GPS Magellan 300 series disassembly (Blazer12)

[Johan Kahn]

Does anyone know how to disassembl this unit?

What I want to do. Apparantly it is possible, is to interface to the
GPS reciever (before it gets to the LCD and controller circuit) and
output this to a port on the GPS unit and interface to my laptop via
serial line driver.

Thanks

 

[John Tserkezis]

Johan Kahn wrote:

Does anyone know how to disassembl this unit?

I have the 310, and if the 300 is anything like it, it's closed tightly and
won't come apart without a fight. Guess who'll come off second best after the
fight?

What I want to do. Apparantly it is possible, is to interface to the
GPS reciever (before it gets to the LCD and controller circuit) and
output this to a port on the GPS unit and interface to my laptop via
serial line driver.

It really isn't as easy as you imply. The NMEA data stream may not be
readily available, and may not exist in any real usable form. Depending.

If I recall, there are several pins available within the 300 battery
compartment that are for this purpose. You would have to organise your own
power supply and cables for the RS232 interface though.
However, my memory being what it is, I could be thinking of another unit
altogether. A quick google search revealed that the 300 does not have a serial
connection option, but I haven't been convinced that this is absolute, in that
there may be a non-manufacturer approved interface that can be constructed.

Either way, *IF* this is possible, there would be connections some type of
connection to the outside world. I don't like your chances of taking the thing
apart and still resulting in a functioning unit.

But, me being a pessimist and all, I don't want to get your hopes up. The
300 is a single channel unit, in that it will sequencially aquire birds, not
simultaneously. In english, that means it'll take a longer to get a lock, and
may be a little "flimsy" in maintaining a lock under non-ideal conditions.

My recommendation would be to go for a "GPS Mouse" type thing where you have
a mouse-looking unit that feeds data via RS232 or USB directly into your
laptop. This would probably be your next-cheapest option.
--
Linux Registered User # 302622 <http://counter.li.org>

 

[MC]

John Tserkezis wrote:

Johan Kahn wrote:

Does anyone know how to disassembl this unit?

What I want to do. Apparantly it is possible, is to interface to the
GPS reciever (before it gets to the LCD and controller circuit) and
output this to a port on the GPS unit and interface to my laptop via
serial line driver.


It really isn't as easy as you imply. The NMEA data stream may not be
readily available, and may not exist in any real usable form. Depending.

But, me being a pessimist and all, I don't want to get your hopes up.
The 300 is a single channel unit, in that it will sequencially aquire
birds, not simultaneously. In english, that means it'll take a longer
to get a lock, and may be a little "flimsy" in maintaining a lock under
non-ideal conditions.

My recommendation would be to go for a "GPS Mouse" type thing where you
have a mouse-looking unit that feeds data via RS232 or USB directly into
your laptop. This would probably be your next-cheapest option.

If you want to build your own basic unit (ala 'mouse'), get a 12-channel
GPS module, add an antennae, power supply and RS232 interface.
Have a look at http://www.commlinx.com.au/GPS_engine.htm

 

[John Tserkezis]

MC wrote:

If you want to build your own basic unit (ala 'mouse'), get a 12-channel
GPS module, add an antennae, power supply and RS232 interface.
Have a look at http://www.commlinx.com.au/GPS_engine.htm

Been there done that.

But, since the original writer had mentioned a Magellan 300 (a rather old and
inferior unit) it implied that _cost_ was the primary motivator.
--
Linux Registered User # 302622 <http://counter.li.org>

 

[Dave]

John Tserkezis wrote:

MC wrote:

If you want to build your own basic unit (ala 'mouse'), get a
12-channel GPS module, add an antennae, power supply and RS232 interface.
Have a look at http://www.commlinx.com.au/GPS_engine.htm


Been there done that.

But, since the original writer had mentioned a Magellan 300 (a rather
old and inferior unit) it implied that _cost_ was the primary motivator.

Here's a cheaper option then for a 12 channel job:

http://www.radiohound.com/randgps.htm

Currently about 5 available on eBay for US$10-20.

Dave

 

[Johan Kahn]

On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 16:56:39 +0800, Johan Kahn
<johankahnSPAMKILL@westnet.com.au> wrote:

Does anyone know how to disassembl this unit?

What I want to do. Apparantly it is possible, is to interface to the
GPS reciever (before it gets to the LCD and controller circuit) and
output this to a port on the GPS unit and interface to my laptop via
serial line driver.

Thanks

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I think I might go with just buying another unit later with I/O
Will keep attempting to rip this unit apart though. Doesn't matter if
it breaks want to get a new one anyway.. Cold start on this device is
sometimes 10 minutes or more, so not too useful for me.