Develop Bugs

Excellent Product for XDA 2 Speaker Mount 4 tomtom sat nav

I came across this product and had to order one for my tomtom kit, it is the loudest speaker moutn I have ever heard, and the XDA 2 fits in the mount perfectly:
http://www.pdamods.com/products.asp?cat=78
I used to have a ipaq 1910 and the speaker on that was rubbish, then upgraded to an XDA 2 and thought it was better than the 1910 but could not hear the voice directions if the radio was loud, however this mount is seriously amazing, it has its own built in amplifier with full volume control.

I have got this holder for the car, unfortunately the TomTom GPS receiver has a RJ11 connector and the holder has a mini USB port, so therefore i can not use it.
It came with a PS2 to mini USB connector and thats it.
Very sad if you ask me
I'm now waiting for a lead connector from TomTom RJ11 to Mini USB

Sorry to hear that they may have made a mistake cos I chose tomtom cable and they sent me the RJ11 cable - believe me when you get the right cable you will love this device !!

On ebay is sold a little rechargeable device called car baby, it clips over the speaker and then you get the audio from the xda or any other device through your car speakers.

Arkon PDA Mount
Hi guys,
I'll let you know my experience with the Arkon car mount kit.
First what I have?
1) O2 XDAII
2) Arkon car mount kit for Vent and Windshield mount.
3) Arkon cables for XDAII
4) Emtac CRUXII/BTGPS
What you gain?
1) A complete car kit that charge both devices (XDA and BT Gps)
2) A handsfree car kit with a good speaker
3) A handsfree Navigation system
Hope this helps a choice.

All these powered mounts are great (i've got the Arkon PDA Mount) except that they all pick up the background radio signels that the phone transmits when it is active or syncing with the network and that's really annoying if you're driving along trying to listen to anything else.

I've had the same problem as you jashry but I've found a little S.P. (Service pack) to that.
Just turn the 3,5 mm cable so that it touches the Arkon device on the backside. And you'll hear less noise due to GSM signal.
Hope it helps!

Arkon 700 car mount for XDA2
I called a well known supplier of kit based in Manchester and asked for a car mount for the XDA2, to run with (and charge) a Bluetooth Tom Tom headset.
The first set came without an audio lead - so rendered the XDA2 useless for receiving calls.
I called and was rudely told of the company's arcane returns policy which made me see red (working in the legal profession) as the kit was clearly defective. To save time, I bought another one subject to some concessions re postage and return of the original etc.
The second kit arrived - complete with a 3.5mm audio lead. The XDA2, which I specified, has a (standard for mobile phones) 2.5mm audio socket. So, it is still useless.
Tried it with a jack adapter (3.5 to 2.5mm) - sound is barely audible, even with everything turned up and "loud' selected on the Ultra Profiler. So, both are now going back with a terse note regarding the Sale of Goods Act.
Can anyone recommend a good car kit (and where to get one from, ideally quickly). Basically, I need something loud and reliable, that will charge a TomTom bluetooth GPS. Ideally, I would like something that can be vent mounted (neater, less 'shake') tha can be hard wired (neater).
I am afraid that finding a jack adapter was at the limit of my technical abilities - suggesting that I splice this and patch in that is akin to suggesting that I learn to fly or communicate by ESP. I wish...
Thanks

PDAMOD Speaker mount for Qtek
Bought one of these mounts that Jashry recommended, but I'm having all kinds of problems with it!
To use the amplifierfacility I have to use the audiosocket in the corner of the Qtek, and they do indeed supply a small cable for that.
But when this cable is mounted, the Qtek barely touches the bottomsocket of the mount, and the connection is lousy!
Actually I HAVE heard the voice, because I can "rock" the Qtek to the side a little, and then I can test the TOMTOM voice, and it sounds great, problem is this prohibits the connection to the GPS, so at the moment it is useless.
On their homepage I can find pics of a Qtek in the mount, but without the little cable in the corner....!
Wonder if anyone uses this device, and if they have had the same problems and maybe somehow solved them?
/HM

angusmcintyre said:
All these powered mounts are great (i've got the Arkon PDA Mount) except that they all pick up the background radio signels that the phone transmits when it is active or syncing with the network and that's really annoying if you're driving along trying to listen to anything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I'm a bit late on this thread, but have you tried using an external antenna lead on your device? This should direct all of that radiation where it belongs.
I have to add that I haven't chosen my amplifier cradle yet because of this issue, but I am eager to know whether the antenna theory does work.

