Hi,If you own a PocketPC, I highly recommend going to www.pocketfms.com and checking out their GPS software. Thanks to Pete Dawson's GPSOut software, you can use your PocketPC as a GPS for Flight Simulator. It's some pretty cool software. The GPSOut.ini settings I've been using with my HP hx4705 are:Sentences=RMC,PGRMZ,GGA,GSA,GSVInterval=1000Port=WCEUSBSH001Speed=4800PosTo6Decimal=YesIn PocketFMS, I set the system to read from Com9/4800 baud through the USB port (my laptop does not have bluetooth).To use it, I killed all processes associated with Activesync on my PC. I disconnected the USB port connection to the PocketPC and did a soft reset on the PocketPC. Then I started PocketFMS, set the communication parameters as above, connected it to my PC, and enabled the GPS in PocketFMS. Then I started Flight Simulator, and I've been going ever since. It includes flightplanning and a worldwide database.It is freeware/donationware. You can use it for free, but, if you find yourself using it, the authors would really appreciate a donation. And giving a donation gives you access to higher resolution maps among other benefits.One caveat - GPSOut is free for FS9. For FSX, you must get a registered copy of FSUIPC4 to get the functionality.But still, the cost of purchasing both items is still cheaper than most if not all PocketPC based GPS software available.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

Which version of PocketPC Operating System are you using?

WM2003From everything I've read, users of the hx4700 should stay away from WM2005. I've seen several Axim X51v users on the PocketFMS forums, though.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

I used to have a 4700-have now migrated to a tablet pc.You can also run anywhere map and a lot of other real gps driven programs thru either gpsout or specific programs designed for the software.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

do you know off hand if it works with WM2005

As far as I know it does. Lots of X51v users, which uses WM2005.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

PocketFMS is free. Donation is at your decision. The only difference between registered and non-registered is that the maps (roads) are more detailed. The Nav data downloads are free and is the same between registered and non-registered. And it is worldwide capable. I'm sure Anywhere map is good, too, though.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

Thomas:Thanks for the information on this. I downloaded the app, loaded a couple of FIRs and the appropriate NavData, loaded the app onto my PPC, followed the instructions to the letter, but it's a no-go. I simply can't get my PPC (a Toshiba e805, WM2003SE) to link up.I think some of the trouble stems from the fact that I'm confused since finding some other instructions on how to get GPSOut working with my PPC and PocketFMS (for instance, http://www.dahlmi.de/index.php?id=78, as well as Pete Dowson's instruction in his GPSOut package). Each of these instruction sets recommends different variables; additionally, a few say to start FS *first*, yet another says to start it after PocketFMS. One says to kill all the ActiveSync processes (I've only found two on the PC -- wscecomm.exe and rapimgr.. something like that). Obviously, I made sure that ActiveSync wasn't running on my PPC.Again, I tried all sorts of different things, but to no avail. The thing that has me stumped is *why* do we have to select COM9? Don't I have to set something on the PC side to make sure the USB connection emulates the serial port? I noticed that the GPSOut package includes another little applet to create a "virtual" com port; I didn't use that. Am I supposed to?Any extra little info on this would be greatly appreciated. I'd *love* to have my PPC running as a little pseudo-GPS unit whilst flying virtually.Thanks for any info you can provide.

All very good questions :)I've been using it for a couple of years now, first with an iPAQ 3835 and now with the hx4705.With old versions, yes, I used to have to start FS first. Now it seems to work best for me if PFMS is started first.Com9 is apparently the USB port on a PocketPC, at least it is for iPAQ's. Your Toshiba may be different, but I can't say. I do know that Com8 is the Bluetooth port for me. To get it to work best, I have turned off my Bluetooth on the iPAQ for now. If I need it, I will figure out how to get around it, if it has any affect at all. But I turned it off just in case to remove the variable. I think this is why automatically searching does not work. It comes across Bluetooth port first and tries to connect through that instead of moving on to the next port which is the USB port. Some people have gotten it to work by connecting to their computer through the Bluetooth, however. You may want to try that.There is a third activesync process, WCESMgr.exeThe best way that I have found for finding the right port to use is a little program I got with my Ambicom GPS-CF card for the iPAQ. You can download it from Ambicom, it's called GPSDiag. Install it, set up the GPSOUT.ini file on your PC, connect the PPC as described (shut down Activesync, soft reset the PPC, and connect the USB cable, listen for the "bing"), start FS on the PC and start GPSDiag on the PPC and go to the Settings menu. Then just cycle through each of the ports till you see the commands cycling by. That'll be your port.Sometimes it takes me a couple of tries to get it to connect to PFMS. I start PFMS, connect the USB port and listen for the beep that it is connected. I start FS and load my flight. While it is loading, I keep checking back and forth between the PFMS startup screen (where it says "Enable GPS") to make sure the GPS is enabled (it seems to timeout sometimes) and the Monitor page. You will know it is working when the Fix box says 3D something or other. You won't see it get a fix until the flight is completely loaded. If it doesn't connect right away, make sure the GPS is still enabled, wait no more than a minute, then quit FS and try starting FS again.Once I've got it connected, it will usually keep connecting whenever I quit/restart FS, change planes, or whatever. It seems sometimes that it loses its connection (usually after an FS crash). In that case, going through the startup procedure gets it going again. I seem to also have had some issues that, even though the USB is plugged in, the iPAQ is not recognized as being connected for some reason. Making sure to here the connection "bing" upon plugin makes sure this is not a problem.I've also heard of a couple of strings in GPSOut to denote the USB port. In old versions, I used .WCEUSBSH001 . Now Port=WCEUSBSH001 is what works for me. Also, I used to use Interval=500, Speed=19200, but this didn't work for me with the hx4700, so I went with the Interval=1000, Speed=4800 (which coincidentally is the same speed suggested for my GPS card for the iPAQ), and it has worked splendidly.Oh, and if upon connecting, if you see a window pop up saying it is trying to connect, cancel that command. And soft-resetting is always a good idea, as was noted in the link you gave me, you can't kill the activesync process on the PPC once it is started. The link you sent is generally what I do, too. I'm not really sure if the order of starting is so important. I can tell you I always start PFMS first before I start FS, and it works for me. And I'll kill FS and start it again, and it usually connects right away once started.I use this in my real airplane, too, as do lots of other people -- so don't think of it as a pseudo-GPS! :) A heck of a lot cheaper than a $10,000 panel mount GPS (though we'll probably get one someday). But this is a great way to practice using the program for real. Try some of these things and let me know if you have any questions.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

Will this work with the Treo 750?Thanks,

I don't know. There has been a new development, however. Largely thanks to the fact that DAFIF is no longer free, PocketFMS is going payware at the end of the month.Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

Hi, everyone.I

Why do you caution not to use it for real flying? Obviously it should never be your primary means of navigation, but I'm curious what you feel is wrong with it.

I agree. Obviously, it is illegal to use it as a primary means of navigation. But it has a significant user base who use it quite often and has been around for several years. I have yet to use it for real yet, but it seems fine from my use in FS.What version are you basing your comments and in what situations are you saying it is not working well?One reason I ask is because I have been considering investing in it since, as an alternative to a G496, it is still reasonably inexpensive. Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)N15802 KASH '73 Piper Cherokee Challenger 180

Hi.>Why do you caution not to use it for real flying?Obviously, it is illegal to use it as a primary means of navigation. But it has a significant user base who use it quite often and has been around for several years. I have yet to use it for real yet, but it seems fine from my use in FS.