Self Guided (GPS) Tours

[doug_a...@my-deja.com]

I'm looking for a GPS unit that will allow me to program loooong
arrival messages. Like say you're walking in the woods and your GPS
*beeps* and displays "Approaching trail junction, head south and you'll
come to the ruins of an old homestead that dates back to the civil
war." Or, "On your left is where O.J. Simpson did not lose his glove."
Or, "This 5 bdrm 4 bath French Tutor goes for a mere 1.5 million."
Or, "Approaching isle #10 pick up pampers half way down on your
left." Or... You get the idea. I questioned Garmin and Magellen on
this and only Garmin replied. They said they didn't have a
outdoor/handheld unit that would do this, but I could do something like
that by playing around with the routing message feature of a Street
Pilot. I've about
given up on integrated units and have been looking into PDA/GPS
systems, thinking that, if I had to, I would commission someone to
write
some code for me. If anyone can recommend hardware or software for
this application, please reply.
Thanks,
Doug

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Huey...@gte.net]

Doug,

This sounds ideal for a GPS+PDA application. Earlier this week
I saw a post in this group for the GPS only (no map and controls,
just NMEA out) for about half the price of low end GPSs. A PDA
or similar low end computer could run the application. You would
probably create this guidebook in the same manner. To me, this
is what a GPS liek the Garmin III+ or Magellan 315 should allow
instead of providing room for 100,000 sites that I'll never visit.

Feel free to write if you want to make such a beast. I'm not ready
quite yet but working on it.

Good luck,

David LaRue

[mjc...@my-deja.com]

<doug_a...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8pbagl$92k$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> I'm looking for a GPS unit ...

> Or, "This 5 bdrm 4 bath French Tutor goes for a mere 1.5 million."

> Or, "Approaching isle #10 pick up pampers ...

Is "Tutor" a typo or does it have another meaning?

You may have a problem with the shopping application because there is
usually insufficient signal within buildings. The Garmin eTrex even has
a
question it asks if there is too little signal for a while: "Are you
indoors?"!

Are you wanting audible or legible messages? A Psion PDA could do both
but is rather quiet.

Mike.

[doug_a...@my-deja.com]

mjcoon & hdll,
Thanks for your reply posts. I'm really surprised I haven't received
more response from this group. The regulars are usually quite eager to
reply when someone asks an interesting question, but it seems no one
wants to share their opinions on which GPS units have the most
flexibility in programmable messaging. Is this not an interesting
question? All these blank stares give me the impression that I just
blurted out a description of a secret project in the works. OK. THE
CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG; WE CAN ALL SHARE OUR IDEAS NOW.
(giggle),
Signed: do...@rite-tek.com
I'm a writer; I collect, edit, and publish content.
I'm looking for vehicles capable of carrying content from
my "wherehouse" of geographically indexed information.
To reply in confidence, email me.

P.S. Mike, I was kidding about the pampers thing, and yes Tudor was
misspelled.

In article <8pedjj$lg2$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

[Dale DePriest]

Perhaps you didn't get reponse because the unit you are looking for does
not exist. I don't think folks only answer interesting questions or are
slighting you as you seem to imply. Folks usually answer questions
because they think they can share some knowledge or have the answer to
the question. Perhaps a rephrase of the question would get more
response. There is no gps that will do what you asked therefore no one
answered telling you about one.

Dale

--
For GPS data see: Joe -- http://joe.mehaffey.com
Peter -- http://www.vancouver-webpages.com/peter/
Karen -- http://www.gpsy.com/gpsinfo/
Dale -- http://users.cwnet.com/dalede

[doug_a...@my-deja.com]

Thanks for the reply Dale. Oh, I don't feel slighted. I just can't
believe I'm the first one who thought of this kind of application.
Certainly, someone is already doing this. Hey, who's the manufacture of
the GPS units for Golf carts? Aren't they programmed to know what
course your on and give you details about the hole your playing?

signed: do...@rite-tek.com
"Unless you've actually been there, you don't really know what you'll
find."

In article <39BD0208...@cwnet.com>,

[Peter Bennett]

On Mon, 11 Sep 2000 18:35:21 GMT, doug_a...@my-deja.com wrote:

>Thanks for the reply Dale. Oh, I don't feel slighted. I just can't
>believe I'm the first one who thought of this kind of application.
>Certainly, someone is already doing this. Hey, who's the manufacture of
>the GPS units for Golf carts? Aren't they programmed to know what
>course your on and give you details about the hole your playing?

Most "GPS receivers" should really be considered as two devices:

1. the GPS receiver that receives signals from the satellites and
computes its present position, speed, and direction of movement.

2. a Navigation Computer or Application-specific computer that accepts
the data from the receiver, and, in the case of the Navigation
Computer in the consumer hand-held receivers, allows the user to enter
waypoints and routes, and will generate steering information to direct
the user, arrival alarms, and similar data. The golf cart systems
have an Application-specific computer that contains a database
describing the particular golf course it is used on, and provides
information that golfers want to see.

You seem to be looking for some sort of application-specific system
that will do things that most GPS users don't (yet?) want or expect
from a general purpose GPS receiver.

(This is not a criticism, just a thought on why you aren't getting
much response to your request.)

--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver-webpages.com/van-ps