Data Hacking

300 Part IV — Playtime
Foxhunt
The final cable is a gender changer for connecting the GPS cable to the TinyTrak3. The wiring
diagram is shown in Figure 12-8.
You also need to wire the TNC to the radio and your PDA. These instructions vary depending
on what devices you are using. Instructions will be provided with the TNC kit.
Now assemble all the parts. You will need mapping software running on the PDA. If you don’t
have a Palm PDA, you can use your laptop with whatever mapping software you run on that.
That’s it! This sort of setup enables you to play a variety of hide-and-seek-style games, and
extends the capabilities of your existing GPS receiver/walkie-talkie setup.
594837261
594837261
Male DB9
Male DB9
FIGURE 12-8: Gender changer connector
Another variation on a theme is the foxhunt game. This can be played all sorts of ways, but one
interesting, recent variation is to use a GPS connected to a cell phone to relay the coordinates.
You could use the system detailed in the previous section for this game, but the range of such
radios isn’t great, which limits the scope of the game. Much better are units known as telematics
units, or GPS-based vehicle tracking systems.
The game is played something like this: You install a telematics unit in a vehicle. This vehicle
then becomes the “fox” that others can chase. Each time someone wants to know where the fox