Database Develop

Garmin e-Trex GPS -> XDA

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has successfully hooked up a Garmin E-Trex to an XDA. It should be possible using the serial connector from both (null-modem!?!). If so what software was being used on the XDA.
Cheers
Jeff

Garmin eTrex - XDA
The eTrex and XDA make a great combination even with Pocket Streets: the eTrex gives you the vector to your destination and the XDA shows you where you are on the map at zilch cost. The draw back is that you can find your target destination on PStreets but there doesn't seem to be a way of extracting the coordinates to feed into your eTrex.
So I got the TomTom Citymap of London to try that out and after a poor user experience when the supplied gps driver locked the XDA up and I had to download another, plus no explanations of various 2.06 driver features plus finding that parts of the M25 London orbital were chopped off, I have the best of both worlds. It only cost me 10UKP.
Oh yes, connections. You can buy a TomTom power/gps cable for the XDA that is meant to take the TomTom gps mouse via a 4 connector phone type socket. So all you have to do is come up with a 4 connector phone type plug leading off to you eTrex. If you have the eTrex car cable for power and RS232, which you might want to use with a laptop, you will not want to cut this. So get a cheap RS232 cable and chop the appropriate end off for your phone type connection. Marry everything up, ignore the wife's complaints about wires and delayed departures while you fiddle with the eTrex and XDA, and you are off.
The TomTom cable phone socket housing can be taken apart briefly to check which are the Common, TX and Rx wires, and the tiny circuit board even tells you which is which. If you want I can give you the pin outs but at the risk of misinterpretation.

Etrex GPS
Managed to get it to work with Navigator and am well impressed.
Got a cable from http://pc-mobile.net/gps.htm. However had a few problems to start off with. The XDA ground to a halt (I have updated the ROM to the latest O2 release and apprently TomTom 1.4 has a problem with later version). Updated TomTom to 1.51 and still no joy. Change the interface from Garmin to IMEA 4800 baud on both GPS and TomTom and had a great weekend driving up and down the motorway and country roads in Derbyshire.
Jeff

Jeff,
Cool, isn't it! Perhaps you can enlighten me about Navigator. Not knowing much about TomTom I rather expected voice prompts on the citymap thingy I downloaded. Question: what do you have to do to get the voice prompts invoked (spend more money probably) and can you hear them from the XDA? :?:
Ken

Navigator Talking
I have Navigator 1.51 installed (downloaded from Tom Tom site) only you need at least a previous version as otherwise there are no maps.
When you do a route plan (rather than just have it in map mode), it does the "300 yards turn right......turn right.....find the next convenient place and turn round"
Not sure what happens with previous versions as I had 1.4ish on before and that interfered with Windows as I had upgraded PPC2002 to a newer version and it odesn't like that too well.
Cheers
Jeff

Hi guys, do you know if the connector for the Garmin Geko 201 is the same as the Etrex? I was looking at buying the Geko and the cable from the site listed above but they don't say specifically for the Geko. I put an email question in to the cable guys but you never know how long it will take to get an answer. It's definitely a flat connector and not a round pin type. Thanks - Jim

Hi,
I've bought a Fortuna U2 GPS receiver with an O2 XDA lead.
I've downloaded some software (GPSeasyCE), but when I try and connect to the GPS unit, I get "unable to open COM1".
Any suggestoins please?
I have tuned my keyboard driver to IR & serial, and I think I'm using the correct com port settings (4800bps, NMEA 0183).
I'd really like to just check that the hardware is working.
Can I download some free demo software that will do that?
What's best?
Thanks in advance, for any help anyone can offer,
Muddy

You have to turn off the IR port.
Muddy said:
Hi,
I've bought a Fortuna U2 GPS receiver with an O2 XDA lead.
I've downloaded some software (GPSeasyCE), but when I try and connect to the GPS unit, I get "unable to open COM1".
Any suggestoins please?
I have tuned my keyboard driver to IR & serial, and I think I'm using the correct com port settings (4800bps, NMEA 0183).
I'd really like to just check that the hardware is working.
Can I download some free demo software that will do that?
What's best?
Thanks in advance, for any help anyone can offer,
Muddy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

disable your infra red port under setting, connections/beam, it will then work. A point about cables to work with gps, if you get a serial xda cable, and you also have a pc serial cable that links to your gps, all you need to do is get a 9 pin male to 9 pin male null modem adaptor, or make one, you need to join pin 2 on one to pin 3 on the other, pin 3 to pin 2 and pin 5 to pin 5, plug your xda lead one end, gps lead the other, and away you go.

