PDA and GPS advice and info - Page 2

plankton · 28th-June-2005, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

Does anyone have a PDA that they use with GPS software?

I'm looking to buy a PDA that I can load GPS software onto.

I really need a PDA and so I think this would be a better option than buying a standalone GPS unit.

Can anyone give me any advice at all or recommend a decent PDA (I think I need one that has Windows on it so I can link up to my Outlook address book)

and what about GPS software?

whats good and what's not so good?

Ipaq 4150 and tom tom bluetooth receiver tom tom navigator software,

4150 last years model so not available .
works really well iin car /boat (with protection) you could put the blue tooth receiver in one pocket and carry the ipaq for walking .

in car definitely need the holder, and power supply
compared with the car nav system (nissan) its tom tom is easier to use despite smaller screen,

you can get speed camera overlays ! to help you stay legal

setup is simple but learning to use it takes a while and should not be attempted when driving or trying to get to Gatwick via a new route to catch a flight

the Acer n50 Premium has good reports on the web and seems better value spec than the current IpaQs (but I do like their big screens)

handle a few pda they all look similar but feel very diifferent to use.

budget for more memory cards

**Minnie M** · 2nd-July-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trousers

{from Hipsters thread]....(gps kept switching into safe mode)

I have Navman 510 In-Car GPS which I love, it has been wired in to the cigarette lighter adapter and sits on the windscreen via a suction thingy, however after about 5mins the battery light turns off and it keeps switching into safe mode when I am driving

Thought it might have been just the battery light going off, but have re-charged it from a power point at home and it charges beautifully and the orange battery light changed to green when fully charged and does not go off

Have been back to Halfords (where I bought it and the wired it in) and he can't find the problem as yet.

Have tried NOT using the stereo/radio when driving, but still does it

Can anyone help please

**Yliander** · 3rd-July-2005, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

Does anyone have a PDA that they use with GPS software?

I'm looking to buy a PDA that I can load GPS software onto.

I really need a PDA and so I think this would be a better option than buying a standalone GPS unit.

Can anyone give me any advice at all or recommend a decent PDA (I think I need one that has Windows on it so I can link up to my Outlook address book)

and what about GPS software?

whats good and what's not so good?

I LOVE my Palm PDA!!!

I've got the Palm Zire 71 - which isn't available anymore since they brought out the Zire 72 - and if this ended up being your palm of choice- get the silver on the blue peels of the blue one

Palm PDA's are great - and will sync with your outlook address book - no problems.

Palm PDA's are one of the few PDA's with a OS that is designed for them rather than a bastardist version of computer operating system.

And the graffiti writing is very easy to use - even my boss managed to get the hang of it in an hour or 2

A quick look at the Palm website shows that the Tungsten models have GPS capability....

That said I know someone with an Ipaq - which is pretty nifty - but this is a pocket computer not just a PDA so can be more costly

RogerR · 3rd-July-2005, 07:06 AM

Currently the GPS receivers with voice prompt can't keep up with our faster ambulances! We still use a rolling map but we have a custom 15in flat screen monitor!!!

**Trousers** · 3rd-July-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie M

I have Navman 510 In-Car GPS which I love, it has been wired in to the cigarette lighter adapter and sits on the windscreen via a suction thingy, however after about 5mins the battery light turns off and it keeps switching into safe mode when I am driving

Not 100% sure as to your definition of safe mode
On my unit when I exceed a chosen speed the screen flicks into a low information mode so I am less likely to look at the unit ergo I will be safer as I am obviously now flying! (just to add here after a number of mentions of this safe mode - It's less than 100mph when it flicks over - Fast I do! Stupidly fast I leave for Mr Plod) But i don't think you mean that.

If you mean your screen is powering down to preserve charge i can understand that especially with the Garmin unit (i think your NavMan is Garmin). I had a Street Pilot 3 and it was superb until it was liberated from my car in Nottingham by some toe rag. But the Cigarette lighter adapter was so crap. It just didn't sit in the hole and make any sort of contact. It was a constant jiggle, poke, pull, flick, with it all the way down the road. The SP3 did however take about 40 million AA batteries and would always stay active.
If your unit is not charging whilst in the car check that power lead - make sure the bit that screws the fuse in place is secure and that the tabs on the side of the bit that goes into the socket are not permanently depressed like me. plug it all in and wiggle the wires and connectors to see if any movement of the wires makes charging possible or stops it etc. Obviously if you wiggle your wire and the charge light flicks on and off that cable if faulty so go and jump on Mr Halfords.
Other than that one possibility is that if you leave it all in the car over night and connected that the unit is getting discharged - some of my assorted gubbins in the car are fine and will charge whilst the ignition is on but once the key is out the units just leak juice thru the little transformers in the cabling. If this is happening your NavMan may be upset at running with so little charge but Garmin (or whoever) will be the ones to say for sure.

Good Luck Minnie

*angelique* · 3rd-July-2005, 11:04 PM

will just stick to gardening and dancing and providing all things nice and comforting as this thread has just reinforced how absolutly DENSE I am!

