I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion for me. I am using nRoute on a net book and frankly the driving directions are a bit too small to see while I am driving (without stopping and taking out my reading glasses)

Is there a way to increase the font size or the actual window below the tabs? (yes, I could just use my full sized laptop but that defeats the purpose of the smaller netbook for travel)

Next question: I heard that Garmin Mobil PC might be easier to see/use. Would there be an problem with using my current South Africa city navigator maps and current Garmin GPS 10X sensor if I change from nRoute to Mobil PC?

Really appreciate any help with this!

Alan

If the Africa map you use is not a locked version, You could use it with Mobile PC. If it is a map you have unlocked to another device, you would have to get the version of Mobile PC that comes with a GPS (10x or 20x) and buy another unlock code for your map.

Any GPS will work anywhere in the world.

Terry

If Alan's map is locked and he therefore needs the version of Mobile PC with a sensor will this work?

The version which includes Garmin USB GPS10x or 20x receiver does not include a product key. The product key is not needed for Garmin Mobile PC to function with the included GPS receiver.

The software-only version of Garmin Mobile PC does include a product key (on the inside of the DVD case, on a big green sticker). The product key enables the program to be used with any 3rd party GPS receiver supporting NMEA standard.

I don't think there is any difference between these two versions. I think it is the same DVD, the difference is what you do when you get to this screen in the installation.

(See Attached)

As Alan already has a Garmin GPS 10X sensor could he not just purchase the software only version (cheaper) but use his 10x to unlock Mobile PC instead of using the code that comes with the software package?

He wouldn't have to buy another 10x so he could save the software unlock code for future use. If his maps are unloced to the 10x he already owns he should still be able to view them in MapSource and so should be able to transfer them into Mobile PC?

Attached Images

garmin-mobile-pc-review-004.gif (14.0 KB)

You can use an unlock code to load maps to the hardware version of Mobile PC. The unlock code applies to the included GPS receiver.

You can not unlock maps for the software version of Mobile PC regardless of what GPS you have, even a Garmin model.

Terry

But there isn't any difference in the DVD Software bundled with a receiver or the DVD in the Software only version. It is the exact same DVD (I believe). See my post above. I've edited it a bit to try to explain my point more clearly.

As you say, the software DVD comes with a big green sticker with a number you enter at the first screen. If you don't have that sticker, you specify use Garmin GPS. But that is not any old Garmin GPS, rather the one that ships with the product. I don't think NMEA is the issue other than PVT allows the Garmin GPS to report its serial number to the software

I may have tried using my 10x with a hardware version of Mobile PC but can't remember. But I bet it would not work. If you have reason to believe otherwise, I may be able to test it as I have both the hardware and software. Just not sure if I have any computers left not GMPC equipped.

Terry

I can't see how the DVD has any idea which Garmin GPS ships with the product. I can't see how Garmin could insert that information into a mass produced DVD. It probably looks for a 10x or a 20x but that's probably as much as it knows. It gets the serial number off the 10x when you tell it to find it during installation and unlocks itself to that (and ony that from then on) GSP.

I've never purchased a Software Only version so I can't try it. If you can find another computer somewhere to try it on I'm sure we'd all like to know the result.

I have both the hardware and software versions and a previous unrelated 10x. The computer I am building may not have GMPC on it yet so I'll give it a try tommorrow when the company leaves (if they ever get here!). I think it has to do with a range of appropriate serial numbers but could be wrong.


Terry

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I definitely have one computer that has never had Mobile PC on it. I only have the software-only version. And I have an unrelated 10x (bought it to use with Mobile XT on my Palm). So I'll try installing from the DVD I got with my software-only version but this time when it first comes up, instead of giving it the product key I'll tell it to connect to my 10x and see if that will link it to my 10x.

Aside from that bit of uncertainty, here's what I know for sure:

1. Once you activate the software-only version with the product code on the big green sticky inside the case, it will never work properly with a Garmin GPS receiver. Well, that's a pretty broad statement but it absolutely will not work with either my 10x or my eTrex Legend HCx. The only way I can get it to work with those two receivers is to either run GPSGate and "hide" the fact that they are Garmin recievers or to run ProITM's patched version.

2. Once you activate using the product code and have a software-only version installed on your PC you cannot get an unlock code. It will not work because there is no Garmin GPS receiver to get an unlock code for. You can't get an unlock code for whatever internal hardware ID the software-only version uses for activation. So, once you have created a software-only version by applying the product code in the DVD case, you can't ever unlock maps to it. Period.

3. When you activate one of the hardware bundles to its GPS receiver you can now use that GPS receiver to get unlock codes for locked maps. You get unlock codes for the serial number of a Garmin GPS receiver. You unlock the maps in Mapsource to that GPS receiver. When you run Mobile PC it will check any maps you have installed to it against the serial number of the receiver you have connected and if the unlock code in the mapset matches to the serial number of the receiver, you're in business.

4. You can only use the software-only version on one computer because it uses some internal hardware ID code from the computer motherboard to activate.