I too tried the mount recommended (after the Arkons which went back) and the loudest sound I have ever heard is interference from the radio signal of the 'phone.
Anyone want one? At the moment it is just an overpriced charging cradle.

I now have a 'Silver Shield' mount, and yes it does sqawk when the phone transitter is operative. However, it also does that when I hold it near my nokia, but not when the nokia is in its car-kit. I should be receiving an external antenna tomorrow, so I'll let you know whether the theory works in practise. In the meantime Dr. Fresh, I'll take any unwanted goods!

I tried the Arkon mount, it landed somewhere near the service station at Bristol on the M5 when I launched it out the window, interference was so loud, it should have been returned to the designer and inserted up his ass....sideways.

It works!!!!
Just got my external antenna and adaptor; plugged it into the XDAII, inserted this into the amplified mount and hey-presto, you can hardly hear the interference, whilst the audio signal is strong enough that you could leave the whole lot at home and hear it on a trip to France! (Well, almost!)
My only problem now is that the Antenna adaptor is a bit bulky, sticking out of the back (about 11mm or so), which makes it a little lop-sided in the holder. I now have to take a look at modifying the mount to fit the connector in. Will let you know how I get on

Inspecta. I am interested to know if using an external antenna fixed the problem. I think it will probably make it worse, it is direct rf breakthrough from the phones radio causing the problem and I think the antenna lead is just another place for it to splash its unwanted interference over.

Interference
Hiya Cruisin,
absolutely, it is the external antenna which rectifies the problem.
When using the internal antenna, all of the r.f. energy is in close proximity to the speaker and amplifier. By using an external antenna, you have the same amount of energy, but it is radiated from the antenna located on (in this case) the windscreen. Energy is radiated in all 3 planes, so the interference reduces by the CUBE of the distance, therefore, by doubling the distance from the speaker/amplifier, the amount of interference reduces by eight times. You can verify this effect by placing any mobile up to your car radio; it will eventually pick up the noise, no matter how good the radio.
........ sorry about going off on one! Yes it does work; I removed the external antenna, and the set-up went back to its bad old ways, replaced it and everything is great!
(Now got to get some shares in external antennas!)

And now I will admit my stupidity by telling you I was pretty stoned when I wrote that reply and for some reason i thought you were referring to an external gps antenna, now I cant blame the dope so i will accept all responsibility, thanks for the lowdown on the rf.

or you couyld get a holux like received this morning just tried it and its great amplified speaker and built in gps receiver worked with my xda2 no problem

Must have missed something here.
I've got an arkon powered mount CM532 with built in speaker and gps connection but the voice prompts from the nav software only come thru the internal speaker on my XDA2. I can't get them thru the mounts speaker.
Any suggestions?
ROM 1.60.00WWE
ExtROM 1.60.50
Radio 1.10.00

Did you get a cable to plug into the handsfree socket and into the amplified mount? You need this for all of the mounts that I looked at. If you ordered the mount specifically for the XDA, you should have received a cable to go with it.

O2 XDA II Car Kit Query

Hi all
Has anyone any experience of the O2 Car Kit like this one
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=57252&item=6382293875
I'm well past the stage where I should have installed and be using one, (the car is a Diesel L/R Disovery Tdi, and not exactly quiet), but I'd like any opinions on the best to use, or any problems that might arise.
Althogh I have a BT GPS Unit, I dont use any Route Planning S'Ware, cause few have any usefull maps of Northern Ireland, so its the call audio I'm really interested in.
TIA for any opinions

Based on the pictures this carkit is the same as the QTek2020 / T-Mobile MDAII carkit.
It is said to be of very good quality.
BUT: It is also said that when using ie TomTom Navigator (or the like) your car-audio will be muted permanently.
This carkit was sold in Germany for approx 170 euro (about 110 gbp). So I would say the current auction price is rather high . . . .
I was not aware that O2 sold this carkit. I am using the XDAII carkit that is/was sold by ie. Expansys. The quality of that thing is not as good. Especially the mic sound is horrible for 'the other side'
BTW there are many threads on this (all approx 1 yr old)