Advise for MDA and TomTom

Great site this is, unlocked the mda with succes!
I have:
- a mda (t-mobile MDA 1)
- TomTom 5 software
What do i need more for a GPS system and where to buy? What will it cost me estimated.
All advise is welcome. Thanks anyway.

- SD-Card
- GPS-Reciever
Stefan

I got the sd-card.
Sorry for being a newbie;
but where to hook up to power? how to mount the mda? Will it work on my MDA, do i need to upgrade?
Let me know what the experiences are with a MDA and TomTom. Are there any cathes?
I'll Keep you all informed in this thread along the way building the GPS system in my car.
Will take a little while...

cool stuf found for tomtom
i.e. Darth vader voice pointing directions 8)
Dutch-site http://www.laurusbuth.nl/tomtom/

WallabyTostie said:
I got the sd-card.
Sorry for being a newbie;
but where to hook up to power? how to mount the mda? Will it work on my MDA, do i need to upgrade?
Let me know what the experiences are with a MDA and TomTom. Are there any cathes?
I'll Keep you all informed in this thread along the way building the GPS system in my car.
Will take a little while...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get yourself a wired gps, this will come with a cigarette lighter plug that will power the phone and gps, there are many types of mount but the cheapest do the job just as well, you can get one that connect to the heater vents in the car, a suction type that sticks to windshield, a powered version with built in speaker, I found the powered type to suffer from lots of rf breakthrough interference, there is also a magnetic mount where you stick a small metal plate to the back of the phone and a mount sticks to the dashboard. The best place to look is ebay and search for "xda gps:

Just installed TomTom Navigator 5. Bought me a cable (Leadtek/TomTom Nav. Kabel O2 Xda I/II, Qtek) and a gps mouse (Leadtek HS9813 GPS Muis). Will arrive by mail today
Installation hopefully will be ready this afternoon.
Will let you know what the testresults are.

Got the equipment but not yet a working system. GPS mouse cannot fix to a signal.
I have 9 !?! COM-ports to choose from. Tried them all, but none of them give me the result i want.
Led on gps-mouse lights up now and then.
Any suggestions??

Wallaby uses COM 1. Ensure that you have disabled beam for using GPS....
Stefan

Yes, working just fine! :lol:
- COM1 at 4800 baud.
Taken a few roadtrips, about 8 sats and just the right route.
Was a nice little project. To everyone posting reply's,
thanks!

BA as car(pocket)pc

I've bought a used xv6600 off ebay which I'm going to convert to a carpc.
As a first time BA user, i have a few questions.
I have read the wiki/searched the forum, but I'm a bit mixed up and hence posting this thread.
installed versions on the phone:
model: PH20A2
ROM version: 1.36.00 WWE
ROM date 01/13/05
radio HA01_151
protocol AA.3.3.3.01
PRL 50619
extrom 1.36.116 WWE
hardware version 0041
a few notes:
- Its not going to be used as a phone as I can't register it with my local cellular provider (although they do support CMDA EVDO) - so I couldnt care less about if its radio works..
- Its going to be paired to a BT GPS from socket.
- the BA/xv6600 is going to be permanently mounted into the car (I'm still designing how, it would be in horizontal mode though).
- since It'll be permanently mounted, I won't (and couldnt) use the keyboard..
- audio out is going to be used to connect to an external speaker
- the BA will be charged from the car's 12v (always connected).
my questions are:
1) where could I find schematics for getting audio output (if exists), as well as where to connect the charge directly to the BA's connector.
I have only a cradle, no sync cable, which means I'd probably have to open up the BA and soldier directly, or get a connector...
2) should I connect audio out to the connector (if possible?) or the 2.5mm output on top of the device.. ?
3) I'd be interested in upgrading to WM5, I've read on the forums that it isn't possible on the CDMA versions because the radio doesnt work (or does it?). Since I don't care about the radio, could I install WM5 ? which ROM would be suitable for my BA model ?
awaiting your answers,
thanks!