Good Luck NG if this answers all that you need to know. If, however you want to know how to take a fuschia cutting , just phone me!

**Northants Girly** · 5th-July-2005, 11:35 AM

Where did you buy your hx4700 Gojive?

Are there any good places to buy these things - or places to avoid?

**David Bailey** · 5th-July-2005, 11:52 AM

I just splurged on a TomTom Go 700 this morning (hols in France in 2 weeks, must have a decent nav system). I'll let you know how it goes...

**Will** · 5th-July-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJames

I just splurged on a TomTom Go 700 this morning (hols in France in 2 weeks, must have a decent nav system). I'll let you know how it goes...

Please do. I was thinking about getting one myself. Also tell me how much it cost you (if you don't mind that is).

Thanks

**Rhythm King** · 5th-July-2005, 02:28 PM

There is a review of the Garmin iQue3600a in this month's Pilot magazine. Mostly talks about its aviation aspects but does mention the turn by turn road guidane too. Doesn't mention the price though.

R-K

**Minnie M** · 5th-July-2005, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trousers

If you mean your screen is powering down to preserve charge i can understand that especially with the Garmin unit (i think your NavMan is Garmin). I had a Street Pilot 3 and it was superb until it was liberated from my car in Nottingham by some toe rag. But the Cigarette lighter adapter was so crap. It just didn't sit in the hole and make any sort of contact. It was a constant jiggle, poke, pull, flick, with it all the way down the road. The SP3 did however take about 40 million AA batteries and would always stay active.
If your unit is not charging whilst in the car check that power lead - make sure the bit that screws the fuse in place is secure and that the tabs on the side of the bit that goes into the socket are not permanently depressed like me. plug it all in and wiggle the wires and connectors to see if any movement of the wires makes charging possible or stops it etc. Obviously if you wiggle your wire and the charge light flicks on and off that cable if faulty so go and jump on Mr Halfords.
Other than that one possibility is that if you leave it all in the car over night and connected that the unit is getting discharged - some of my assorted gubbins in the car are fine and will charge whilst the ignition is on but once the key is out the units just leak juice thru the little transformers in the cabling. If this is happening your NavMan may be upset at running with so little charge but Garmin (or whoever) will be the ones to say for sure.

Good Luck Minnie

thank you Trousers

(wanted to give you rep but it wont allow me

)

Not sure what Garmin is - It has 'SmartST V3' software + SirFXTrac enabled (gobledigoo to me

) or is that something different

**Trousers** · 5th-July-2005, 04:14 PM

Garmin make GPS receivers - I thought the NavMan was one of theirs.
SmartST sounds like the software you run on your PC to set the unit up and
SirFXTrac is the way the GPS looks for the satellites in the sky (accounting for urban canyon and tree cover etc etc).

Was the power lead dodgy seems like the only real option to me.

**Minnie M** · 5th-July-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trousers

Garmin make GPS receivers - I thought the NavMan was one of theirs.
SmartST sounds like the software you run on your PC to set the unit up and
SirFXTrac is the way the GPS looks for the satellites in the sky (accounting for urban canyon and tree cover etc etc).

Was the power lead dodgy seems like the only real option to me.

I am picking up a spare lead (one that goes into the cigarette lighter) tomorrow, so will see if it is the car or the way he has wired in the original lead in or if the actual lead is dodgy.

Thanks again for all your help Trousers

**Rhythm King** · 5th-July-2005, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie M

I am picking up a spare lead (one that goes into the cigarette lighter) tomorrow, so will see if it is the car or the way he has wired in the original lead in or if the actual lead is dodgy.

Thanks again for all your help Trousers

A friend of mine has one of these and it kept losing power - turned out to be a small fuse in the cradle, hence the unit wasn't charging.

R-K

Gojive · 5th-July-2005, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

Where did you buy your hx4700 Gojive?

Are there any good places to buy these things - or places to avoid?

Hi Linda?,

Unbelievably, I got mine from PC World, at a price none of the online retailers have yet to match (when you take into account delivery costs etc). They were doing a one day web special, and I got it for £329. It's generally priced at around £360 at the moment, and a good starting place is shop is www.expansys.co.uk

The price is fairly high at the moment, simply because it's still HP's flagship model, and has been since last year. I'm sure there'll be a newer one out pretty soon, and when there is, expect to see this unit drop to around £250.

**Northants Girly** · 5th-July-2005, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gojive

Hi Linda?,

Unbelievably, I got mine from PC World, at a price none of the online retailers have yet to match (when you take into account delivery costs etc). They were doing a one day web special, and I got it for £329. It's generally priced at around £360 at the moment, and a good starting place is shop is www.expansys.co.uk

The price is fairly high at the moment, simply because it's still HP's flagship model, and has been since last year. I'm sure there'll be a newer one out pretty soon, and when there is, expect to see this unit drop to around £250.

Thanks Ian

Comet online are offering it at £322 inc delivery!

But GPS advertise a price match service where they guarantee to match any price (with like for like product and delivery etc). I'm waiting to hear back from them as they have some software I'm thinking of going for too

Gojive · 6th-July-2005, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

Thanks Ian

Comet online are offering it at £322 inc delivery!

