GPS and the ipod

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:41 am

I just realized that the subject line sounds like a bedtime story for a little geek. While this is probably the first giggle of the day for adult geeks, I have a question. Is there an inexpensive way to connect a GPS to an ipod, either via wifi or hard wire?

I downloaded MaxQ for data acquisition in AX. I've heard some good things about the program, the best being immediate review in grid w/o connection to a laptop. Once downloaded I read the small print which revealed that ipods don't have GPS and MaxQ would like $499 for theirs. So, I suspect that they all have language protocols and that I'd HAVE to use theirs, but thought I'd ask you guys just in case. Remember, answer in small words and no techno speak, please-'cause that would basically be the same as not answering. :wink:

Thanks in advance.
PS
Yes, I have TracMate, but we've found that really is only of value after the fact, when you can upload it to your laptop and review the event. I'm looking to get slapped around immediately.

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:44 am

well, i was in the same boat a while back. i bought the ipod touch. and an external GPS that would connect through blue tooth.

but apple has an issue with external GPS'

i have yet to get it to connect. external GPS worked on my windows mobile phones. but not on iphone or ipod touch.

you would think its an easy software update, but i dont know.

but now I have my iphone and GPS works through the network.

Im pretty sure there has to be a few external GPS' in the market that will connect with the ipod through bluetooth, and hopefully they arent $500.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:56 am

Gwen,

I can't help with the geek question (I'm an old tech semi-geek with no apple products) but I can warn you that MaxQ appears to be "almost out of business" according to lots of posts on SCCA Forums. I emailed the owner, Ed, several months ago and got a response from someone else saying Ed is "fine" but very busy. . .

Dick
MaxQ owner . . . but wondering whether or not I'll be able to get an unlock code when I buy a new laptop.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:29 am

DickRasmussen wrote:

... but I can warn you that MaxQ appears to be "almost out of business" according to lots of posts on SCCA Forums. I emailed the owner, Ed, several months ago and got a response from someone else saying Ed is "fine" but very busy. . .
.

Yeah, I had heard a comment from someone who was having problems with getting codes, but then someone else who just shrugged with not a problem, so was unsure. Thanks for the mention though. I guess what it comes down to is that there's not an easy button this time.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:32 am

Sell the ipod, and buy an iphone???

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:01 am

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Sell the ipod, and buy an iphone???

Gave it a brief thought. But, I like Verizon Wireless and an iphone just for a maybe non existent MaxQ autocross application doesn't seem reasonable. But that's just me.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:02 am

quick google search finds this

http://hackaday.com/2009/10/09/external ... nd-iphone/

If your ipod is still under the hardware warenty, you might reconsider it... other then that, it might be worth looking into.

Disclaimer: im at the office today and cannot watch the video, so I dont know how good or bad this will be... or difficult.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:18 pm

Remember that just because you don't want to switch to ATT doesn't mean you can't still BUY an iPhone. Just don't connect it. Looks like used iPhone 3G models are going for well under half your $500 quote on eBay (for 8G ones, anyway). You could still buy one of those and sell your Touch and use it instead with the phone disconnected. As a bonus you get a camera on your new "Touch."

I plan to likely keep my 3Gs after I switch back to Verizon once they have the 4G available (fingers crossed) without it connected to the network any more. As a bonus you CAN still call 911 with it if you had to.

--Donnie

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:28 pm

I hate to be the wet blanket here....

The internal GPS on the iphone isn't gonna have a very high resolution. 1hz is the number I remember. Most folks seem to think that is good for laptimes but not much more.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:53 pm

I'm sure this is heretical, given how loyal Apple users are, but how about Android?

http://trackmaster.trackaroo.com/welcome

No direct experience, but have heard it works well.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:54 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

I'm sure this is heretical, given how loyal Apple users are, but how about Android?

http://trackmaster.trackaroo.com/welcome

No direct experience, but have heard it works well.

Again, low resolution on the internal GPS.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:36 pm

I think you may have read my link too quickly. Itis an app, not a device. It will sync with external GPS via Bluetooth. And, as an app (not a device) it can potentially be downloaded to a future device/phone that has an appropriate GPS refresh rate (I have read that 5hz is desired.)

The comment was made earlier that Apple products don't sync well with external GPS, which is why I suggested this.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:57 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

I think you may have read my link too quickly. Itis an app, not a device. It will sync with external GPS via Bluetooth. And, as an app (not a device) it can potentially be downloaded to a future device/phone that has an appropriate GPS refresh rate (I have read that 5hz is desired.)

The comment was made earlier that Apple products don't sync well with external GPS, which is why I suggested this.

Ahhh gotcha, forgot that Android doesn't have a draconian lockdown on how it works.

Apples bluetooth is good for headphones, that's about it, most everything else is locked out.

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:07 pm

I wasn't aware the gps would still work if you don't have service. I thought an inactivated iPhone was the same as an iPod touch. ?

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Remember that just because you don't want to switch to ATT doesn't mean you can't still BUY an iPhone. Just don't connect it. Looks like used iPhone 3G models are going for well under half your $500 quote on eBay (for 8G ones, anyway). You could still buy one of those and sell your Touch and use it instead with the phone disconnected. As a bonus you get a camera on your new "Touch."

I plan to likely keep my 3Gs after I switch back to Verizon once they have the 4G available (fingers crossed) without it connected to the network any more. As a bonus you CAN still call 911 with it if you had to.

--Donnie

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:01 pm

KouroshNeshat wrote:

I wasn't aware the gps would still work if you don't have service. I thought an inactivated iPhone was the same as an iPod touch. ?

That would be news to me, though I admit I haven't tried it. I don't know why they would turn off the GPS, honestly, but I suppose it's possible. I'm sure if you did the jailbreak thing you could get it back on, though.

But I wasn't really thinking...like Ryan said, the resolution on that internal GPS is going to suck for this application. You need 5Hz and preferably 10Hz for it to be useful at autocross.

--Donnie

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GPS and the ipod

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