Displaying internal GPS data on external PDA (or PC) simultaneously

It is quite simple to connect one external GPS with 2 or more PDAs (or PC) displaying the same GPS data, with the use of splitter cable.

As more and more PDA with built-in GPS emerge and many users like to connect another PDA or PC to it utilising the PDA's internal GPS, it is a little more complicated and this article gives some tips on how to go about it.

Requirements:
Hardware
1. PDA with built in GPS (host device) AND physical bottom serial port - e.g. Mio 168 (and many clones), Acer n35, Navman Pin570, Asus A632/636, Fujitsu Loox N500/520, and possibly many others.
2. Connecting cables, or bluetooth equiped on either/both host and slave devices.
Software - Serial splitter software on the PDA such as GPSgate on the host device, and of course GPS software for both the host and slave device.

When configuring GPSGate on the host device, you have to know which com port the internal GPS is connected.
Example here given is for connecting a Mio 168:
GPSGate setting:
For Mio168

Internal GPS is on com2 (SP2), which is used by GPSgate, you need to add a virtual comport which will be used by the Navigation software on Mio168.

The bottom serial port (used to connect external PDA/PC) is com1.
 
Choose Settings on GPSGate Input = COM PORT, COM2-4800
Output - Virtual Ports, tap Add virtual port, available ports are shown		 You can choose most of the available ports. We suggest COM5 here, tap on COM5, which is shown on left Output - Physical Ports - tap Add port
Available ports are shown Only COM1 is possible here, tap on it COM1 is shown on the left, now tap Open  Configuration is now finished 

All internal GPS data will now pass through GPSgate to output to COM5 and COM1 (and any additional or alternative COM ports you have configured. You should configure you navigation software on Mio168 to use COM5, and connect a serial cable to the bottom port (COM1) to another PDA/PC.

Connecting to external PDA/PC:
There are many, many ways to do it. You must know that the 2 devices are connected through serial ports in order to exchange/transfer data.
It is not possible to connect 2 devices via USB for exchange of GPS data.

1. Mio168 > serial cable (for the host) > null modem adapter > serial cable (for the slave) > slave device (PDA/PC)
2. Mio168 > serial interface (for the host) - PV3SMP >  serial cable (for the slave) > slave device (PDA/PC)
3. Mio168 > PDA GPS interface (old) - GV35/P > null modem cable - GDXN > PDA GPS interface (old) - GQ38/P (for HP rx3417) > HP rx3417
4. Mio168 > PDA GPS interface (new) - UV35 > null modem cable - GUXN > PDA GPS interface (new) - UQ38 (for HP rx3417) > HP rx3417
3. Mio168 > PDA GPS interface (old) - GV35/P > null modem cable - GDXN > PDA GPS interface (old) - GQ38/P (for HP rx3417) > HP rx3417. Power is optional. 4. Mio168 > PDA GPS interface (new) - UV35 > null modem cable - GUXN > PDA GPS interface (new) - UQ38 (for HP rx3417) > HP rx3417. Power is optional. Power connected to either UV35 or UQ38 will supply power to both PDA

Other possible ways which I have not tested (therefore I cannot discuss) but are possible involving bluetooth or a combination of cable and bluetooth:
5. PDA/GPS with bluetooth > bluetooth > bluetooth enabled PDA/PC
6. Bluetooth enabled PDA connected to a bluetooth GPS > bluetooth > bluetooth enabled PDA/PC.
7. Bluetooth enabled PDA (with physical serial port) connected to a bluetooth GPS > null modem adapter > serial cable (for the slave) > slave device (PDA/PC)
8. Bluetooth enabled PDA (with physical serial port) connected to a bluetooth GPS (e.g. HP rx3417) > serial interface (for the host) - PQ8SMP >  serial cable (for the slave) > slave device (PDA/PC)
9. Bluetooth enabled PDA (with physical serial port) connected to a bluetooth GPS (e.g. HP rx3417) > PDA GPS interface (old) - GQ38/P > null modem cable - GDXN > PDA GPS interface (old) - GQ38/P (for HP rx3417) > HP rx3417
10. Bluetooth enabled PDA (with physical serial port) connected to a bluetooth GPS (e.g. HP rx3417)> PDA GPS interface (new) - UQ38 > null modem cable - GUXN > PDA GPS interface (new) - UQ38 (for HP rx3417) > HP rx3417
 

FAQ:
Can a Palm device be use?
Yes. Palm>Palm, Palm>PPC or PPC>Palm is possible. Remember that you need a GPS splitter software (such as GPSgate on PPC) on the host device.
For Garmin iQue 3600, there is equivalent of GPSgate software to do it but I am not familiar with it. Nor am I familiar with all Garmin GPS equiped PDAs.

Is GPSgate necessary ?
You need similar serial splitter software. There are a few on the market but I have not used. I used GPSgate just to demostrate to possibility as a sample.
WM5 PDAs are reported to have similar software built in for such use. But I have yet to find success with Asus A636 or Loox N520, which are WM5 PDAs with built in GPS.

If you have further queries or need information on connecting cables please visist http://pc-mobile.net/gps.htm