Mapping Hacks

Accessorize Your GPS #48

Chapter 5, Mapping with Gadgets

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HACK

2, 3, and 4 AA batteries. In all cases, I get around 18 hours on Alkaline bat-

teries and closer to 12 hours on NiMH cells.

External Antennas

Some GPS units will let you attach an external antenna. This can boost your

reception substantially, especially if you’re working with the device inside a

vehicle or another signal-reducing area. Even if you have an antenna perma-

nently mounted, if you started with a handheld GPS, you’ll be able to occa-

sionally remove the GPS to walk around: just free the GPS, disconnect the

antenna, and you’re off. Antennas seem to start around $30 and go up from

there, depending on the application. (If you’re feeling adventurous and want

to build your own antenna, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/0210036.pdf

for one set of plans.)

Power and Data Cables

GPS units go through batteries quickly. If you are using your GPS in your

car, you can use a car cigarette-lighter adapter. Perhaps you want to track

your location to a GPS tracklog logger or a laptop at the same time you want

to power the GPS from the car. You can do so with a combined PC interface

and cigarette-lighter adapter.

The GPS vendors are happy to sell cables. A PC interface cable or cigarette-

lighter adapter for the Garmin Rino is just under $40. The combined cable?

$50 even.

Make Your Own Garmin Data Cable

Larry Berg bought a Garmin GPS-45 and ...