Motivation of GPS Logging and What I Use

One day, the idea of logging everyday life by GPS caught my mind. It seemed just amazing to record when and where constantly. I didn't have any application of those recorded data.

Recording everyday life may remind you MyLifeBits project or Remembrance Home project(you can find the paper in the linked page).

GPS logging itself is not uncommon. This site is an example, but it seems to record special occasions only (such as travelling).

First, I tried eTrek by Garmin. But for the following reasons, I found it is not good for me.

• Time-to-first-fix was too long (more than 5 minutes). Getting out of my home and stopping right there for 5 minutes to catch GPS signal is too much to do everyday.
• It didn't catch signal well inside a house even located next to window. Thus, I couldn't solve the problem above by keeping eTrek on even while I was at home.
• Memory stores only 10,000 points. Transfering the log to PC every 2, 3 days is annoying.
• It was too big to carry everyday out of a bag (it cannot be kept in a bag to catch signal).

Given these, I chose followings.

//www.semsons.com/hogpwigpsres.html">HOLUX GPSlim236:This unit uses SiRFStar3 chipset, which is known with its good time-to-first-fix. BlueThooth enables me to keep often-large display unit inside of a bag seperately.

iPAQ hx4700

PocketPC can use large memory such as SD, compact flash.

512MB Compact Flash

SD card caused some BlueTooth drops (GPS was disconnected when CPU was busy). According to some discussions found on the Web, smaller CFs seem better.

After about a half year of use, I'm completely satisfied with SiRF3. Time to first fix is usually less than 1 min. It catces the signal even in my pocket or on the navigator seat (not on the dashboard). This is really convenient. Battery life of iPAQ4700 is not long enough for me to keep it on all day long, so I always take AC.