But GPS advertise a price match service where they guarantee to match any price (with like for like product and delivery etc). I'm waiting to hear back from them as they have some software I'm thinking of going for too

That's a pretty good price Linda! (silly question I hope, but you do know the hx4700 doesn't have GPS built in don't you?

). Incidently, what software are you planning to get?

**Northants Girly** · 6th-July-2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gojive

That's a pretty good price Linda! (silly question I hope, but you do know the hx4700 doesn't have GPS built in don't you?

). Incidently, what software are you planning to get?

I know - thats why I'm gonna buy this - TomTom Navigator 5 Bluetooth (I think)

Still waiting for these folk to get back to me bout the price match thing - if they do I can buy both the pda AND the TomTom stuff from the same place

PS - while I was typing the above they got back to me and can't match the price

Comet here I come!

Gojive · 6th-July-2005, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

I know - thats why I'm gonna buy this - TomTom Navigator 5 Bluetooth (I think)

Still waiting for these folk to get back to me bout the price match thing - if they do I can buy both the pda AND the TomTom stuff from the same place

PS - while I was typing the above they got back to me and can't match the price

Comet here I come!

Nice one Linda

. I've just read the blurb on the package, and this bit caught my eye..."Improved functionality such as a FULL UK post code search". This is a huge bonus!

Up until a little while ago, when entering a destination place name you could only enter up to 5 characters of the postcode. For example, to navigate to my house, you had to enter "KT16 8" then narrow down my address down to a road intersection in my area (from a scrolling list). With the full PCode facility, you can navigate directly to my house (not that you'll want to of course!

). Incidently, it was the AA software that was the first to allow full postcodes, and curiously they're still claiming it's unique to them!. Talk about hangin on to a marketing ploy for as long as possible eh?

.

I'm Bluetoothed up to the eyeballs now, and am pretty well versed in the art of Bluetooth pairing and operation. So if you get stuck, by all means give me a shout

.

Once you have the PDA, let me know and I'll give you some tips on usage and software if you like

**Trousers** · 6th-July-2005, 02:30 PM

A couple of points for you to know or connsider tho - may be of import may not.
a) the ipaq2210 does not work well with TomTom, bluetooth and SDram cards for some reason. this may be an issue on the bigger models but i don'tknow for sure. compact flash cards work ace.
b) sound from an ipaq is ok when in an officce environment But in a car can be a little quiet - therefore if you are buying separate components look for the amplified suction screenmount - if buying a package deal try and get them to include that model instead. it really will add to the experience.
c) don't wait before you buy some screen protectors for your ipaq - there being no point in protecting a scratched sceen!
d) do not buy the currys extended warranty
e) buy a cigarette lighter multiblock
f) ukjives poi files for all the dance venues in the country is ace - u should get this.

regards.

3rd-July-2005, 07:06 AM	#24 (permalink)
RogerR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: London Posts: 430 Status: No Status Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 110	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info Currently the GPS receivers with voice prompt can't keep up with our faster ambulances! We still use a rolling map but we have a custom 15in flat screen monitor!!!

3rd-July-2005, 11:04 PM	#26 (permalink)
angelique Commercial Operator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Corby, Northants Posts: 419 Status: No Status Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 101	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info will just stick to gardening and dancing and providing all things nice and comforting as this thread has just reinforced how absolutly DENSE I am! Good Luck NG if this answers all that you need to know. If, however you want to know how to take a fuschia cutting , just phone me!

5th-July-2005, 11:35 AM	#27 (permalink)
Northants Girly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northants Posts: 1,476 Status: No Status Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 564	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info Where did you buy your hx4700 Gojive? Are there any good places to buy these things - or places to avoid?

5th-July-2005, 11:52 AM	#28 (permalink)
David Bailey Formerly known as DavidJames Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Norf Lundin Posts: 14,657 Status: Yes Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 8 Rep.: 4092	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info I just splurged on a TomTom Go 700 this morning (hols in France in 2 weeks, must have a decent nav system). I'll let you know how it goes... __________________ Jivetango Godfather "Captain Rocky, superhero and villain all rolled into one bearded, portly package..."

5th-July-2005, 02:28 PM	#30 (permalink)
Rhythm King Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: In London, by the Posts: 2,994 Status: Quo Rep Power: 4 Rep.: 1284	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info There is a review of the Garmin iQue3600a in this month's Pilot magazine. Mostly talks about its aviation aspects but does mention the turn by turn road guidane too. Doesn't mention the price though. R-K __________________ The hottest thing since Morton Thiokol used the Challenger to take teacher hazing into the Space Age...

5th-July-2005, 04:14 PM	#32 (permalink)
Trousers Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,208 Status: No Status Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 679	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info Garmin make GPS receivers - I thought the NavMan was one of theirs. SmartST sounds like the software you run on your PC to set the unit up and SirFXTrac is the way the GPS looks for the satellites in the sky (accounting for urban canyon and tree cover etc etc). Was the power lead dodgy seems like the only real option to me. __________________ The night sky over the planet Krikkit is the least interesting sight in the entire Universe.