Project - GPS Modification

No news from me - I sold my AA1 and I'm waiting for something new...

Antenna: I don't think so. There is a space but good only enough to put flat Bluetooth PCB... I do not know what is the size of this patch antenna but you can try to install this along left LCD edge under cover...

 

Well, over at the Dell site, http://mydellmini.com/forum/integrated-gps-on-my-mini-9-t167.html someone has been able to do it with a very tiny hacked apart USB GPS, no antenna needed!
http://www.buygpsnow.com/Canmore-GT-730F-USB-GPS-Dongle-with-A-GPS-Support__1037.aspx

 

Looks VERY, VERY GOOD. Best part is placing all module under Mini 9 - that means chip must very sensitive...

 

My soldering skillz are not 37i73 enough to do this job, but assuming I DID get the thing installed, what software (on Windows XP) would be best???

I mean which mapping software; i.e., Microsoft Streets and Trips, etc...

 

Ordering it tonight.

 

I heard Google Maps is starting to be full SatNav software if you have GPS enabled PC and is available for free...

I'm thinking about the same TBH. Apart from that I would like to put this GPS to EeePC 901 as it is very slim unit... Then I have to order two...

 

It's really cheap - for me at least, don't know what the price is across the pond or what shipping would be like, but I was expecting to pay ~$90 for a decent GPS unit.

I wonder what I can do to reduce interference from the inside of my computer. Electrical tape?

 

Do you know where I can get more info on this? Thanks.

 

My mistake. That's for mobile phones...

 

No problem. That's what I had read too, so I was curious when you said there's something available for PCs.

 

Electrical tape will only isolate device from any shorts. Interferences can be isolated only by shielding device with some metal/aluminium cover. In that case it is a bit odd because you need GPS to receive signal as good as possible - with any shielding I'm afraid it's not possible...

 

I'm wondering if the problem is the metal shielding from the keyboard and top cover or just the intererence from the mobo electronics causing bad gps pickups.

Here's another very small and thin GPS receiver with antenna..
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8416

I thinkthe only locations to stick a GPS receiver to be free of metal shielding is on the left side of the touchpad or on the rear of the LCD screen. There's just no other place to put it.

 

Speaking of which, I bought the SparkFun USB, which is a perfect size. However, I noticed that even with the GPS device installed underneath the plastic near the right side (the ONLY place I had room) it still doesn't have enough reception to pick up the satellite signal. Therefore, I'm going to mod the back of the display and set the antenna on the back of it. I'll use Acrylic Cement to make the fit seamless, and I'll drill a hole for the USB connectors. I hope this will ultimately solve the GPS issue! I may post pictures after I'm done.

 

Which USB unit did you get? I actually have 2 GPS USB dongle receivers now, a Navisys, and a Canmore one. I ordered the small GPS antenna and I'm gonna solder that to the Canmore and see if I can stick that on the left palm rest of my A1.

But first, I'm gonna see if it picks up any GPS birds with that little antenna outside the computer. Are you actually gonna cut a little square hole to stick out your GPS antenna patch on the rear of the LCD?

I actually wouldn't mind doing something like this but I'm not sure if the LCD will interfere with the signal since being so close to it. Also the GPS receiver would have to be thin to fit between the panel and LCD.

 

I was thinking about exactly the same but never clarified that the gap between LCD panel and plastic cover is big enough to fit GPS unit... Hope it will work for you as I want GPS module in my AA1 for couple of programs - mostly Amateur Radio and APRS software and build-in GPS will avoid extra cables etc...

 

Okay, so I put the GPS on the back of the display lid, and it's doing a great job picking up the satellite signals. Outside of device, clear view of satellites. Go figure.

The problem now is that I need to put the cover back on the display, but it leaves a nasty little gap. I've tried using some Kapton tape to keep it in place but it looks awful.

I was thinking of using some epoxy to hold it in place, but my question is, is there black epoxy I can get, and is it electrically neutral? If so, I can use that to put around the device, and it should seal it off, making it look really nice.

Thoughts?

 

What GPS unit did you get?

I have a Navisys http://store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/nagrusbgpsdo.html one and just got the small gps antenna from sparkfun.com. Soldered that small antenna to my unit and I'm getting dick for reception from it.



So I need to try something else here.

 

which software and hardware combo do you people use? also which mappack?
Ive looked on ebay, tried googling, etc. but if I'm to do the gps mod, I want to have a better map than the gps you buy for like 200$, or its not really worth the hassle IMO.

 

Installed a thinner antenna on the Navisys unit and was testing it outside of the computer and was getting good signal. Placing it inside was a different story, did not get any reception there. So it may appear that the receiver is really sensitive to the EMI that the board is making. Will probably play with my other receiver.

 

Just I side question; When living in Europe, what kind of voice assisted navigation programs are available? I can only find updated programs for North America.