Is Bluetooth GPS worth it?
Discussion
I’ve decided I’m going to get a TomTom 3 GPS thingy for my XDA2. Do I get the Bluetooth version or the wired version? If Bluetooth do I buy the Tomtom unit as a bundle or just the software and a third party Bluetooth receiver?
Does the Bluetooth need a power cable anyway so I’m not really reducing the number of wires needed? Which will end up with the neater setup and which is most easily transported between different cars?
Thoughts would be appreciated
Regards,
Iain
Does the Bluetooth need a power cable anyway so I’m not really reducing the number of wires needed? Which will end up with the neater setup and which is most easily transported between different cars?
Thoughts would be appreciated
Regards,
Iain
I have a wiredGPS mouse for my Ipaq. Fixed it to the screen up near the mirror and routed the cable under the trim. Fitted the holder on the right side and just have the power cable visible - you dont notice the mouse cable as it comes out of the bottom of the pillar. And yes, you can still move it between cars etc
HTH
Dave
HTH
Dave
Plotloss said:
You can swap it between cars...
I have this morning ordered the one for the SPV with a bluetooth reciever so I will try it and find out for sure...
Well yes, but will bluetooth actually reduce the mess of wires going from one to the other?
My convern is with swapping between cars i'll not be able to have a tidy and discrete setup but wires everywhere that look like a chav has attempted to wire up on bass box too many!
Regards
Iain
>> Edited by chassis 33 on Wednesday 16th February 14:23
Funnily enough, a bluetooth kit requires 2 wires and 2 cigarette sockets!
I'd recommend the wired kit 100 times over as you can only connect to one bluetooth device at a time. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal but when you want to eventually use TomTom traffic, you'll find you can't as it's connected to the GPS receiver. You'll have to disconnect and then updates.
Sounds crap because it is crap!
Go wired! One wire! One socket! No problems!
I'd recommend the wired kit 100 times over as you can only connect to one bluetooth device at a time. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal but when you want to eventually use TomTom traffic, you'll find you can't as it's connected to the GPS receiver. You'll have to disconnect and then updates.
Sounds crap because it is crap!
Go wired! One wire! One socket! No problems!
beanbag said:
Funnily enough, a bluetooth kit requires 2 wires and 2 cigarette sockets!
I'd recommend the wired kit 100 times over as you can only connect to one bluetooth device at a time. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal but when you want to eventually use TomTom traffic, you'll find you can't as it's connected to the GPS receiver. You'll have to disconnect and then updates.
Sounds crap because it is crap!
Go wired! One wire! One socket! No problems!
So does that mean wouldnt be able to use a bluetooth headset for phone calls if i were using a bluetooth GPS?
The only drawback that I can see is that it *may* be a problem to use other bluetooth stuff at the same time. So for example if your XDA was your primary phone, it *may* not work with a bluetooth headset at the same time as the GPS receiver......
But then again it might - so I guess its a case of suck and see..... but other than that, there is little to loose. Its just as good as a wired version, comes with a battery and means that you dont have to take half of your dashboard off to get a neat installation.
Worth trying though - if you can.
But then again it might - so I guess its a case of suck and see..... but other than that, there is little to loose. Its just as good as a wired version, comes with a battery and means that you dont have to take half of your dashboard off to get a neat installation.
Worth trying though - if you can.
I've got TomTom Bluetooth which I use with my iMate Jam and its excellent!
You don't need any cables at all. I simply chuck the GPS receiver somewhere sensible in the car like on the back 'shelf' and the phone sits in the gap between the seats. This works great
You do need to take the charger plug with you if going on holiday as the GPS charge lasts around 6 hours. You can get a car charger/power unit but you don't have to. I haven't bothered.
You don't need any cables at all. I simply chuck the GPS receiver somewhere sensible in the car like on the back 'shelf' and the phone sits in the gap between the seats. This works great
You do need to take the charger plug with you if going on holiday as the GPS charge lasts around 6 hours. You can get a car charger/power unit but you don't have to. I haven't bothered.
I have a Bluetooth GPS receiver, think its an Emtac or soething, anyway its yellow with a GPS screen. It has its own batteries and bluetooths with my Ipaq. However the battery life is poor so I usually connect it to the cigar lighter outlet, via a adaptor.
