Portable GPS SAT/NAV

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:23 pm

I've got a TomTom 500 couple months ago as the OEM SAT/NAV cost $8000, so I thought I get one of these cheapy portable one until I can source a cheaper OEM in either Euro or Asia.

After 2mths this is what I think of the TomTom 500 (It was top of the line then. TomTom 910 was released 3 wks ago)

Pros
*Pretty easy to use, I think even someone doesn't know how to use a calculator would able to use one.

*Upload POI anytime I want without waiting 2-3yrs for the next version map. POI can be programmable if you keen, like every winery in Australia, Public toilets, Petrol stations in brand/company, Camping site....etc. And they are very easy to find on the net too.

*Upload celebrities voice, hell yeah, this one is fun, you can have Ozzy Osbourne swear his ass off while giving you instruction on the road.

*Bluetooth hands free car kit. Again my OEM car phone dial doesn't have a kit for my phone. Thatâ€™s another reason why I bought the TomTom 500 (910 also have the BT).

Cons
*The Map itself is really really really crap, 4 out of 10 times, it had point me to a total different suburb with the same street name, even I inputted the correct address. Next update is due in Oct 06, so I hope they fixed most of the problem as I send tons of email on which street is wrong already.

*The speaker hands free doesn't work until you put it on a cradle. And you have to connect it twice (soft reset) before the dam Bluetooth works properly or it will have crackling noise.

*The instructions isn't the best Iâ€™ve use, it will have command like "Keep right and then turn left"

Hopefully that will be fix by the latest map upgrade

*Accuracy, since these are GPS base only, their accuracy is no where near those OEM or in car version. Without the speed sensor, if you go through a tunnel or in a condense area with lots of building like CBD, it will go "spastic" and would not pin point where I am.

Hopefully this will help for those who are planning to buy a Portable Sat/Nav. Anyone else would like to share their experience on the portable Sat/Nav they got?

Post by **smorison** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:24 pm

i've got a copy of tomtom for windows mobile ... with a bluetooth GPS (tomtom fell off the back of the internet...) Works really really well in sydney, only thing i wish is that i had a subscription to get the live traffic feeds for making route decisions.

The guys i've given it to in melbourne say that nav sucks for there... as it uses australian produced maps i'm guessing the map quality is where it sucks...

mxysxy · Post by **mxysxy** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:24 pm

I have been using Magellan for over 2 years now, i choose the handheld ones as I use it outdoor a lot.

Interesting to see this topic, as i am just about to change my mobile to PDA and get a GPS receiver and TOMTOM software, and get rid of the old GPS.

It is correct though, in the City Melbourne, you cant get a clear signal sometimes due to high buildings, so, it starts to act stupid or freezes up until sufficient signal received.
GPS devices require I think at least 4 satalite connection to establish 3d location, sometimes I have seen in the city connected to 2 or 3, not 4.
It also depends a lot where the receiver is for GPS, as the body of the car blocks most of the signal as well. The best solution is to locate the receiver outside of the car, which this solution is mainly suitable to 4x4s

DZYRME · Post by **DZYRME** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:57 pm

We have sold the Tom Tom Navigation systems for about 2 months now, and all I can say is that they are hopeless. Im not exaggerating when I say at least 50% of the the GO710 and GO910s that I have sold in my shop have been returned becuase they are faulty.

The main problem is that after a while they dont turn on anymore or they wont charge in the car, becuase the cradle and the unit doesnt have a good connection with the contacts. You have to hold it into place for it to charge.

From my experience, Id go the Navman. We Never have problems with Navmans!

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:21 pm

Yeah i was originally going to get Navman, but the Bluetooth Handsfree feature from TomTom had won me over. Lesson to be learn, more doesn't mean better.

khunjeng · Post by **khunjeng** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:46 am

I have a PDE running WM5 and I have a bluetooth GPS some1 gave me the other day. Now I wanted to know what map software should I get??? I have looked at a few but can't decide.

