Hacking GPS Navigators
 

I ran across some TomTom hacking information today and was curious if anyone had any experience hacking their GPS units (whatever brand they may be). Unfortunately my new TomTom v3 has no SD card slot, which puts a damper on hacking it (assuming I had the time anyway).

I was thinking a hacked GPS unit might be a great way to try out the mpg control system queues idea I've mentioned previously. I guess with enough data you might be able to derive coast down information, but you'd have to account for the lack of instantaneously accurate information so I'm not sure how practical that'd be. I wonder if using an OBDII to USB converter if you could plug it in to the GPS unit's USB port and read it?

Probably easier to wait for more Google Android devices (my original plan). Learning to code that would have a lot more general utility.

I've done some minor hacking with the TomTom software on my phone (HTC Tilt). I use custom voices and icons that aren't available from TomTom. I have been thinking about doing the hacks to make MapShare work with my software (its currently not supported on Navigator products), but I haven't gone that far.

The phone is totally hacked though. I'm running my own custom ROM installation, and all the hidden menus are unlocked and I also have hacked the windows registry on the phone to make it a 100% custom device just for me.

-Jay

If you want to plug in to a computer, it might make sense to use an inexpensive USB GPS antenna. They come packaged with Microsoft Streets & Trips, or can be had cheaply elsewhere.

Another option is a classic handheld GPS with serial or USB, like a Garmin eTrex Venture.

My Garmin iQue 3600 PalmOS PDA GPS can feed live data to a computer.

I think I have seen some open source GPS firmware projects, I don't know if there's one for TomTom.

There is indeed one for the TomTom. Linux based.

https://www.gpsunderground.com/forums/

The only one you need :)
And TPB ofc!