Unknown/Unidentified GPS mouse

nashr · 09-29-2003

Can anyone identify this GPS mouse ?

I've seen it on eBay CHEAP. It supports NMEA so looks like it might be the cheapest solution out there right now. It's been selling on eBay for around $50.

If anyone knows the brand, based on the pictures, please let me know. Thanks!

vojky · 09-29-2003

Looks something like that Delorme Earthmate..

nashr · 09-29-2003

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, all the GPS mouse products are similar in appearance. I was hoping to get more specific information to compare this one in particular since it's running $25-$50 less than the Deluo on eBay.

I contacted the seller and got a form-mail response stating that they don't respond to emails. Lots of help there!

Oh well, if I can't get more details I probably won't buy one.

lincomatic · 09-29-2003

the fact that it uses the SiRF-IIe chipset makes it appealing. it works a lot better than evermore or the POS host-based chipset from Trimble that some others use. but if their support is that bad i'd beware.

nashr · 09-29-2003

Please don't misunderstand. I did not contact the gps vendor. I contacted the "seller" at ebay. I have no idea who the vendor is, or what "make/brand" of gps this is. That's the point of the thread...

lincomatic · 09-29-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by nashr
Please don't misunderstand. I did not contact the gps vendor. I contacted the "seller" at ebay. I have no idea who the vendor is, or what "make/brand" of gps this is. That's the point of the thread...

no misunderstanding...
yes i know but if you buy it from a seller who's hard to get a hold of you might get stuck w/ your pants down if you get a defective unit.

lincomatic · 09-30-2003

ok i thought it was familiar. it's made by rayming:

http://www.rayming.com/products/tripnav_tn200.htm

i haven't tried this particular unit, but their bluetooth receiver works quite well, so i would guess that the USB model is probably ok.

nashr · 09-30-2003

lincomatic... u r da man! Thanks for the find!

lincomatic · 09-30-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by nashr
lincomatic... u r da man! Thanks for the find!

a pleasure to be of service.

sparafina · 09-30-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by lincomatic
the fact that it uses the SiRF-IIe chipset makes it appealing. it works a lot better than evermore or the POS host-based chipset from Trimble that some others use. but if their support is that bad i'd beware.

I also give 2 thumbs up for a gps that uses the SiRF-IIe chipset. I put together a several of receivers using a really old Trimble SV6, three types/generations of Motorola Oncores, and the SiRF-IIe board. The SiRF board was the best overall performer.

Starpoint · 10-03-2003

I gotta admit that lil GPS appeals since you can use local power from the laptop instead of wasting batteries or using cig adapters.

nashr · 10-03-2003

There's a lot of these little USB GPS mouse products out there now. I wanted more info on this one due to its lower selling price on ebay. Other products are Deluo, RoyalTek, Sapphire, etc.

I agree, the USB feature is nice, but keep in mind it's adding a drain to your laptop power/battery.

nashr · 10-03-2003

sparafina,

What's the cost/time/knowledge required to build something like this gps mouse from scratch? Is there any saving in doing it yourself? Can a novice build one of these?

I'd like to build a simple gps receiver for my laptop to $ave money. If it's doable, do you have any URLs or information on the necessary resources? Might be a nice little side-business for someone here too. Build/sell cheap gps units for stumbling.

Quote:

Originally posted by sparafina
I also give 2 thumbs up for a gps that uses the SiRF-IIe chipset. I put together a several of receivers using a really old Trimble SV6, three types/generations of Motorola Oncores, and the SiRF-IIe board. The SiRF board was the best overall performer.

sparafina · 10-03-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by nashr
sparafina,

What's the cost/time/knowledge required to build something like this gps mouse from scratch? Is there any saving in doing it yourself? Can a novice build one of these?

I'd like to build a simple gps receiver for my laptop to $ave money. If it's doable, do you have any URLs or information on the necessary resources? Might be a nice little side-business for someone here too. Build/sell cheap gps units for stumbling.

First, its not cost effective. Buying is cheaper.

That being said, I did this to build several APRS units used in an automatic vehicle location demonstration (I write and sell mapping software).

