Using MicroFramework to build my own GPS device?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hillbilly
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Hillbilly

But what I really need to learn at the moment is how the devices like TomTom
and Garmen function? I don't have one obviously so is there a hardware forum
for Microsoft devs? Do they run using batteries? Which protocol is used if
they can communicate with the vehicle when these things appear to be dash
mounted with a suction cup?
 
But what I really need to learn at the moment is how the devices like
TomTom and Garmen function? I don't have one obviously so is there a
hardware forum for Microsoft devs? Do they run using batteries? Which
protocol is used if they can communicate with the vehicle when these
things appear to be dash mounted with a suction cup?
Click to expand...

Standalone GPS devices, without cables, only communicate
through some
form of wireless technology - generally bluetooth. This
means they only
work on newer cars with such technology.

Regardless of method of output, they generally deliver an
NMEA string.

As for programming ANY GPS device, most that do not have
some
proprietary assembly programming are programmed with Java.
This is what
you find on most phones. And, to make things more
interesting, many of
the devices out there have the Java ME (Mobile Edition) bits
locked, so
you can't program against them at all.

Garmin has a developer site (http://developer.garmin.com/)
where you can
learn how to communicate with a Garmin device. Magellan is a
bit more
controlled on how they allow you to communicate with a
device. There are
SDKs on the Pro Magellan site.

Peace and Grace,

--
Gregory A. Beamer (MVP)

Twitter: @gbworld
Blog: http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

*******************************************
| Think outside the box! |
*******************************************
 
Thank you for that insight. I'm really only interested in the small form
factors that supports touchscreen and are apparently battery powered and
send receive data wirelessly that GPS devices have in common as there are
apparently boards that are supporting the MicroFramework.
 
Thank you for that insight. I'm really only interested in the small
form factors that supports touchscreen and are apparently battery
powered and send receive data wirelessly that GPS devices have in
common as there are apparently boards that are supporting the
MicroFramework.
Click to expand...

I have not headed that direction. When I worked for the Tracking
Corporation, the firmware was all assembler based, so I did not program
the units directly (did make .NET tools that programmed them, but
through AT command scripting).

I did play a bit with JavaME, which is currently more flexible, as many
phones have JavaME. Unfortunately, most have it blocked. There are a few
Blackberry models I found, along with the iDen GPS phones from Sprint
(ie, Nextel network).

I do know someone that has done a lot of embedded programming, both with
XP Embedded and Windows Mobile, but I don't have a resource readily
available for MicroFramework.

Peace and Grace,

--
Gregory A. Beamer (MVP)

Twitter: @gbworld
Blog: http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

*******************************************
| Think outside the box! |
*******************************************
 
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