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| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
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| Subject: | RE: [gislist] ArcPad on HP iPAQ - followup |
| Date: |
09/27/2004 10:55:01 AM |
| From: |
Karen Morley |
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I have had the same horror story with my iPAQ, which is now gather dust. =
I was also using it for a calendar dna contact list, which also =
completely disappear when the worthless battery runs out!
I am looking forward to seeing other recommendations!
-----Original Message-----
From: gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com
[mailto:gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com]On Behalf Of RICK GRAY
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 6:08 AM
To: APPLIED-GIS-RS@LISTES.ULAVAL.CA: arcview@lists.directionsmag.com:
gislist@lists.geocomm.com
Subject: [gislist] ArcPad on HP iPAQ - followup
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. =20
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.=20
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).=20
This means you have to remember to keep swapping out units if you want =
them to
stay charged. =20
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=20
GIS Instructor
Ridgetown College, University of Guelph
http://www.ridgetowncollege.com/=20
Tel. 519-674-1554
E-mail: rgray@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca=20
Ridgetown: -81.883 W, 42.450 N
This message has been scanned by Mcafee Anti-virus Software and is =
certified virus free.=20
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