[gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS

  • From: "Scott Granados" <gsgranados@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:45:14 -0700

Well knowledge is always a good thing. I realize that most folks are happy to go through their day and not know how something works but I'm not one. I'm really interested on a technical level how the receivers work themselves and how they work with the software. I'm planning on buying a sindero GPS package and the appropriate braille hardware in a month or so when I get a better bead on my discretionary budget for the end of 07.:) I'm also playing with my own software and receiver combo so that's the source of the 20 questions. That and as some can attest to on this list I'm definitely one to take things apart and not leave well enough alone.:)
----- Original Message ----- From: "Flor Lynch" <florlync@xxxxxx> 
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 3:24 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS



At least now we can sound like knowledgeable boffins in conversations, in
relation to Bluetooth receivers and the amount of satellite tracking that
can be done at any one time.  <grin.>  Nice!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin Chao" <g.unit89@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 11:04 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS


The higher the amount of channels means the more satellites that you are
able to track at any one given time, in GPS terms this is called "parallel
tracking." I have found through personal experience that the M-1000 that has 
32 channels will track in the range of 10-12 satellites quite frequentley
while the GPSlim236 using the SIRF STAR III will track in the range of 8-10 satellites quite frequentley. I think the thing to really pay attention to is the sensativity and battery life of the recievers as there really is only 
a maximum of 12 satellites that are viewable at any point in time.

If you wish to continue this discussion, please send me a private message
at: g.unit89@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I am sure this is more than many wanted to know.

Kevin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Granados" <gsgranados@xxxxxxxxxxx>

To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 2:54 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS
So what are they doing with the extra channels? Could you explain if it's 
not off topic a little on how the number of channels improves the
functionality.  Do the birds broadcast more data on more channels or
what's the deal?:) What does 12 do and what does 20 offer that 12 doesn't 
and 32? Thanks!


Thanks
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Chao" <g.unit89@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 2:52 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS



You are correct in the TTF (time to first fix). The newer recievers that
are using the MTK chipset that were introduced towards the end of last
year now have 32 channels. Here is what has what in terms of Sendero past 
receivers:
Earthmate Blue Logger, SIRF STAR II, 12 channels
Holux GPSlim236, SIRF STAR III, 20 channels
Holux M-1000, MTK, 32 channels

All of this information along with the TTF can be found in their
respective user guide.

I didn't list recievers beyond this because I am not sure what they are.

Kevin
----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Granados" <gsgranados@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 1:45 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS



Actually, and someone please pipe in if I'm way off but the channel
numbers are 12 or 20.  The us-globalsat 338 and 358 are 20 channel
units.
   As for the time to fix remember there are different start states for
your receiver so when you power up you may or may not enter a given
start state.  A new fix I.E. starting the unit up for the first time
takes a few seconds.  Around 40 sounds average.  However, from a hot
start state you can sync up in sub 1 second depending.  So your time to
aquizition will vary.:)
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Perry" <kperry@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 9:59 AM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS





Nod this helps I use the BT 338 and it is rated at 38 seconds but I
find
along with the reviews I have read on line I get a fix with in 2 to 3
seconds.  So I was wondering how they could get faster.  I think its
more
important to look for the channels which I think is 32 on the Holux
m-1000
where the BT 338 only has 20. I wonder though if it is better than the 
BT
338 though because they say the BT can pick up signals as low as 13 DB
from
satellites when normal gps receivers are rated at no lower than 20 db.
I
couldn't find the db rating for the Holux does it say in the manual? I 
will
go see if I can find it on line.

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris
Grabowski
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 9:05 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: My Latest Experience with GPS

Hi,
According to the manual the Holux m-1000 cold start is rated at  36
seconds.
The majority of the time, I turn on my m-1000 then the bn then enter
GPS.
I normally have a fix quite rapidly after that.
Hope this helps.
Chris
On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:45:02 -0700, "Ken Perry" <kperry@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:




I have seen a few posts about the holux m-1000 and that it would cause
better boot up speeds.  I am currently not using the Sendero GPS
product and am interested in how long it takes for most people to get
connected with the satellite.

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of richard
synnott
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 2:23 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] e: My Latest Experience with GPS

Hi Joleen,
what receiver are you using?
if you're not currently using the holux m-1000, I'm sure this would
improve things greatly regarding sattellite tracking, accuracy and
boot-up time if you were to acquire one.
On the other hand, if you are using the m-1000, I don't know what to
suggest other than to say it sounds like a mapping problem.
Don't give up, though.
All the bestst, Richard.


----- Original Message -----
From: Joleen <cjferg@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:08:36 -0700
Subject: [gps-talkusers] My Latest Experience with GPS



Hi All,



Let me share my latest experience with GPS.
Yesterday I was traveling to a camp site where my driver had forgotten 
to bring his map.



With a sense that I could be of real help, I took out my GPS and
created a route from Yakima to Camp Ghormley.  I was able to give
directions.  At one point, we turned onto a gravel road.  It turned
out to be a very poor road with wash-out areas.  After traveling
several miles on this "path" my BN announced that we had arrived!
Where were we?  No where!  The camp was not anywhere around there.



With my hopes dashed, we turned around and made  our way back to the
road more traveled.  Eventually we found the right turn and I put a
user POI at the camp entrance.



My bad luck again.  The actual camp entrance was 3.48 miles from the
GPS location.  After this and previous experiences, I now am shy of
using my GPS to do any navigation for others.



Still eager to make GPS work for me, I took time to fire it up as I
was shown from the cabin to the main lodge.  Confident that I had
learned well how to create a manual route, I set out.  I put in a
series of way points along the trail.  All seemed well.
However, after dinner and when it was dark, I found someone else who
was also staying in my cabin.  She was not sure of the direction.
Again, I suggested that my GPS could help us in the dark.  I started
it up and had to pair the receiver due to a spontaneous BN crash and
reset earlier in the afternoon.
Eventually I was successful in getting the BN and receiver to see each 
other.  Then there was a long wait for a fix.  My friend remained
patient.  Eventually there was success.  Now, all I had to do was to
reverse the route.  All I could get from it was that I could not
recalculate the route.  It was only after I gave up and followed her
guesses that we made our way to the cabin.
There, I worked with it until I realized that I had probably exited
the main lodge at a door different from the one I had set as a way
point.
Both doors would have been on the same side of the building, but I
suspect that they were more than 30 feet apart.



One more try.  When I was ready to come home, all I needed was to get
my luggage from the cabin.  My driver had not been to the cabin and
there seemed to be no one to ask.  Again, I tried my GPS.  This time,
I knew it could help because I had a user POI.
It must have taken ten minutes to acquire a fix.  Meanwhile, We got
into the car and he drove around trying to spot the cabin.
As we pulled up to it, my GPS announced that we had arrived.  It was
too late to be of any benefit this time.  He had seen the sign far
earlier than the GPS.



I am afraid my GPS is becoming a source of great humor.  No one will
trust it.  I am afraid that in my circumstances, I have little
confidence that it can be relied upon for much of anything.
I am grateful that Tele Atlas is looking at the major discrepancies in 
my home town.  However, the wilderness areas of Washington state also
seem to be questionable as my trips to two different camp sites in
very different parts of the state have both yielded errors of 3.5
miles.



Trying to be enthusiastic about my GPS.



Joleen

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