Pharos GPS 135 Hack Time! Windows CE!

Well I finally got my Pharos 135 (PDR 135) from Dell on Friday and have hacked it to use Windows CE, and people said it couldn't be done!
Download the file and follow the directions, also feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Also FYI, I got it working with TomTom 6!
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=607YNFMS

Mirror: http://rapidshare.com/files/8170126/Pharos_GPS_Files.rar

how exactly do you download, can't find download link on host.
FOUN D IT, THEY MAKE THEM PAGES CONFUZIN!

More info here. Thanks OP!

Now where do you get the TomTom software from?

Checked the website afterwards and didn't realize they sold software separately to add onto CE devices-thought it was software that only came with devices.


Arrghhh

Just a simple install.

I put the CAB file on the GPS, couldn't tell you if the windows installer will work. Give it a try.

I put the cab into the sd card and install. Where do you put the maps? I got a set of files for North American map, but they are 1.2Gb, I don't have another SD card laying around. I'll try that later, I guess.

BTW, how much better is Tom tom?

BTW, does 4GB SD card work for this device? If so, I'll get one to store both maps.

Can you skip highways w/ tomtom. I was using the pharos gps and there was a road that was parallel to an expensive tollway. I tried to drive local, and the gps kept telling me to go back to the tollway, it was pretty annoying.

dobby10 said: You need to put the map on the SD card. Back up the card now, and then delete most of the states you will probably never need, then you'll have enough space... I left the 8 closest states on and still have space for 600 megs of music!
And yes, TomTom is sooo much better.

I install tomtom w/ the cab file. When I launch the program first time, it preform some settings setup. At the end, it ask what device I am using, what do you guys choose?

There is
TomTom Bluetooth gps receiver
tomtom wired gps receiver
other bluetooth GPS receiver
Other NMEA GPS Receiver

Which one do you choose?

Also, I am not able to get any of the voice over. What folder should voice be under? I got a pack that has a folder name voices and I put it to the root of the SD card. Inside it, it has data00.chk and vif to data57.chk and vif. When the application asked for a voice, all of them are grayed out.

Thanks, it works. The voice is ultra low, I can't even hear what it is saying even when I tuned the system volume to its highest.

Things I find that tomtom is better:
- 3D map is so much better
- street names on the map are stably attached to street, vs the old software's street names are pop here and there that your eye can't follow before being able to read what street it is
- It tells you how to U turn instead of just saying "Make a legal U turn" and have you figure out how to make that turn.

The only problem now is the voice. I can't hear what it says.

thanks for the good work.
HOwever, the file you uploaded to hack the gps seems corrupted and can't open. Could you double check it? thanx so much.

TypeEE said:

Works. Now I like tomtom so much better than Ostia

Hi help please.

when I tried to install TOMTOM with the cab file, it asked me to choose the name of the file(the default is "(install here)"). I can not input the name, and I can't go further(I don't know how to let it install, like we do by hit "enter" key in PC). Could you please tell me how to do this installation?
Thanks so much.

I've run the hack to get TomTom 6 working but I've found that TomTom 6 gives me a Fatal Application Error more times while driving in a particular part of Washington D.C. I think it has to do with communication with the maps on the SD card, like its getting overloaded somehow and crashes. The only way to fix it is with a hard reset by using the switch on the back but then you have to reinstall the hack all over again. The original Pharos Ostia software doesn't crash in the particular area that TomTom does and is far more stable, only experiencing a crash every few weeks rather than hourly as experienced when using TomTom. I'd say that I would rather use TomTom as its GUI is much better and the maps are far more better as well but I'd rather drive around with a capable and stable Ostia software rather than keep taking my eyes off the road to reset the device. Thing is, I got this as a present so I don't have the receipt so am unable to return it if indeed the device is defective.

TypeEE said: gougou said: TypeEE said:

Works. Now I like tomtom so much better than Ostia

Hi help please.

when I tried to install TOMTOM with the cab file, it asked me to choose the name of the file(the default is "(install here)"). I can not input the name, and I can't go further(I don't know how to let it install, like we do by hit "enter" key in PC). Could you please tell me how to do this installation?
Thanks so much.

I let it install by bringing up the keyboard from the right bottom corner. Then click tab will make it focus on the install button from the install location textfield. Then, click on keyboard's enter to make it click the install button(which is off the screen). Then the install will happen.


Thanks. Now I get it working.