|
|
| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
| |
| Mailing List Archives |
| Subject: | [gislist] ArcPad on HP iPAQ - followup |
| Date: |
09/27/2004 08:10:02 AM |
| From: |
RICK GRAY |
|
|
Hello all (and apologies for the cross posting)
Last year about this time, I was excited about getting 10 HP iPAQ hand-held
units with GPS flash antennas and running ArcPad 6.0 for my GIS course. I have
now had a year to work with the system and thought some might be interested in
my assessment.
Simply put: if there was something else available (and a budget to pay for it),
I would try it!
ArcPad seems to function well, once you get past the learning curve (it only
vaguely mimics ArcView or ArcGIS or ArcExplorer). As a teaching tool, the
students enjoyed the portability. Having a desktop version to practice on
really helps. I applaud ESRI for that and for the on-line tutorials they
provide.
The GPS antennas that I used are HAiCOM HI-303MMF units. Experience with 10
units all mapping the same turf suggests that on a good day, average accuracy is
a couple of meters. In some instance, accuracy can be as good a sub meter. On a
bad day, 10-20 meters is more like it. Frustrating for a student who stops
mapping at a point along a trail, then starts at the same point to carry on only
to find that the two points don't coincide back home on the computer. Very
valuable as a teaching aid to make that point.
My greatest frustration with the system is with the iPAQs.
1. The field life of the battery charge is about 3-4 hours. Anybody who takes
a class of 30 students to the field can appreciate the limitations that creates.
The first half hour is spent getting organized (even with lots of
pre-planning). Such a short lifespan really cuts into effective working time.
For a professional who needs to put a full day in the field, the unit would be
next to worthless.
2. Back at the office, the units must be left on a charger ALL THE TIME!!!! If
not, the batteries will drain dead within a couple of weeks even when the units
are shut down. A dead battery not only means you have to wait for it to recharge
before heading out again, but when the battery dies, ArcPad and any other
software and data that is installed after it left the factory, is lost. For some
reason it is stored in volatile memory. All base maps, projection files -
everything - is gone and needs to be reinstalled. Very time consuming and
frustrating.
3. The AC power adapter plug is a large bulky item so only 2, or at most 3, can
be plugged into a standard power bar. For 10 units, you need a bank of
powerbars cluttering your desk. In my office this is not practical (with only
one power outlet to run printer, plotter, computer, and other peripherals).
This means you have to remember to keep swapping out units if you want them to
stay charged.
In another couple of years, I can anticipate having to replace this technology
(with pleasure, I might add), and I wondered if anyone on the list had other
experiences - good or bad - with similar technology. Is there anything out
there - that is affordable on a tight school budget - that works better? Has
anyone got a greater horror story so that I won't feel so bad about my choice?
Thanks,
Rick
Rick Gray
GIS Specialist, Ontario Weather Network
http://www.ownweb.ca
GIS Instructor
Ridgetown College, University of Guelph
http://www.ridgetowncollege.com/
Tel. 519-674-1554
E-mail: rgray@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca
Ridgetown: -81.883 W, 42.450 N
This message has been scanned by Mcafee Anti-virus Software and is certified virus free.
_______________________________________________
gislist mailing list
gislist@lists.geocomm.com
http://lists.geocomm.com/mailman/listinfo/gislist
_________________________________
This list is brought to you by
The GeoCommunity
http://www.geocomm.com/
Get Access to the latest GIS & Geospatial Industry RFPs and bids
http://www.geobids.com
|
|
Sponsored by:
For information
regarding
advertising rates
Click Here!
|
