PDA
and Smartphone GPS Navigation
A PDA or Smartphone navigation system is comprised of four essential
components: PDA or Smartphone, GPS receiver, navigation software
and mapping software. These
are available as complete bundles or separately as compatible components.
GPS
Navigation
If
you have a PDA or Smartphone and would like to add GPS navigation
to its capabilities, simply add a GPS
receiver and
navigation & mapping
software. Although generally easy to use, setting up systems
that combine components from different vendors may require a
bit more more computer competence than bundled
systems.
GPS
Receiver w/ Software | Bundles
Bluetooth: Mobile XT for Blackberry
Bluetooth: For wireless real time navigation with a mapping system, DeLorme's Earthmate GPS BT-20 Street Atlas 2007 Plus offers a powerful and advanced solution for portable devices (Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 5.0, Palm OS) and laptops.
Bluetooth: Full navigation capabilities can
be added to your Pocket PC with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless GPS
receiver such as Garmin's Mobile
10 or Mobile 20 package
which includes the GPS Bluetooth receiver, Que navigation software
and MapSource City Navigator mapping for the U.S., Canada and Puerto
Rico.
Bluetooth: Garmin Mobile XT for Smartphones with mapping software for USA and Canada can be purchased (separately) with a Garmin 10x sensor only or
any other bluetooth GPS receiver.
GPS
Receiver Only
For combination with separately available software, including
that listed below, consider one of these PDA compatible GPS solutions:
Bluetooth: NAVi
GPS Bluetooth Navigator can provide GPS location data to
your PDA and can ALSO function as a full-functioned non-mapping
handheld GPS receiver and data logger. The most versatile solution!
Bluetooth: The Garmin
GPS 10 Bluetooth sensor is available separately if you prefer
to not use Garmin's software for your PDA navigation solution
Bluetooth: TomTom's
Bluetooth receiver is available alone
Compact Flash: The USGlobalSat
BC-307 and BC-337
GPS receivers can provide GPS positioning to PDAs equipped with
a Compact Flash slot.
Serial: The USGlobalSat
BR-305 terminates into a serial PS2 connector for interfacing
with a range of PDAs. Separate cables are also availalble to connect
the BR-305 to USB or serial ports.
Navigation & Mapping Software
PDA turn-by-turn navigation directions are provided by a number
of navigation/mapping packages, such as:
Delorme Earthmate GPS BT-20 or LT-20 Street Atlas 2007 Plus
iGuidance
works with any GPS receiver based on the NMEA protocol using
serial, CF card, or Bluetooth interface. Mapping for the US and
Canada is included
Garmin Mobile XT & nRoute or Mobile XT for Smartphones with street level maps for Canada
and/or U.S. are available separately if your preference is for
a GPS receiver other than the Bluetooth receiver offered by a Garmin 10x Sensor
Navigation Only
If you wish to add full GPS tracking/positioning capability
to your PDA when the requirement for automatic directions is of
a lower priority, one of these programs may provide the functions
you need:
OziExplorer with
Ozi CE add-on
Memory Map
Fugawi Global Navigator and DeLorme Street Atlas 2007 Plus can upload raster maps from your PC to a Pocket PC (such as an iPAQ
or Garmin iQue M5) or a Palm device, and also photo capable iPods.
Mapping Only
Digitized topographic maps and marine charts can be displayed
on PDAs, and with navigation software (above) and a GPS receiver
can provide real time GPS positioning on digital versions of familiar
paper maps and charts
Spectrum Digital
Imaging digitized topographic maps can be used with many
mapping software programs.
Etopo digitized
toographic maps are available on CD or DVD
Digital
Ocean Marine Charts are compatible with all BSB v4 navigational
sofware. All 2006 Digital Ocean packages include MapTech Offshore
Navigator
Fugawi digital topo
maps supplied on DVD are Pocket PC compatible