Got lost (again) last night - is this right solution for me!

cloudchaser

Hi all

First post and am new to the GPS world so please be gentle. Smile

I have been reading the different reviews and articles for the past few days trying to "understand" what is around but after getting lost horribly CoPilot

around Watford last night I cannot wait to get a navigation system 8O

I am trying to put together a GPS solution for my needs and trying to get my head around the various options. My needs are -

- UK car journeys
- City navigation (on foot - mainly London)

Ideally I would not like to spend more than £600 for this solution.

I have narrowed my choices to the following

- HP H5550 (or lower)
- Tom Tom Navigator 2 (with the postcodes utility from Digitools)
- A Bluetooth receiver

The H5550 PDA suits my other purpose with its built in wireless option to use my WiFi network at home.

My questions and confusion is with

1) Will the above solution provide me with clear audible instructions while driving?
2) Do I have to fiddle with the pda wile driving? I assume not but need to be clear about usability while driving.
3) Will a Bluetooth receiver work fine if I stick it in my backpack while on foot in a city? I have heard that GPS receivers need to have a clear "view" of the sky?
4) Battery/power supply - My car has just a single lighter so will I need to modify/add anything?

My budget of £600 might be ambitious but I am trying to narrow down the components before I start looking for cheaper prices and I don’t mind stretching by a hundred or so if the above solution fits my needs.

Thanks in advance for all help/pointers.

Darren · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:54 pm Post subject:

You seem to have covered all the bases here. TomTom Navigator works well for your purposes both on foot and in-car.

The only query I have is the choice of iPAQ. The h4150 also offers WiFi as well as an SD slot. It differs from the h5550 in being smaller overall and lacks the finger print recognition facility. It's also cheaper!

Because Bluetooth receivers have their own batteries you don't need a power socket for them, you can top up the charge when its convenient for you and they will work well in a backpack top pocket.

This solution will provide audible instructions although most new PocketPC's have poor volume output which may necessitate some additional equipment if you have a noisy car (the 4150 is better in this respect than the 5550).

Your budget is more than enough to fund all of this Thumbs Up

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Darren Griffin

Dave · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:06 am Post subject:

I'd have to add what are you looking to do with wifi ? If it's surf the web from the Pocket PC then you will be pretty restricted as most websites won't render properly. If you want to use IM then fine.

Personally I'd cut the cost by going for a 2210/2215. You could then get a full in-car system and possibly Bluetooth GPS, you can then look at other packages like Memory-Map for Ordnance Survey style maps later if you wished. You could use your Street Navigation software for walking but some don't work all that well as they have dead reckoning features which detect if you are driving less than 5mph and won't update your position. This is mainly to stop your positioning jumping all over the place when you come to a stop say at a roundabout or traffic lights which used to be a big problem with most apps a couple of years ago.

My preference would be something like the HP iPAQ 2210 (of which I have two), a Bluetooth GPS like the Emtac/Socket or RoyalTek (for datalogging) or even something like the Holux or Fortuna for small size to put in a pocket and software wise something like TomTom Navigator 2, CoPilot Live (not sure if Navman SmartST Pro V2 works with all GPS's).

Robin2 · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 5:52 pm Post subject:

If Bluetooth is not essential, you can get everything you need from Holux UK for well under £500 (ie iPAQ 2210, TTN2, cables, mount - and good after sales service!!) If you must have Bluetooth, it will cost you about £50 more.
Dave - do you know a source of external, battery powered, speaker/amplifiers? I don't need anything for TTN2, but for CP4 I need some extra volume. For my car I have a cassette adaptor which uses the car stereo, but my wife's car has a CD player with no input jack
Robin

Darren · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 7:16 pm Post subject:

One of those cheap carkits that have a cigarette lighter powered amp and a 'clip' that clamps over the phone speaker will work. I use one in my wife's car. The clip clamps over the PDA speaker and the powered amp is really effective. Picked mine up for £4.99 inc a bracket and vent clip (which is intended for a cellphone so is too small for a PDA Sad

)
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Darren Griffin

Robin2 · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:54 am Post subject:

