How many people run a GPS setup in their rigs? For those of you that do, how do you run them? I have heard some people talking about having a laptop running on their seat with the GPS. I have a PDA (palm computer) that can run a GPS unit and a pretty sweet voice operated software application along with it. Anybody done this in their rig?

 

That's a cool idea Cyber. Right now I don't have a GPS unit (but i'm going to buy one with my birthday money on Monday ) I'm probably going to set mine up like Corey has his (i'm getting a Garmin Etrex Legend) I don't have a laptop, otherwise I would definitely rig something up so I could bring my laptop in my truck and have it connected to the GPS Out of curiousity what kind of PDA do you have? I have a Handspring Visor and I think that's a cool idea that you can connect your GPS to it.

-Braden

 

I have a HP Jornada 568. I was reading in my Pocket PC magazine about a company that has the GPS package (software and GPS unit). Visit their website for some more information.

I kind of figured that I could mount it somewhere near where a lot of folks seem to be mounting their cell phones and what not.

 

My setup is on page one of my mods section.

It is not a GPS for finding grocery stores, or theatres.
It's used primarily for mapping waypoints while out wheelin'.

I have an adaptor for it to run it from the rig.
I have been experimenting lately with it hooked up to a laptop to auto make waypoints and tracks on a map from my software.
It's a lot of fun.

I look forward to using the laptop next time I hit the mountains.
This way, I can have a well detailed map to print out or reload the waypoints up in the laptop, or the GPS by itself, and find a spot to get back to it again.

Last time we went we found a nice hidden lake.
It would have been cool to have mapped it, but we know how to get back to it

 

I have a Garmin GPS with a laptop.

Other than a little testing, I have not used it around town. I got it to use for driving out in the boonies. So far I've just been using it to tell where I am, and not much for where I want to go by putting in waypoints, or things like Forest Service road numbers that don't show up on satelite photos or USGS topo maps. I've been looking at dual-battery schemes to keep it all powered up and ready to go when I stop for a few minutes, without worrying about leaving something on overnight and draining my starting battery.

I have a Xenarc LCD screen hooked up to the laptop, and lately have been eyeing some of the mini-itx format PCs boards for more of a permanent install. For those who like mp3s, you could use the pc for tunes as well. (not sure if both at the same time) I have dreamed up a few other things as well. You can hook up to the OBD-II port and get some limited semi-real-time engine data out too. Maybe even a video cam out the back to see what I'm about to back into! (I tend to dream up projects like this that are more electronic gadget oriented than hard-core rock crawling.)

For auto use with a computer, if I was starting from scratch, I'd get a "dumb" gps without any screen that just starts up and runs without having to push buttons like I do on the Garmin. The Garmin is still handy for hiking though although it doesn't do too well in the trees in my experience.

I'd like to try some in-city navigation with route instructions, but don't have the time now. I'm curious how it does when you get around tall buildings. I have trouble with the sat. signals dropping out on forest roads with tall trees around. I need to take the external antenna I have off the dash and try it on the 4Runner's roof to see if that would work better.

Alan

 

I run a Garmin eTrex Vista GPS on the dash with all of the topo maps for Western Washington loaded into it. In addition, I hook it up to a Dell notebook with a topo of the Western United States loaded into it. I can track my progress on the color topo in real time as well as recording my track data in the GPS for future download.

The laptop also does double duty by being wired into my OBDII port allowing me to monitor the trucks vital systems in real-time as I am wheeling.

Since it's unhealthy to spend too much time staring at the laptop while driving/wheeling, I usually just glance at the topo from time to see where I am at and let it record my track in the background. With my OBDII software I can set alarms to notify me of certain events and to record various settings like spark advance, fuel pressure and the like, so I usually just let it run in the background unless I am trouble shooting something.

It is kind of fun to use the time stamps to compare the two records. It is interesting to see the OBDII trace showing that the engine is working harder and just how much, when the GPS trace shows a serious hill climb being attempted

 

Which OBDII adapter did you go with?

 

I have the triple interface system from http://www.obd-2.com and their software for monitoring.

We did a group buy at the beginning of the summer and actually got a pretty good deal on the package.