Sounds like a neat project
ido said:
- the BA will be charged from the car's 12v (always connected).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be a bad idea...car batteries are designed to give out high power for short periods, not low constant drains. Personally I'd connect it to the ignition circuit so it's only powered when the ACC line is live. This will also turn it off for you after X minutes if you use the "auto-power off on batteries" function. It may even turn it on for you!
1) where could I find schematics for getting audio output (if exists), as well as where to connect the charge directly to the BA's connector.
I have only a cradle, no sync cable, which means I'd probably have to open up the BA and soldier directly, or get a connector...
2) should I connect audio out to the connector (if possible?) or the 2.5mm output on top of the device.. ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The connector does have audio available. Buy a cable and hack it because if you mess it up you just buy another. Messing up the connector itself on the phone is more fatal. I think the schematic is on the wiki for the actual pin outs.
You might also find these useful:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Connectors
http://forum.xda-developers.com/archive/index.php/t-235616.html

yes after constant searching , i also found those threads.
Yet I'm wondering, some connectors don't include all 22 pins, but only the ones actually used for charging (for example) - and then it'll be really hard to hack them.
I guess i'll just have to hope I buy one that does have all 22 pins installed... unless you have other idea's for me.
Also, for the charger, you're right, I didn't mention that, but thats somewhat my intention.
Since the unit will be permanently mounted, I won't be able to sync it (unless I bring a laptop to my car) - could I somehow get a two SD cards installed at once to the unit ?

ido said:
yes after constant searching , i also found those threads.
Yet I'm wondering, some connectors don't include all 22 pins, but only the ones actually used for charging (for example) - and then it'll be really hard to hack them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's correct. If you get a charge & sync cable you'll have most. Might need to take audio from the 2.5mm jack in that case. That's probably the simplest solution if you cannot get a fully wired one. I'm interested in this sort of thing, so if you could post an update on what you go with I'd be grateful.
Since the unit will be permanently mounted, I won't be able to sync it (unless I bring a laptop to my car) - could I somehow get a two SD cards installed at once to the unit ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt you could get two SD cards. What may be possible is some sort of SD card extension device. Never seen one (never looked), but if it existed you could have a dash-mounted SD card.
Bluetooth or WiFi might help you e.g. with WiFi you could browse a network share to copy music over from your house. Also, there is a tool for WM5 that turns the phone into a keydrive, i.e. a USB mass storage device. Unless you need contacts etc sync'ed, that might be a bit simpler & give you more options to what you can hook up for.
PS bluetooth on WM5 isn't all that great. There is a "fix" that wakes the device now and then. This would light up your car overnight and might possibly be a thief magnet. On the other hand, if the battery dies on WM2003, you lose the data on it.

- At first I thought of making the device extractable, so I thought it'll be better to use the connector on the bottom for audio, but I've decided not to go this route (more complications and harder to make - also makes it easier for thieves.
So I'm probably going to go for the 2.5mm jack for audio.
- as for SD, since the SD slot won't be accessible, I thought of making an SD slot on the dashboard - and I'd like to switch between both.
an SD is connected via 9 pins, meaning making an SD switch is possible, but you wouldn't be able to use both.. thus I was wondering if software/hardware wise there is a builtin capabilty of such a thing as using two SD's at once. that'll be really cool.
- unfortunatly my XV6600 does not have WIFI, and BT is NOT an option for syncing (too slow !! - just imagine syncing 2gb of audio/vid via bluetooth..)
the two idea's I've had is making a USB connector on the dash (just incase I can get a laptop in the car..)
and the other, was the dash SD slot..
- for bluetooth, can't I just disable auto wakeup ?
- how will upgrading to WM5 save my data even if the battery drains ? its the same RAM chip's, not flash ROM, isn't that right ?
- as for HR's, the question is if I can somehow get the unit to 'working order' by installing software from the SD card, without actually syncing it to a computer..

fraser: Since I'm going to be connecting the ppc to the ignition circuit, and I'd also like to have a USB connector on the dashboard, I'd need to switch between the two.
i already have a car 12v connector -> usb charger device.
Should I buy a SYNC cable and convert it to charger, or car charger and convert it to USB cable ?
(although car charger might not have all the right pins..)

ido said:
thus I was wondering if software/hardware wise there is a builtin capabilty of such a thing as using two SD's at once. that'll be really cool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never heard of that I'm afraid. A switcher may work, but make sure there aren't any other physical switches that get tripped when you put a card in.
- for bluetooth, can't I just disable auto wakeup ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this BT issue is the biggest one on WM5
- how will upgrading to WM5 save my data even if the battery drains ? its the same RAM chip's, not flash ROM, isn't that right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's different ones. WM5 uses the "storage" area for your personal data; you now no longer have /storage as it's all in there. The RAM becomes proper RAM, although you can use some of it as a ramdisk with the same loss-of-power issues as WM2003.
- as for HR's, the question is if I can somehow get the unit to 'working order' by installing software from the SD card, without actually syncing it to a computer..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I do. I've stopped using the PC installers, there is enough junk on my PC. Just find the cabs for the apps and keep a copy on the SD card.

