Portable Sat Nav Systems
Discussion
I have got a garmin streetpilot 111 deluxe.Had i since Mid nov and have been very pleased with it.Its not perfect but they will probably never be perfect!
In sales covering a big area I use all the 500 waypoints available and could use more but thats probably exceptional normal use would find 500 points ok.
Biggest thing to note is that despite what they say you CANNOT use it on postcodesonly which I think is a bit naughty - u have to put address in and postcode or just address.
It is much easier to program it through the leads supplied using a pc or laptop as the built in method of selecting letters is a bit slow to use.
Have yet to find any way of putting in camera locations.
Other than that have been very pleased with it as its a dedicated unit for navigation I think it works better and faster than all purpose units but obviously you cannot use it for anything else like a pda.
In sales covering a big area I use all the 500 waypoints available and could use more but thats probably exceptional normal use would find 500 points ok.
Biggest thing to note is that despite what they say you CANNOT use it on postcodesonly which I think is a bit naughty - u have to put address in and postcode or just address.
It is much easier to program it through the leads supplied using a pc or laptop as the built in method of selecting letters is a bit slow to use.
Have yet to find any way of putting in camera locations.
Other than that have been very pleased with it as its a dedicated unit for navigation I think it works better and faster than all purpose units but obviously you cannot use it for anything else like a pda.
only me said:
Bought Tom Tom nav2 and a ipaq 2210 2 weeks ago and i am extremely pleased with it! amazed how easy to use and accuracy of it, Voice commands are good and well timed. Have also put free camera database on it and this also works very well.
How much is a system like that and what sort of map area will it cover? Do you have to download seperate maps for, say, North, South etc?
Graham
I've just this last week bought a Dell Axim X5 and Tomtom 2 software from a site on the web www.pdamods.com/products.asp?id=22 You need an extra storage card to hold the maps but that is a UK map so you don't need to load different maps for different areas. Just downloaded the free Checkpoint software and speed camera database. I've been driving everywhere this weekend via sat nav and find it brilliant, very happy.
Cheers
Ian
Cheers
Ian
Here's a good site for PDA & GPS info and a helpful forum
www.pocketgps.co.uk/index.php
www.pocketgps.co.uk/index.php
I think the general concensus is that TomTom is the one to go for. I've got the old Navman GPS3000 which cost me about £250 3 years ago and I'm in the market for a new setup because (like all technology) things have moved on so much and also because I'm probably going to ditch the iPaq and get an XDA II (saves on the number of toys I carry around!!).
The TomTom package starts at around £115 for software + UK maps. There's a myriad of GPS devices but essentially they all do the same thing (recieve NMEA messages);
For me, the cost will be about £300+ to go down the TomTom route since:
£115 - TomTom software + UK Maps
£115 - TomTom Europe Maps (essential for our extended LeMans trip!!)
£150 - External GPS mouse (will only need to get one if I buy the XDA II, since my Navman sleeve will work fine with TomTom).
Not sure if you have a PDA, but some of the links the other chaps have posted show some rather competitive deals on a complete PDA + GPS package.
Steve
>> Edited by fatsteve on Monday 9th February 00:55
The TomTom package starts at around £115 for software + UK maps. There's a myriad of GPS devices but essentially they all do the same thing (recieve NMEA messages);
- CF cards (which fit into CF card slots - strange that!!)
- Bluetooth units (fairly new and a bit more expensive, but saves faffing with wires)
- Proprietry ones that are PDA specific (like the Navman set-up - uses the iPaq style expansion sleeves)
- GPS mouse - essentially an external wired unit that connects to the PDA (generally the cheapest)
- Use an existing GPS unit (eg Garmin) and connect it to the PDA via a serial cable (cheapest option if you already have a GPS unit).
For me, the cost will be about £300+ to go down the TomTom route since:
£115 - TomTom software + UK Maps
£115 - TomTom Europe Maps (essential for our extended LeMans trip!!)
£150 - External GPS mouse (will only need to get one if I buy the XDA II, since my Navman sleeve will work fine with TomTom).
Not sure if you have a PDA, but some of the links the other chaps have posted show some rather competitive deals on a complete PDA + GPS package.
Steve
>> Edited by fatsteve on Monday 9th February 00:55
joe c said:
Thanks, Ihave been looking at various makes but wondered if the traffic camera facility was good or not. Most of driving will be in Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside but would still like UK coverage. Are there any extra running costs?
There's no additional costs once you've bought the package. I'm running Tom Tom on an iPaq with the speed camera detection from the pocketgps website. It gets the thumbs up from me, but the speedcam detection is only good for estabilished camera's that's been up a while. There's loads of the newer camera's missing in the Tyne & Wear area.
Looks like PH has convinced me to spend money yet again!
I was going to buy a Garmin 2610 this month but looking at the iPaq packages has made me think again, are there any dis-advantages over the Garmin and if I go for an iPaq which one is the best to go for. I usually buy the top-of the range model of something and then never use any of the features! I think I would like Bluetooth as my phones and laptop have this, but do I really need a 55series iPaq or is a 19 series as good?
I know there will be more functions and memory on the more expensive model but I need someone who uses one to say whether they are really any good in the "real world"
any help appreciated.
Nick
I was going to buy a Garmin 2610 this month but looking at the iPaq packages has made me think again, are there any dis-advantages over the Garmin and if I go for an iPaq which one is the best to go for. I usually buy the top-of the range model of something and then never use any of the features! I think I would like Bluetooth as my phones and laptop have this, but do I really need a 55series iPaq or is a 19 series as good?
I know there will be more functions and memory on the more expensive model but I need someone who uses one to say whether they are really any good in the "real world"
any help appreciated.
Nick
I've been very happy with my Streetpilot 3 (mounted on one of my three bikes using a RAM or Touratech mount). I've been using it for about 18 months now and although it ain't perfect, it'll do.
Excellent review of the good and bad bits here.....
www.gpsinformation.net/spiii/sp3review.htm
Excellent review of the good and bad bits here.....
www.gpsinformation.net/spiii/sp3review.htm
Ian_H said:
Byff
You can add new cameras to the database if you come across one not listed, as a matter of interest whereabouts in Tyne & Wear are the ones not listed as I hadn't come across any not listed here so far.
Cheers
Ian
Yes, you can add new cameras to the database and I'm sure i'll get round to it one day.
There's quite a few in Sunderland, Ryhope Road and a couple in Gateshead, Felling bypass, Whitemare pool and Gateshead high street. Newcastle is missing some too, but can't remember which ones now.
)cameras, came along Felling bypass today and mine warns of 4 cameras between the A194 and Gateshead centre, sorry don't know about the others Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff