First of all I'd like to thank Rob (Z-Force) for kindly guiding this noob through some rough spots. To start off with I'm not much of a computer geek when it comes to the finer points of how they work. I'm also not one for having the latest cell phone or wireless tech. When I stumbled onto a thread on the US 3ZC site about how one could connect their blaZt to a PDA I got quite interested. Specifically, the ability to monitor all sorts of engine systems on the fly. I had no idea this was possible and has been in use for years with some Zed owners (wake up John and get with it). Anyway, I though this was totally amazing in light of the fact that I've had owner my blaZt kit for almost two years and never took it out of it's packaging yet (yeah, I know - get with it John). I spent nearly a whole day researching up on as much as I could about this whole new prospect. I was also surprised to see that some of these older PDA's and PPC's that originally went for nearly $600.00USD could now be had for a mere fraction of that. Which brings me to today where I've completed another hurdle in this project. Now I need to get the blaZt PDA cable. Whats a bit disturbing is the cost of this cable. Essentially, this cable is going to cost signifcantly more than what my PDA cost me. Is it only because a select few make this? What makes this cable so darn expensive? Is there no other cheaper places to find this type of cable? I also need to find a suitable way to mount this in the Zed. I've seen a few threads to others set-ups. If anyone has some pics for their mounting decisions, that wold be great. So far I'm looking at this one; I like the way it will amplify the the O/B speaker which will be very handy as I intend to install the Tom Tom software and use it as a GPS as well. I'll have to find that software though as I guess it's not free anywhere. I though that by connecting the Tom Tom I have now to my home PC and now having Tom Tom Home, I could use that but apparently someone mentioned that won't work - nutzzzz. So in a nutshell I'll have O/B OBD monitoring and also GPS at the same time from the same unit. Gotta love that. Cheers, John
good stuff, but you were suprised that technology has come down significantly in price? The consult cables can be had from under $40 with USB adaptor on ebay shipped from HK
I see they have come down a bit but I'm not looking for that particular cable. It's the blaZt PDA cale is what I need. The price of that hasn't really come down much at all. And considering that it'll cost more than what my PDA cost, it seems a bit lopsided. What I'm really surprise in my search today is the lack of availability of components to get GPS on my PDA. I posted this in a GPS Forum so anyone that's a bit of a computer geeky person might be able to assist. http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=489918#489918
Hey John. I'm glad I was able to point you in the right direction and be of some help to you. The cable you have pictured there is a little expensive because it has the ability to charge the PDA as well as access data through your conzult port in your car. So it's like a two in one cable. There is also a data only cable which doesn't charge the PDA and is a lot cheaper. There is one HERE on eBay for your model Ipaq. It's $10.05 with free shipping. You dont have to get the cable which charges the PDA. Whenever your PDA is going flat and needs to be charged you can do so by connecting it back up to your PC via USB or your wall outlet via DC connection. I hope this helps mate. Cheers Rob.
Thanks Rob. Well that seems to make sense of the cost difference. I think the blaZt PDA cable seems to be the best route and I'll be going that direction. Here's a thread I started on another Forum(s) that's a little more focused about my quest to acquire GPS for my PDA. I fugured why not have this PPC/PDA work for me as much as possible and have GPS on the fly as well. Tell me what you think. http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73681 http://www.pocketgpsworld.com//modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=78542&highlight=
New Bluetooth GPS receiver <$30US, outputs in NMEA format - should do just what you want http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-GLOBALSAT-BT-359-BT359-BLUETOOTH-GPS-RECIEVER_W0QQitemZ260461420360QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBluetooth_Wireless_Products?hash=item3ca4b5df48&_trksid=p4295.c0.m299
Hey, thanks for that Kiz!!! Looks like it should work. If my research is correct I should look for something with about 20Ch capacity, have NMEA, and of course work with an iPAQ PDA. Will this unit be compatable with the TomTom Navigator6 program and maps? I'm not sure if that was a valid question or if it even applies. I see there's a TomTom Bluetooth GPS Receiver unit that's available as well. Any thoughts on which one of these would be the most prefered/desirable? TomTom Bluetooth GPS Receiver GLOBALSAT BT-359 Bluetooth GPS Receiver
Well, I'm moving forward slowly but surely. The PDA is on it's way. I just ordered and paid for the blaZt PDA cable. And I've solved the Bluetooth GPS Receiver and TomTom Navigator 6 (Program and Maps software) issue just a few minutes ago. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310160125440&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123 Not too shabby for $19.99 - (TomTom Navigator 6 Software + Maps + GPS Receiver - SIB) Only thing left now is an SD card. Perhaps some of the computer gurus might be able to tell me if in fact a 1GB SD card is big enough for the Nav6 program and maps? Would a 2GB SD card be a better/safer bet and would the H4150 be able to read both a 1GB or 2GB SD card?
It depends on the maps you want to load. The USA maps can be as big as 1.2Gb, plus you'll space for PDA backups. I've got a 2gb card with me that is close to full. I'd suggest the 2gb as more space is better than havingto swap cards. And SD cards are cheap these days!
