Four top PDA mapping software

If your journeys take you off the beaten path, here are four products you should be aware of:

• FUGAWI: FUGAWI was one of the first Windows desktop mapping programs and now works with Pocket PCs and Palms. The product comes bundled with U.S. street maps and nautical charts, or you can import maps of your own, such as USGS Digital Raster Graphics topographic maps. For additional product details, go to www.fugawi.com.
  
• Maptech Outdoor Navigator: The Maptech Outdoor Navigator is unique. Instead of being bundled with map data or requiring you to create your own maps, (with purchase) you receive a year-long subscription to download all the USGS topographic maps and NOAA nautical charts that you want from Maptech’s Internet servers. Nice. Versions of Outdoor Navigator are available for Pocket PCs and Palms. You can find more about the product at www.maptech.com.
• SkyEye: This is a slick shareware Pocket PC program that displays aerial photographs and topographic maps that you can download from the Internet or create on your own. The program also interfaces with Garmin\ GPS receivers to provide real-time mapping capabilities. For more about SkyEye’s features, visit www.etree.com/tech/notsofreestuff/skyeye/ index.html.
• TeleType GPS: Although originally designed for street navigation, TeleType’s PDA mapping program supports importing aerial photographs and digital maps from the TerraServer-USA Web site. For more information on the software, visit www.teletype.com.
  
• OziExplorerCE: OziExplorerCE is a Pocket PC version of the popular OziExplorer mapping program. The CE version allows you to import maps that you’ve created with OziExplorer on your PC to your PDA.

Reviewing PDA Mapping Software

If you buy a GPS receiver specifically designed for PDA use, it will probably come bundled with mapping software that includes map data and a program that displays the maps and interfaces with the GPS receiver. In addition to the program that runs on your PDA is a program that runs on your PC; this program installs the maps on your PDA and can be used for route planning. You select the maps that you want to install on your PC and then upload the selected map data to your PDA. Because the maps are typically stored in the PDA’s memory card, the more memory you have, the more maps you’ll be able to use.
Most PDA navigation software is designed for street navigation, and has features for getting around on roads and highways, including

• Autorouting: By inputting starting- and ending-point addresses, the map program creates a route for you to follow to reach your destination. (You usually can choose between fastest or shortest routes.) The route is outlined on the map, and the program also provides turn-by-turn directions to get to your destination.
• POI data: In addition to maps, most programs have extensive databases of POIs (Points of Interest) information, including gas stations, restaurants, shopping locations, and other useful travel data. POIs appear as icons on the map that you can click to get more information. You can also search for specific POIs by geographic location.
• Real-time tracking: When your PDA is connected to a GPS receiver, an arrow moves on the screen, giving you real-time information about your current position as well as displaying where you’ve been.
• Voice prompts: In addition to displaying turn-by-turn directions on the screen, many programs provide voice prompts that tell you when to make turns to reach your final destination. This is a nice safety feature because you can pay more attention to the road and less attention to the PDA screen. Devote an entire book to discussing them all.
• Most of these programs are sold individually or might come bundled with a GPS receiver. Expect to pay anywhere between $40–$150 for a software package. One of the challenges in using a PDA in a car is dealing with the stylus. It can be quite a coordination test holding the stylus in your hand, tapping commands on the PDA with it, and driving at the same time. One slick solution is the Stinger Stylus, which is a cross between a plastic ring and an artificial fingernail. Just slip the Stinger over your finger, and your fingertip takes the place of a stylus. For more information on the Stinger, go to www.stingerstylus.com.

Most of the software and maps that come bundled with the PDA GPS receivers are designed for road navigation. But what if you want to display topographic or nautical charts on your PDA or use real-time GPS tracking off the road? You’re in luck because several PDA programs fill this need. Topographic map display is one area that PDA mapping software far exceeds handheld mapping GPS receivers. Your PDA can display full-color, detailed 1:24,000 scale maps that look exactly like the USGS paper versions. Compared with the 1:100,000 scale vector maps typically used on mapping GPS receivers, there’s no comparison when it comes to the amount of map detail that a PDA can display.

GPS-integrated PDAs

The most expensive option when creating a PDA navigation system is to purchase a PDA that comes with a built-in GPS receiver. In 2003, Garmin introduced the iQue 3600, a PDA that runs the Palm OS and features an integrated GPS receiver.

