300 Part IV — Playtime

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.

Male DB9

5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

Male DB9

FIGURE 12-8: Gender changer connector

Foxhunt

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

Chapter 12 — GPS Games 301

is, he or she sends a message to the cell phone and gets a message back almost instantly indicating the position and speed of the fox. At random intervals, the fox stops for a few minutes of “rest.” The object of the game is for those in pursuit of the fox to catch it.

The following ground rules are vital for the success and safety of the game:

The fox must stop periodically to enable those hunting it to catch up.

No driving carelessly, quickly, or dangerously. Put simply, no law breaking!

Have a minimum of two people in all chase cars — one to drive and one to navigate and send the messages.

Take good-quality road maps with you, whether you are the fox or in the chase vehicles. Using mapping software on your laptop connected to your GPS is a great idea for this!

Make sure that your cell phone is fully charged — without it, it’s all a waste of time!

If you are interested in a telematics device, a good place to start investigating them is www.global-telematics.com.

These units aren’t cheap, but they offer great scope for games, especially using vehicles over reasonably large distances of several miles. In addition, when the unit isn’t being used as a gaming device, it can be installed as a lo-jack so you can keep track of your vehicle in case it is stolen.

Other Games

This section describes two other games for which a GPS can be handy. This isn’t a comprehensive list by far, but it gives you a handy starting point from which to start.

Follow the Leader

This is a simple game whereby you create a track on a GPS, making it as complex as possible (see Figure 12-9), and then pass that track to others who have to follow it. The person who can follow it closest in the best time is the winner.

FIGURE 12-9: Try to follow this track!

302 Part IV — Playtime

Go Fetch!

This game is similar in style to geocaching (see Chapter 11), but there are differences. The main one is that geocaching is organized and the caches are permanent (or semi-permanent at least), whereas the finds in a game of Go Fetch! are temporary.

The game is played as follows: One person goes out and places several finds. Each find consists of a box containing a token (anything distinctive will do, use your imagination). These are hidden about the place and waypoints are taken on the GPS. You then take the coordinates for each find and write them on a piece of paper. The pieces of paper are put into a draw from which the coordinates are pulled out and pinned to a board.

Now the coordinates are in a different order from the way in which the finds were placed, which makes the game a little more complex, as each person has to choose the route between each of the finds that he or she thinks is best (print out a map of the area for each contestant but don’t mark the finds on it).

The winner is the first person across the finish line with a token from each of the containers. This is useful for Easter egg hunts or party treasure hunts.

For more information on GPS games, visit www.gpsgames.org.

Summary

This chapter has been all about having some fun with your GPS, getting some fresh air, and putting into good use a lot of the things that you have learned from the previous chapters.

There really is no better way to learn to use your GPS and get a grip on its advanced features than to go out and participate in some light-hearted competitive sport with others. This way, all the ins and outs you’ve learned will give you a competitive edge in winning whatever game you are playing!