Car Kit Query
Hi Ed
>>Based on the pictures this carkit is the same as the QTek2020 / T-Mobile MDAII carkit. It is said to be of very good quality.
Yes I agree, part of what drew me towards this one is the look of it.
>>BUT: It is also said that when using ie TomTom Navigator (or the like) your car-audio will be muted permanently.
I have considered this, and I'm not sure when or if I would use anything other than 'Pocket Streets', (and its maps of this area aren't that good either).
Most of the mapping I have been able to view provide street level detail, only in Larger Built up areas, and main routes connecting these.
Fortunately I already know my way between Belfast and other towns, As a result I dont know if TT or indeed any of the others would be of any real use. As a result, I really am more curious about the Call audio from the Speaker and Mic, during calls.
>>This carkit was sold in Germany for approx 170 euro (about 110 gbp). So I would say the current auction price is rather high . . . .
yes I found it on the T'mobile (D) site still on sale,
fully agree re the price but .... if it works ... then ... maybe ..
>>BTW there are many threads on this (all approx 1 yr old)
Yes and I think I managed to read most of them, I was sorta looking to see if someone else has lived with one of these for while, and have a experienced opinion on the it, any Rom Upgrades needed etc ...
I'm not sure how much more stress I am prepared to endure to get various aspects of this great unit to work as I hoped it would, (can't afford to be pulling on my hair much more these days)

I have yesterday just bought this car kit from the company advertising it on ebay, first of all the compnay are absolutly brilliant to deal with and would recommend them highly.
As for the car kit i have found three little niggles:
1) it isn't as easy as other car phone kits to place the xda2 into the holder, this is probably the case for most xda2 car kits due to the body of the xda2 itself.
2) any sound from the pda will mute the car radio, this so far hasn't been too much of an issue, but you can always just disconnect the car radio mute lead, but side effect of course is that you would have to turn the radio down when you recieve a call, however it is nice that the tomtom directions etc come out the car phone speaker loud and clear.
3) now this one may not be the car kit itself and maybe just that i haven't managed to find optimal settings or have missed a setting up procedure (if there is one). Basically there is a lot of background noise through the microphone, speech can be heard ok but i haven't experienced this amount of noise from any other kit, however i am going to try and relocate the mic to the middle of the car instead of up the windscreen frame near the driver door, this may solve this.
Apart from that it is a very easy kit to install (would recommend a professional install due to problems of bodged installs and car air bags!), it is of a very good physical quality and have seen it advertised for over £150 in the UK.

O2 car kit query
see now thats what I was hoping for.
thanks macca
I'm just about convinced
now just need to know where my wife hid my c'card ???

macca: Just a tip for the mic: Make sure the airstream from then vents does not reach the mic. I read several threads on background noise and most of them appeared to be created by the airstream blowing over the mic.

thanks edsub, i'll investigate that furthur, i maybe moving over to a orange m2000 soon as i have been offered an upgrade, unfortunatly it won't fit in my car kit, so i may have to sell it and get a xda2i instead. xda2 is great, i just miss the wlan.
david young, glad to have helped.

Brodit kits
I wonder if anyone has any experience of these Brodit Car Kits at pdahut? I do like the idea of ProClip Brodit have so you don't have to drill holes anywhere in your car. Any other suggestion?
http://www.pdahut.com/store/home.php?cat=378

I have Brodit and Carcomm cradles installed and they are both excellent. At the moment I have my XDAII in a Carcomm cradle which is powered and has a serial input cable to which you can connect a GPS Mouse or charge a BT GPS.
The Brodit cradles also have the option of an amplified speaker, in the photos you'll see my 2210 on the right of the steering wheel is connected to this type.
In the UK TotalPDA sell Carcomm and Handnav are the appointed Brodit resellers.
See here for images of the cradles in my car.

I too liked the idea of not drilling in my (leasecar) dashboard.
Afaik there are two options then:
Brodit Procip (plastic)
MTU dashmount (metal)
I opted for the MTU and decided to imitate it myself from a metal plate strip. Its quite easy from the MTU specifications:
http://www.mtu.no/english/DashMount/DM_pdf/70224.pdf
I managed the get the cables through the airvent that is now blocked by the carkit.

