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Found a really cool gadget yesterday...

Author	Topic
SpaceBoy Full Member USA 631 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 09:35:25 Well, yesterday, I hoofed it over to the thrift shop across the street, and, while my on-going quest to find a comfortable recliner has been fruitless, I did find a super-neato gadget! I wasn't sure what it was at first, but, after a careful look-over, I realized that it was some sort of hand-held GPS unit! I went up to the counter with it, and asked the price (someone had peeled the price sticker off), and the two nice folks working there tried to figure out what it was... "is it some sort of TV remote control?" "I dunno", I said, and then the lady said the magic words: "How's $.99 sound?" Good! :-) So, it turns out to be an older Magellen TrailBlazer GPS unit, and it's in pretty good shape, though it's missing the antenna. I put some batteries in when I got it home, and it fired right up and started looking for a satelite, though it didn't find one (the missing antenna has something to do with that, I'm sure). I played around with it for a while - it's freakin' cool! So, what could be more geed-chic then mounting a GPS unit on the dash of my first car?! Now all I need is a Duo grafted into the dash, and I'll be set... :-) SpaceBoy PS Anyone know where I could find an antenna for this thing? From what I've read, it uses a standard BNC connector, if that helps... Official MLA Raconteur AppleBASIC FOREVER! TiBook G4/500, "Difference Engine" PowerMac 6500/275 Performa 6400/180 3x PowerMac 7600/132 SE/30 32/250, "Wang" PB 1400/133 PB 180/33 PMac 7100/G3-266 Quadra 950, "HAL 9000" Newton 120, "PADD"
maclover5 LC Doctor/Hot Rodder Australia 5830 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 09:37:17 Cool! As for the antenna, maybe you could make one yourself? Shouldn't be too hard if you already have the parts. -------------------------- Give your dreams a chance.™ - Apple in the mid '90s Warrior maclover5 68k Macintosh Liberation Army Number of 68ks Liberated: 7 Number of Contraband (PPC) Liberated from the Dumpster: 1
SpaceBoy Full Member USA 631 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 10:00:38 quote: As for the antenna, maybe you could make one yourself? Shouldn't be too hard if you already have the parts. Well, I'm not sure if I do have the parts... I mean, I've got plenty of 'cable-TV-wires' in my closet... these seem to have the same jacks the GPS unit uses, so would they work as an antenna? Thanks, SpaceBoy Official MLA Raconteur AppleBASIC FOREVER! TiBook G4/500, "Difference Engine" PowerMac 6500/275 Performa 6400/180 3x PowerMac 7600/132 SE/30 32/250, "Wang" PB 1400/133 PB 180/33 PMac 7100/G3-266 Quadra 950, "HAL 9000" Newton 120, "PADD"
Christophillis Forums Squadron Commander USA 688 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 10:19:27 If cut to the right wavelength and tuned properly then I guess so. It's worth a shot. 68k Macintosh Liberation Army Christophillis- Lt. Colonel Newton Squadron Commander Total 68k Macs Liberated: 6.02x10^23 or just 4
foetoid Full Member USA 554 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 12:40:06 quote: quote: As for the antenna, maybe you could make one yourself? Shouldn't be too hard if you already have the parts. Well, I'm not sure if I do have the parts... I mean, I've got plenty of 'cable-TV-wires' in my closet... these seem to have the same jacks the GPS unit uses, so would they work as an antenna? Thanks, SpaceBoy Official MLA Raconteur AppleBASIC FOREVER! TiBook G4/500, "Difference Engine" PowerMac 6500/275 Performa 6400/180 3x PowerMac 7600/132 SE/30 32/250, "Wang" PB 1400/133 PB 180/33 PMac 7100/G3-266 Quadra 950, "HAL 9000" Newton 120, "PADD" From what i understand about this type of stuff, is that it may look similar, but it could very well be much different. A special FCC connector that costs a bundle... not sure though seeing as I don't have the unit... Good luck. ________________ foetoid, that's (fee-toy-duh) http://www.foetoid.doesntexist.com
The Lightning Stalker Full Member USA 747 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 17:20:31 quote: PS Anyone know where I could find an antenna for this thing? From what I've read, it uses a standard BNC connector, if that helps... They sell those a RadioShack. The Lightning Stalker Performa 631CD, 7.5.5 LC III Mail Server Q610 Q650 6400/180 40/1.6G/512k L2/enet/video-in/TV 7600/120 '604/233, 80/1.2G & 4G, 9.2.2 (Main Mac) Lady Smith Apples: Apple IIc 5.25" 2 Apple IIe
