Q: I'm having trouble getting started with your Rand McNally laptop GPS receiver. What should I do?

A: When you first plug your GPS receiver and start StreetFinder, you should be ready to go. The unit does not require any special driver nor does it need to be "detected" by Windows in order to work. Just click Start on the StreetFinder GPS menu. If your unit has a clear view of the sky, you should start seeing your current position on the map within a few minutes.

If for some reason the GPS icon does not appear, use the following checklist:
• Stop the current GPS session (F10 key) then restart it. This may be all that you need to do.

• Verfiy that you have a clear view of the sky. The receiver will not initialize if the view of the sky is blocked. For this reason the receiver will not work indoors.

• Make sure both receiver plugs are plugged into the computer. The serial (square) connector and PS/2 (round) connector need to be plugged into your laptop computer before GPS will work.

• Have you disabled HotSync and/or ActiveSynch (Palm & CE services)? Both programs use your laptop's com port and will not allow another program to use it. Make sure HotSync and/or ActiveSynch are disabled. The easiest way to do this is to click Ctl+Alt+Delete, then select the appropriate program and choose End Task.

• Are you using a standard PS/2 driver? We have noted some issues with using the Synaptics Touch Pad driver as opposed to the standard PS/2 driver. Using the Standard PS/2 driver will correct GPS problems in this case.

• Is the com port disabled? To check this, open your Device Manager (Start>Settings>Control Panel>System). On the Device Manager tab click the "+" sign next to Ports (Com & LPT). If you see a red check mark next to one of the ports, this means it is disabled. Simply highlight the port, click the Properties button and re-enable the port. Do this for any port that has a red check mark next to it. Restart your system, then retry the GPS unit.

• Is the correct com port selected? WIth your GPS receiver plugged into your laptop, you can check this with the Hyperterminal application that comes with Microsoft Windows.

To use HyperTerminal:

1. On the Start menu, select Run. In the Open field type:    hypertrm
2. Click OK to open the Hyperterminal program
3. Enter "GPSTEST" for the name, and click OK.
4. In the Phone Number dialog box, select Direct to COM 1 in the Connect using field. Then click OK.
5. In the Com 1 Properties dialog box, select 4800 Bits per second, 8 Data bits, Parity None, and Stop bits 1. Click OK. You should see a long string of letters and numbers indicating the signal is reaching your PC. The output will look like this:
   
   $GPRMC,005027,A,4207.4412,N,08753.8659,W,0.000,0.0,230799,2.4,W*7F
   $PRWIZCH,21,7,08,2,14,2,01,7,30,7,05,2,00,0,25,7,22,0,15,2,29,7,00,0*4B
   $GPGGA,005028,4207.4412,N,08753.8659,W,1,04,0.84,172.3,M,-
   
   
6. If you do not see this, close the connection and repeat step 4, selecting another com port. Once you see the data stream on the screen, you will know which port to use. Reopen the StreetFinder and select GPS>Settings>Communication settings. Change to the correct com port and click on OK. On the StreetFinder GPS menu select Start. TripMaker or StreetFinder will automatically configure itself to the GPS unit and start. It may take at least 5 minutes for the GPS to get a good view of the satellites and begin displaying your position. Remember, TripMaker or StreetFinder needs to have a view of at least 4 satellites in order to show your position on the map.

If for any reason, your GPS unit fails to initialize and show your position on the map, please call or email technical support at 847-982-0944 or mtssupport@randmcnally.com

FAQs

Q: I have a HandSpring Visor. Will your GPS receivers work with this?

A: No. Each of our Palm organizer GPS receivers were designed specifically for their respective Palm devices. The Visor has a different physical design and neither of our receivers can be attached to it. You can, however, use our mapping software on the Visor and attach an NMEA compatible receiver to it.

Q: Why isn't the Palm V receiver rechargeable?

A: The Palm V GPS receiver was designed to be sleek and light, to match the Palm V organizer. The dry cell batteries take up less space and weigh less than the circuitry needed for recharging.

Q: What is the battery life of the Palm V GPS receiver?

A: Alkaline AAA cells in the Palm V should run 6-10 hours.

Q: Why don't you have a power off switch?

A: This was for ease-of-use, and to increase battery life. The GPS unit will automatically shut down after 90 seconds if the unit is either detached from the Palm organizer or the unit is still connected, but no application is running that uses GPS.

Q: Why is there a 90 second delay before power automatically shuts off on the GPS receiver?

A: This feature allows Palm organizer users to transfer to other applications (such as the calendar to check on an appointment), without losing the GPS signal. The user can then start StreetFinder within 90 seconds and their position will be instantly shown, without having to wait the 30 seconds to 2 minutes for GPS satellite signal acquisition

Q: I already loaded a map but will be traveling in an area that adjoins this map. I don't want to load a larger map of the same area. What can I do?

A: StreetFinder for the Palm organizer allows you to "overlap" maps from adjoining areas. Simply select an area in the StreetFinder mapping software that overlaps your current map and export this to your Palm organizer. StreetFinder for the Palm organizer will automatically load the adjoining map when your GPS signal enters this area.

Q: Who makes your GPS units?

A: We have worked with various manufacturers to create custom GPS hardware/software solutions. We do not release the names of those suppliers.

Q: Do your GPS receivers work with other Palm organizer software?

A: They should work with software that uses common NMEA 2.0+ strings, but this has not been extensively tested.