Now did I get a bargain or did I get a bargain.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5196552992&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

So long as you want it for an XDA rather than an XDAII then yes.

I have my 2i in a Brodit kit connected to the cigarette lighter and then a bluetooth Motorola HS810...works a treat. Luckily the 2i fits perfect as I got the cradle originally for the XDA2.
I've also got my TomTom wireless BT receiver on the dash...all work nicely (other than ongoing issues with phone mast transfers causing TT lockups)
Aww hell, I'll just take a picture and show you...my only wish is that on the Mini the holder was locked in a bit higher to show off when people drive past
A
PS - yes that IS a Care Bear...that my girlfriend puts there to "watch over me". I have one of those little dog things that Clintons Cards do (the ones with the big heads and little bodies) in the other cup holder. Thought I'd get that in now to avoid the "errr....is that a care bear?" questions!!

griffog said:
See here for images of the cradles in my car.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Errr....just how many PDAs and phones do you want in your car?? Hehe...

They're not all used all of the time but I need them when performin comparison testing
Actually I tend to use TT Mobile 5 on a C500 most of the time now!

Griffog, yes it is for xda however I had an official car kit, the original I think for xda in the past and that would take an xda 2 quite happily although I never tried it out in the car it charged the xda 2 on the bench ok, what are the issues, is there a wiring difference preventing it working?

BlueTooth reception Sucks....

I've used three SX66 vairiants of the Blue Angle and all of them have Crappy Bluetooth reception. You have to have the phone is your shirt pocket on the side where the headset is.
I know its not the headset as we have tried 4 headsets and they all work great with other Bluetooth phones. I can answer my Nokia phone from 2 offices down the hall with my Logitech Traveler. On my SX66 I cant answer it from my Cargo Pants Pocket with out getting masive static.
All the SX66s I've used are the BT v 3900...
Any Suggestions?

Same Friggin' problem
I have been up all night searching for an answer to this as I thought it was perhaps a problem related to upgrading. Then I remembered it was doing it before I upgraded. I wonder if it has anything to do with radio version, etc.
I would really, REALLY hate to go back to using the default earplugs that tangle if you think too hard.
Come on guys, is there a BT reception fix I'm overlooking? I was in a conference call yesterday from home and it sounded like someone was balling up candy wrappers in the phone on my end and the other's until I had to disable the headset and continue with the XDA IIs to my ear. :evil:

no bluetooth fix sorry.
radio has nothing to do with bluetooth

Reception really suck.....hope someone here can help....

I've been looking at this issue as well.
Per the nekkid blue angel pictures from the wiki, the bluetooth antenna looks to be a tiny chip looking thing...
Has anyone considered (or even did) replacing it with something a bit more substantial?
The wifi antenna is kind of small as well. GSM antenna looks OK.

try I Tech Clip II mini.
this is what I have been using for the past 4 months and has been great.
I have tried different types of Jabra BT, Mobile traveller.. none has worked and waste of money.
until i find this one... works great.

jdc said:
Per the nekkid blue angel pictures from the wiki, the bluetooth antenna looks to be a tiny chip looking thing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Jdc,
I cant find the pic you are talking about, if you could give me a pointer to where the bluetooth antenna is I see if I can come up with anything.

nuttja said:
Hi Jdc,
I cant find the pic you are talking about, if you could give me a pointer to where the bluetooth antenna is I see if I can come up with anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=BA_Technical
and
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=BlueangelNakedPictures
I can't find the page that lists which one is which now (naturally once I'm looking for it, it hides), but IIRC the wifi antenna is that small clipish looking thing at D-20, the bluish one at H-20 is the bluetooth, and the big green thing at the top of the board (letters C-K, numbers 1-6) is the GSM antenna.
Looking closer at the board, it would almost appear that there is an external antenna hookup as well for the wifi?
If I didn't have a cracked screen, I'd take mine apart to find out. I'm worried that if I did, the screen would totally stop working. :-(

