dan wells

Awesome awesome device. Very happy with it :)

Does all the fantastic things a GPS should do, routes, tracks, points of interest, etc. It’s also very good looking and has a massive screen :) Feels much lighter than it looks. Takes SD cards. Comes pre-packaged with maps and custom points of interest (like all the speed cameras in SA).

What annoyed my pants off though was the lack of any help on how to connect the device to your PC as a GPS. When you plug it in via the USB cable (no matter if the device is off/on/navigating to the closest Nandos) it shuts down and enters ‘Mass Storage Device’ mode. In this mode you can do nothing but access the files on the device from the mapped drives on your PC (the screen responds to no taps, the power button doesn’t work), and load files onto it, yes that’s great, but I want to be able to get the GPS information and use it!

So after much fiddling I managed to work out a method to connect it as a GPS, and charge, and do everything it usually does BUT also be able to pull GPS data off it from USB to use in whatever software on your PC. If you don’t have one, this might be rather boring so skip until next paragraph. Without USB cable connected, start Nuvi, hold down on battery icon to get statistics page, connect USB. At this point your PC will tell you that you have connected a new device and will want to get drivers for “Garmin USB GPS”. I just clicked search for drivers and it worked fine. Now, after the Nuvi has completed the RAM and ROM checks (they both say “Pass”), tap “Exit”. You’ll get the big Garmin logo, now turn the Nuvi off. On the screen (very dim) it’ll say something like “Charging Battery, Slide power key to turn on”. Now turn it back on. Viola, Nuvi connected as GPS device to PC, not Mass Storage Device.

Makes me wonder why Garmin didn’t just developed a screen that pops up when you connect the USB and has two options “GPS Mode” or “File Transfer Mode”. Silly nana’s.

I watched Wall-E last night. I would give it a 8.75/10! Fantastic animated movie, I was laughing the whole way through =) The movie not only shows the plight of the human race having to abandon Earth, as it is too toxic to live on, but also has a very sweet romance story between two robots.

I would highly recommend this movie for anyone. But especially to any person organising their first date! You will score!

Never confuse danwells.org with danwells.com. Know ‘Stan’ from Days of our Lives?! Hectic!

It seems that InSight Technologies has put up a couple WiFi APs in the Mews, I noticed three new SSID’s in the area. I will look into this. It appears to be some sort of pre-paid system. I wonder whereabouts the APs are physically located? In peoples flats? I’m guessing they backhaul through ADSL.

I should pull out my WiSpy SSM Tool and do some spectrum analysis :)

I’m going to visit InSight to chat with them =) (And pay a car guard R1 because I have no choice, but that’s a totally different rant)

The National Arts Festival starts on the 26th June and ends 5th July. It’s going to be even more fantastic than last year… My digsmate and I have already booked tickets for lots of shows :) The beauty of fest and being a student is that you can watch almost ten times the amount of shows, for the same price you would pay for a single ticket anywhere else in the country!