Use a PocketPC GPS on a Mac

Jan 22, '03 08:39:13AM

Contributed by: nox

I've been a Switcher for a year now. Two things that made the switch impossible until recently were GPS and PocketPC syncing. The PocketPC synching problem was resolved with PocketMac 2.0 and another upcoming app called Missing Sync for PocketPC.

For GPS support ... I recently purchased a Pretec Compact Flash GPS for my PocketPC at Fry's (also available from outpost.com for around $160). I popped the GPS in a CompactFlash to PCMCIA converter, and dropped it in my Titanium, and it was detected it as pccard-serial. You have to enable it from the Network Control Panel, leave everything else default. I then downloaded GPSe (the page is in Japanese; just download the HQX file from the link).

Launch GPSe and select Edit -> Preferences -> Serial Port and pick pccard-serial0. Now Select GPS -> Receive -> NMEA. You are set; the window will let you know you status. "No Fix" means you are not acquiring the satelite's signal and it's searching.

Many other features are included, including Garmin Waypoint support, and other stuff. I'm sure this will work with a Keyspan adapter and a portable GPS like a Garmin.

This program is great but it is very basic. If you want something like MapPoint Atlas and Streetfinder, a comapny called route66 (from the Netherlands) is making a native OS X version that is due in April. Information can be acquired from gps4fun.com and www.66.com.

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