That seems a bad location for the BT aerial to me with the charge socket at the back and all that shielding above.
I read an article about moding a usb dongle :
http://www.pentest.co.uk/documents/bt_dongle_mod/bt_dongle_mod.html
I’m thinking maybe we could try something similar on the Blue Angel but with an internal aerial in a better location, a bit like these ones on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200142840418
what do you all think?

nuttja said:
That seems a bad location for the BT aerial to me with the charge socket at the back and all that shielding above.
I read an article about moding a usb dongle :
http://www.pentest.co.uk/documents/bt_dongle_mod/bt_dongle_mod.html
I’m thinking maybe we could try something similar on the Blue Angel but with an internal aerial in a better location, a bit like these ones on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200142840418
what do you all think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, it is a bad location. Especially if one considers that often, one holds the unit in hand at that location, covering up the antennas.
Assuming that is the bluetooth antenna (I'm fairly sure it is, considering that is looks similar to the one in the dongle you linked to), I would think that it would be better to use one of those wifi antennas in the ebay link (or something similar) and try to keep everything internal to the phone. Since bluetooth does run on the same frequency as wifi, in theory, it should work.
No one wants to use a phone with a bunch of wires hanging off of it, otherwise why would we be complaining about the bluetooth range?
Now, if that other connector looking part is the wifi, the battery normally covers it. Unless there is a way to extend that to another user added jack, the same idea(s) for the bluetooth would apply.
I do not know how tight the clearances are inside the angle, as I've never opened mine. one would think that there might be a way to run the antenna wire on the inside of the back, or along the sides of the plastics. Perhaps around the GSM antenna area? Or would that cause too much interference to the phone/bt/wifi?

smtownsend said:
I've used three SX66 vairiants of the Blue Angle and all of them have Crappy Bluetooth reception. You have to have the phone is your shirt pocket on the side where the headset is.
I know its not the headset as we have tried 4 headsets and they all work great with other Bluetooth phones. I can answer my Nokia phone from 2 offices down the hall with my Logitech Traveler. On my SX66 I cant answer it from my Cargo Pants Pocket with out getting masive static.
All the SX66s I've used are the BT v 3900...
Any Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Love the read about this, but there was quite a discussion about this problem when the BA was released. I argued it with orange for pretty much the entire length of my contract, it was a faulty bluetooth driver. and surprisingly enough O2 and t-mobile got it right with their XDAIIs and the MDA III firmware's but Orange didn't get it right till almost about a year or more later. needless to say it started working after i pugraded the firmware later on. since then i'm now runnign t-mobiles firmware on it with the o2 active program ( hahaha yea best of both ) and it's been fine for me. So look into upgrading to any of the offical roms from whatever network your looking for, if' you've already unlocked the phone, great as should remain unlocked, if doesn't just re-run the unlocker

cyberjak said:
surprisingly enough O2 and t-mobile got it right with their XDAIIs and the MDA III firmware's but Orange didn't get it right till almost about a year or more later.
So look into upgrading to any of the offical roms from whatever network your looking for
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is an XDA iis form O2 with the last offical O2 firmware wm2003 1.40.242 WWE on, I`ve also tried T-mobiles 1.42 and upgraded the radio to 1.15 but bluetooth still sucks with a headset!
Maybe you got lucky or maybe its the headset you are using.