Not all apps have cabs.. so that might be a problem.
as well as I'll have to make pre-made .reg fixes just incase I'll have to HR.
as for WM5, if I install it, won't I have less free space then ?

ido said:
Not all apps have cabs.. so that might be a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can extract the cabs in various ways. Some exe's can even be opened in winrar.
as for WM5, if I install it, won't I have less free space then ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can reformat the storage area to 60 meg before the upgrade. Only before though. You don't get a memory slider like in WM2003.
Still, I'm not so sure on WM5 being the best for you. You'd want to have reliable BT and I'm not sure it is on WM5.

So I guess I'll stick with WM2003 for the time being.
I'm ordering an SD slot for the dashboard, as well as a USB connector.
Another Idea I've had is the need for the hardreset as well as reset button.
to which version should I upgrade my rom then ?

ido said:
- an SD is connected via 9 pins, meaning making an SD switch is possible, but you wouldn't be able to use both.. thus I was wondering if software/hardware wise there is a builtin capabilty of such a thing as using two SD's at once. that'll be really cool. ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry to butt-in but, someone had done that before: SD-WiFi & SD Mem Card in parallel on the same 9 pin source: pda sd expansion.
a switch might be of help if you don't want to use the two slots simultaneously.

Yes I've seen that. Its a pretty lame hack if you read it to the end.
there's a better link with larger photo's for anyone interested:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.hutchinson27/pockpc/
also, his project doesnt seem to work at the same time, and I've decided not to go with the switch route.
I'm reading a lot of the SD specs, So there is a very slim possibility I'll be able to get two cards to co-exist (and I would love some proffesional help if any of you guys know more about SD's then I do).
if not, then I'll just make an SD slot on the dashboard..

GPS - need aerial ?

So HTC S730 has GPS on chip but no aerial ? (also might need driver)
Could we use this as an aerial ?
http://www.clove.co.uk/viewProduct....Category=CE3E87A6-CAEF-4504-B115-1B3AA016C2E5
No idea how this plugs in, wonder if someone has used it and can describe
thx

I think, that idea to use internal GPS parts of s730 was definitely resigned after so lot of time spent to solve this.

U can use a cheap Bluetooth GPS reciever.
I got one from ebay for 20$ and 10$ shipping. Works perfect and can be charged through the mini-usb charger (batterly lasts more than 20hours)
I got this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330222714814

Nexus 7 in-dash car install in Citroën DS5

Hello all,
I've installed a Nexus 7 model 2012 inside my Citroën DS5 (French car). The project is to replace the small original LCD monochrom monitor for car audio (for multimedia only, no GPS).
There was no important mechanical modifications needed, because the original dashboard supports 7 inches first mount original GPS.
The original radio unit FM + CD reader + control buttons are kept. The tab will only be used as external peripheral for multimedia :MP3 and GPS.
In this car I've a duplicate screen on main driver dashboard about FM radio station, so when using FM Radio I can see the selected channel on this screen.
So in fact the main radio unit will 90% be left in "Auxiliary" source and the other 10% "FM radio" source.
Part list :
- Nexus 7 2012 with USBROM
- OTG cable
- USB Hub
- DC to DC 12V to 5V - 5A converter (found on ebay)
- 3 push buttons extracted from an old credit card format IR remote control
- RF cable
- Some wires, soldering material...
Applications :
- JetAudio Music Player (My advice, the best one for in car use)
- Night mode
- Android Weather Clock Widget
- Mappy GPS free (French GPS app), alternatively Tomtom
Installation schematic :
Coming soon. I'm not able to post image links as new user. See attachement.
Notes:
- I've added external GPS antenna because reception was bad using built in antenna. I've just soldered a RF cable on the GPS antenna connector on the mainboard and soldered the small GPS antenna at the end of RF cable,
- The 3 power on and volume buttons have been deported to accessible part of the car. I don't need to use them usually, but in case... I will be able,
- First tries by connecting DC 5V to the USB hub were showing really slow charging. I'v found a thread studying that and it's mainly due to the cable loss. standard USB cable are low section, and as I was going through USB Hub + USB cable + OTG cable... I was measuring less than 4.85V at tablet connector instead of 5.1V at DC converter output. So I've soldered highest section power cables directly after Micro-USB of the tablet and limiting the length to 50cm... Now good success with fast charging.
Tablet Installation :
Coming soon. I'm not able to post image links as new user. See attachement.
I'll try to let this thread as alive as possible.
Thanks for reading, and sorry for my English langage mistakes.

