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I had an Ique 3600 when they first came out
and I eventually returned it. It would work only about 2-2.5 hrs on a charge. It was nice otherwise in the way it worked. I found that I also wanted a unit which did not require me to use it out where it had a clear path to the sky. I now have an IPAQ 5555. It likewise has battery life issues but it has the wireless features built in. The windows software is more familiar too. The OS is more familiar and the available navigation software for the windows OS will allow me to use the chartpak cds I already have. There seems to be more avaition software too than there is for the Palm OS. I am planning to get a bluetooth GPS but haven't gotten around to that yet. They are available on eBay for a little more than $100. I would like to eventually do a wireless link to the other boat instruments and maybe use an onboard computer as a server. If I had it to do all over again, I would look at the Toshiba pocket pc or one of the newer Ipaqs as they may do better with battery life as well as having a better display.
and I eventually returned it. It would work only about 2-2.5 hrs on a charge. It was nice otherwise in the way it worked. I found that I also wanted a unit which did not require me to use it out where it had a clear path to the sky. I now have an IPAQ 5555. It likewise has battery life issues but it has the wireless features built in. The windows software is more familiar too. The OS is more familiar and the available navigation software for the windows OS will allow me to use the chartpak cds I already have. There seems to be more avaition software too than there is for the Palm OS. I am planning to get a bluetooth GPS but haven't gotten around to that yet. They are available on eBay for a little more than $100. I would like to eventually do a wireless link to the other boat instruments and maybe use an onboard computer as a server. If I had it to do all over again, I would look at the Toshiba pocket pc or one of the newer Ipaqs as they may do better with battery life as well as having a better display.
Patrick,
I really like the way you think. But you knew that, right? Can you explain what benefits wireless will give you on your boat? And this week we did it! Paid off the mortgage and ordered DirectWay satellite broadband. Wireless at home will be a snap too. I can't believe it!, no more stone-age dial up. ;D
I really like the way you think. But you knew that, right? Can you explain what benefits wireless will give you on your boat? And this week we did it! Paid off the mortgage and ordered DirectWay satellite broadband. Wireless at home will be a snap too. I can't believe it!, no more stone-age dial up. ;D
iPAQ 4155 GPS
I have the HP iPAQ 4155 and the GPS navigation software which includes the little GPS that talks to the iPAQ via bluetooth which allows them to be up to 30' apart (maybe more). It has all the street maps for North America. I also have the Fugawi marine navigation software that runs both on my PC and the iPAQ. You download maps from the PC to pds, work great, take it anywhere and navigate both on land and in the water. The iPAQ also has WFI to allow remoteless connection to the internet. It also runs tons of other software including tide programs and Pocket Stars to help in celestial navigation. The battery lasts about 3-4 hours when but you can get a DC charger to keep it charged on the boat.
I have the HP iPAQ 4155 and the GPS navigation software which includes the little GPS that talks to the iPAQ via bluetooth which allows them to be up to 30' apart (maybe more). It has all the street maps for North America. I also have the Fugawi marine navigation software that runs both on my PC and the iPAQ. You download maps from the PC to pds, work great, take it anywhere and navigate both on land and in the water. The iPAQ also has WFI to allow remoteless connection to the internet. It also runs tons of other software including tide programs and Pocket Stars to help in celestial navigation. The battery lasts about 3-4 hours when but you can get a DC charger to keep it charged on the boat.
