Bought GPS@trademe...nw:( please help. :(

Forums › GPS, maps and mapping software › Bought GPS@trademe...nw:( please help. :(

psagar86

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Topic # 30858 23-Feb-2009 22:47

Hey Guys, I'm new to this forum, and I seriously need help...it'd be so great if you could provide some eh.

I just bought this GPS on trademe

@
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =202969327

And, well...this is what it says in the description:

This GPS is the same design as navman, uniden etc..
.....It doesn't have a brand name as you buy it from the company that makes it, ...Its in very good condition and powers up fine but it wont do anything as its asking for a SD CARD (which is doesn't have in it) Im not sure what type of SD CARD it takes so im selling it AS IS, WHERE IS.

So, I've just bought this item, and you're prob thinking, what a knob..and maybe I am. I haven't the sligthest clue what software I should load on to the SD card, or whethr such things actually exist. Could you help me out? I guess I could buy some maps or something, but they're just so expensive, and I don't even know which company maps would work on this...

It'd be great if you guys could lend a hand.

Thanks all

Parv

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Reply # 197686 24-Feb-2009 10:26

LOL! The guy asking if the unit was stolen really made me laugh. Did he really expect an answer like 'Yeah, I stole it'?
You can try getting a friend's GPS' SD card and put it in to see if it recognizes.
If not, maybe trying to contact the manufacturer somehow.

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freitasm

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Reply # 197691 24-Feb-2009 10:38

Somehow I doubt you will have any luck. The unit doesn't look like other devices I remember and usually the software is on ROM, not on SD cards.

You can insert an empty SD card and see if the unit will then power once some storage is available, but I think you got yourself a lemon.

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wellygary

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Reply # 197695 24-Feb-2009 10:47

Sounds like it might be an early model that had the maps stored on a card, but without the manufacturer or model number I think you are going to be pushing it up hill to find the right "SD card" to make your baby go,

Looks like you just bough a paper weight,

tchart

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Reply # 197700 24-Feb-2009 11:26

If its anything like my Uniden the app & maps are all on the SD card. They are all in a folder called MobileNavigator and the app is called MobileNavigator.exe

Does the device have a USB port? If it does you can connect to it using ActiveSync and see whats on the devices (files) and possibly see the registry (using a remote registry editor).

You can "fool" it into running other apps if you know what its looking for. Ive run other apps on different SD cards by renaming the app I want to run to MobileNavigator.exe

You do generally need to know what you are doing though (ive been using CE & Windows Mobile for many years now)

Trevor

psagar86

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 197728 24-Feb-2009 12:58

Thanks for all your replies guys. I guess I have bought a lemon. But Trevor's reply seems somewhat heartening. Except the thing is, immediately after I won the item, I did some searches and realised that I'm going to be runing into difficulties. So, I havne't actually got the item yet (as it hasn't been shipped)! But when I do, I'll def try your method trevor....and hope that it works!
I'm guessing I can find this mobilenavigator app online?

And to top it all off...my water pump (i.e. of car) just burst today. Ohhh GOOD DAYS :) (Sarcasm)

Cheers!

Parv

pebbles

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Reply # 197732 24-Feb-2009 13:05

You could try contacting the guy who mentions he had it but the screen cracked and try buying his maps?

psagar86

9 posts

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Reply # 197864 24-Feb-2009 22:09

Yeah, i tried to contact the guy. But it seems theres no way that trademe lets me do that. That is, its just his username that i have, and no other contact information is given out.Its kind of a pain, but I suppose a good security feature.

psagar86

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Reply # 198038 25-Feb-2009 18:13

:)

Hey guys new developments! It turns out that the thing that i'd bought is also availbale on ebay, and that its runing WINDOWS CE 5.

Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.es/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290270971103

So, does that mean I can pretty much load any navigation software on it??

I'm pretty stoked right now,....any further help would be so appreciated!

Cheers

Parv

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Reply # 198039 25-Feb-2009 18:17

If it runs Windows CE 5.0 then it will be able to run a small number of applications - there are not many developers for Windows CE since it's an embedded operating system that is used in specialised verticals.

Also in that eBay link you provided it says "The software is only given to test your GPS, it can not be updated. But it is not a bad choice if you do not want to spend too much money in buying a new software. If you do not like the preloaded software or maps, we can offer you another software after you receive the item." which to me sounds like at least that specific supplier is offering some pirate copy of software...

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sleemanj

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Reply # 198066 25-Feb-2009 19:56

Try OziExplorer, you can often get these GPS devices which use Win Mobile (really, they are basically PDAs with a GPS in them, locked down to only use the GPS software) to run oziexplorer I believe....

http://www.oziexplorer.com/
http://www.recreationalflying.com.au/forum/navigation/19831-cheap-navigation-mio-moov-oziexplorerce.html#post72482

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freitasm

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Reply # 198076 25-Feb-2009 20:29

This is Windows CE 5.0, not Windows Mobile.

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sleemanj

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Reply # 198078 25-Feb-2009 20:32

Just as well OziExplorer is for CE then isn't it.

OziExplorerCE is moving map software for PocketPC's and Window CE PDA's which use the WinCE core operating system.

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freitasm

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Reply # 198081 25-Feb-2009 20:43

sleemanj: ... these GPS devices which use Win Mobile

To tell the truth I didn't look at the specs but your comment was "Win Mobile" and Windows Mobile is not the same as Windows CE.

Looking at the specs now I see "Handhelds / PNA's / PND's - HPC 2000 (CE version 3.0+) and CE.net core versions 4 and 5" listed - great it should work *IF* this GPS unit is booting into Windows CE. Psagar86, can you confirm you can see the Windows CE desktop at all?

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sleemanj

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Reply # 198088 25-Feb-2009 20:58

Psagar86, can you confirm you can see the Windows CE desktop at all?

These things don't generally show the desktop, they boot straight into an app on the SD Card. Typically I think what you do is put your own app (oziexplorer in this case) on your own sdcard with whatever name the device is expecting, so it boots into that instead.

The rec flying thread is a good starting place for reading on this, it's where I was turned onto the idea (I'm looking myself for a similar device with a large screen, I want to have a go at scanning and calibrating NZ aviation charts).

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psagar86

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Reply # 198103 25-Feb-2009 22:43

Thanks guys

I'm just going thru oziexplorer thing now, and see if it does anything for me! Sorry abt the windows ce and mobile botch up...but no, i can't see the desktop. However, I read online that its not very difficult to do that...to make it show that is. I just have to install this other software, and I should be able to see everything if I run it. Is that necessary?

From the ridiculous amount of information spongin informatio about this (seriously, i've being going nuts, and my head's about to explode) I have read that it is possible to install iGo 8 software on this also. However, the only problem for me being, that even if I could somehow manage that, i believe that iGo do not have maps for NZ. So, my next question would be, if u guys still care :) is that is there a way to convert map files from tomtom to iGo by any chance?

I'm also considering giving this up, and just buying a proper gps....pulling my hair out now!

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