Once
my friends and I spent an hour arguing over the semantics of whether one
was traveling “southbound on I-45 N” or driving “I-45 South” when driving
South while on the North side of Houston. When you take into consideration
confusing arguments like that, and the fact that some people like NSEW
directions while others are “left-right” people, no wonder Columbus thought
he was in India! Thank goodness for global-positioning devices like
the HandyGPS by Nexian.
The Hardware
First, here are the GPS specifications for the HandyGPS:
All-in-one 12 channel L1 C/A Receiver & Antenna
Protocol: Navicom ASCII Interface Protocol (default),
Flash ROM updateable integrated software
Datum: WGS-84
25 meter accuracy (2drms)
Power saving mode
2 AAA battery operation with max. 4 hour life
Average 45/180 second warm/cold start TTFF
Now for the details. The HandyGPS is exactly the same form-factor
as the Handspring
Modem. The GPS antenna juts out above and behind the Visor like
the Modem and uses two AAA batteries for up to four hours of use*.
The first time I inserted the batteries, I had some trouble getting
the door open -- after that first time I didn't have any more trouble with
the door. Also, the first time you use the HandyGPS after installing
fresh batteries, satellite acquisition may take longer as well.
*Note: I highly suggest you go into Setup
(Preference | Setup) and set the Power
Mode to something besides Normal (I use Save mode1).
The batteries for the HandyGPS and your Visor will thank you for it.
Otherwise your batteries will last less than an hour. A battery meter
will flash when the internal batteries are low.
There are two applications for the module: HandyGPS
and UbiGo. HandyGPS
comes with the module and is only installed as long as the module is inserted;
removing the module removes the application but not saved data. UbiGo
must be downloaded from Nexian’s website
and always remains on the Visor.
Satellite Acquisition >>