Uh, Fred
I did not know that you like my thinking - but thanks - I think. I took a while to answer this question. It is a lot to consider. Combine that with the fact that I was told by a twelve year old "You are not cool". Though devastated, I have taken it to heart and am trying to become "cool". It is a tough job and I have been studying for a while to overcome my personal limitations. Yes, I know that you cannot study to become cool. I asked how to become cool and was told that my question is proof of the matter asserted. It is a real conundrum. At least I am trying. I am thinking of wireless linking to give me access to the usual data (speed, depth, etc.)without wires. I can look at a chart on my pda while I am doing other things or in other places on the boat. I am also looking at usb and or wireless video possibilities which can be linked. Imagine having the ability to look into the engine compartment from the helm or having a mast mounted camera which provides a long range outside view to someone in the galley displayed on a 30 inch LCD TV. Keel mounted video - well use your imagination. I will be able to keep an IR watch on other nearby boats while I am anchored. I will have a picture of the guy who drifts into me at 0300 in the dark. In addition to that, I want a wireless remote control for the autopilot and throttle. Two receivers, a little software and you have an absolute compass. Three receivers and you have attitude. Attitude will not make me cool but it might help. I guess I already have an attitude, but.......it is not cool. Other PDA related pastimes would include GPS games and the wireless linked receiver will help with that. See the link for games like MinuteWar, Geocaching, Geodashing, Geodashing Golf, Shutterspot. That reminds me - I need to get a new GPS enabled cell phone. eBay, here I come! If you use eBay as the first word in a sentence, do you capitalize it? Congrats on your mortgage and please make a post about your satellite tv experiences. I think that it is a few years away for us. It might or should I say it will be fun to see what is on your webcam. I think that would be "cool"! An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered. G. K. Chesterton
I did not know that you like my thinking - but thanks - I think. I took a while to answer this question. It is a lot to consider. Combine that with the fact that I was told by a twelve year old "You are not cool". Though devastated, I have taken it to heart and am trying to become "cool". It is a tough job and I have been studying for a while to overcome my personal limitations. Yes, I know that you cannot study to become cool. I asked how to become cool and was told that my question is proof of the matter asserted. It is a real conundrum. At least I am trying. I am thinking of wireless linking to give me access to the usual data (speed, depth, etc.)without wires. I can look at a chart on my pda while I am doing other things or in other places on the boat. I am also looking at usb and or wireless video possibilities which can be linked. Imagine having the ability to look into the engine compartment from the helm or having a mast mounted camera which provides a long range outside view to someone in the galley displayed on a 30 inch LCD TV. Keel mounted video - well use your imagination. I will be able to keep an IR watch on other nearby boats while I am anchored. I will have a picture of the guy who drifts into me at 0300 in the dark. In addition to that, I want a wireless remote control for the autopilot and throttle. Two receivers, a little software and you have an absolute compass. Three receivers and you have attitude. Attitude will not make me cool but it might help. I guess I already have an attitude, but.......it is not cool. Other PDA related pastimes would include GPS games and the wireless linked receiver will help with that. See the link for games like MinuteWar, Geocaching, Geodashing, Geodashing Golf, Shutterspot. That reminds me - I need to get a new GPS enabled cell phone. eBay, here I come! If you use eBay as the first word in a sentence, do you capitalize it? Congrats on your mortgage and please make a post about your satellite tv experiences. I think that it is a few years away for us. It might or should I say it will be fun to see what is on your webcam. I think that would be "cool"! An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered. G. K. Chesterton
Patrick, Whew!
Cool ideas but I don't think my boat is big enough to justify much of that stuff. Now if someone would invent TV-smell, I could go for that engine room monitor. When I open the engine lid while motoring, the first thing I do is sniff! Then I look. But looking is a useless gesture if the sniff test was good.
Cool ideas but I don't think my boat is big enough to justify much of that stuff. Now if someone would invent TV-smell, I could go for that engine room monitor. When I open the engine lid while motoring, the first thing I do is sniff! Then I look. But looking is a useless gesture if the sniff test was good.
Fred, I forgot
APRS or GPRS for locating my friends. My ham buddy came to Echo Bay a couple of summers ago and I used his APRS to locate his boat and there was a link to a satellite picture of it - via internet - real time! Then there is another thing like a spectrum analyzer coupled with a scanner and doppler direction finder to watch the communications around me. What did you think of the GPS games? Seems like a cool bunch of hobby / game activities to do while cruising. There are some others which alert you to locate other members of a "group" when you are near to them geographically speaking. All I can say for sure is that the future isn't what it used to be!
APRS or GPRS for locating my friends. My ham buddy came to Echo Bay a couple of summers ago and I used his APRS to locate his boat and there was a link to a satellite picture of it - via internet - real time! Then there is another thing like a spectrum analyzer coupled with a scanner and doppler direction finder to watch the communications around me. What did you think of the GPS games? Seems like a cool bunch of hobby / game activities to do while cruising. There are some others which alert you to locate other members of a "group" when you are near to them geographically speaking. All I can say for sure is that the future isn't what it used to be!
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