I need the adaptor so I can also power the laptop, as don;t want the battery failing half way on my journey, and my phone as being a modern phone it has a battery live which lasts aboout as longas Ratners infamous earings!
Personally I have wires running everywhere because despite doing between 25K and 30K miles a year I usually know where I am going. So I only use the navigation software for the occasions where I am not sure of the route. This also means it is fully moveable between cars. I have used self adhesive velcro to fix it to the dash, so when the unit is not in the car you just see a small piece of velcro.
I can still use the Bluetooth headset with my bluetooth phone, but would imagine if your phone was doig the navigation then you couldn't bluetooth to the GPS unit and the headset
I need the adaptor so I can also power the laptop, as don;t want the battery failing half way on my journey, and my phone as being a modern phone it has a battery live which lasts aboout as longas Ratners infamous earings!
Personally I have wires running everywhere because despite doing between 25K and 30K miles a year I usually know where I am going. So I only use the navigation software for the occasions where I am not sure of the route. This also means it is fully moveable between cars. I have used self adhesive velcro to fix it to the dash, so when the unit is not in the car you just see a small piece of velcro.
I can still use the Bluetooth headset with my bluetooth phone, but would imagine if your phone was doig the navigation then you couldn't bluetooth to the GPS unit and the headset
Bluetooth is the way to go. I've got the Navman Bluetooth GPS receiver and software running on a Siemens Loox and it works flawlessly. I was totally put off the wired version because I didn't want wires hanging all over the dashboard. An added bonus is that if you're ever out and about on foot you can just put the receiver in your pocket and use some OS type mapping software.
It's not that much more expensive, but so much better and more versatile IMO.
It's not that much more expensive, but so much better and more versatile IMO.
beanbag said:
Funnily enough, a bluetooth kit requires 2 wires and 2 cigarette sockets!
Why does it? My bluetooth receiver works of 2xAAA batteries and the Pocket PC works off it's own lithium battery. No wires whatsoever.
I get about 30 hours use from the receiver with 2 AAA batteries.
I have the wired GPS, and prefer it to the bluetooth one. I can't be bothered with changing batteries and the like. I just ran the wires down the edge of the door frame trim. Just about any car you can buy can easily hide the wires from view. To hide the cig lighter plug, I pulled it apart, hacksawed it down, and tidied it back up, routing the cable out of view.
IvIark said:
Funnily enough, a bluetooth kit requires 2 wires and 2 cigarette sockets!
Why does it? My bluetooth receiver works of 2xAAA batteries and the Pocket PC works off it's own lithium battery. No wires whatsoever.
I get about 30 hours use from the receiver with 2 AAA batteries.
Not exactly cheap! 2xAAA every 3 or 4 days!? Crikey!
chassis 33 said:
Funnily enough, a bluetooth kit requires 2 wires and 2 cigarette sockets!
I'd recommend the wired kit 100 times over as you can only connect to one bluetooth device at a time. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal but when you want to eventually use TomTom traffic, you'll find you can't as it's connected to the GPS receiver. You'll have to disconnect and then updates.
Sounds crap because it is crap!
Go wired! One wire! One socket! No problems!
So does that mean wouldnt be able to use a bluetooth headset for phone calls if i were using a bluetooth GPS?
You could, but then you wouldn't be able to connect to TomTom traffic by Bluetooth and GPRS. Also, if your PDA is a phone, then its a no again....wired.....only solution!
beanbag said:
Not exactly cheap! 2xAAA every 3 or 4 days!? Crikey!
I don't use it 10 hours a day. I've changed the batteries once since I got it and if it ever did become an issue I'd get rechargables. The extra portability and versatility more than makes up for a couple of quid once a blue moon.
Plotloss said:
But its not on all the time, only when you are going somewhere you dont know...
I keep mine on all of the time as it alerts me of any speed cameras, road works, and traffic incidents.
Additionally, it gives me a far more accurate speed readout and I use it all the time to go to places I know of how to get there as it gives information such as my time of arrival, miles left to go and again traffic on my route.
Batteries would cost a small fortune. My GPS receiver is planted under my dash (never see it), and so are the cables for it. Additionally, one I get some time, I'll hard wire the GPS into the 12v on ignition so I don't have to use my cigarette socket! Easy to do and no wires anywhere!
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