Bluetooth reception
Has anyone got an update on this subject since Aug 07?
I have the SX-66 version (Cingular/AT&T)
I have had this phone Since the middle of 2006.
I have upgraded to what I believe is the most up to date programming mods that are available: (other than WM5/6, of which I have planned to do in the near future, I have tons of software and utilities that only run in 2003 edition and I would have to reacquire.)
BA---PH20B1
WM2003 2nd edition
Ver. 1.42.00 WWE
Build date: 09/05/05
Radio Ver.: 1.15.00
Protocol: 1337.45
ExtROM: 1.40.125 WWE
BT- PPC/PE Ver.: 1.0.0.3900
The thing about Modding the chip or placing an antennae jack IS that, all of which that is exposed, in the naked pics of the Blue Angel, are all in fact, canned and can be difficult to expose, to do any modding, without micro precision equipment and a steady hand. I have accomplished modding regular cell phones this way, however, this device is a bit more at risk and can get expensive and messy. I have a few boards, I have acquired through buying spare parts for mine in the case of accidents, of which I have performed with ALL the help of these forums. I will work on this, at this point IF you folks do not have any other alternatives, outside hanging pointless wires hanging around (me thinks that is WHY the bluetooth and wireless technologies were implemented?) With any success, I will report, outside failure, with some sort of procedure and details, that maybe someone with a bit more knowledge and expertise can modify to a possible easier closure on this REAL problem. Sure there are maybe better devices that can, maybe measure up to this Blue Angel, but I love my Angel, even with the flaws!
It has been a great challenge and all of the possibilities that XDA development has brought to the table.
In the last 2 years I have had this phone this is my FIRST posting.
The Bluetooth has been my ONLY real problem. I have to carry it in my shirt pocket using a BT headset and it is still really bad at that. I have used some of the best headsets and gone to great expense, to try and alleviate what I thought, by chance, that I could have finally found one that would superceid
the problem, however, to no avail, I still have the same problem.
If by chance that I could actually find a bigger chip, I think I would have to have the right drivers for it and will have to lead a command string, I am guessing through going to the kitchen and cooking up some ExtROM for the 'moddapplication'?
Blackberry has, I think, one of the strongest chips available. I have a 7100t that i could answer from 300 ft of a house with walls. My 650 isn't that good.
I apologize for being long winded, I suppose I am catching up from not communicating in the past, but I followed the rules of this site, and I haven't needed to ask a question and not needed to help someone else, because you guys have had the answers in these forums. Without further a'due........
Finally, if you have any FRESH ideas or direction on this bluetooth delima, outside using a can opener, .........***please***, let me know............
Best regards,
gcopher
http://www.michellebrown-and-mmd.com

External GPS Antenna

My Artemis did not come with an external GPS antenna. I've been looking online, but I can't find any sort of specification as to what kind of connector this external GPA antenna jack uses. What kind of antenna should I buy?

The Artemis has a built-in Sirf III GPS antena which work even with cars having a reflective windshield.

Yes, thank you. I would still like an external antenna just in case.

in the Premium version, I bought, there was an external GPS-antenna included.
It has a very long cable.
But sorry, I can't tell you, what kind of connector it has.

If you really think you need an external aerial for the GPS unit in your device (which I doubt to be honest) have a search for the part number 36H00352-00M it transpires that the same aerial was supplied for the I-Mate PDA-n, you can purchase one from http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=129590 (at least I can improve the reception on my PDA-n now I know that! and I have found a use for the external GPS aerial that was supplied with my Arte) - Mike

... there is one also available here.
PavelR.

I was thinking of this as well.
It may be necessary to get an ext antenae, because it takes a about 1 - 5 minutes sometimes for the handset to pick up (or connect as it shows in grey) a GPS signal

AD10 said:
I was thinking of this as well.
It may be necessary to get an ext antenae, because it takes a about 1 - 5 minutes sometimes for the handset to pick up (or connect as it shows in grey) a GPS signal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the new update of Navigator 6 on the TomTom site before buying. Maybe there is some goodies there

I upgraded to the 6.03 and it still takes a very long time for it to get a valid signal.
I inquired about HTC P3300 external antenna GPS signal booster but they are out of stock and have no ETA when they are going to get them in.
Anybody have a source on where to get the above product from?

Ext Aerial
The HTC 3300 uses the same external aerial as i-Mate PDA-n. I got mine through Expansys. It really boosts the signal, but makes no real difference to TTFF. It is much better in the concrete jungle though.

How much from Expansys? I'm in melb too so AUD is no problem for me. My last city trip saw signal drop out nicely!
good thing i was testing and knew where i was going!

jdl1306 said:
How much from Expansys? I'm in melb too so AUD is no problem for me. My last city trip saw signal drop out nicely!
good thing i was testing and knew where i was going!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW - Lucky you.
Imagine nto knowing your way.
@Camstech - How long does it take before you get a valid GPS signal with the ext antenna connected ?
Rgds

