What SatNav have you got?
Discussion
Have you got sat nav? If so, which type is it?
Factory-fit? Dedicated Portable (e.g., TomTom)? PDA-based (e.g., NavMan PIN)? Laptop based?!
If you're using a dedicated portable, or a PDA based one, where have you got it located? Dash top?
I'm in the market for some sat nav equipment, but I'm not sure what's best to go for. Any comments and advice appreciated.
Factory-fit? Dedicated Portable (e.g., TomTom)? PDA-based (e.g., NavMan PIN)? Laptop based?!
If you're using a dedicated portable, or a PDA based one, where have you got it located? Dash top?
I'm in the market for some sat nav equipment, but I'm not sure what's best to go for. Any comments and advice appreciated.
www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk
I am using an iPaq with Tomtom (software and bluetooth GPS unit) with a Tomtom windscreen cradle/charger.
Excellent, though i've had it a while, and i think if i was doing it again now i may just have got a Tomtom GO 300/500/700 for the sake of simplicity.
I am using an iPaq with Tomtom (software and bluetooth GPS unit) with a Tomtom windscreen cradle/charger.
Excellent, though i've had it a while, and i think if i was doing it again now i may just have got a Tomtom GO 300/500/700 for the sake of simplicity.
TomTom5 on iPaq 2210...had it a couple of yrs...got better with each release of s/w....not yet installed into 996 from old car, but with the charging cradle and bluetooth GPS "head" it works great...wouldnt even consider ever spending out on OE sat nav with a car...can take this with you in another car, or even walkabout (yes, i do use it a fair bit when walking in London trying to find customers!!)...and iPaq is a good PDA too.
Use Origin b2 for speed cameras...again, not yet re-installed, but brilliant.
Use Origin b2 for speed cameras...again, not yet re-installed, but brilliant.
I've got an Imate PDA2K with tomtom. The imate has all the functions of a pda plus a phone plus a qwerty keypad. I'm currently on a train using the imate to surf the web and play mp3. In the car it runs my tomtom which also has live traffic info and speed camera warnings. Plus the imate is also a handsfree phone. so everything i need in one pda!
I have a NAVMAN iCN 630 - obselete now - although they still make one a bit smaller that's just like it.
Key points:
Its a dedicated device - it only does SatNav - so there's no temptation to use it for anything else which means its always in the car and ready to go.
Its a dedicated device - which means it has *one* power cable that fits into the usual "lighter" socket. No batteries to recharge. No bluetooth GPS to "attach"...that needs to be recharged. Nothing to lose to prevent it from working the day you need it.
I fit mine on the dash top with the suction cup fitting - which wears out in about two years. Luckily I was able to buy a spare and I am, once again, ready to go. The suction mount means I can move the device from car to car. This is good in that once device services all your cars. This is very good in that it can go on vacation with you and sit in the rental car. This is BAD in that it MAY not be in the particular car you are in the day you need it.
IMO - the best solution is to have proper plumbed in DIN slot SatNav in ALL one's cars AND a Navman/TomTomGo to carry about for use in rentals - Oh AND a Walker's GPS for once you are out of the car.
Since this is clearly expensive and impractical I have settled for a single, removable device and live with the downsides...
Key points:
Its a dedicated device - it only does SatNav - so there's no temptation to use it for anything else which means its always in the car and ready to go.
Its a dedicated device - which means it has *one* power cable that fits into the usual "lighter" socket. No batteries to recharge. No bluetooth GPS to "attach"...that needs to be recharged. Nothing to lose to prevent it from working the day you need it.
I fit mine on the dash top with the suction cup fitting - which wears out in about two years. Luckily I was able to buy a spare and I am, once again, ready to go. The suction mount means I can move the device from car to car. This is good in that once device services all your cars. This is very good in that it can go on vacation with you and sit in the rental car. This is BAD in that it MAY not be in the particular car you are in the day you need it.
IMO - the best solution is to have proper plumbed in DIN slot SatNav in ALL one's cars AND a Navman/TomTomGo to carry about for use in rentals - Oh AND a Walker's GPS for once you are out of the car.
Since this is clearly expensive and impractical I have settled for a single, removable device and live with the downsides...
paultje said:
Whatever you get, hide it when you leave the car!!...cars are being broken into just for the SatNavs. So portable is best??
When I get out I detach all fittings from mine and put it in the glove box - and lock that. Sure I could lose it - but its not attracting attention, at least.I've just recently got a Palm LifeDrive (the one with the 4Gb hard drive inside) along with the Palm/TomTom Navigator 5 package including the Bluetooth GPS module. I was staggered to find that the LifeDrive and the GPS module will last all day on a battery charge - so you can avoid all the cables from the lighter socket. The dual charger cable does come with the package but I haven't needed to use it yet.
Very impressed with the navigation - and the free speed camera database is brilliant. I reckon it's better than the factory fit sat nav in our BMW although you have to pay extra to get traffic updates and re-routing.
The real beauty for me is that the LifeDrive also operates as a USB hard drive when you need it as well as all the usual Palm calendar/address book stuff synchronised with Outlook.
Brilliant piece of kit. All we need now is a 20/40Gb version!!! Maybe next year.
Regards
Dave
Very impressed with the navigation - and the free speed camera database is brilliant. I reckon it's better than the factory fit sat nav in our BMW although you have to pay extra to get traffic updates and re-routing.
The real beauty for me is that the LifeDrive also operates as a USB hard drive when you need it as well as all the usual Palm calendar/address book stuff synchronised with Outlook.
Brilliant piece of kit. All we need now is a 20/40Gb version!!! Maybe next year.
Regards
Dave
Tom Tom on an iPac - it is great.
I use a vent mouting kit in the BM and a windscreen kit in the 993 (need as much vent output as the blower can muster)
Best thing with portable was being in Scotland today in a rental car and taking the Sat Nav with me - can't do that with £1,800 PCM option
Ian
I use a vent mouting kit in the BM and a windscreen kit in the 993 (need as much vent output as the blower can muster)
Best thing with portable was being in Scotland today in a rental car and taking the Sat Nav with me - can't do that with £1,800 PCM option
Ian
medusa said:
I also hide mine, very important before leaving the car remove sucker marks from windscreen, dead give away.
And boy is that tedious. I have a tom tom go too, and its a faff mounting all the gubbins every time I need it. My go has a tendency of falling off the screen too, unless I position the mount perfectly.
Were budget not a consideration, I'd be more inclined to go for an alpine head unit solution just to avoid the inconvenience of the above.
DaGinge said:
TomTom Go 700 - now down to about £380 in dixons tax free shop in heathrow
I also have the Tom Tom Go 700, but I got it when it first came out and paid the full £550 for the thing! I love it to bits though. I have 2 mounting cradles for it, 1 in the Porsche and 1 in the Mondeo I drive every day, the cradles cost 50 quid and PC World sell them.
By the way, I cannot be arsed to remove the cradle every time I get out of the car, I just remove the Tom Tom. Life is too short to be arsing around trying to get that bloody sucker off the windscreenevery 5 minutes, it aint easy at all. If my car gets broken into, then it gets broken into and that's life.
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