The iQue 3600 looks like a normal PDA but has a flip-up, adjustable antenna that pops out of the top. It has extensive mapping capabilities, including turnby-turn voice directions and integration with the calendar and address book programs in which you can click an address and get instant directions. For more information about the iQue 3600, visit www.garmin.com. If the iQue becomes popular, look for other integrated GPS PDAs to be released by Garmin and other manufacturers in the future; especially as GPS receiver components become smaller and cheaper. As this book went to press, Taiwanese manufacturer MiTAC announced the Mio 168, an integrated GPS/Pocket PC.

Bluetooth GPS receivers

If your PDA supports Bluetooth (a wireless communication standard; www.bluetooth.com), you have yet another GPS receiver option. Bluetooth GPS receivers are pretty slick because they don’t

• Rely on the PDA’s batteries for power They have their own power source and will run from 6–10 hours when fully charged, depending on the model.
• Use up one of the PDA’s expansion slots
• Need cables that can get all tangled up

Bluetooth devices have about a 30-foot range, and the GPS receiver can be placed in an optimal position on the dashboard to receive satellite signals.
Just place your Bluetooth GPS receiver (about the size of a mouse GPS receiver) anywhere with an open view of the sky, and it will broadcast GPS data to your Bluetooth-enabled PDA. (If you have an older PDA that doesn’t support Bluetooth, there are Bluetooth receivers that plug into your PDA’s memory card slot.)
Many of the companies that manufacture GPS receiver cards, listed previously,
also make Bluetooth GPS receivers. Some other companies that offer
Bluetooth receivers include

• ALK Technologies: www.alk.com
• DeLorme: www.delorme.com
• EMTAC: www.emtac.com

For outdoor use, you can easily mount your Bluetooth GPS receiver on a high spot, such as on top of a pack (or some other location that’s in an optimal position to receive satellite signals) and wirelessly record GPS data with your PDA. OtterBox also makes waterproof cases for Bluetooth GPS receivers that don’t degrade the transmitted radio signals so you can create a rugged wireless PDA navigation system for use in harsh conditions. For an extensive list of the GPS receiver devices available for Pocket PC PDAs, including reviews and detailed specifications, check out www.gpspassion.com/en/hardware/gpslist.htm.

GPS receiver sleeves

Certain models of iPAQ Pocket PCs and Palm OS PDAs have a proprietary expansion slot into which you can plug hardware devices. These add-on pieces of hardware are often called sleeves because they fit around the PDA.
The same advantages and disadvantages found with GPS receiver cards (they’re convenient but can run down the PDA’s battery quickly) also apply to GPS sleeves. Additionally, a sleeve adds a lot of bulk to the size of a normally slim PDA.
The main producer of Pocket PC and Palm sleeves is Navman. Expect to spend around $200–$250 for a GPS sleeve. Find more about these products at www.navman.com.

GPS receiver cards

Some GPS receivers take the form of a card that you can plug into a PDA expansion slot. The two types of GPS receiver cards are

• Memory cards: Most PDAs have a memory card slot that supports a Compact Flash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD) type of memory card. Both of these card formats also support hardware devices that can be embedded into the card: in this case, a GPS receiver. (PDAs without internal memory card slots might have optional expansion packs that plug into the PDA and provide a memory card slot.)
• PC Cards: A PC Card (also called a PCMCIA card) is a hardware expansion card designed for laptops. PC Card devices include hard drives, modems, and GPS receivers. These receiver cards are mostly used with laptops, but some PDAs support expansion packs for using PC Card devices. Using a GPS receiver card with your PDA means that you don’t need to worry about an external GPS receiver or cables. You just plug the card into a slot, and the GPS receiver starts accessing satellite data.

However, note these drawbacks:

• Slot competition: CF and SD memory cards that function as GPS receivers take up the expansion slot that’s used for additional PDA memory.
• Battery hogs: GPS receiver cards quickly run down your PDA’s battery if you’re not connected to an external power source.