O2 Orbit Aerial
Hi. Having used an Exec running the same version of CoPilot, but with a Holux GPSlim 236 BT, the Orbit is definitely slower to TTFF, and sometimes gets a little 'lost'. For a few seconds, it will jump to a street maybe a 100m away, then come back, and recalculate the route again. I feel that an aerial might just improve matters a bit. I have read the previous posts, and am still finding great difficulty in finding an external aerial to fit the Orbit. O2 have no information at all, and when I've contacted the suppliers listed above, they have all said that they don't carry aerials that fit. One suggested that they suspect that the connector for the Orbit is now actually different from the original Artemis - although that seems rather unlikely. Have now tried MMCX, MCX,and lastly SSMB - none of which fit. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hiznibz54 said:
Have now tried MMCX, MCX,and lastly SSMB - none of which fit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=5887 it's a mini-MMCX.

Aerial
Yes, I know, but when I rang them today, they were the ones who said that it wasn't the MMCX, that the O2 may be now different from the Artemis, and they had been asked quite a few times for a suitable aerial, but they definitely didn't have anything that fitted, nor did they know what it was.. The plot thickens.. The connector looks exactly the same as in the phone socket beside it, but a few phone companies I've shown it to don't know either.

I just picked up a BT-359W Bluetooth GPS Receiver for 85- Euro new.
The only difference between the BT-359W & BT-359S is the design on the top.
I made sure the battery was 100% charged before I turned it on (old habits die hard) and after spending 5-10 minutes trying to configure the Bluetooth on the HTC P3300 - I am a newbie when it comes to this new technology - it was able to get 3 satellites while I was in the house right away.
The thing is very small also - 82 mm x 41 mm x 13.4 mm (Inches: 3.22" x 1.61" x 0.52").
I would have to say that this is a great alternative to a wired antenna.
Here is a review I read before making my final decision: GlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS receiver review

I tried my BT Holux GPSlim 236, which I'd previously used with my XDA Exec, with the Orbit. It paired up automatically in about 20 secs, and the reception, and TTFF is MUCH better. Without 236, in my office, I was struggling to get more than 4 satellites, and a fix was at least 5 mins. Admittedly this was deliberately in a poor reception area. Swapping to the 236, by the time it had registered with the Orbit - as I said, only about 20 seconds - when I checked satellite status, it had already found 11, and had a 3D fix!! I had hoped for the simple life, with just the Orbit in an active car cradle, but I think if I can't get a simple plug-in aerial, it'll have to be back to the BT 236, and its charger.

Non BT gps receiver & mount

Hi After searching for days now I've finally succumbed to asking for help! I'm looking for a non-bluetooth (the bt ones give me a headache) gps reciever to connect to an XDA2 running Tomtom nav 6. I'd like to use it in the car so a powered mount would be great, but I also want to use it out of the car with Memory Map so it has to work without power too! Am I looking for something that just doesn't exist? What do people think is the best quality/ value car mount? I bougt a powered gps mount from PDAMods, but its crap, the speaker is quieter than the XDAs!, the mount falls off etc.
Thanks for any help, SM

Dude, I feel you're pain. However I don't think you're going to manage it. If you had a CF slot you could have a CF GPS unit.
I use MM too, and what I've found is by using a HolOx BT321 (the copy, not the infamous one) it has an aerial socket so you can use it out walking or in the car.
In the car you attach it to the aerial and out walking or whatever then have it in your backpack top pocket or something. I'm sure you can be resourceful
It doesn't need to be in the open, it can "see" the satellites through plastic. It manages through my works file and a thick wad of tachographs' on my dash so should be ok
Good luck

As for the mount, I went and got a Brodit one. GPS for less, I think, in Wolverhampton did a decent deal. It's lasted me for over 6 months now which on my ardous lifestyle is quite long

Cheers for that.

Right, well, I've had a chance to test this theory. If you mount the GPS or aerial high up, ie on the top of your backpack or something then it will get enough coverage.
However, to be honest, it might be worth waiting until you can upgrade to a PDA with built in GPS, such as the Tytn 2. But that's not always feasible, so we'll try and help you in whatever path you choose.
Are you in the UK? I am, and use software such as Navigon Navigator 5, Memory Map and GPS Dash on the PDA, and it works quite well. I am sure there is other software, but for the time being this seems to cope with me quite well.
If you have any other issues, then you know we'll try and help if we can
Cheers, Elwyn