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:09 am

The only "brand" i know that actually have stand alone software for mobile phones and PDA is TomTom.

I think the newest one is TomTom 6 mobile (could be 7). I've got all the POI for it, like speed and red lights cameras, BP petrol stations and heaps of other stuff. So if you do decided to get the TomTom software, i can upload those POI for you.

Dzyrme should able to get more info for you.

mxysxy · Post by **mxysxy** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:46 am

khunjeng wrote:I have a PDE running WM5 and I have a bluetooth GPS some1 gave me the other day. Now I wanted to know what map software should I get??? I have looked at a few but can't decide.

Chris, I need the TomTom for my PDA as well,
Perhaps we should look into finding it out together.

I might take that offer as well Kev if OK.

I was thinking of looking into downloading the TomTom of the internet,

akumi · Post by **akumi** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:44 pm

I use Destinator PN on my O2 pda phone, my only gripe would be the buttons are too SMALL!!!

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:21 pm

My mate works for the company who are the sole importer for the Mio Navigations. The importer is actually one of the subsidiaries belong to the same parent company as Mio. He said what ever problem Iâ€™ve got with TomTom, times it by 10 and thatâ€™s the problem Mio facing at the moment.

I know some member have Mio, so i wonder is Mio really that bad.

akumi · Post by **akumi** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:20 pm

My friend had problem with the Mio, he asked me to fix it, i think it's not bad, must be a bad gps unit built in, that's why it's dropping out all the time.

onnzo · Post by **onnzo** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:25 pm

I also have wm5 with a bluetooth GPS receiver.

I use destinator 6 - I find the interface heaps better then PN.

It works perfect for me (melbourne) in and out of the city. I only drop out when im in a carpark, under a bridge etc...

Mike

sublime19 · Post by **sublime19** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:11 am

I have a street directory, never lies

Post by **BorepYano** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:20 am

sublime19 wrote:I have a street directory, never lies

lol but having your street directory mounted on your dash just doesnt look the same.

so what GPS thingo would ppl recommand for a PC?
Now before i get ripped for this, i said pc because i'll only have USBs to play with (well... PCI slots too but i dont think anyone would make one for PCI slots lol)

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:41 am

sublime19 wrote:I have a street directory, never lies

But your street directory don't turn the pages for you or swear at you to turn left or right (Ozzy style). And if you like me, who happen to speak chingish, then the Yoda voice is dam perfect, every instruction backward are.

Also does your street directory warn you if there's a speed or red light camera ahead? My Yoda does.

hmmm PC software, it would be the same as PDA style. As most of them are Window base. Like i said, i only know TomTom, as thats the only program I've used.

sublime19 · Post by **sublime19** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:39 pm

lol true, i just dont think i have much need for a GPS as i drive long distances all the time, to give u an example, everytime i go out i have to drive about 35Ks to see my friends and its a minimum drive of about 50mins everytime i go anywhere so i'm know a lot of areas pretty well.

I guess it's more for people who have to travel to a lot of places that they arent't familiar with, also I don't have $700 minimum for a decent gps

A lot of them have a few flaws, where like u mentioned before, will tell u to go to the wrong street, but the biggest issue with most gps is the late reaction. Whether is be the late instruction to turn or re-routing on taking a wrong turn, this is where a lot of them fail

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:03 pm

Well the most impressive one Iâ€™ve ever use is the latest Toyota/Lexus one, itâ€™s pretty accurate and the pre warning are good too. The POI has lots of features.

For example, if you click on a restaurant, it will have the basic food menu with their phone number and if you click on the number it will dial it for you. The only thing I don't like is, you can't upload new POI. So you have to wait for the new nav disc.

AJ · Post by AJ » Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:32 pm

I've got MIO 168+ with CoPilot software. Not had a problem with the unit. The only thing is now and again it will say "roundabout" when acctually it's a cross roads, but it still tells you the right direction. In Sydney CBD it only gets up set when you stop at lights. It starts telling you to turn around and shows you going 30kmph, but as soon as you start driving again, it settles down.