Hacking GPS

Contents


Chapter 1: GPS Secrets.

Hidden Secrets
Garmin Secret Screens
Hard Resets
Soft Resets
Warm Resets
Full GPS Resets
Diagnostic Screens
Autolocating
Magellan Secret Screens
Magellan Meridian Series
After a Hard or Soft Reset
Chapter 2: Building GPS Data Cables and Power Cords
Cables Demystified
The Data Cable
Power Cords
Combo Cables
Combining Cable Types
Multi-GPS Cables
Multi-Data Cables
Multi-Data/Power Cables
Multi-Data/Power/GPS Cables
Making Your Own Data Cables
Materials You Will Need
Don’t Want to Buy a Connector?
Making Power Cords
Power Cord Assembly
Testing

Precautions 3
2GPS/iPAQ_Connections
Cradle Modification
Testing the Connection
Making Multi Cables.
Summary.

Chapter 3: Power Hacks
GPS Power Needs.
Lithium Batteries
Rechargeable (NiMH) Batteries
Battery Do’s and Don’ts
Power Hacks
Carrying Your Own 12-Volt Power Supply
Battery Packs
A Different Kind of Battery Pack
Alternative Power Supplies
Summary.
Chapter 4: Antenna Hacks
The GPS Antenna
Quad-Helix Orientation
Patch Antenna Orientation.
Best Performance Summary
External Antennas
Antenna Placement
Other Things to Avoid
Reradiating Antennas
Personal Reradiating Antenna
Communal Reradiating Antenna
Reradiating Antenna Considerations
Setting Up a Reradiating Antenna in a Car
Testing the System
Making the System Permanent
Carrying a GPS Signal via Cable
How Much Signal Do You Need?
Cable Losses
Connector Losses
Using a Signal Repeater.
Building Your Own Mega GPS Antenna
Materials
Building the Antenna
Summary.

Chapter 5: Protecting Your GPS
Screen Damage
Screen Protectors
More Screen Armoring
Commercial Protection for GPS and PDAs
Mounting GPS
Car Mounting
Making a Personalized Case
Summary

Chapter 6: Hacking the Firmware.
Firmware
Updating Warnings.
Updating the Firmware.
Hacking GPS Firmware
Bypassing the Garmin eTrex Vista Startup Screen.
Bypassing the Garmin eTrex Legend Startup Screen
Bypassing the Garmin eTrex Venture Startup Screen.
MeMap Personalization.
Manual Firmware Editing.
Magellan GPS Firmware Modifications..
Recovering from a Failed Firmware Load.
Garmin.
Magellan
Summary

Chapter 7: Making Connections
The PC — GPS Relationship
Connection Types
Which Connection Is Best?
Troubleshooting Problems.
PC Connection Trouble
General PDA Connection Trouble.
Software-Specific Issues
Erratic Mouse Pointer after Connecting a GPS
Windows XP Problem: Microsoft Ball Point.
Microsoft MapPoint Troubleshooting.
USB-to-Serial Converters.
Summary
Chapter 8: GPS Data.
GPS Data Collection
Position, Velocity, Time.
Waypoints.
Working with the Data.
EasyGPS.
G7toWin
Creative Uses of GPS Data
Sharing Waypoints.
Adding GPS Information to Digital Photos.
Lightning Detector and Plotter.
Wardriving.
GPS in Programming.
Summary..
Chapter 9: Examining the Data.
NMEA.
NMEA Sentences.
NMEA Sentence Structure
A Closer Look at NMEA Sentences.
Examining NMEA Sentences.
NMEA Checksum.
SiRF..
Using NMEA Sentences.
GPS NMEA LOG.
GPS Diagnostic
RECSIM III
Using NMEA.
GpsGate
Recording Actual NMEA Sentences with GpsGate
Recording Simulated NMEA Using GpsGate
Data Playback..
Why Bother with NMEA?
Ensuring That Your GPS Works
Avoiding Data Corruption
Summary.
Chapter 10: More Data Tricks.
Screenshots