iPad and Navigation

[craig]

wow! Looks like some folks out there already have XP running on the iPad. Could that mean Overland Navigator on the iPad too? hmmmm....

No reason why it wouldn't work.

Craig

 

[DaveM]

Since no one here seemed to already know, I contacted the TopoMpas for iPad creator and asked about using other geo referenced images besides the USGS GeoTIFF quads. He said it currently wasn't able to do this because of the method he uses to send the image to the app off his server and variations in the GeoTIFF format. He did mention two apps that apparently can do this: Topos2go and Bit Map

Neither looks as robust as the app Scott posted about here but BitMap does look to be able to use any GeoTIFF image you like as long as its in UTMs. That could be great for any one who may want to do their own map annotation directly on the GeoTIFF scan, use other sources of high quality map data besides USGS topos or just want to create their own maps to use on their iPads. I'm going to look into experimenting with BitMap on my iTouch but I'd really like to see how well it works on an iPad.

 

[RSB]

sweet!! Thanks Craig.

well gentlemen, after looking at the dimensions and realizing the iPad would fit in my rig, I'm convinced. It's smaller than I thought! I'll be ordering me a new wifi model w/Overland Nav & bluetooth GPS. With the ability to jailbreak and access PdaNet on my iPhone, I won't need the 3G model or the $30/mo bill that comes it. This will be my setup for off the trail use only. I'll stick w/my Garmin nuvi on the road & Garmin 60CSx on foot. The future case Otterbox is coming out puts the icing on the cake! Put my name down on the waiting list... :sombrero: will post pictures!

No reason why it wouldn't work.

Craig

 

[RSB]

the only primary disadvantages I can see w/this setup is not having a SD slot or the ability to have APRS capability w/my 2m radio and Overland Navigator.

Craig, if I understand it right, a USB to serial connection is the only way to do this?

 

[RSB]

hmmm... possible solution to transfer radio data to the iPad from a TT3 or Tracker2? don't know about the baud rate compatibility though...

http://www.iogear.com/product/GBS301/

"IOGEAR's Serial Adapter with Bluetooth wireless technology brings wireless Bluetooth technology to your RS-232 serial equipment, allowing you to eliminate messy cables. With a range of up to 330 ft (100 meters), you can communicate with serial devices beyond the reach of conventional cables. Simply plug the wireless adapter into your serial equipment and transfer data to and from Bluetooth-enabled devices.

* Eliminates messy cables and wirelessly communicate with serial RS-232 devices
* Communicates with another IOGEAR Serial Adapter with Bluetooth wireless technology or other Bluetooth-enabled devices
* Auto-connect feature when interconnecting two IOGEAR Bluetooth serial adapters
* Easily accessible DIP switches for baud rate configuration
* Configurable baud rate (9600 to 921600) DB-9 (9-pin) male connector
* Bluetooth class 1 device; range up to 330 ft. (100 meters)
* Compliant with Bluetooth 2.1 specifications
* Supports both DCE and DTE devices
* True plug-n-play, no software required
* Supports RTS/CTS Hardware flow control
* Secure communication using authentication and encryption
* Supports speeds of up to 723.1 Kbps
* Supports Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP)

Device with DB-9 connector and compliant with RS-232 protocol

NOTE: Due to various communication protocols and drivers, this adapter may not work with RS-232 modems, mice, keyboards, cell phones, and devices using proprietary communication protocols."

 

[redbeard]

, I won't need the 3G model or the $30/mo bill that comes it.

Keep in mind that the $30 bill is only for those who use the 3g, and even then its just month to month. It's not a contract like most phones. You can buy the 3g version and never pay a dollar towards 3g data.

 

[craig]

the only primary disadvantages I can see w/this setup is not having a SD slot or the ability to have APRS capability w/my 2m radio and Overland Navigator.

Craig, if I understand it right, a USB to serial connection is the only way to do this?

Note: All of my responses here refer to running Overland Navigator on an iPad running Windows XP.

I'm not sure I understand the question, but will do my best.

Overland Navigator will work with any COM port... Serial, USB, Bluetooth, other? I haven't tried it, but you could probably use a Blueport on the serial cable to convert it to a bluetooth connection (E.g. Serial to Bluetooth instead of serial to USB). http://www.gridconnect.com/blueportxp.html

An SD slot isn't required for Overland Navigator to run. You can just copy GPX files to the track directory on the HD instead.

Craig

 

[craig]

hmmm... possible solution to transfer radio data to the iPad from a TT3 or Tracker2? don't know about the baud rate compatibility though...

http://www.iogear.com/product/GBS301/

"IOGEAR's Serial Adapter with Bluetooth wireless technology brings wireless Bluetooth technology to your RS-232 serial equipment, allowing you to eliminate messy cables. With a range of up to 330 ft (100 meters), you can communicate with serial devices beyond the reach of conventional cables. Simply plug the wireless adapter into your serial equipment and transfer data to and from Bluetooth-enabled devices.