 

Yep, that is the one I have been considering for the past year. I emailed them a question and haven't gotten a response for a few weeks now, I guess I will try here. Do you know if it supports any of the custom Toyota codes, specifically the one that will let you remove or add keys to the ECU. I got mine used, and it only came with one key. I would like to remove the other 2 from eing able to start the thing, but the local dealership wants way too much for 3 minutes of scan tool time.

 

i have one of those garmin Etrex things, but havnt used it in my rig yet. i use it on my boat, but i am going to try it in rig. i want to see how corey has his mounted. i have a friend with one of these that uses it in his car - he just velcroed (sp?) it on to his dash.

as far as battery problems go, get a cigarette lighter plug in, i have one of those and it works great on my boat, and i assume it will in my truck.

 

Add and remove keys from the ECU? I have no idea what you are referring to, so if it does, it's a feature that I have not used yet. What kind of "key" do you mean? I am intrigued.

 

I don't recall how Corey has his mounted, but I have a mount for mine from Garmin. The base velcro's onto the dash, then the top of the mount can be snapped in or removed. The GPS just clicks into it. They also make a mount with similar structure that suction cups onto the windshield.

The cig adapter is a good bet Save those batteries for when you have the unit out of the rig

 

I have a 99 and the keys have a chip in them that is part of the security system. There are 3 keys that can start the truck, but I only possess one of them. The procedure to add/remove keys that are allowed to start the truck is done through OBD II. It is probably only available to service centers that pay boocoos for the official Toyota OBD-II software. Oh well.

 

Wow! That is pretty cool. I wasn't aware of that feature being on Toyota's.

I have not seen anything of the kind in the software for that unit, but I haven't been looking for it either. I will keep an eye open for anything that looks like that, but I would think I would have noticed it by now.

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

 

My setup:
http://www.pnw4runners.net/tando/mod4.jpg

http://www.pnw4runners.net/tando/mod4a.jpg

http://www.pnw4runners.net/tando/mod4b.jpg

Homemade one from Jay.
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/minutemods/gps_mount/

 

I want this:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pi...,34228,00.html

but there are several mods I will be doing in the next couple of months that I would much rather spend the cash on. $2000 is just too much for that thing but I've found it online for as low as $1895.

 

Corey - i have the exact same little GPS. its great, but not too good for boat use. got lost in the fog this summer with it acually. so i think i am going to buy a new GPS for my boat, and i will throw the little yellow one in my truck.

 

YES!!! I just got my Garmin ETrex today in the mail. I have played around with it for alittle, but I still have to get used to it. It is really cool so far. I can't wait to get out and try it out. It looks like it will be quite some fun. I want to get the cig. adapter and the link for the comp. I will have to see how that works out. :fireman:

 

Another company that has a lot of mounts for GPS units, cell phones, etc. is RAM. They have this ball and socket system (actually 3 sizes) and thats what I have. You can find them listed on the web.

I have the same OBD-II adapter that Rob gave the link too (except I didn't get the triple system version) but I have only tried it a little with the engine on in the driveway. I keep saying I'm going to record some baseline data I could use to compare against if there is a problem some time. I seem to end up buying things like that and never having the time to use them.

As for registering keys, the manual for my 2000 4Runner describes a procedure that doesn't involve the hand-held tester using the accelerator and brake pedal.

There was something in the news recently about manufacturers and the "secret" codes that aren't mandated by law. I'm not sure if Congress decided to make them provide data so independent shops could get them or not. Access to security code type stuff was (I think) one of the reasons cited for not making that info easier to get. I'd agree that there might be stuff that crooks shouldn't know about, but the serious ones probalby already know it anyway. Being a little cynical, I suspect repair business for dealers is also a big factor. If it really happens, it will be interesting to see if there is anything else useful on that port.

 

I currently use the Garmin GPS V. I am very happy with the unit and its routing capabilities. I use GPS at work every day, and I must say that this unit really is a lot of bang for the buck. I used to run the Delorme GPS receiver/software on my Palm IIIc PDA. That also worked reasonably well, but there weren't as many options as there are with the Garmin unit. Take care and good luck.

Clay