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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:10 pm Post subject: Pressure's On. Time to Buy. Recommendations PLEASE!
I am driving from Trieste to Cannes in mid May so it is time to make my selection. This is a build from scratch system so all recommendations appreciated. This will be used initially only in Europe and I have been lead to believe that Nactech mapping unless there is compelling reason to switch. What I need to choose is a
PDA (want to use it as a PDA too and would appreciate recommendations here too)
GPS receiver and antenna
Device to hold the system in the car for ease of use
Navigation software program for PDA
I have always followed the "one step below state of the art" for maximum value concept and would lean toward that here as well. Please.. I need to act and am still somewhat confused as to which way to go. Your "package" recommendations will be taken to heart and appreciated.
Thanks
Joined: Mar 31, 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:12 pm Post subject: One suggestion...
As a newbie myself and after looking at several systems I bought a Mio 168 a few weeks ago. The Mio had received some good reviews, and I was impressed by the fact that it came with everything I needed for the car. The bundle included a suction mount, lighter adapter, and an additional (wired) antenna. I say additional antenna because the 168 is one of a handful of PDA’s that features a flip-up integral GPS receiver. It also comes with a basic soft case.
On the downside, the Mio has no back up battery, so the integral 64 Mb RAM is all volatile, but I decided I could cope with this. Also, the sync/power connector is pretty large and connects to the base of the PDA, and when connected, it sits uneasily on a desk. It’s fine when mounted in the car though and I intend to buy a cradle which will solve the desktop issue.
My main failing was not realising that I could have bought a bundle that had better route mapping software. Mine came with Route 66, and I think a lot of users will agree that feature-wise, Route 66 is at the lower end of the spectrum. Having said that, the whole UK map is stored on the supplied 256 Mb SD card, so I don’t have to muck about cutting and downloading maps to the PDA.
Before seeing the Mio, I was going to take the Bluetooth route, but I reckon this set up is more convenient, and certainly cheaper. One less charger to carry round, and one less flat battery to worry about. _________________ Basty
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:54 pm Post subject: One suggestion...
If you only intend to use the GPS for car navigation and not when out on foot, I must say I do love the Holux CR-100 I have fro my iPAQ.
A good strong suction mount for attaching it to the windscreen and as it has GPS reciever and speakers bulit into it. Best of all you just have the one wire to power everything (GPS reciever/speakers/ PDA). The only thing that is not 100% perfect is the fact that I get a tiny amount of vibration when traveling (in eurpoe ) at 85+mph, but having said that my little Smart car has hard suspension. This I expect is about the same for most windscreen mounts and is not a issue for me at all as everything is still nice and clear to read (not that I am looking there at those speeds).
PDA wise I chose the 2110 as I wanted 2 cards, not 100% sure why though. It has bulit in Bluetooth is required but not WiFi, however I guess you can always get a Flashcard WiFi card (maybe thats why I wanted two). Only complaint about this is I find the central direction buttons on it a little on the small side but never really use them.
This runs TomTom, though I would of prefered CoPilot (better maps and possibel to go acroos a border with changing maps). However, when eurpoe maps were added to these packs the CoPilot became quite a bit more expensive and their previous upgrade package did not sound good too me, so I went with the masses and got TomTom.
Last thing I would say is make sure you have LARGE cards. I got a 512Mb SD card and though that would do, having a spare flash card or two from a camera, however this was not the case. I find it much easier to just load everythign thing I am likely to need into one card rather than carry a few 'spares', hence me recently getting a 1Gb flash card. I now have enough space!
A friend of mine has the Mio and it is a very good unit for the money, but if I were to buy again I would go with what I have now with out much thought. _________________ iPAQ 2110
Kingston 512Mb SD card
Kingston 1gb CF card
Holux CR-100
Only issue with the Holux CR-100 is as the GPS reciver is built into the mount, make sure your front windscreen is not heated! If it is you will not be able to get a GPS signal though it and will need a reciever mounted elsewhere in the car, defeating the advantage of the CR-100. _________________ iPAQ 2110
Kingston 512Mb SD card
Kingston 1gb CF card
Holux CR-100
Joined: Nov 16, 2004 Posts: 2145 Location: Midlands, UK
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:08 am Post subject:
Hello revdarkwing
As the Mio168 has been mentioned, you can see the specs for it on my web site, the unit shown is a Medion 95000 (re branded mio168) but the specs are the same, from reading another post somewhere yesterday I followed a link to TomTom's web site that said that the Mitac Mio168 will work with the new version 5 of their software when it becomes available.
I also have Mio168 but I use Navigon 4 GPS Software on it that works very well.
The Medion 95000 is no longer available, but it did come with all of the same items as the Mio168, but also included a Desktop cradle that is not included with the Mio168, but Medion still sell the cradle and it works fine with the Mio168.
Hi,
I got a Mio 168 this week and it works like a dream through the heated windscreen of my Discovery. I got TomTom 3 with mine and it was setup and working within the hour with the speed camera information.
I got mine from http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/ and ordered it on the Monday and it was on the door for Tuesday.
Thank you all for the input. I like the idea of the Mio 168 with the built in GPS as long as it's a decent PDA as well. Do you know if it is sold with the TomTom software for Europe or just the CoPilot. I am leaning toward the TomTom over the CoPilot and would prefer not to get the Great British maps yet as they are not on my calender at this piont and I would prefer to spend my money initially on Western Europe and not England if possible.
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) at 85+mph, but having said that my little Smart car has hard suspension. This I expect is about the same for most windscreen mounts and is not a issue for me at all as everything is still nice and clear to read (not that I am looking there at those speeds).
