Re: Do they make GPS portables with USB plugs

tarmac wrote:
I saw a friend's GPS portable in his car and it was nice but he was
complaining that the plugs were special and didn't work with GPS.

He told me to find a GPS that ran on the usb plug from the computer or from
the car.

Do they make GPS portables that use the usb plug?

Is this the right news group to ask?



Many of the newer Garmin handhelds will do that, they have a miniUSB connector on the GPS. Good examples would be the 60/76 Cx/CSx models. That connector is used for the interface with a PC for uploading and downloading. When connected the GPS uses the USB port's 5VDC for power (these handhelds run on two AA cells).

They also have a proprietary four pin connector that is used for external power and RS-232 serial input/output and you can purchase optional cables that will use a 12-35VDC external power source to provide power.

You could also use the miniUSB connector to provide external power by using a cigarette lighter DC-DC inverter with a USB connector that has 5 VDC output.

The miniUSB connector on the Garmin handhelds is probably not quite as strong as the proprietary connector. The miniUSB connector on the cable would be sticking straight out of the back of the case in portable use could put some stress on that.

Some of the Garmin models in the automotive line cannot use the USB port for power in portable use because they turn off the GPS and go into a "USB Connected" mode when power is applied to the USB port. Those have a different proprietary connector for external power.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
.

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