An application like this has been a surprisingly long time coming, but Marcus Tettmar’s PDAOnboard has released Pocket Repeater—software running on a Palm or Pocket PC PDA, that displays NMEA instrument data over a Bluetooth wireless connection. And if you are wondering how to interface your instruments with Bluetooth, ShipModule’s MiniPlex-41BT NMEA multiplexer is the little piece of magic that you’ll need. Since Bluetooth was designed as a wireless replacement for devices normally connected by serial cables, it’s quite a good fit for NMEA data, which really just uses a simple serial interface. So, if your instruments output NMEA, the multiplexer will convert it to Bluetooth, and a Bluetooth equipped PDA can display the data in textual or graphical form. Then you can walk around your boat or lay in your bunk for that matter, and take a peek at the instruments whenever it strikes your fancy. As Bob Bitchin’ would say, “how kewl is that?”
Link: PDAOnboard, ShipModul
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I was unable to find info regarding the PocketRepeater software you mention above.
Please advice me where to find it.
Regards
Andy