* Eliminates messy cables and wirelessly communicate with serial RS-232 devices
* Communicates with another IOGEAR Serial Adapter with Bluetooth wireless technology or other Bluetooth-enabled devices
* Auto-connect feature when interconnecting two IOGEAR Bluetooth serial adapters
* Easily accessible DIP switches for baud rate configuration
* Configurable baud rate (9600 to 921600) DB-9 (9-pin) male connector
* Bluetooth class 1 device; range up to 330 ft. (100 meters)
* Compliant with Bluetooth 2.1 specifications
* Supports both DCE and DTE devices
* True plug-n-play, no software required
* Supports RTS/CTS Hardware flow control
* Secure communication using authentication and encryption
* Supports speeds of up to 723.1 Kbps
* Supports Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP)

Device with DB-9 connector and compliant with RS-232 protocol

NOTE: Due to various communication protocols and drivers, this adapter may not work with RS-232 modems, mice, keyboards, cell phones, and devices using proprietary communication protocols."

Where does that one get it's power? It would be great if it got it through one of the pins as that would clean up the install and not require batteries like the one I listed.

My Kenwood D710a can be configured to output GPS (w/ APRS positions) at 9600 baud which is in the range of this device. Overland Navigator can support just about any baud rate.

 

[ThomD]

wow! Looks like some folks out there already have XP running on the iPad. Could that mean Overland Navigator on the iPad too? hmmmm....

Just so nobody gets too excited about this, it isn't really XP on an iPad. It is just a remote desktop session to an XP machine.

 

[RSB]

sorry, I was referring to APRS capability connecting the iPad to a TT3 or Tracker2. From what I could tell (before finding the serial to bluetooth device), the only way to do this would be via USB to serial. The iPad doesn't have USB connections so this obviously wouldn't be possible.

Note: All of my responses here refer to running Overland Navigator on an iPad running Windows XP.

I'm not sure I understand the question, but will do my best.

Overland Navigator will work with any COM port... Serial, USB, Bluetooth, other? I haven't tried it, but you could probably use a Blueport on the serial cable to convert it to a bluetooth connection (E.g. Serial to Bluetooth instead of serial to USB). http://www.gridconnect.com/blueportxp.html

An SD slot isn't required for Overland Navigator to run. You can just copy GPX files to the track directory on the HD instead.

Craig

 

[RSB]

pulling this off the manual...

is APRS capability operational yet w/Overland Nav? Initially I was planning on purchasing a TT3 to give my Yaesu 7900R APRS capability, but then realized I'd need a 2nd transceiver anyway unless I wanted to dedicate the other side of my Yaesu 100% of the time to the TT3. I may as well get the Kenwood as my dedicated APRS radio!

Where does that one get it's power? It would be great if it got it through one of the pins as that would clean up the install and not require batteries like the one I listed.

My Kenwood D710a can be configured to output GPS (w/ APRS positions) at 9600 baud which is in the range of this device. Overland Navigator can support just about any baud rate.

 

[RSB]

yes, this is the way I've seen it done the most. However, it's also possible with it being jailbroken. Problem is, it's slooow. So slow in fact, I'm concerned it wouldn't be fluid enough to use w/Overland Navigator, or w/any other nav software for that matter using Windows XP. Combined w/a glossy screen, the lack of USB ports, and the cost of a a serial to bluetooth adapter for APRS capability, it doesn't seem practical for the way I obviously want to use it, essentially, as a UMPC. Therefore, I've changed my mind. Would have ben nice though considering the cost and smaller screen size of the alternative, an actual touch-screen UMPC!

I agree, however, the iPad itself has the potential to be an excellent navigation device for which it is designed. I just don't think (as a primary offroad nav system) it's as ideal/practical to use yet as it is to use a netbook. I doubt though we'll need to wait very long to see this happen!

Just so nobody gets too excited about this, it isn't really XP on an iPad. It is just a remote desktop session to an XP machine.

 

[craig]

Ryan,

Yes, the currently shipping version of Overland Navigator is able to display APRS stations if the TNC/Tracker can output either $GPWPL or $PKWDWPL NMEA sentences (TT4, Kenwood D710a, etc). See the "Anyone using APRS" thread in the HAM section for a couple of screenshots.

Let's start a new thread or use one of the existing Overland Navigator / APRS threads to discuss it further.

 

[RSB]

great!

yes, indeed. :sombrero:

Ryan,

Yes, the currently shipping version of Overland Navigator is able to display APRS stations if the TNC/Tracker can output either $GPWPL or $PKWDWPL NMEA sentences (TT4, Kenwood D710a, etc). See the "Anyone using APRS" thread in the HAM section for a couple of screenshots.

Let's start a new thread or use one of the existing Overland Navigator / APRS threads to discuss it further.

 

[Oni]

My buddy has this app on his ipad: http://www.motionx.com/

Played with it a bit and it looks really good. He has the GPS HD. You can look a topos, street maps, satellite maps and more. It has lots of cool features.