Some of the main GPS receiver card manufacturers (and their Web sites) are

• Deluo: www.deluo.com
• Fortuna: www.fortuna.com.tw
• Haicom: www.haicom.com.tw
• Holux: www.holux.com
• Pharos: www.pharos.com

Mouse GPS receivers

GPS receivers that don’t have a display screen but connect to a computer with a serial or USB cable are often called mouse receivers because of their resemblance to a computer mouse. A mouse GPS receiver acts as an input device for a PDA or laptop and only sends satellite data that it’s currently receiving. Mouse GPS receivers are about half the size of the smallest handheld GPS receivers, but even so still have good satellite reception with open skies. Another advantage to a mouse GPS receiver is you can place it in an optimal spot on your car’s dashboard for satellite reception and then mount the PDA in the most visible place for driving. Depending on the model and type, a mouse GPS receiver can be powered by a cigarette lighter adapter, rechargeable batteries, or the device it’s plugged in to.
Although mouse GPS receivers are smaller than handheld GPS receivers, you still face the cable clutter issue, plus you can’t use the mouse receiver to get satellite data unless it’s connected to a PDA or laptop.
Some of the vendors of mouse GPS receivers (and their Web sites where you can get product information) include

DeLorme: www.delorme.com
Haicom: www.haicom.com.tw
Holux: www.holux.com
Mapopolis: www.mapopolis.com

Handheld GPS receivers

If your PDA has a serial port, you can easily interface the PDA to a general purpose, handheld GPS receiver.
Because you’re using the handheld GPS receiver exclusively as a data input source — and really don’t care about what’s appearing on its screen — just about any GPS receiver that can communicate with a computer via a serial port will fit the bill. You don’t need a lot of features and whistles and bells on the GPS receiver if you’re primarily using it this way. This option makes a lot of sense because the GPS receiver can be used independently of the PDA, especially outdoors during bad weather.
The primary disadvantage is that you have to contend with two electronic devices and the cable that connects them together. This can sometimes get a bit messy in a car, with hardware and power and interface cables scattered all over your dashboard. Also, this type of PDA navigation setup is a bit cumbersome to deal with if you’re walking around.
One of the best sources of GPS receiver interface cables for a wide variety of PDAs is Pc-Mobile. Check out its extensive product Web site at http://pc-mobile.net.

OtterBoxes

Although PDAs are relatively fragile and don’t get along well with water, you can find products on the market to protect them when exposed to harsh environments. Among my favorites are OtterBox cases. For a well-spent $20–25 for the lower-end models, these plastic containers defend a PDA or other electronic devices from Mother Nature as well as not-too-careful owners.
OtterBox has two products that let you operate a PDA (including using its stylus) while encased in a waterproof and crushproof housing. One model, the Armor 3600 shown in the figure here, has a waterproof portal that allows you to connect the PDA to an external GPS receiver with a serial cable. There are also accessories that accommodate the oversize external antennas of GPS receiver cards and sleeves. Tests performed by the U.S. Forest Service indicated no satellite signal degradation when GPS receivers were used in the Armor cases.
The Armor series of cases do add bulk to the size of your PDA. However, considering the protection that they offer, the rugged cases are well suited for anyone who wants to venture out into the wilds and use a PDA without worrying about it breaking. A 3600 Armor model will set you back about $100; OtterBox also has other Armor cases from $20–50.
I like to think of the OtterBox Armor products as accessories that turn your meek and mild PDA into a tough and rugged Humvee. To find out more about the products, check out www.otterbox.com

Interfacing Your PDA to a GPS Receiver

If you’ve decided that a PDA navigation system meets your needs (or maybe you just love cool high-tech toys), the first step is to decide how you’re going to use to get GPS data into your PDA. Options for doing so include

• Handheld GPS receivers connected to the PDA with a serial (or USB) cable.
• Mouse GPS receivers (a GPS receiver with no display screen and a serial or USB cable).
• GPS receivers built into PC or memory cards.
• GPS receiver sleeves (expansion devices that slide on the back of certain models of PDAs).
• Wireless GPS receivers that transmit data with Bluetooth radio signals.
• Integrated GPS receivers built directly into a PDA. I’m assuming you already have a PDA or are currently shopping for one and have a pretty good idea what you’re going to buy. Just keep in mind that most PDAs can be interfaced with a GPS receiver one way or another.

Look at the types of GPS receivers you can use with a PDA. Most of the GPS receivers designed for use with PDAs cost as much as low-end to mid-range handheld GPS receivers. Some also work with laptop computers, which provide the ultimate big-screen GPS display.

What are PDA disadvantages compared to regular GPS devices?

