More 'sensitive' GPS hardware?

Jammer · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:59 pm Post subject: More 'sensitive' GPS hardware?

I've seen in some product descriptions that the units are 'more sensistive than others'.

Erm... that's a bit vague for me! Smile

Having changed my mind several times, I'd decided on getting the Tomtom (I'm after Bluetooth only).

How sensitive is the Tomtom comapred to the others?

For me... the most important reason that I wanted to go for Tomtom was that the company was well established and reputable and therefore had good support if anything went wrong.

How good are the other companies?

Fortuna?
Rikaline?
Acore? (Why can't I find any review of this company on this website?)

Any feedback to the above wouldbe appreciated.

Thanks.

Jam
_________________
iPaq 3870
Fortuna Clip On Bluetooth
Tomtom
London
Currently testing Fortuna to see if it's any good!

HellFire · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 25, 2004 Posts: 126

The Fortuna has xtrac so it can get a fix when one without wouldn’t like in a building go here for more info

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8503&sid=3a29f9875614a15547cf71cc15626be7

Holux are bringing a GR-231 out also with xtrac that could be better than Fortuna but I don’t know when and for reviews go here

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/menu_gpshardware3.php

Jammer · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:20 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply.
Two questions:

1. I take it the Tomtom unit does not have this extra feature?

2. I've already got an existing Tomtom unit with software available to me (not mine). I checked on the GPS configuration. In the drop down box for the related hardware, it has loads of GPS hardware listed - BUT it doesn't have Fortuna listed. Is this a problem? Can I use one of the generic settings instead?

Let me know.

Thanks.

Jam
_________________
iPaq 3870
Fortuna Clip On Bluetooth
Tomtom
London
Currently testing Fortuna to see if it's any good!

MarkH · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 7:51 am Post subject:

BrummyGit · Regular Visitor Joined: May 19, 2004 Posts: 113

I was making a very simillar decision recently and had a look around the forums here and elsewhere on the internet. I decided to buy a Royaltek Blue GPS having intially considered both the TomTom and also the Fortuna Clip-On. My reasoning went like this:

Fortuna Clip-on's are very receptive in Xtrac mode, but some argue that they are less receptive than the "norm" in standard mode. From what I read, Xtrac is not really suitable in it's current version for in-car navigation due to slow performance.

Fortuna Clip-on's seem to have suffered from hardware failures - these seem to be either battery connections or simillar where people reported that by pressing various parts of the case together would make them work. I even asked some of the popular outlets for Fortuna who confirmed that they had been having a number of returns.

TomTom went through a period of failures with their GPS hardware and whilst I understand they resolved these, based on my experiences of their software support service(??) I decided to steer clear.

The RoyalTek Blue GPS is very receptive - I regularly see 10 sat locks and have seen 11 or 12 quite often. I have no problem under quite heavy folliage and if I loose signal in a tunnel etc it reacquires quicker than a quick thing in a speed contest.

The RoyalTek Blue GPS just didn't seem to have any users complaining about hardware failures in any forums.

I'm very happy with my purchase - as the adverts say, "it does what it says on the tin".

These are just my own opinions, but I hope they help.

Steve

Jammer · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:56 am Post subject:

can u recommend a place to buy?

so... the xtrac is only useful when inside?
i'll only be using it for driving.

i'm getting confused.
i think i've swung back to the tomtom now.

i can't make my mind up Exclamation

_________________
iPaq 3870
Fortuna Clip On Bluetooth
Tomtom
London
Currently testing Fortuna to see if it's any good!

MarkH · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:00 pm Post subject:

Xtrac v1 won't keep up with you when you're driving but v2 should be ok - it addresses the lag issue but I haven't tested it in a car myelf - have a look in the Fortuna forum. From what I've read in the forums there is still a small bit of lag in v2 though not very noticable. Xtrac v2 fortuna clip-ons are more difficult to find but you can flash it yourself by downloading ClipOnSyncBT.zip and Clip-OnSync.pdf from here:

http://www.fortuna.com.tw/download/

If you are just using the receiver in a car you probably don't need xtrac - it's more for urban canyons and heavy tree cover. You're probably better off getting a non-xtrac receiver just in case lag becomes an issue.

