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I'm considering the purchase of an hp50g that I do not need but will prove to be useful microcomputer for future. I'm not much past a basic calculus course but have the opportunity to learn linear algebra on the side with a professor in preparation for undergraduate research in sociology. I absolutely love RPN on my only hpcalc (35s)

A personal project: I would like to interface the hp50g with an gps receiver and have a programmable gps unit to measure m/s and act as a trip log. Ultimately I want something for measuring speed during a skateboard trip and for long automobile trips. I think the calculator route is best because it will allow me to display and process the data as I see fit.

Would these modules be suitable for the project?

http://www.futurlec.com/GPS.shtml

I've looked at the software at hpcalc.org and things look promising for me. As you can tell from my post I am a newbie to hp and know very little about gps units.

Matthew

The only way to do it easily is to have a unit that can output a RS232 signal. That way you can use a cable from hpcalc.org to interface to the 50g. Note that is a special serial cable and not just a direct wired connection.

I personally would just recommend a simple unit that has a built in 9 pin serial.

If you want a hardened box with space for external batteries, and a place to mount extra internal components, take a look here. I helped develop the software and that device for land surveyors, and I'm sure you can buy one of the plain yellow boxes for a decent price if desired.

TW

Edited: 19 Sept 2010, 2:24 p.m.

Quote:

I personally would just recommend a simple unit that has a built in 9 pin serial.


Thank you for the reply. I failed to recognize that the units I linked to where not standard rs232. By "simple unit" do you mean one of the commercial gps units like a garmin e-trex?

I meant something that doesn't have a screen, and is supposed to interface with another device like a PDA or laptop. I haven't looked for years at those though. I know there are plenty of bluetooth ones, and used to be plenty of serial enabled devices also. Something like this possibly: http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-18x-GPS-Navigator-Unit/dp/B0016NYHVS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1284923071&sr=8-3


You can probably get a GPS with a screen and software that also supports serial. Then you could use either depending on what you want to do.

TW

Edited: 19 Sept 2010, 3:07 p.m.

Thanks again. I understand what you mean.

Hi Matthew. If you're interested Professor Gilbert Strang of MIT has provided access to resources from his linear algebra course at:

Gilbert Strang's Linear Algebra Course

The recorded lectures are available via video and are very useful.

Good luck,

John

Quote:
A personal project: I would like to interface the hp50g with an gps receiver and have a programmable gps unit to measure m/s and act as a trip log. Ultimately I want something for measuring speed during a skateboard trip and for long automobile trips. I think the calculator route is best because it will allow me to display and process the data as I see fit.
Why not just get a GPS unit made for bicycles. They already have things like trip distance, travel time, average speed, maximum speed, elevation gained or lost, etc., etc., with plenty of memory that can be downloaded to a computer to graph the speed, elevation, grade, heart rate, and so on.

Quote:
Why not just get a GPS unit made for bicycles.

Really, Garth, if you have to ask...

You may or may not find this helpful:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=746

I used an older Garmin GPS that supports RS232 NMEA streaming @ 4800 BPS.

Edited: 19 Sept 2010, 9:15 p.m.

Egan, I've just got to say this. Your article's use of animation is absolutely the best I have seen at this site. You are a true pro, sir!

Frak, that's cool, Egan!

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it.