I ebayed the GPS boards, trying to keep the price around $30 with shipping. I also had to ebay a couple of GPS antennas for around $15.

The main thing I did is to build an interface to bring the NEMA output to RS232 levels so it would communicate to the serial port. The interface is very simple and widely available on the web and most designs use a MAX 232 chip. I drew up a circuit board but never got around to printing it up. I could breadboard them faster than making pcbs.

I was able to get from TI some very cool 5 volt switching modules, which are vast improvement on the 7805 regulators in terms of heat and power consumption. TI has a nifty program that provides free samples of their chips, they even overnight them.

I can crank them out for about $10 worth of parts.

I estimate about $60 for parts, and a bunch of time ( but I also did it for fun) to build and initialize them.

Another one of my ideas was to build a stumbling version of this unit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3050516018

It would be cool to just be able to dock a computer or pda and be ready to go.

nashr · 10-03-2003

I thought this might be your answer. I was hoping to build something that would stay in the vehicle though, similar to that ebay link. Thanks for the feedback!

Quote:

Originally posted by sparafina
First, its not cost effective. Buying is cheaper.

09-29-2003	#1 (permalink)
nashr Uber Geek Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,624	Unknown/Unidentified GPS mouse Can anyone identify this GPS mouse ? I've seen it on eBay CHEAP. It supports NMEA so looks like it might be the cheapest solution out there right now. It's been selling on eBay for around $50. If anyone knows the brand, based on the pictures, please let me know. Thanks! __________________ Help! I've been Simpsonized!

09-29-2003	#3 (permalink)
nashr Uber Geek Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,624	Thanks for the feedback. Yes, all the GPS mouse products are similar in appearance. I was hoping to get more specific information to compare this one in particular since it's running $25-$50 less than the Deluo on eBay. I contacted the seller and got a form-mail response stating that they don't respond to emails. Lots of help there! Oh well, if I can't get more details I probably won't buy one. __________________ Help! I've been Simpsonized!

09-29-2003	#4 (permalink)
lincomatic Squaaawk! WiFi! WiFi! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tinsel Town Posts: 1,682	the fact that it uses the SiRF-IIe chipset makes it appealing. it works a lot better than evermore or the POS host-based chipset from Trimble that some others use. but if their support is that bad i'd beware. __________________ ~lincomatic

09-29-2003	#5 (permalink)
nashr Uber Geek Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,624	Please don't misunderstand. I did not contact the gps vendor. I contacted the "seller" at ebay. I have no idea who the vendor is, or what "make/brand" of gps this is. That's the point of the thread... __________________ Help! I've been Simpsonized!

09-30-2003	#7 (permalink)
lincomatic Squaaawk! WiFi! WiFi! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tinsel Town Posts: 1,682	ok i thought it was familiar. it's made by rayming: http://www.rayming.com/products/tripnav_tn200.htm i haven't tried this particular unit, but their bluetooth receiver works quite well, so i would guess that the USB model is probably ok. __________________ ~lincomatic

09-29-2003	#2 (permalink)
vojky Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 29	Looks something like that Delorme Earthmate..

09-30-2003	#8 (permalink)
nashr Uber Geek Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,624	lincomatic... u r da man! Thanks for the find! __________________ Help! I've been Simpsonized!

10-03-2003	#11 (permalink)
Starpoint Pr0nStumbler Expert Level Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 2,536	I gotta admit that lil GPS appeals since you can use local power from the laptop instead of wasting batteries or using cig adapters. __________________ Against the run of the mill, static as it seems We break the surface tension with our wild kinetic dreams Curves and lines -- of grand designs... Tonight's movie "Soylent Green" has been brought to you by our sponsor - Waste Management My mind is like a Steel trap - Rusty and Illegal in most states

10-03-2003	#12 (permalink)
nashr Uber Geek Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,624	There's a lot of these little USB GPS mouse products out there now. I wanted more info on this one due to its lower selling price on ebay. Other products are Deluo, RoyalTek, Sapphire, etc. I agree, the USB feature is nice, but keep in mind it's adding a drain to your laptop power/battery. __________________ Help! I've been Simpsonized!

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