That looks like a very clean install. Nice post.
I have been trying to figure out how to install my Nexus 7 to my car but as it already has a stereo I want to keep i have to find another method.
awesome stuff though !
---------- Post added at 03:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 PM ----------
I forgot to ask, is heat a concern for the unit when installed like that and... with the tablet screen on for extended hours is burning an image into the screen not a concern when doing these installs into cars?
I have a S3 which i use as my GPS and do some long road trips. It has now got the point where the map app has burned into the screen faintly. I am wondering if the Nexus 7 would suffer the same result?

Nice, thanks for sharing.
I'm tempt to start something like that in my car, but for now i'm only collecting ideas.
How did you managed to get FM radio on N7?
So far, AFAIK people can get radio on Nexus 7 with bluetooth tethering (unless your N7 has 3G). But then you need a 3G or 4G plan in other phone...
I'm maybe build a customized menu with Zooper Pro, with icons for GPS (tomtom), Radio and USB Audio (jetaudio)..(something fancy like XBMC) and maybe later could add other functions like video or internet browsing.

esotericrj said:
That looks like a very clean install. Nice post.
I have been trying to figure out how to install my Nexus 7 to my car but as it already has a stereo I want to keep i have to find another method.
awesome stuff though !
---------- Post added at 03:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 PM ----------
I forgot to ask, is heat a concern for the unit when installed like that and... with the tablet screen on for extended hours is burning an image into the screen not a concern when doing these installs into cars?
I have a S3 which i use as my GPS and do some long road trips. It has now got the point where the map app has burned into the screen faintly. I am wondering if the Nexus 7 would suffer the same result?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've edited main presentation, but I would like to precise that the main stereo unit is kept in this project. Only one simple screen has been removed to be replaced by the tablet. I had the chance in my car to be able to find easy area to put the tablet without needing to remove important unit and replace main stereo.
I'm suprised and not aware about LCD screens that could burn when same image shown during long period. Thought it was for the old screen technolgies. On the other hand, a lot of actual cars are embedding touchscreen tablet similar by default. So I think the technology is now proven. Anyway, I am not using any specific dashboard app for the tablet and so using directly the applications and switching for instance from GPS app to music app.

ruicc said:
Nice, thanks for sharing.
I'm tempt to start something like that in my car, but for now i'm only collecting ideas.
How did you managed to get FM radio on N7?
So far, AFAIK people can get radio on Nexus 7 with bluetooth tethering (unless your N7 has 3G). But then you need a 3G or 4G plan in other phone...
I'm maybe build a customized menu with Zooper Pro, with icons for GPS (tomtom), Radio and USB Audio (jetaudio)..(something fancy like XBMC) and maybe later could add other functions like video or internet browsing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As edited in main presentation, the main radio unit is kept. So FM radio is left to the main radio unit. I'm using the original buttons below the tablet to control the radio. I'm also still using the original stereo volume buttons including the ones at steering wheel.
For the moment I'm using the standard android desktop and widgets that fits to my utilization, as I only use 2 main application for my tablet ; One for GPS and the second for music.

Few updates since last time on this topic.
I've encountered slow charging issue already encountered by some people. It was discharging faster than charging...
It's linked to the connector inside the tablet between USB PCB board and Mainboard. The solution I've found is to solder directly the USB power to the ribbon cable by removing plastic protection enveloppe on it. Now no issue anymore.
Sometimes I had also issues on GPS reception. I've also soldered a 2m length RF cable to the GPS connectors on the board, and passing it to the dedicated windshield area (UV metallic shield free area). I let a 5cm length internal wire of the RF cable visible on this area, and get better GPS fix statistics.
I need to work on this part to finish a proper installation instead of wire visible on the top of the windshield.
On the other side I've also finished the installation of the rear view camera. I'm using USB video grabber (EASYCAP type) + car camera rear view (easy to find for few dollars on the net).
Presentation of the system available on youtube keywords "Nexus 7 DS5" (sorry I cannot post hyperlinks as new user and sorry again comments are in French):