GPS

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

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lowmiata
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Postby lowmiata » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:01 pm

I got the tom tom that has bluetooth etc
you can talk/sms on it have music etc stored on it it has some sort of storeage capability

i was pesimistic about the blue tooth stuff but once i started using it it is really quite good

my only complaint is i have always taken the whole setup with me when i get out of the car, and it becomes a pain though this would be the same with any car

only thing is the roads have changed so much since i got it i need to do an update!

I looked at them all and I knew what I wanted but i let the mrs choose as she would be the one mostly using it, we had decided on the same one anyway we are both pleased with it and it has never let us down

Some times I can be found in the car arguing with it ( but i would probably argue with them all!)but thats a whoooolllleeee edifferent other story!
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mr_rotary
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Postby mr_rotary » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:50 pm

I use the Navman ICN550 with inbuit hardrive and am very pleased with the unit :D

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KIJIMA
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Postby KIJIMA » Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:53 pm

I am looking at a sat nav atm, its specs are below. The question I have though, is this any good? Its cheap. $436 so I'm guessing its the old technology, but is it good value?

LCD Type 3.5” Digital TFT LCD
LCD Brightness 350 cd
Display Resolution 320 x 240 pixels
Display Color 16.7M Color Screen
Touch Screen Enabled
CPU Samsung 2440 400Mhz
FLASH/ RAM 32MB Flash/64MB RAM
Storage Type SD/MMC Plus Memory Type
Storage Capacity 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB (2GB)(4G)
Memory Card Slot Push-In & Push-Out
Built-In GPS Module Sirf III (SirfstarIII)
Built-In Battery Rechargeable Lithium-Ion / 720mA
Speaker 8 ohm, 1 Watts Speaker x 2 (Stereo)
Installation Windshield-Suction Mount
O/S Microsoft WinCE.Net Core Version 4.2
Map Data Whereis® Version 13
Map Upload Type SD/MMC Plus Memory Card
Storage Temp Range -20°C to + 70°C
Operating Temp Range 0°C to + 45°C
Voice Voice Prompts
TMC Connection Port Ear Jack Type 2.5Ô (4 Pin, RS-232C Interface)
Audio Out Jack Ear Jack 3.5 (Stereo)
Optional Premium Menu Audio (mp3, wav), Video (avi), Photo (bmp, jpg, gif, png.) Slide Show etc.
Setting Brightness Adjustment, Calibration, Time Clock, Language Selection etc.
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Benny
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Postby Benny » Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:35 pm

Navman will be replacing virtually their entire series of units with new models very soon, so as you are now in the know, you should be able to bargain down the prices somewhat.
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SPy vs. SPy
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Re:

Postby SPy vs. SPy » Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:18 pm

KIJIMA wrote:I am looking at a sat nav atm, its specs are below. The question I have though, is this any good? Its cheap. $436 so I'm guessing its the old technology, but is it good value?

LCD Type 3.5” Digital TFT LCD
LCD Brightness 350 cd
Display Resolution 320 x 240 pixels
Display Color 16.7M Color Screen
Touch Screen Enabled
CPU Samsung 2440 400Mhz


sounds like a
http://www.buygpsnow.com/3-5-myguide-3050-portable-gps-navigation-system-click-add-to-cart-to-view-50-instant-rebate-760.aspx

reviews
http://bensbargains.net/deal/14286/

entry #9 sums it up.
Went for a drive and there were slow cars everywhere, why are NC's so common . . . must be NC = Normally Cardiganed.

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Re:

Postby NMX516 » Mon Jul 02, 2007 7:45 pm

kula wrote:have all you garmin freaks tried anything else?
when buying mine, i tried a few and the tomtom was easily the quickest, and easiest to use..
navman was the worst imho.


Yep, sold GPS units for a living for 5 years. Sold Garmin, TomTom, Mio, as well as software for PDA's such as travroute and Destinator. Garmin have better warranty's than any of the other brands I'm aware of, and we had very little problem with them. If a Garmin unit has problems outside the warranty period and can't be fixed at a reasonable price, they will offer you a replacement unit at approx half the cost of a new one... They also have great mapping and support for other countries if that is important for you. Very easy to use, which was often the clincher when people had seen/used other brands as well...

While I never sold Navman, I just heard the complaints from customers who had them, having said that, I have heard good things about them as well. I just know how good Garmin is, so personally I wouldn't consider anything else :D Each to their own though.