Where can you get one Darren. I have asked in mobile phone shops and they don't know what I'm talking about. I have also tried in Maplins
Robin

Darren · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:25 am Post subject:

Well I bought mine from a local market (and they were everywhere) but I have seen them for sale in Petrol Stations as well. I imagin ethey'd be useless as cellphone carkits but for our purposes they work really well.
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Darren Griffin

icsys · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 9:55 am Post subject:

Is this the kind of thing you are referring to?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000087H8S/202-0728822-9291811

cloudchaser · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 8:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the great tips - a few more questions and I should be on my way to get ting sorted.

The geek in me wants the newest gadget and hence the 5550 but I think your tip about noisy car (I drive a X reg Honda Civic) might be worth noting. Also the cost difference is £100 between the 4150 & 5550 which in my judgement is worth it for the extra RAM & fingerprint feature. For now I am trying to get a fix on a shortlist for the components.

I do need WiFi since I am generally stuck in my study using the main pc. Getting a WiFi enable PDA would free me to move around - especially to watch TV!! My biggest use for the connected PDA would be to check up on email and IM. I am willing to put up with badly rendered sites while surfing on the PDA.

I definitely want a Bluetooth receiver for the flexibilty it offers in using it with a range of devices including my phone - a P900.

Of the BT receivers recommended by Dave and then reading the reviews I think the Fortuna clipon would be best for my purpose.

Also can someone please confirm that if buy this TT3 - http://www.dabs.com/uk/productView.htm?quicklinx=338T

Would I get UK map bundled with it? Or do I have to buy them separately? Dabs also has a TT3 package with BT - http://www.dabs.com/uk/search.htm?searchPhrase=tomtom

What receiver does TT offer in their bundles?

So my solution would be ( I have used Expansys to get approx costs)

HP Ipaq 5550 - £350
Fortuna BT clipon - £160

Tom Tom 3 - £100? or more?

Would I need to buy any additional memory for storing maps?

Darren · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:22 pm Post subject:

I'd still avoid the 5550, the fingerprint scanner is unnecessary and battery life is far porrer than the 41xx. Unless you have a need for compatability with jacket accessories which the 55xx series support you will be much happier with the lighter 41xx.

The extra memory is insignificant as you will still need a storage card for most maps.
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Darren Griffin

cloudchaser · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 2:19 pm Post subject:

Hi all

Darren you make some good points and the 4150 seems like the sensible buy.

For the BT receiver I have decided on the Fortuna.

So my solution is -

* HP iPAQ 4150 -
* Fortuna BT clip-on
* TomTom 3 wth UK maps

I assume that I would need the following too -

* More SD memory - 128 OK?
* Split car lighter charger for powering PDA & receiver

What kind of mount is ideal? I drive a Honda Civic and the gear stick is on the dashboard panel.

And last but not least - any good deals going around?

matt_e · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 3:58 pm Post subject:

I've still got a cig lighter powered amp with clip on microphone which I can send on at cost (still in packaging) in case anyone wants it.

matt

Darren · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 5:10 pm Post subject:

cloudchaser · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:45 pm Post subject:

Trying to make sure I have the correct items and the only relevant Brodit Proclip for my car make (Civic 01) is the Angled Mount 652917. PLan to see how I get on.

My specific query is with the cig charger adapters. What do I use to power the iPaq? I want to order the correct version and not too sure what would be the correct one. Dont want to receive my package and find I had ordered the wrong items.

Any links?

Darren · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:54 pm Post subject:

The ProClip mount is just that, a custom clip to which you affix your choden cradle. The cradle itself is wher the power question lies. You want an active cradle (that means it has a 12v cigar lighter lead affixed to it).

Other options are passive (no power at all) using which you simply plug in your own power lead to the bottom of the iPAQ or Pass-Thru in which the mount replicates the port on the bottom of the iPAQ and you plug your own power lead into the cradle.

If you need advice speak to Chetan at Handnav or post the part no's here and I will double check you have chosen the correct parts Smile

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Darren Griffin

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