PSP-290 GPS receiver tips and tricks

[deniska]

http://image1.play-asia.com/170/PA.75835.001.jpg (http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-2pz-71-bh-49-en-84-j-70-1mij.html)

Here is a bunch of tricks and tips to get the most our of your PSP-290 (http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-2pz-71-bh-49-en-84-j-70-1mij.html) unit:

DIGG THIS (http://digg.com/gaming_news/PSP_290_GPS_receiver_tips_and_tricks)

http://digg.com/gaming_news/PSP_290_GPS_receiver_tips_and_tricks

1) Lower the CPU/board frequency. As any electronic device PSP emmits some EM frequencies, that seems to interfere with PSP-290 operation. So lowering the CPU frequency results in generating less EM radiation and therefore slightly better performance of the GPS unit.

2) Use a DYI cable to distance the unit from PSP.
Following mini-B usb extension cable can be tweaked to do this job: http://pc-mobile.net/cmue.jpg
One still needs to pull an extra wire to connect the power port to the left of the USB socket with left power pin on the GPS receiver.
Following thread has more details on the hookup with some photos: http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=62604

Following images "document" my performance testing of the cable. You can see that moving away the GPS unit "adds" 1-2 signal bars:
http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/images/psp290/1.JPG
http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/images/psp290/2.JPG
http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/images/psp290/3.JPG
http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/images/psp290/4.JPG

3) Some people reported better GPS performance after shielding the back and top of their PSPs with metal cover or aluminum foil.

4) Charging battery. Having a full charge seems to make a small difference, according to some reports.

5) Changing PSP or/and PSP-290. It seems that different PSP batches have different EM noise levels. Japanese PSPs seem to do slightly better than others. Also, from my tests, out of 2 PSP-290 units that I own, 1 always seem to do better in terms of sensitivity and presision. So exchanging the unit may help a bit too...

6) Passive cellphone booster stickers - although this does not sit well with the stuff I learned from college physics, some folks tend to believe that sticking one of those stickers on the unit's buttom seem to improve the reception. Feel free to try this theory, if you can get one of those stickers cheap or for free. If not, sticking some aluminum foil to the back of the unit would probably make the same effect (if any at all)

7) Upgrading firmware - This in theory may help a bit, but... SCE has fixed most of the GPS module bugs somethere around FW 3.03, so upgrading to higher firmware probably would not noticably improve the performance.

[wraggster]

awesome post Deniska, ill move this to your news so that everyone can see this great tips

[tyranos]

with that diy cable and a 4 gb memstick u have like one of the best spycams in the world

and chotto shot of course

[zyrson]

Hi prexcellent program:thumbup:
Can someone tale me how to put UK postcodes and how to enter it in address locastor

[Solidsnake3000]

cool even though i have no idea what dis does

[pt9087]

Kool^ me too, but nice work Deniska! :thumbup:

[drEDN4wt]

I notice that the gps-290 has been available for some time in Spain. Why them and not the rest of Europe?

Anyone know if they will sell to the UK?
I've sent Divineo Spain an email but no reply yet.

[atari800]

cool - I wonder though - if I were to make a "permanent" GPS install for truck - if direct sun light on the gps-290 would damage it?
Or would it be (just as) good if not in direct sunlight and hidden, say near rear-view mirror, just as long as it is away from unit?

Is cable length an issue?
is there an optimum length, like 1 meter? or something not to be exceeded?

reasons:
A) I dont like PSP sitting in open when parked - usually disconnect it and shut down and tuck away
B) the less "spaghetti" I have on truck console - the less inviting it is to thieves


question:
What was average time to get fixed? Trip time in pictures shows 18 minutes. I know it doest take that long...did it?

You rule man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/|\

[r2000]

cool - I wonder though - if I were to make a "permanent" GPS install for truck - if direct sun light on the gps-290 would damage it?
Or would it be (just as) good if not in direct sunlight and hidden, say near rear-view mirror, just as long as it is away from unit?