Jammer · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:06 pm Post subject:

but isn't the fortuna model 'switchable' or something?
i've read there are two modes?
my MAIN purpose is for driving! Smile

i spoke to one of the resellers... and they recommended going for the foruna above the tomtom. so... i've kinda decided to go for the forutna.

can someone confirm or deny if the fortuna is good for driving?
(i don't wanna make another posting in the foruna group... i've been told of a couple of times for making double postings!)

thanks.
_________________
iPaq 3870
Fortuna Clip On Bluetooth
Tomtom
London
Currently testing Fortuna to see if it's any good!

MarkH · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:47 pm Post subject:

TC · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:51 pm Post subject:

I can't believe that people keep bashing on about time lag when running the Clip-on in XT mode. I ran mine exclusively in Xtrac v1 mode for 6 months with Tom Tom. It was absolutely no problem at all. Yes if you really tried hard you might have noticed some affect, and you did have to try hard. Yes if you stopped at traffic signals it might take 2-3 seconds to say you speed was 0 mph, but it never had any affect on instruction in the 5 months of heavy use that I made of it. Now I've upgraded it to Xtrac v2 there is only a subtle difference, goes to 0 mph almost as soon as you stop.

Let's face it wouldn't you rather have a GPS signal in a narrow valley with overhanging trees witch an almost imperceptible lag than no signal at all!

Nobody in my experience should discount the Clip-on on the basis of time lag with navigation programs.

A company that lets you upgrade the firmware of this cheap reliable and well specified GPS - without trying to get you to buy the new model - frankly deserves and award for customer satisfaction.

Yes I'm a fan, and no they (fortuna) don't pay me
_________________
Ipaq 2210
Fortuna Clip-on [Xtrac V2]
Tom Tom Navigator 3
Memory Map

Jammer · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:43 pm Post subject:

i've kinda of decided finally to go for the fortuna.
but... can u just confirm the following:

with the tomtom naviagtor, it will say "turn right after 100 yards" and then when u get to the turning, it will say "turn right now".

if the foruna has a delay... then it won't be able to say "turn right" when u get to the turning?

please confirm.
_________________
iPaq 3870
Fortuna Clip On Bluetooth
Tomtom
London
Currently testing Fortuna to see if it's any good!

TC · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:49 am Post subject:

Depending on your approach speed it will say 'In 200 yds turn left' at about 220yds to the turning. Just before you actualy need to turn left (10 yds to go) it will say 'Tun Left'. Just as you expect it would.

Also it you buy a Clip-on now it should already come with Xtrac v2 which has no detectable lag in anycase.

I have reccomended the Clip-on to four of my colleagues and they are all very happy with this GPS. I don't think your going to be dissapointed.

Good Luck
_________________
Ipaq 2210
Fortuna Clip-on [Xtrac V2]
Tom Tom Navigator 3
Memory Map

Jammer · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:21 am Post subject:

TC, I'm going to order one today.
If it turns out to be rubbish, I'll blame you. ;)
(Joke)

Would you personally recommend anywhere to buy?

THANKS for the replies.
_________________
iPaq 3870
Fortuna Clip On Bluetooth
Tomtom
London
Currently testing Fortuna to see if it's any good!

TC · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:09 pm Post subject:

What if it turns out fantastic - praise and adulation ? Laughing

Can't really recommend anywhere to buy except to say that I would steer clear of PDAMODS - just had a long drawn out bad experience.
_________________
Ipaq 2210
Fortuna Clip-on [Xtrac V2]
Tom Tom Navigator 3
Memory Map

Jammer · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject:

aah... TC to the resuce again. Smile

I was going to buy from them because they were cheaper than anyone else.

I did actually phone and email them.
On both occasions... their grasp of English seemed poor.
Which would be a problem if you have problems with an order.

I think I'll try elsewhere and ask them to price match.

THANKS again.
_________________
iPaq 3870
Fortuna Clip On Bluetooth
Tomtom
London
Currently testing Fortuna to see if it's any good!

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