18 Part I — Hardware Hacks

Combining Cable Types

So far, we’ve looked at one type of combo cable — a data/power combo cable — but there are many possible types. Here are a few possibilities:

Multi-GPS data cable: A cable that can be used on more than one GPS unit

Multi-data cable: A data cable that can connect to multiple devices

Multi-data/power cable: A cable that can connect to more than one device and provide power

Multi-data/power/GPS cable: A combo of all of the above

These cables aren’t like any kind of cable you can buy off the shelf, and if you want cables like these, you have no choice but to make them yourself.

Multi-GPS Cables

A multi-GPS cable is a data cable that has a connector suitable for your PC or other mobile device at one end, while at the other end it is fitted with two (or more) connectors suitable for the GPS unit(s) that you have. This way, you only need to carry one cable, no matter what receiver or PC/handheld device you are using. An example might be a cable with connectors for both a Garmin eTrex and a Garmin 76 (one uses a square connector and the other uses a round one).

The advantage of a cable like this is that you reduce the number of cables you need to carry. The disadvantage is that you can only make a data connection with one GPS unit at any one time.

Multi-Data Cables

This cable is similar to the multi-GPS cable, but it has connectors suitable for both a PC and another mobile device you have. The usual combination is to have a connector for a PC serial port and a connector for a mobile device such as the iPAQ.

Again, the advantage of this is the convenience of carrying one cable no matter what device you wish to connect your GPS to.

Multi-Data/Power Cables

This cable combines the flexibility of the multi-data cable, but also adds a power connector suitable for a car cigarette lighter. It offers you great flexibility in what device you connect your GPS to while at the same time enabling you to supply power to the GPS, thus reducing the load on the batteries.