Is cable length an issue?
is there an optimum length, like 1 meter? or something not to be exceeded?

reasons:
A) I dont like PSP sitting in open when parked - usually disconnect it and shut down and tuck away
B) the less "spaghetti" I have on truck console - the less inviting it is to thieves


question:
What was average time to get fixed? Trip time in pictures shows 18 minutes. I know it doest take that long...did it?

You rule man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/|\

You would be better off getting a holux instead for PSP-290 for what you want to do.

[omkarame]

hi there ,
i am totaly new on this website and i want to know if some one can help me with the gps suytem. i have 290 psp gps reciver wich i bought from playasia.com website.but i dont have navigation software to use with gps for psp ,could some body please help me out or tell me how i can create a navigation software for psp.i live in canada so i need software for canada.I will be thank ful to every body who can help me with this situation.please explain in detail how to create it or use it,thank you,hope to hear from some one soon.

[michael_dack_2005]

omkarame, it would probably be beter for you to go to deniska.dcemu.co.uk, follow the newbie report a few posts down, this should get you up and running.

Problem is i live in the UK and i cannot find anywhere except ebay that will ship here, can anyone help?

Cheers

[Nikolaos]

im thinking of buying one, but i dont want it if its gunna be crap.

[r2000]

hi there ,
i am totaly new on this website and i want to know if some one can help me with the gps suytem. i have 290 psp gps reciver wich i bought from playasia.com website.but i dont have navigation software to use with gps for psp ,could some body please help me out or tell me how i can create a navigation software for psp.i live in canada so i need software for canada.I will be thank ful to every body who can help me with this situation.please explain in detail how to create it or use it,thank you,hope to hear from some one soon.
You should be able to find all the information you need if you searched from this site.

[deniska]

Is cable length an issue?
is there an optimum length, like 1 meter? or something not to be exceeded?


question:
What was average time to get fixed? Trip time in pictures shows 18 minutes. I know it doest take that long...did it?

You rule man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/|\

I am sure it will become an issue at some point, but definitely for 1 meter cables..

The fix took ~ 1 minute (note that it was a really good day - clear skys and all), but I did some tests with the unit and took some test shots and videos trying to get the best angle and all.
BTW, here is one of those test videos:
http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/images/psp290/TEST.AVI

[Nylon32]

omkarame, it would probably be beter for you to go to deniska.dcemu.co.uk, follow the newbie report a few posts down, this should get you up and running.

Problem is i live in the UK and i cannot find anywhere except ebay that will ship here, can anyone help?

Cheers


http://www.discochip.com/tienda/catalog/product_info.php/currency/GBP/products_id/564/language/GB/

I got mine from this website, it's mainly in Spanish but you can change the language on the left of the page, I paid an extra £15 for the quick shipping and received it 4 days later (I ordered it on the Sunday Morning before the May bank holiday). Its a little bit more expensive than ebay but the ones on there all ship from China and can takes ages to reach you, and you usually get ripped off on the postage costs.

Hope this helps

[r2000]

Playasia.com should ship to anywhere and the price may be better, as are many ebay items.

[mafiaxxx]

im having a hell of a time getting this to work with version 3.5. is there a way i can downgrade my psp? or do you have instructions on how to make this work for my psp??

[drEDN4wt]

im having a hell of a time getting this to work with version 3.5. is there a way i can downgrade my psp? or do you have instructions on how to make this work for my psp??

make sure you clean all the dead skin out of the two terminals each side of the psp usb where the power pins locate.

[mafiaxxx]

make sure you clean all the dead skin out of the two terminals each side of the psp usb where the power pins locate.

no its the software
i keep getting a message that says game cannot load

[dreetje9]

im having a hell of a time getting this to work with version 3.5. is there a way i can downgrade my psp? or do you have instructions on how to make this work for my psp??

If you have the Mapthis! map on your PSP in GAME350, put it in GAME150.

Put Kernel on 1.5, and off you go if al went well.

Just try different combinations of kernel, and the map to place it in if my advice doesn't work, but what's above worked for me.

[mafiaxxx]

If you have the Mapthis! map on your PSP in GAME350, put it in GAME150.

Put Kernel on 1.5, and off you go if al went well.