After reading through advantages of using a PDA as your navigation system of choice, you’re probably sold on a using a PDA. However, they definitely aren’t for everyone. Some of downsides include

• Ruggedness: Handheld GPS receivers are designed to take more abuse than PDAs, which often fail when they’re dropped or knocked around. Although you can buy ruggedized (with special enclosures that make them waterproof, drop-proof, bear-proof, and kid-proof) PDAs, they’re considerably more expensive than off-the-shelf models; expect to spend at least several hundred dollars more.
• Weather/water resistance: Unlike GPS receivers, PDAs aren’t designed to be waterproof or even weatherproof. This can be a major issue if you plan on using your PDA navigation system outdoors in damp, rainy, or snowy weather, you’re around water, or you have a leaky water bottle in your backpack.
• Power considerations: Most PDAs use internal batteries that are recharged through a docking cradle. If you’re away from a power source, this can be a serious issue because you can’t swap out dead or dying batteries for a convenient set of spare AA or AAA batteries like you can with a handheld GPS receiver.

When it comes to weighing the pros and cons of PDA navigation systems, you really have to examine your needs and planned use. If you plan on using a GPS receiver exclusively for road navigation, you should definitely consider a PDA. However if you’re going to be using GPS primarily in an outdoor setting, you’re probably better off with a handheld GPS receiver. If you’re leaning toward a PDA navigation system (or already have one) and want to operate it out in the elements, at least buy an OtterBox or some type of protective bag. I guarantee that your repair and replacement bills will be considerably less compared with stowing your PDA in a jacket pocket.

What are PDA advantages compared to regular GPS receiver?

Aside from being cool, a PDA might make sense for you as part of a personal navigation system for a number of reasons. Some of the advantages include

• Larger screens: PDAs have larger, higher-resolution, color screens compared with handheld GPS receivers. This is a big plus if your eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be — and it’s really important if you’re using the PDA while driving. You want to be able to quickly glance at a map on the screen, determine your location, and then get your eyes back on the road.
• More maps: Most of the maps that you can upload to GPS receivers don’t have a lot of detail; especially the topographic maps. These maps tend to be vector line maps and don’t have the resolution or detail found on paper maps that you’d use for hiking. Several mapping programs are available for PDAs that support all types of maps, and you can even create your own custom maps. With a PDA, you can use more detailed maps, like scanned, color 1:24,000 topographic maps. Bonus: You’re not locked in to using only a GPS receiver manufacturer’s proprietary software and maps.
• Expandable memory: Unlike many GPS receivers, which have fixed amounts of memory, most PDAs support expandable memory with plug-in memory cards. The only limitation to the number of the maps and amount of data that you can store is the size of the memory card.
• Usability: Although handheld GPS receivers are fairly easy to use, the user interfaces found on PDAs are even simpler. Using a touch screen and stylus to enter data and commands is a lot faster and easier than using the buttons on a handheld GPS receiver.
• Custom programs: Developers can easily write custom programs for PDAs that access the data output from a GPS receiver. If you’re collecting information that’s based on location data, this can make your job much easier than pressing buttons on a GPS receiver and then handwriting remarks in a field notebook.
• PDA features: PDAs have all sorts of useful programs such as address books, contact lists, and databases designed for readily storing data. A fair amount of this information tends to be location based (like addresses), and having a single information/navigation device is the definition of practical.

Choosing between a GPS Receiver and a PDA

Personal digital assistants (PDAs), such as a Pocket PC or Palm, are a popular way of accessing GPS information. The PDA processes satellite data from a GPS receiver and then displays your current location in a mapping program.
You can use many different types of GPS receivers with PDAs, including handheld, mouse, wireless, and card. This chapter helps you navigate through the PDA/GPS maze by reviewing the different hardware and software options and comparing common, handheld GPS receivers with PDAs that use GPS. I start things off by discussing some of the advantages and disadvantages of PDA-based navigation systems. You might wonder why anyone would you want to use a PDA instead of a handheld, consumer GPS receiver. That’s a very good question; you gadget junkies out there who have your hands raised and are answering, “Because it’s cool,” please put your hands down and continue reading. You’ll find compelling advantages and disadvantages to using a PDA with GPS that are based on your intended use and needs. To see whether you should even be considering a PDA navigation system, review some of the pros and cons right from the start.