oldmacman Full Member USA 713 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 18:49:09 http://www.realhamradio.com/GPS_Frequency_Standard.htm See the antenna info at the bottom. Note the frequency of the GPS band (1.5 GHz), as whatever antenna you make will have to be resonant at about that frequency. Official 68kMLA Music and NeXT Expert Macs Liberated: SE (2), LC, IIsi, PB 145b, Quadra 700 (2), LC 575, 6100 (2), PB 5300, PowerMac 5400/200, Performa 6400/180 PCs liberated from Windoze: 3
cory5412 68KMLA Comrade-in-Arms USA 4679 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 19:51:06 RadioShack! I like RadioShack... except that they don't have mac PRAM batteries (wel... for the 578 anyway) Official 68k videographer Official MLA TourGuide "I'm just a normal computer geek who somehow landed a social life"
Christophillis Forums Squadron Commander USA 688 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 19:57:16 I got my pram battery there. Though it was a tad expensive. 68k Macintosh Liberation Army Christophillis- Lt. Colonel Newton Squadron Commander Total 68k Macs Liberated: 6.02x10^23 or just 4
foetoid Full Member USA 554 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 20:13:15 quote: RadioShack! I like RadioShack... except that they don't have mac PRAM batteries (wel... for the 578 anyway) I hate RadioShack... overpriced and generally not helpfull.. in my area anyway... I like the saying, "you've got questions, we've got blank stares" when thinking of them... SpaceBoy, make sure that the antennae is gonna work before you buy it, because I've got this feeling that what I said previously will hold true... My Cisco instructor has done many many wireless applications and he was talking about it one day in class. Just don't want you to waste money. ________________ foetoid, that's (fee-toy-duh) http://www.foetoid.doesntexist.com
cory5412 68KMLA Comrade-in-Arms USA 4679 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 21:10:17 Blank stares is certainly right. That's why I always bring my own answeres.... Official 68k videographer Official MLA TourGuide "I'm just a normal computer geek who somehow landed a social life"
Christophillis Forums Squadron Commander USA 688 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 21:18:44 quote: I hate RadioShack... overpriced and generally not helpfull.. in my area anyway... I like the saying, "you've got questions, we've got blank stares" when thinking of them... SpaceBoy, make sure that the antennae is gonna work before you buy it, because I've got this feeling that what I said previously will hold true... My Cisco instructor has done many many wireless applications and he was talking about it one day in class. Just don't want you to waste money. Actually I really dont like shopping there as well. Because I am in an amature radio operator, sometimes i need parts and in the small town that I live in there is only one place to go. Now I go in this place and the sales people there dont know the differance between a capacitor and a resistor... I ask for something and they have no clue. So usually i will just look around till I find the thing i need. In the amature radio club Radio Shack is referred to as "IdiotShack" or "RadioSh*t" and im my experance it is rightly named. The really funny thing is, is when I do go in there and ask for something semi technical, I get some really strange looks. All the guys who work there are college students who dont have a clue about electronics. Then I walk in, me a 17 year old kid who is talking about PRAM batteries coax leads and the different resistors they have, and they just kinda stare and drop their jaws. Pathetic. They should at least train these people if they cant hire qualified individuals to do the job. 68k Macintosh Liberation Army Christophillis- Lt. Colonel Newton Squadron Commander Total 68k Macs Liberated: 6.02x10^23 or just 4 Edited by - Christophillis on 24 May 2003 21:34:33
foetoid Full Member USA 554 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 21:40:39 quote: They should at least train these people if they cant hire qualified individuals to do the job. First they have to have qualified individuals working there to train the others. They don't pay well so that may be part of the problem. I went in for a job application one day and just asked a few questions about the buisness and things like that and decided not even to waste my time... ________________ foetoid, that's (fee-toy-duh) http://www.foetoid.doesntexist.com
