VGS Cable

Here are 2 cables that allow Garmin units using the Garmin 4 pin round cable or the newer etrex/emap cable to send information to a Handspring Visor. These cables are primarily for NMEA mode but the G-III+/etrex/emap text mode should work as well. Note that neither cable permits Garmin/Garmin transfers since there is no handshake line. I have used both of these cables on my Visor Platinum and they works as advertised. I tried them with my Garmin G-12, G-38, etrex vista, and emap. The cables are well made and works with the majority of programs I tried it on. The only problems I experienced was a bit of sensitivity when Visor batteries are low where I would have to try a couple of times to get some programs to recognize the gps. I could not get it to work with Map_Companion (not surprising) or with Nav_Companion from Magellan. Nav_Companion was a bit of a surprise since it works ok with my Palm III using a Delorme cable adapter. This cable also worked to turn my Visor into a serial port display terminal using terminal software. If you plan to put this in your car be sure the 2 ft. length will be ok. Be sure and tell Chris which cable you want and he might be a bit flexible on changes to the length if you ask him, although the supplied length works well in my applications without undue clutter.

Note that this is the only cable I have seen that works with the Visor platinum. All of the other commercial cables draw too much current from the unit.

Dale

The following text is a direct quote from Chris, the designer of the cable: 

Cable for Handspring Visor to Garmin GPS and Delorme’s Topo Solus mapping
software.

This cable allows you to do mobile mapping using Delorme’s Topo Solus
software, a Handspring Visor, and a Garmin GPS.  I call it the VGS Cable and
it should work with any Garmin that has the round connector, or the square
connector for the etrex and emap series units.  Specify the connector type
when ordering.

The standard VGS Cable is 24 inches long, or you can specify custom length
to suit your needs.  It uses the Visor's hotsync connector to connect to the
Garmin GPS and places the Visor in serial receive-only mode.  The circuit
for translating the signal is powered by the Visor and typically draws less
than 300 micro-amps.

I build these cables in my spare time and will send you one for $35, which
includes domestic 1st Class Postage (48 states).  For international
shipping, contact me.

Chris     seapea@mail.com

or order from:

Chris Pyle
PO Box 30601
Knoxville, TN  37930