Just try different combinations of kernel, and the map to place it in if my advice doesn't work, but what's above worked for me.



i dont have a game 350 or 150 it just says game. do i make a separate folder....how do i put the kernel to 1.5??

how do i try different combinations...i cant downgrade...how do i from 3.5??
help!!!!!!!!

[Waltrock]

if you have the sony-firmware 3.5, you are not able to use mapThis! oder any other homebrew.

DO NOT TRY TO DOWNGRADE. It will brick your PSP... wait until the magic of Dark_Alex appears and let 3.5 users downgrade. Until this: have fun with the games!

[mafiaxxx]

thanx finally a good answer.......
so,
when is that downgrade coming out??

[Waltrock]

thats a good question....

Nobody knows when Dark_Alex will be able to hack this Firmware ...

[xVanguardx]

my foil shield: (i got 1-2+ bars)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/th_DSC01955.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/DSC01955.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/th_DSC01956.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/DSC01956.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/th_DSC01954.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/DSC01954.jpg)

in the car: (new honda civic models)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/th_DSC01960.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/DSC01960.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/th_DSC01959.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/SpadeHawk/DSC01959.jpg)
it was cool that i found out that u can put it in the gap of the steering wheel and it stays still.. well if u are a short person driving

[Codaz]

Can you make us a tutorial to make such a shield ?

Hehe nice pics ! But you can't see your tachometres now !

[Psyberjock]

It looks like a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil taped to the surfaces. Try that. Should work.

[liujialiu]

i download mapthis and follow the instruction already, and i add map from my friend's car nevigator software which brand is navman. after that i put on my psp-290 but this is no reaction when i turn on the psp power, nothing happen to my console. i can not find anything that can show i am using gps, it is exactly the same as before i install mapthis and gps. could anyone tell me what happened with my psp and gps???? please help!! i am in australia.

[liujialiu]

i download mapthis and follow the instruction already, and i add map from my friend's car nevigator software which brand is navman. after that i put on my psp-290 but this is no reaction when i turn on the psp power, nothing happen to my console. i can not find anything that can show i am using gps, it is exactly the same as before i install mapthis and gps. could anyone tell me what happened with my psp and gps???? please help!! i am in australia.

[lofarkas]

Well the maps from other gps units will not work, that's for sure. Read the FAQ stickies and find out how to use gmdl to make your own maps.

As to the rest I can't even understand it. You prolly installed it wrong but I don't know how to install the 290 compatible versions so you'll need someone else to chime in.
Does your PSP turn on and do you get the XMB and all other functions? Did MapThis ever show up in the Game menu and did it ever work?

Also, what firmware and MapThis version?

[FatesWebb]

dude you have to open the "game" under memory stick... and you have to download the map with gmdl... you need to check the instructions a bit further.... what is the version of your firmware?

[ae92gtz]

I find that very interesting that you had in the first two pics, how much of a difference it makes to have the receiver away from the PSP. I ordered on of PC-Mobiles Pre DIY cables for the psp290 hopefully it all works out. having tons of trouble trying to get any bars.

[feynfeyn]

Guys Hello.
I am looking for help if anyone can help me plz.

For a month now i am searching for a seller of the psp-290 antenna and no result.
I tried >>1.depot4u.com and yesasia.com
but there were delays and no imformation during
the shipping so in both cases i asked for a refund from paypal which i got.
The point is that i want this item TOO-BADLY and
i would be thankful if someome informed me for a seller that has used or not.
thanks in advance.

[Mystheryman]

try searching in ebay. I've got my gps from ebay too.

[feynfeyn]

I need to recommend me a seller on ebay plz.

[Airwave]

I`ve got from ebay to ;) try searching

[Sinistar]

I got mine from Japan Video Games, and it came pretty quick and shipping was cheap.
http://www.japanvideogames.com/product_p/psp-gpspsp.htm

[feynfeyn]

I got mine from Japan Video Games, and it came pretty quick and shipping was cheap.
http://www.japanvideogames.com/product_p/psp-gpspsp.htm

Thanks a lot man. I hope its good. thanks.:thumbup:

[feynfeyn]

I`ve got from ebay to ;) try searching

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

What kind of advice is that ??Dont you know that half of them maybe more are fraudulent and steal your money in cold blood??

