Final Decision... tomtom + 2210 PDA, but what hardware?

Whizzergo · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 04, 2005 Posts: 8

Hello folks, iv been reading and posting on here for little over a week now, and without being soft, it really is the best gps site on t'interweb.

Now i've written off previous ideas of having a fold out LCD screen and other options, and i've settled on the idea of getting an ipaq 2210, mainly because its so popular and great value for money.

So here are my last dilemas:

GPS receiver - What will be best for a first timer, who just wants the ipaq to be positioned in the car and not used for any other purpose, it just needs to detect speed cameras and be quite easy to hide, for safety purposes.

Car kit - I've got a decent (quite loud) stereo, so will i need another speaker to be able to hear the instructions?

I also want a kit that is quite easily to fold up and but in the glove compartment, because I don't want to leave anything on display.

Software - When does tomtom5 come out and how much will it cost?

Anything else - Is there anything that i have missed?

Please feel free to answer as many or as few of these questions as you can be bothered with.

Cheers
Adam

icsys · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject:

GPS Receiver.
Based on your requirements, go for a wired 'mouse' GPS receiver.
Go for SiRF II or SiRF Xtrac or even the latest SiRF III if a wired one has been released.
You can check out a comparison of some wired receivers here.
The receiver can also be powered by the mount depending which you go for. Simply unplug and store away when not in use.
I can't recommend a particular one as I use BlueTooth.

Car kit.
You will need a powered mount. The 2210 is an excellent PPC, I have one myself, but the speaker is not loud enough to compete with the stereo.
There are various mounting options such as the Arkon 656 which can transmit your voice guidance through your stereo or an Arkon powered mount or Brodit amplified mount which are a little pricey.
There are others such as the SilverShield amplified mount.

TomTom 5 is supposed to be due out by the end of May.

Anything else.
A Compact Flash card to store the maps. Don't use SD for map storage, the 2210 SDIO driver tends to play up when the PPC is used for sat nav but CF works without issues and has proven to be very stable for me.
_________________
Ian.
iPAQ 2210 | Navman 4100 BT Receiver
Navman iCN 635
TomTom GO
Anquet OS mapping

MarkHewitt · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:

Agree with all of that. I don't feel the need to 'hide' my GPS receiver, in fact I have it stuck under the tax disc, far from looking like GPS it actually looks like it is some sort of security or alarm device! Of course I don't leave my 2210 in the car.

I think your best bet is to probably wait until TomTom5 is released properly and then buy it as a package with the GPS receiver, software and car kit.

Personally I don't have any problems hearing the ipaq over the stereo, but then I'm not a chav either so I don't the radio on full volume Smile

Whizzergo · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 04, 2005 Posts: 8

Quality replies guys, much appreciated.

I've decided to settle on getting an ipaq and the Holux CR-100. I think this will be the best device for me because I am only using it in car, and it will be easier to pack away when i park up.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Cheers
Adam

pottersbarian · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 17, 2005 Posts: 5

If you have a 2210 then you should really go for the Globalsat BT338 receuver. I bought one from www.undercutter.com who seem to be the cheapest around. This is the best receiver I know of so I highly recommend it, and it cost me only about £120.

Googlebot · Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 12:30 am Post subject:

I have a 2210 and a Holux CR-100 and I find it great. It's never lost/dropped a GPS signal yet unlike some the the Bluetooths I here about. Also just having the one power lead for PDA, Speakers,GPS is wonderful.+

The only thing I would say is that at higher speeds (80+) I find it vibrates a little in our cars, but they do have a hard suspension. The vibration is not a problem, just it would be nicer if they did not. It in no way effects readablity or anything on the screen.

The suction mounting is very strong and I find the whole unit fits very nicely in the bottom left corner of the windscreen (our cars are left hand drive), loosing no view of the road and right next to the turbo gauge.

As you say it's easy to remove, though without the power lead it look quite like a phone holder. It should fit easily in a empty(ish) glove box.
_________________
iPAQ 2110
Kingston 512Mb SD card
Kingston 1gb CF card
Holux CR-100

Soon to be replaced with TT720 (maybe....)

Googlebot · Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 12:34 am Post subject:

Ok, typo time Embarassed

. I have a 2110 that fits in the Holux, but it's still fab :D
_________________
iPAQ 2110
Kingston 512Mb SD card
Kingston 1gb CF card
Holux CR-100

Soon to be replaced with TT720 (maybe....)

Whizzergo · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 04, 2005 Posts: 8

Ok well thanks for the new replies.

Can anyone give me a definitive solution on what is best for my needs.

Like i said, I am after a 2210, but as i havent yet bought a unit, this could be changed and I am open to suggestions on the PDA. (I also work at a computer shop so I can get the quite cheap).

The main issue here is the gps receiver. The reason I wanted the all in one unit is that it provides everything i need for in-car use and prevents me from having wires and hardware all over the place, and hundereds of things that can go wrong.

Is the BT-338 THAT good to overcome these worries, and will i benefit from it, bearing in mind i only use in-car.

Thanks
Adam

Whizzergo · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 04, 2005 Posts: 8

C'mon guys! Im nearly there, you've been so so SO helpful, I'm just after a final verdict or two.

icsys · Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 9:56 pm Post subject:

BlueTooth will certainly free you from wires and is an excellent solution especially if you intend to use your PDA with topo software for those occasions walking in the great outdoors.

BlueTooth does have one downside, you have to allow the PDA and BT receiver to detect each other then wait for the receiver to aqquire its fix. This in itself is not a major issue for the techie user who doesnt mind a fiddle setting things up before each use.
The plus sides are portability and use outside the car and the ability to position it anywhere inside the car for optimum reception especially if you happen to have a heat reflective or athermic windscreen.

Don't get me wrong, BT is great, I use BT myself.
I suggested a wired receiver as once it is wired in (the wires can be hidden for a fitted look) the receiver will have an instant fix as soon as you switch on thanks to a tiny battery which gives enough power for the receiver to keep the sat data.
If there is any possibility of you using GPS away from the car then I would definitely reccommend BT and the Globalsat BT338 is an excellent choice as it is SiRF III as mentioned in my earlier post.
_________________
Ian.
iPAQ 2210 | Navman 4100 BT Receiver
Navman iCN 635
TomTom GO
Anquet OS mapping

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