5. You can use the hardware-bundled version on as many computers as you want because it will only work with the GPS receiver that it activates to.

Terry, we'll compare notes later tomorrow.

...ken...

Wow - you guys really dissect a question! Anyway…it looks like an awful lot of work and expense to upgrade a program that already works for me. I will just make it a point to either have bifocals with me or have a second person in the car first time I am in an area.

In the meantime I think I will also use a earplug to hear the directions – tried it yesterday with my net book and it seemed to work OK.

Thanks again and I look forward to seeing how this all plays out. It may be that I will chose to upgrade to GMPC if it looks like I can using the equipment I already own.

Thanks!

Hi Alan,

I think that's a wise choice. If it's working for you and you can find an easy and cheap way to work around the minor annoyance, no point in spending money and time for a solution that might just end up with a whole different set of annoyansces.

Terry,

No joy getting Mobile PC to activate to my 10x. I plugged my Bluetooth dongle into the shop computer and let Windows install its Bluetooth stuff. Then I turned on the 10x and let it get a lock. I checked it with GPSGate and everything was working fine.

I killed GPSGate and installed Mobile PC software-only version from the DVD. When I ran it, I clicked on the "Use Garmin GPS" option for activation. It scanned Bluetooth, found the GPS and said it was unable to authenticate the Garmin device. So I clicked the skip button and went to the GPS info page. Sure enough, there's a complete satellite constellation and really good signal strength on 9 bars, but it's saying Invalid GPS and won't show the location.

When I click the satellite on the main screen it shows me everything about the 10x but it says GPS Unit ID: Unknown.

When I go to the map, it shows me in the right location but says Acquiring satellites at the top instead of ready to navigate.

When I check the map sets (Manage... Map sets) and click on the detailed maps item it tells me it can't unlock the maps without a valid Unit ID.

I've tried three time to activate it to the 10x (Disable/Enable to force the activation screen) and I've exited and rerun the program a couple more times to force the activation sequence. Same deal every time. Basically it's acting exactly like my activated versions. But I've never had any nav software anywhere near this computer since I built it back in the spring.

It looks like the software on the software-only version DVD has some different code in it than the software that comes with a receiver.

At least now I know. I'll leave it installed on this computer for a couple days in case anyone has any questions or ideas. Then I'll remove it.

...ken...

I just realized that the installation on the DVD is 5.00.10 so I updated to 5.00.60. No difference. Oh well, at least I know.

...ken...

I'm thinking Terry is right, they probably produce the GPS10x and 20x within a certain range of serial numbers (or whatever the device internal ID is properly called) for use with Mobile PC and with another range of ID's for sale without the Moble PC software. That way they're covered, You buy a bundled GPS receiver and you've paid for one licence to use Mobile PC. You buy one not bundled with Mobile PC and you haven't paid for a licence so it doesn't work...

Thanks for trying Ken, we now know what we can and can't do. Not so good for Alan (the OP) if his maps are locked...

Hey Ken,

The only problem with the way Garmin has implemented it is that they block legitimate users of the software-only version from using it with Garmin's own hardware. Even if it's a legitimately activated copy of the software-only version, the code that rejects ANY Garmin receiver if it doesn't have a predetermined Unit ID means I can't ever use a Garmin device with it.

So, if I've got software-only Mobile PC installed and activated and want or need a new receiver they've just taken themselves right off the shortlist. That seems rather shortsighted to me.

Seems to me if it's already a legitimately activated copy of the software-only version it should work with ANY receiver. I can't think of a single reason to intentionally block their own devices. Perhaps someone with a better imagination, or a marketing background, can help me understand the possible reasons?

...ken...

It boils down to what Ken said before. The hardware and software DVDs are the same. Somewhere in there is code telling it to block any but the correct IDs whether you unlocked it or not. I am sure ProITM could provide some insight into this as he knows how to bypass it.

However, my 10x works perfectly with both my legally unlocked software versions of Mobile PC (no modification required). That is why I would like to do the same tests you did. I would use the hardware version but seem to have misplaced it temporarily.

Tomorrow, after my brother leaves, I'll get to it. I see him so rarely!

Terry

GMPC Software or hardware version is the same program code.
The validations methods are all in the same code.
I use version 5.00.60 installed without DVD, downloaded from Garmin.
For validation there are 3 methods:
1. Hardware 10x or 20x testing Devide ID (like serial number)
2. Sticker code (software only)
3. SW.UNL
You can unlock maps for methods 1 or 3 for GMPC
In case 1 it checks not only the model it is important de ID so some 10x works (GMPC) others not (GMXT)
GMPC can use PVT or NMEA, if the Garmin device has NMEA it works OK.
If Garmin device is USB like eTrex series or Nuvi you can make it work with GPSGate or my patched version, I like the last one

I performed the same tests Ken in Regina did and my 10x gave the same results his did. The program starts fine but shortly gives a 'Can not authenticate GPS' message.

Terry