Should I buy Garmin Mobile PC the software or the GPS bundle?

So I've chosen to go with Garmin's Mobile PC on a netbook in my 2008 Dodge 2500 but I'm at a loss as to whether or not to buy the Garmin bundle or use someone else's hardware. The truck will mainly be used for towing but I have the option to move the GPS netbook into the Jeep for off-roading.

I plan to use the Garmin software plus Discover GPS topo maps for Alberta plus maybe some Ibycus maps, so other than the yearly updates, I don't know if I would need the bundle. Is it worth it to go with the other brands of GPS receivers as the MKII chips look to be better but will they be too sensitive for accurate readings?

From what I have read, if I get the software only, I would not be able to use any locked maps at a later time. Is that even if i bought the map DVD's only?

Am I missing something here?

The software version of Mobile PC will not accept any locked Garmin Maps. It will accept non-locked ones such as Ibycus. You would not have a device to unlock other Garmin maps to anyway.

MTK devices such as the iTrek M7 are not too sensitive to work with any navigation programs. The sensitivity of a GPS receiver only affects its ability to work under adverse conditions. The data sent to the navigation program remains the same.

If you have Bluetooth capabilities or are planning to add them, my preference would be Mobile PC with the GPS10x. That is a SirfStar III Bluetooth receiver. It will work directly with any navigation program as it is capable of NMEA or Garmin (PVT) output. Then, if you wanted to add further locked maps to GMPC, it would just be a matter of unlocking them to the 10x. Also. you could instal Mobile PC on more than one computer as long as you used the same 10x with each of them.

Terry

To add to what Terry said, I have both the i.Trek M7 and the Garmin GPS10x that comes with Mobile PC. I can't tell any difference in their performance. They are both excellent receivers. They find the satellites and lock the position quickly and they both hold the lock in difficult conditions.

...ken...

OK...so I finally got the Mobile PC 10X from GPS City and I have no joy. I am running it on Windows XP through VMWare Fusiion on Mac OSX 10.5.6 Leopard and GMPC can't locate the 10X. I invoke GMPC and get to the "Scanning Bluetooth" poage and it just stops. the program still responds...it just doesn't see the 10x.

So Windows sees the bluetooth 10X and provides the following info:
Device Name: Garmin GPS 10X #5EQA3E
Device Address: 00:05:4f:5E:QA:3E
Device Class: Uncatagorized devices
Service Class: Serial Port
Service Name: COM Port
Provider Name: None

Settings:
Port Name: COM40
Auto Connect: on

So I install Franson GPS Gate 2.5 and use the wizard:
Summary:
Virtual Com3[Garmin for nRoute etc]
Virtual Com4[NMEA for most GPS applications]
Virtual Com5[NMEA for most GPS applications]
Virtual Com8[NMEA for most GPS applications]
Virtual Com9[NMEA for most GPS applications]

It says that the GPS is running OK and GPS data with valid position...but still, GMPC doesn't see it.

I don't really want to dump the Mac OS and use only Windows but how do I know that it will work on a straight windows machine?

Any thoughts?

Greg

First, you must be using a Toshiba Bluetooth stack to get COM 40. If you want a lower port number, use the Custom Mode

Next, why are you using GPS Gate? Mobile PC will work directly with the BT 10x. In fact if you bought the package which includes the 10x, it probably won't work with GPS Gate. You actually don't even have to set up the 10x in Bluetooth as Mobile PC will look for it directly in BT (no COM port required.)

Did you try that? The reason it can't see the 10x when it scans Bluetooth is because GPS Gate is running and using that device!

