Data Hacking

FIGURE 7-10: Port speed settings
on the Garmin eTrex
General PDA Connection Trouble
Chapter 7 — Making Connections
Connecting a GPS to a PDA can be just as prone to a dead connection as can a PC-to-GPS
connection. Here is the procedure for isolating and fixing a problem:
1. Check the cable connectors. Check the entire cable, including the connectors, for damage.
Cables used outdoors can be subjected to damage (stretching being particularly bad
for them). Check the connectors carefully for dirt or damage — dirt in the connectors
can cause terrible damage to your devices, and you should take steps to protect them
from the elements.
2. Check the connections. If the cable seems okay, check the connections at both the GPS
and the device. Undo and redo the connections and retry the connection. Connections at
the bottom of iPAQ devices are particularly prone to damage and great care needs to be
taken with them. Never yank the cable from the base of a PDA and never force a connector
in place — if things don’t seem right, take a closer look in case you damage something
further.
Damaging the connector at the base of an iPAQ can result in a very expensive repair, as
the whole motherboard will need replacing!
3. Check batteries. Low batteries can cause problems. Replace batteries with known good
batteries or newly recharged batteries. If possible, power the device externally. Try the
connection a second time, this time following these instructions:
a. Switch off the GPS.
b. Switch off the PDA.
c. Disconnect the cable fully.
d. Reattach the cable to the GPS and the PDA.
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