Posted by: Brian
on Sep 06, 2010
Have you ever driven by a Starbucks with your Trimble 802.11-enabled outdoor rugged device and noticed that you get an alert "Select network to connect to"? This feature of our products can be a blessing and a curse. When you are looking for a network to connect to, the feature is great. However, when you only want
Posted by: Brian
on Aug 13, 2010
Some have wondered about how the camera works on the Nomad. I recently took a Nomad out to test its capabilities and found that it takes very reasonable photos. Just like other Windows Mobile devices, the camera is accessed from Start>Programs>Pictures and Videos. The first thing I like about the camera is
Posted by: Brian
on Jul 16, 2010
I was recently shopping for a new watch. In the process, I stumbled across the widely available G-Shock watch from Casio. They are designed to operate in the same rough-and-tumble outdoor environment that the Trimble handhelds thrive on.
Here is a product description from an on-line retailer with a short history of the product
In 1983, Casio launched the shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch. This product shattered the notion that a watch is a fragile piece of jewelry that needs to be handled with care, and was the result of Casio engineers taking on the challenge of creating the world's toughest watch...
Posted by: Brian
on Jul 02, 2010
As rugged handhelds become more affordable, capable and popular, we're learning about the different ways people can use them, both for work and for fun. Here's our top 10 list of the most unconventional uses for a rugged handheld:
10. Scorekeeping for water polo.
Posted by: Brian
on Jun 11, 2010
Nomad units with integrated GPS now may come with a useful tool - SatViewer. This handy application allows users to monitor and control the GPS.
I recently reviewed the tool to better understand how it works. I went to www.tdsway.com/SatViewer and downloaded the application (account required, but it is free to sign up). Soon Nomads will come with the application pre-loaded on the unit. It installed easily on the desktop and automatically transferred to my Nomad. The application and a help file were added to the Programs folder.
Posted by: Brian
on May 14, 2010
Now that the Nomad rugged handheld is shipping, we’ve started getting some questions about its integrated GPS. The first thing to know about the GPS is that it’s based on the standard SiRF Star III chipset. As a consumer-grade GPS device, I wouldn’t expect to get mapping or survey-grade results. However, SiRF Start III-based devices have a reputation for tracking accurately in difficult conditions. In order to get user’s feel for the Nomad, I took one on a hike recently to see how it tracks under tree cover. I installed TDS TerraGuide (available for the Nomad) as the mapping application and configured it to connect to COM2 at 9600 baud (the default settings on the Nomad). For my test, I turned the unit on in an open area to get a good initial fix before starting my hike. As with any GPS device, getting a first fix in an open area is always faster and more accurate than getting one under tree cover.
I was impressed with the Nomad GPS performance under these difficult conditions. The unit tracked 6 to 7 satellites on a heavily canopied forest road. The map below shows a track updated every second on the mapping program. In most cases, even under trees, the Nomad tracked directly on top of the USGS map.
Posted by: Brian
on May 07, 2010
How accurate is the Recon X is with the Holux 271 GPS card? That is exactly what we attempted to answer with this user-style test. Customers have asked us how close they can expect to get to a previously captured GPS coordinate. For example, if you were to capture the coordinates of a fire hydrant, would you be close when you navigated back to those coordinates a month later?
Rather than quote the GPS manufacturers specs, or do the standard 12 hour gps test, we decided to take the problem to the field. We chose a starting point near
Posted by: Brian
on Apr 12, 2010
People today assume that finding your location coordinates requires a GPS device. That’s no longer true. Navizon is a software-only wireless positioning system that triangulates signals broadcast from WiFi access points and cell phone towers, so you can find your way in most metropolitan areas worldwide without GPS hardware.
Here’s how it works:
Posted by: Brian
on Mar 08, 2010
Have you ever wanted to see the status of your GPS in an easy-to-use interface? I recently found a great application for your GPS-enabled Recon or Ranger called Visual GPSce. The program is available via VisualGPS.net, and it’s a free download.
What I like best about this little program is its simplicity. After downloading the application, all I had to do was set the serial port to COM4 (the Microsoft GPS sharing port), and the data started flowing in.
Posted by: Brian
on Feb 26, 2009
Since we started shipping the new Holux GR-271 GPS CompactFlash card a couple of months ago, I have wanted to test it out in a real-world situation. The new Holux card, which uses the SiRFStarIII chipset—is supposed to not lose signals under tree cover. That was a common problem with the chipset used in an earlier GPS card.
I set out to test whether a Recon equipped with this new card will show the improved reception.