Link 8)
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Tom
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Postby Tom » Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:59 pm

Thanks for all the comments.

We will be spending 3 months in USA/Canada next year so the GPS will need to be able to access foreign maps as well. I take it all brands would be able to do this?

8) Tom
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Tom
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Re:

Postby Tom » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:03 pm

lowmiata wrote:I've got a tom tom and love it!
why are you set on everything else but?


My attempt at a bit of humour obviously didn't work. Would someone called Tom buy a TomTom :?: :roll:

8) Tom
2003 Red MX-5 TOM097
TEIN Super Street suspension, SP Motorsport exhaust & Ming

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Tom
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Re:

Postby Tom » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:07 pm

cherub wrote:Bob has a GPS so ight be able to chat to him as well.


Bob hasn't turned up for a run in ages! His GPS obviously doesn't work! :lol:

8) Tom
2003 Red MX-5 TOM097
TEIN Super Street suspension, SP Motorsport exhaust & Ming

NMX516
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Re:

Postby NMX516 » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:14 pm

Tom wrote:Thanks for all the comments.

We will be spending 3 months in USA/Canada next year so the GPS will need to be able to access foreign maps as well. I take it all brands would be able to do this?

8) Tom


Not necessarily... The major brands should be able to suppport this however. Double check for the unit you are considering, before you buy. Garmin has full mapping for the US and Canada, which will suit any of their units.
Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever.

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Tom
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Re:

Postby Tom » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:19 pm

NMX516 wrote:Not necessarily... The major brands should be able to suppport this however. Double check for the unit you are considering, before you buy. Garmin has full mapping for the US and Canada, which will suit any of their units.


Thanks for the warning.

8) Tom
2003 Red MX-5 TOM097
TEIN Super Street suspension, SP Motorsport exhaust & Ming

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KIJIMA
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Postby KIJIMA » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:39 pm

Well, I ended up getting the 3050, and its rubbish! Luckily I didnt end up paying for it, so I cant complain there, but still... Its not crash hot!
Money can't buy Talent, but it can buy Horsepower and sometimes that's enough

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Sean
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Postby Sean » Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:46 pm

I've just bought tomtom one. My folks have an advances Tomtom, not sure what model and have maps for a few european countries as they spend a lot of time OS. I liked thiers, and also had a play on lowmiata's one when he was last in town...

Looking around there was lots of highly featured units, but all i needed was basic navigation so I went for the nicely proced tomtom one.

Cheers
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SPy vs. SPy
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Re:

Postby SPy vs. SPy » Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:39 pm

SPy vs. SPy wrote:
Me, I'm soon to be the daddy of a Nuvi 610 and a Nokia Navigator, first one is because I want a GPS and second one is because it's about the only 3.5G phone that may do what I wish from it :( :)


Took the Nuvi back, found out, to my dismay, it like every other GPS under $1,000,000,000 doesn't multi route :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Now getting a Zumo 550, which I understand also makes Tea & Scones :)

Nokia is a nice bit of gear too, and I can select 2G coverage and lock onto it :mrgreen: :mrgreen: no more EEEEFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFing call dropouts.
Went for a drive and there were slow cars everywhere, why are NC's so common . . . must be NC = Normally Cardiganed.

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Wotsa
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Postby Wotsa » Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:26 pm

I have Tom Tom 5 on a Palm I-Life PDA linked to a Bluetooth GPS receiver and it does the business. Last Thursday I replaced my mobile phone with a Nokia 6110 Navigator. It has a built in GPS receiver and has Route 66 software and Australia Maps installed. Excellent little kit, although the display is a bit smaller, it is faster and just as accurate as the Tom Tom. Has some better features as well. And only one item to lug around!

One of the best things about GPS is the accuracy of the speed readout, good for checking your car speedo and particularly useful when setting cruise control.

Then i found the Nokia Sports Tracker at http://research.nokia.com/research/proj ... tsTracker/. A free download.

Although developed with running and walking activities in mind, this handy software is also useful for driving and allows you to data log your journey and overlay it on Google Earth. The key info transferred to Google earth apart from the route is the highest and lowest point and fastest speed. But the data on the phone is better, including:duration, distance, Avg speed, max speed, avg time (minutes) per km, and max speed (minutes) per km. It generates speed v time, speed v distance and altitude v distance graphs.

See the examples provided on the site.

Oh, and the Nokia 6110 Navigator makes phone calls and all that stuff.
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