300 was the "first portable GPS receiver priced under $100".

 

What about other consumer grade receivers?

[+BillyBean]

My father has a Trimble Scout, and the software is 1993. He bought it sometime between 94-96

[+JohnnyVegas]

Magellan had a GPS out before the first gulf war calle the trailblazer, It was very complicated to operate and kind of clunky. The price as I recall was around $500.00 I think we were selling about 3 or 4 a year.

Edited February 23, 2005 by JohnnyVegas

[OuttaHand]

I bought my Garmin 45 in about '95, '96 or so. I know others were out there prior to that.

[+IVxIV]

The first consumer GPSr I ever saw was a Panasonic model.. but don't recall the year.

[+Cornix]

I just found this one:

 

Sony PYXIS IPS-360 GPS (1992)

[+JohnnyVegas]

The Sony is a rare one, it was never sold in the US, the only person that I know that ever had one bought while in Japan. I was told at the time the Sony GPSr were not permitted in the US for some reason, and that they used the Russuian GPS system, but that was so many years ago.