I have been cheated for some dvd's.And from then only
if someone recommend me someone i will buy.

PLz try to refresh your memory and recommend me your seller.
thank you.

[PDG]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

What kind of advice is that ??Dont you know that half of them maybe more are fraudulent and steal your money in cold blood??

I have been cheated for some dvd's.And from then only
if someone recommend me someone i will buy.

PLz try to refresh your memory and recommend me your seller.
thank you.

I dont think that Aiewaves comment was ment to be rude just a simple answer.
If you have problems with sellers on E-bay just report them to E-bay.

Ive got tons of stuff via E-bay and i never had any problems, even convinsing sellers to ship to Sweden if i pay for the shipping and telling them how they go down to a postoffice and ask the clerks how mouch shipment with packaging will cost *Lol*

Sometimes people dont think with the brain that was given to them so you have to juggle their minds a bit.

But basically look at E-bay or Playasia.com if you don´t have a reseller near you that can import a 290 device.

No need to be rude..
I would recomend using Google, its a fantastic invention :thumbup:

[Codaz]

I got it from ebay from user Jgamers.com but he stopped business i think. His shops is offline.

He was/is a very reliable sender.

This seems also a reliable sender, see his positive result. Has over 15.000 transactions done.

This price for the psp-290 is very good. Try it out. He has fast shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Playstation-Portable-PSP-GPS-Receiver-PSP-290-New_W0QQitemZ150154449470QQihZ005QQcategoryZ122516 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[feynfeyn]

Of course i didnt want to be rude.
As rude it may be to say someone search on ebay.

Sorry but is like telling you search in the trush to find that one good thing.

What is rude and what is not is something that dont matter when they steal your money, and they have steal me.

Anyway sorry if i seemed rude.
The JapanVideoGames store seems pretty good
and i am going to trust it.
Thanks again guys.
I like very much this antenna.

[feynfeyn]

No need to be rude..
I would recomend using Google, its a fantastic invention :thumbup:

I am stuck in google for a month now.Thats how i found you guys.

[feynfeyn]

Guys , do i have to worry about the psp-290 version??
Or to mention it to the seller?? I think ( i have seen somewhere a usa NTSC version <?>)
I have the psp-1004 with 3.40 oe f/w.

[deniska]

Guys , do i have to worry about the psp-290 version??
Or to mention it to the seller?? I think ( i have seen somewhere a usa NTSC version <?>)
I have the psp-1004 with 3.40 oe f/w.
From what I understand, there is only one version outthere..

[feynfeyn]

thanks for replying. Got It.

[kohcarver]

Hi everyone

I am a newbie here so can someone please give me some advice. I recently download the MAPthis 0520 version and put inside the memory stick folder (game 360). Now my PSP slim will frequently hang or get stuck. Even when i just power up, the PSP will show blank screen with the LED light on. I will have to force shutdown the set by pressing the power button for a long time then re-power up again. Wondering if anyone knows why or if anyone encounter this problem also. I am using custom FW 3.6M33. This problem never occur to me before, or is it i place the MAPthis in the wrong folder or i need to downgrade to kernel 1.5??

Any reply is greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the great software.

[bluedefender00]

OK, here is a trick I cant find, How can you erase a POI in Map This o.5 ?

[Nieko]

You can't, you have to remove it on a PC through USB, or using e.g. PSP-PDA.

[73N5H1]

I use adhoc file transfer to move/delete/copy/ rename files and directories. I was using PSPFiler, but it seems like its too sensitive to button presses. I'd press a button and it would do two actions.

Adhoc file transfer does everything I need and it also has the functions that it was meant for as well, great to use to avoid having to use a PC.

[noobodie]

I tried the foil shield today. It really did add 1-2 bars to the signal. I don't have a car mount yet so I had the psp on the passenger seat and it worked 80% of the time. It was quite simple to make. I just used the cardboard packaging that came with the psp-290 since it was about the right size. Does the foil have any negative effect on the psp?

I'm planning to get one of the windshield mount
http://www.arkon.com/pspmount.php

Hope I can cut the foil shield so that I can still have that on while mounted.