Hey welcome back Col!! OK, at least 2GB it is. I see there's 3GB and 4GB in the standard SD form factor out there but have also read that some PDA's have run into problems reading them. I take it you've not encountered any read issues with yours? So you would have your maps and GPS program all on that same 2GB disc, right?
yep! I've got the USA & Canada maps, plus the Australian maps, and about 300mb free for PDA backups all on a 2gb card. You have to be careful with cards bigger than 2gb. Most PDA's will only read SD cards which have a maximum capacity of 2Gb. However the next gen SD card (SD mark 2 if you will) is called SDHC (SD High Capacity) which has massive capacity (up to 32 Gb at the moment). And you are right, some devices including PDA's have issues with SDHC cards. 2 Gb should be enough. p.s. not back yet - just sneaking some online access!
LOL, thanks Col. A minimum of a 2GB SD card it is. Are we posting this from our PDA? Now that would be cool. Come to think of it. Using both the blaZt and the GPS (switching back and forth) while on roadtrips with the Z. Then at the destination, take the PDA/PPC out and use it in the hotel room as they usually have Wifi there. Don't know why I didn't get into this years ago. I kept toying with the idea of a CarPC for so long as well and just didn't look to other options until I recently stumbled upon this stuff. Maybe it's the "old dog" axiom.
Have in the past, but not at the moment! You'll find it a massive pain to use the forum properly on such a small screen and keyboard. But when it's the only option, I'll take it every day! I'm addicted!
Thanks Col. I believe my PDA will not accept the SDHC card. You know it's funny but I forgot all about having to put all of the blaZt prgram on the SD card as well. Although it's only on a mini disc, I have no idea of it's size and whether it could also fit on the 2GB card.
yeh it will fit.... don't know the exact size but it will most likely only be small (>1mb) i run ecutalk on a pda in my zed and its only about 70kb lol
I forgot which iPAQ unit you're using Col. The reason I ask is that I just got off the phone with the HP people wrt max allowable size of SD card for their iPAQ H4150. Their standard party line answer was right from the books as 64mb. I'm trying now to find what the total size of the Navigator 6 program and maps is (including the TomTom Bluetooth GPS Receiver). This one a is bit harder to find the bottom line size for. Hmmm, I had a chance to grab the min disc and look at it's properties - 34mb Not huge by any stretch though. Which PDA are you using and what size SD card?
2GB SD Yeah, not all PDA's will accept SDHC...only the newer models will. I think the highest you can go before they are SDHC is 2GB. So you're better off getting the biggest you can get. They are cheap now anyway. Nice find with the GPS btw. Let me know how you go with it. I might get one myself if it works well. I wonder if it would work in Australia though... Cheers Rob.
Thanks Rob. Ya, the pure SD cards go 1, 2 and 4gb. Then it's onto the SDHC or mini, micro, HD, etc cards for the newer stuff. The vendor was even willing to annotate on the package that it's a "Gift" to minimize the cross border fees. I was pretty fortunate that no one else bid on that package. To a point that it seems a bit too good to be true and we all know how those stories end. Fingers crossed that it wasn't some sort of a scam to some degree. I'll post up when it gets in. As far as maps working in Australia, Big Col would be better suited to answer that. I saw this morning that there's even TomTom shareware that can be purchased/dowloaded. *EDIT* For Rob - http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gps/133815-free-navigation-software-australia.html
yeah... Well, it looks good. I think it will work for you. I will look into it further. I was trying to find maps to use on a PDA for Australia...but I couldn't find anything and just gave up. Maybe Big Col can point me in the right direction. Cheers Rob.
The model of my PDA is a HP H5550 (quite an old model) and my phone is a HP RW6828. I have 2Gb cards in both devices, and tomtom installed on both devices, and only have to take the gps reciever with me as an extra (which is about the size of a large box of matches). Works great. TomTom is fantastic - it will get you to where you want to go, but not always the quickest way (local knowledge wins out, but if you are a local you don't need a gps!) and the maps are still somewhat incomplete (well the australian ones are anyway as some house numbers don't exist on roads). But I'd give it a good solid 90% rating as maybe it was my expectations that were higher than reality. And each version of the maps they get better. I also have ECUTalk installed on both devices, although I can't run it yet on my phone as it has the mini-usb plug and not the standard one from the Conzult port. But there are serial to bluetooth convertors for around $250 that will look into around christmas. As stated, the ecutalk software is tiny in size. Don't worry this will fit on the SD card with ease. The thing I like about my PDA is that there are 4 buttons on the front of which I have assigned a button each to tomtom and ecutalk. Then it is just like windows where you can have the 2 programs running at the same time and just press the button for the application that you want running in the foreground. This is especially handy as tomtom gives verbal announcements so I find that most of the time I start tomtom, set my destination, then start ecutalk and monitor all my gauges. I then swap back and forth as required. Best of both worlds! And don't forget that if you download and use ECUTalk to throw a few dollars to the creator. We've got to get behind developers that create products that are so useful, especially so as to get new versions with improvements included (eg temperature warnings etc).
