Need full 7 digit postcode and fully portable unit

Luminous · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 29, 2004 Posts: 13

Hi

I am a total newbie trying to help out my dad. He wants a satnav device that is totally portable, ie we need to be able to use it on foot in a town centre, and to be able to use it in different vehicles (works van, car etc).

We MUST be able to search using all digits in the postcode.

We finally managed to get a demonstration of some units in a shop and the 5 digits alone will not do.

Cost is not really an issue, usability is. It needs to be simple and reliable. Once it is setup it needs to just work. I will be the one doing the setup, and can cope with just about all sorts of software installation and hacking with sufficient instructions.

What thoughts do ppl have? I have read lots of things here, but is the Tom Tom Go the only option.?

GPS speed trap detection would be nice, again we do not mind paying for this if this will get us a more accurate and up to date database of traps.

Thanks for any suggestions you have

lbendlin · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:02 am Post subject:

The TomTom GO is not really an option for walks in the town centre. You will need to look at another, smaller unit like the new Navman's, or move over to a Pocket PC based solution (TomTom Navigator on the Pocket PC can support all 7 digits postcode with an add-on)
_________________
Lutz

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Darren · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 8:17 am Post subject:

If the 7 Digit PostCode is a 'must have' then I suggest you look at a Mitac Mio168 with TomTom Navigator 3 and Digitools UKPostCode Plug-In.

That will fulfill all your requirements.

www.digitools.co.uk is the link to the plug-in, it's free and works superbly integrating with TomTom, just enter the post code and select navigate and it launches TomTom with the Post Code as the destination.
_________________
Darren Griffin

Luminous · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 29, 2004 Posts: 13

Excellent, a choice of 2 Smile

I will research both of these in a lot more detail.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction to get me started into the wonderful world of GPS.

Darren · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:31 am Post subject:

Global Positioning Systems sell the Mitac Mio168/TomTom Bundle, see here.

We reviewed the Mio168 as part of the CoPilot Bundle a while back, see here.
_________________
Darren Griffin

Luminous · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 29, 2004 Posts: 13

Lol - I had just found the GPS website through google and was looking at that very page - luck or what ??!

I really like the sound of your suggestion. I think this will be the one that we get, especially for the price.

Thanks again

ARH · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 14, 2004 Posts: 15

I use this setup, have been for about 4 months, no issues as yet, except a few setup issues which were solved by the good poeple of this site.

Adrian.

Luminous · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 29, 2004 Posts: 13

Excellent news, thank for letting me know your setup is working well. It makes me feel more comfortable to know that others are having good results with the suggested solution.

delboy0754 · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 8:15 am Post subject:

lbendlin · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 8:55 pm Post subject:

It's on the heavy side, and the antenna positioning requires you to carry it in front of you so the antenna has sky view.

So it WILL work in walking mode, but it WILL make you look very, uhm, interesting, and your arms may get tired.
_________________
Lutz

Report Map Errors here:
TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

icsys · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 9:16 pm Post subject:

The GO can be used on foot, that isn't the issue.
As Lutz says, it's hardly designed for going walkabout due to it's bulk.
_________________
Ian.
iPAQ 2210 | Navman 4100 BT Receiver
Navman iCN 635
TomTom GO
Anquet OS mapping

GaryM · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 06, 2004 Posts: 15

I also use a combination of a Navman PiN (rebranded Mitac Mio) with Tom Tom Navigator 3 and the postcode add-on.

I am extremely happy with this setup and have recommended it to 6 friends who have each bought one and use it without any problems.

Its short of one thing though - no bluetooth but thats minor for me and all the postive points more than make up for that minor ommision.

Luminous · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 29, 2004 Posts: 13

We have just been reading the reviews of the various pieces of software on this site. It seems that the Co-Pilot 5 software is a better bet for us as it has several advantages over the Tom-Tom 3. I believe these advantages are :-
1) more up to date maps
2) crashes less

I was wondering 2 things. Is there a 7 digit postcode add-on for Co-Pilot 5, or has the Tom Tom software been updated to overcome these problems recently?

Thanks for any more advice you can give us Smile

Darren · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:53 pm Post subject:

Luminous · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 29, 2004 Posts: 13

Thanks for the info. I shall kick my dad into actually going out and buying one now Smile

He keeps sitting on the fence........

I think in fairness he actually wants to get his hands on the device he is thinking of purchasing, so that he can have a little play with it, even it was in a shop. Unfortunately we cannot find anywhere that offers this facility. Especially since we will want to have the 7 digit postcode plugin installed.

I think its a case of jumping in with both feet now that we have been given some guidance from this forum. Thanks ppl.

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