Terry

So...lots of work and still no joy. I reformatted the msi wind netbook to only Windows Home Edition with no MAC OSX and no GPSgate...makes me sick to think of all those Blue Screens o' Death. Tried both the Toshiba stack bluetooth built intot the netbook and the Microsoft USB Bluetooth and GMPC still won't see it. I called Garmin Tech Support and they suggested an update from Dec/08 which I did and other than that i was SOL. I then installed the USB Bluetooth stick on my MacPro and tried GPSyx and it seemed to see the 10x but I have no maps for that program so I don't really know. The fact remains, though, that the 10x with GMPC has to work flawlessly with the MSI Wind netbook or it's not worth having. I'm hoping that it's just another instance of Garmin poor quality so I'll return this one and try one more. I originally had a Garmin 60Csx where the power button failed. I sent it back and the replacement refurbished one showed me how slow the original one was. Too bad some thieving SOB wanted it more that i did. Maybe I should just skip the bluetooth and go with one of the other brands of USB/Bluetooth GPS's and use the software only version of GMPC. Too bad GPS City is 2.5 hours away.

Any other suggestions this time guys?

The 10x should work fine with your internal Toshiba Bluetooth stack. I have an ASUS UMPC and a Toshiba laptop with this stack and any version of the stack I've tried works fine with every Bluetooth GPS receiver I have. I don't have the exact setup you do. I have a software version of GMPC and a seperate GPS10x but GMPC finds the 10x with no problem at all.

Have you confirmed your BT is working properly since you changed the netbook back to Windows? Have you tried setting a COM port just to ensure it is seeing the 10x? What version of Mobile PC do you have?

Terry

What can I say...if the 10x doesn't work with either the Toshiba Bluetooth Stack Version 6.00.03 and GMPC 5.00.60. It is on Com40 but there is no way to change that in this version of the Toshiba Stack, that i can see. The Bluetooth is working because my BT mouse works on it and it does connect to the 10x and when I power down the GPS, it disconnects from the Toshiba Stack. Other than that, I don't know of other ways to test it. I've tried it again and the "Scanning Bluetooth" page still gioves me only about 1/8th of the progress bar before it stops.

One question, though...do I need to register the software with Garmin before it will find the GPS? I don't think so. I just tried to connect it again amd this time it made it to 1/2 way on the progress bar before stopping and going back to 1/8th. I've just ordered another one and hope that it works better than this one.

Greg

You don't have to register it if it is a version that included the 10x. You can tell because the software-only version has a green sticker in the DVD case with a product key on it. If you have that, you have to register it.

You ordered another what; software only or software and 10x?

Did you check the version of you copy (Settings-about)and try an upgrade to the latest one (5.00.60) available here:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/colle...t=010-00685-00

Terry

I am using a MSI Wind U100 with the software only version of Mobile PC and a previously owned 10x.

No connection problems, worked perfectly on Com40 from the start. Only issue is that I cannot use other maps unlocked to the 10x in question, I should have bought the Mobile PC bundle.

Sorry, I missed the note as to the version. You did say one thing though about the 10x connection I am not clear about. If you manually connect the 10x using the BT control panel, Mobile PC will not find it.

The safest way is remove the 10x from your Bluetooth manager. Then start Mobile PC and let it search Bluetooth directly. Caution...your mouse may be difficult to use as GMPC checks the various BT connections. I find the Toshiba stack a little slower than the Microsoft one. You may hear the BT cycle on and off several times (if you have the sound on) before it locks to the 10x. This only happens the first time though.

The latest driver for the Toshiba BT stack is here;
http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/bluetooth/?page=download
and will work with your device.

Terry

First of all...I manually connect the 10x as Mobile PC will not find it.,,,but in the interests of science, I deleted it from the BT Manager and tried yet again. I invoked GMPC and let it try to find the 10x...no change.

I agree that the Toshiba stack is slower but in all these attempts, it always connects to the BT Manager fairly easily but fails to connect to GMPC.

Still no joy.

Greg

Do you hear the BT being queried by GMPC (on my computers with Toshiba BT, it sounds the same as a USB device being plugged in and unplugged)? It may take 4 or 5 tries. Are you getting a message that it can't find a GPS?

Terry

No it doesn't make those sounds when GMPC tries to locate the 10x. It does give me a message that it can't find a Garmin GPS and then asks if I want to try to locate a non-Garmin gps.