maclover5 LC Doctor/Hot Rodder Australia 5830 Posts	Posted - 24 May 2003 : 23:24:08 quote: Blank stares is certainly right. That's why I always bring my own answeres.... Official 68k videographer Official MLA TourGuide "I'm just a normal computer geek who somehow landed a social life" Same here. You have answers, We have questions. Thats how it is for Tandy (Aussie RadioShack), anyway. -------------------------- Give your dreams a chance.™ - Apple in the mid '90s Warrior maclover5 68k Macintosh Liberation Army Number of 68ks Liberated: 7 Number of Contraband (PPC) Liberated from the Dumpster: 1
cory5412 68KMLA Comrade-in-Arms USA 4679 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 00:45:50 TANDY!!!!!!!! (need I say more???) Official 68k videographer Official MLA TourGuide "I'm just a normal computer geek who somehow landed a social life"
maclover5 LC Doctor/Hot Rodder Australia 5830 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 00:59:12 Is that a TRaSh 80 reference? (no, not jt, i'm talking about the TRaSh 80. ) -------------------------- Give your dreams a chance.™ - Apple in the mid '90s Warrior maclover5 68k Macintosh Liberation Army Number of 68ks Liberated: 7 Number of Contraband (PPC) Liberated from the Dumpster: 1
cory5412 68KMLA Comrade-in-Arms USA 4679 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 01:09:43 no... I just really lke that name Tandy RadioShack model 80 ? Official 68k videographer Official MLA TourGuide "I'm just a normal computer geek who somehow landed a social life"
maclover5 LC Doctor/Hot Rodder Australia 5830 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 01:13:11 Wow. Never thought of that. "**** em" - Jobs in regards to customers Warrior maclover5 68kMLA Official 68kMLA Detective Number of 68ks Liberated: 7 Number of Contraband (PPC) Liberated from the Dumpster: 1
cory5412 68KMLA Comrade-in-Arms USA 4679 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 01:29:19 I doubt that TANDY seems like... a name of unreliability "tandy" almost dandy! Official 68k videographer Official MLA TourGuide "I'm just a normal computer geek who somehow landed a social life"
maclover5 LC Doctor/Hot Rodder Australia 5830 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 02:58:58 http://www.classicart.biz/733t/Pics/gen2.jpg "**** em" - Jobs in regards to customers Warrior maclover5 68kMLA Official 68kMLA Detective Number of 68ks Liberated: 7 Number of Contraband (PPC) Liberated from the Dumpster: 1
cory5412 68KMLA Comrade-in-Arms USA 4679 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 03:51:29 "Tandy, it's almost dandy" I had hundreds, if not thousands of disks that have said tandy on then... and a nice little holder too Official 68k videographer Official MLA TourGuide "I'm just a normal computer geek who somehow landed a social life"
maclover5 LC Doctor/Hot Rodder Australia 5830 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 03:53:27 Funny. A lot of the stuff sold at Tandy here has RattyShark on it. "**** em" - Jobs in regards to customers Warrior maclover5 68kMLA Official 68kMLA Detective Number of 68ks Liberated: 7 Number of Contraband (PPC) Liberated from the Dumpster: 1
foetoid Full Member USA 554 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 11:20:48 RadioShack carried Newtons too I thought... ________________ foetoid, that's (fee-toy-duh) http://www.foetoid.doesntexist.com da band: http://www.burningabbey.com
Christophillis Forums Squadron Commander USA 688 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 13:20:58 You mean they used to? 68k Macintosh Liberation Army Christophillis- Lt. Colonel Newton Squadron Commander Total 68k Macs Liberated: 6.02x10^23 or just 4
foetoid Full Member USA 554 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 13:52:31 right, used to... ________________ foetoid, that's (fee-toy-duh) http://www.foetoid.doesntexist.com da band: http://www.burningabbey.com
G4from128k Full Member USA 873 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 16:22:18 Regarding the missing antenna, take a look at the sites at: http://www.helenav.nl/antlinks.htm One of these homebrew GPS antennas might do the trick. Hope you can find yourself. G4From128k by Day: Mild-Mannered Engineer and Trapeze(tm) Artist by Night: Colonel of Truth, Justice, and the Macintosh Way Reserve Officer in 68kMLA Cantankerous Coot Contingent
maclover5 LC Doctor/Hot Rodder Australia 5830 Posts	Posted - 25 May 2003 : 18:45:32 Interesting. Over here they never carried Newtons... "**** em" - Jobs in regards to customers Warrior maclover5 68kMLA Official 68kMLA Detective Number of 68ks Liberated: 7 Number of Contraband (PPC) Liberated from the Dumpster: 1

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