GPS for TM-D710A Suggestion (APRS)

You will need one that uses NMEA 0183 standard for data, but the AVMAP G5 looks pretty sweet on the video they have at gigaparts.com, but the thing is $599

I went with the one from Green Light Labs.

GPS-710

There are several GPS devices that will work with the '710. Not having a '710, I can't tell you what will/won't work. If there's an expensive 'thingy', you can bet there's also going to be some 'not so expensive' ways of doing the same thing. If you happen to have a lap-top computer (or just need a good excuse to get one!) there are all kinds of those 'other ways' that sort of do 'better' than those 'expensive' thingys (not as limiting?).
- 'Doc


If you can't make four or five dozen good excuses out of that, you just ain't trying at all! Best advice I can think of is do LOTS of reading before buying.

I have the AV MAP G5 with my 710 it works good but the batteries don't last very long. If i wasn't actually using the display for the map, especially hunting, storing in way points makes it easy to get back to the same spot when it's dark out and you can't see land marks in the woods. i would go with the green Light labs unit, if you are using a laptop with the 710.

I agree that the Green Light Labs is a good choice. Before that I used my Garmin GPS60C. While it worked good for driving the 710. The waypoint sentence used for non G5 GPS display of waypoints does not work well. After about 15-20 minutes there will be 200 waypoint on the display. No tracking or deleting of old information.

KE5VYU said:

I agree that the Green Light Labs is a good choice. Before that I used my Garmin GPS60C. While it worked good for driving the 710. The waypoint sentence used for non G5 GPS display of waypoints does not work well. After about 15-20 minutes there will be 200 waypoint on the display. No tracking or deleting of old information.

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Sorry to dig up an old thread, but does anyone know if this is still true?

I have a Garmin GPSMap 378 that I am not willing to part with. I need other functions from that unit (topo maps, etc.) and I'm not really interested in the G5.

I'm on the fence between the Kenwood and the Yaesu FTM-350. It may come down to this exact feature for me -- the ability to output waypoints for APRS stations back to the GPS unit for display.

I know that the Yaesu does not support output of waypoints from APRS back to a GPS, but if Kenwood's implementation is buggy or otherwise messed up for non-G5's, then it may come out a wash. Incidentally, I have really only been able to find info on the AvMap unit and the GreenLight unit as 3rd party GPS's for the 710. Kind of frustrating.

Thanks!

After using a Garmin 60csx for quite a while with my D-700, (which I was very happy with, I just wanted to have it available outside of the vehicle), I just picked up a Nuvi350 with the Argent Data GTRANS cable. So far, I'm quite happy with it. APRS stations are tracked on the Nuvi map and under Favorites, and it does not have the multiple-waypoint problem that 'VYU mentions

The integration is not quite what you get with the AvMap. APRS stations only show up as waypoints; the APRS Icon, course, speed, and status messages do NOT transfer to the Nuvi. However, for a total of around $110 (GPS ~$60 on ebay, GTRANS cable ~$50 w/shipping) it's not a bad solution

EDIT: According to the GTRANS page, symbol, altitude, and course/speed DO show up if you use the D710

nine

nine said:

After using a Garmin 60csx for quite a while with my D-700, (which I was very happy with, I just wanted to have it available outside of the vehicle), I just picked up a Nuvi350 with the Argent Data GTRANS cable. So far, I'm quite happy with it. APRS stations are tracked on the Nuvi map and under Favorites, and it does not have the multiple-waypoint problem that 'VYU mentions

The integration is not quite what you get with the AvMap. APRS stations only show up as waypoints; the APRS Icon, course, speed, and status messages do NOT transfer to the Nuvi. However, for a total of around $110 (GPS ~$60 on ebay, GTRANS cable ~$50 w/shipping) it's not a bad solution

EDIT: According to the GTRANS page, symbol, altitude, and course/speed DO show up if you use the D710

nine

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Thanks... shortly after posting the above post, I picked up a 710 to use with my Garmin GPSMap 378. It's working out really well for me. I made a cable that connects the Kenwood to the Garmin, and also supplies the GPS with power and also routes the Garmin voice prompts to an external speaker.

I don't have the multiple waypoint issue described by KE5VYU -- waypoints update as they are updated over APRS. However, there is no "aging" of waypoints, so it will always show the last known location for every waypoint that it has heard. The Garmin 378 makes it relatively easy to go in and clear these out, so it hasn't been too much of a pain so far.

At some point I'm planning to post a more detailed writeup of this functionality, since I think it would really help folks looking at Garmin alternatives to the AvMap.

Nuvi 350 and GTrans: trouble in paradise.

nine said:

After using a Garmin 60csx for quite a while with my D-700, (which I was very happy with, I just wanted to have it available outside of the vehicle), I just picked up a Nuvi350 with the Argent Data GTRANS cable. So far, I'm quite happy with it. APRS stations are tracked on the Nuvi map and under Favorites, and it does not have the multiple-waypoint problem that 'VYU mentions

The integration is not quite what you get with the AvMap. APRS stations only show up as waypoints; the APRS Icon, course, speed, and status messages do NOT transfer to the Nuvi. However, for a total of around $110 (GPS ~$60 on ebay, GTRANS cable ~$50 w/shipping) it's not a bad solution

EDIT: According to the GTRANS page, symbol, altitude, and course/speed DO show up if you use the D710

nine

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Hi folks

If you found a Nuvi 350 for $50 you are doing better than anyone I know. In any case, I also bought one along with the GTrans cable but something isn't right: when I plug in the GTrans cable, nothing happens. I don't get a signal on any of my trackers, all of which work fine with other GPS units. I have an email in to Argent tech support but nothing back yet. What normally happens when one plugs in the cable? Yes, I have the Nuvi powered externally and it now has the latest firmware also.

Thanks!

Willliam
KX1Y