PDA and GPS advice and info

**Northants Girly** · 27th-June-2005, 11:41 AM

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?

Clive Long · 27th-June-2005, 12:19 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?

I just bought on EBay a magellan sleeve to go with a Palm M515 - this is "old technology" and I bought it to understand the capabilities of the technology. I don't do enough driving to invest £400 in what seems to be the "sweet spot" for PDA/GPS packages - although I was tempted by an all-in-one PDA/Phone/email client/GPS- thingy.

I would not recommend the Magellan/M515 for several reasons. The main motivation to buy was to have one of these wonderful car-based navigation packages - and I feel that the voice-prompt "Turn left in 400 metres" is by far the least distracting and hence least "dangerous" method to get your routing instructions. The Palm solution is to present a 2D map without voice prompts ... This approach is not present on current car-packages so shouldn't be an issue.

I travelled to Wales with a guy who had a Nokia 6600 with "Route 66" software. It also had "GPRS" enabled on the SIM and a free subscription to a "traffic server" - the idea being the planned optimum route is modified if the software receives info that there is a major hold-up on your planned route. We travelled from Slough to Snowdon and didn't refer to a paper map once. The voice prompts were timely and clear.

There are lots of dimensions affecting which is the best package but some I have thought of (remember this is all IMO and biased to car use)

-are the routes up-to-date - and can they be "dynamically" updated?
-are one-way and blocked streets correctly identified?
-can you manually insert "blocked routes" if the traffic server is not accessible? and get the device to recalculate a route?
-How "efficient" or "effective" is the routing algorithm?
-Can the GPS receiver quickly get a signal from several satellites to maintian a good and accurate fix? How quickly can it change the satellite sources it uses if you lose line-of-sight due to building obstruction etc?
-Does the device tell you it has lost satellite fix so you know the displayed position is unreliable?
-Can you see the route end-to-end? For example with the (old) solution I have, you have to swap between intra-City (think A to Z) for routing within a town and inter-City (think London to Glasgow). Can the software "Stitch together" maps so the route is planned end-to-end.?
- How much extra memory will you need to buy for the PDA to store all the maps you want on the device without reloading maps from your PC?
-Can you plan "Points of interest" route? For example, I want to go from London to Glasgow by road but via my Granny in Stroud, and I want to avoid Stoke?
-How easy / distracting is it to change display options while you are driving?
-Do I want to use the GPS for non-road activity? e.g. walking? I think the car-biased packages will probably be pretty useless for a walk in the country. It maybe possible to use a "conventional" eTrek or Garmin as the GPS info source to the PDA display then take the "stand-alone for your walking / cycling if it can be loaded with OS maps - don't know the capabilities. Lots of wires in the car for connectivity or power or needs setting up of Bluetooth

I have used the following site http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/menu_reviews.php for clear, systematic reviews of the options available.

Can you borrow someone's device and try on a couple of local known routes with one-way steets, and roundabouts to see how you get on?

Regarding the PDA - I think Pocket PC is probably the dominant standard - and it just comes down to personal preference. If you want email and browsing on the move I think you need a device that will accept a phone SIM with GPRS Enabled (O2 XDA 2i/s or Orange SPV range). I don't know about the "Wi-Fi" or hot-spots technology or coverage to give you internet access without using GPRS.

I'm sure others will have conflicting advice and experience - my exposure is limited and using old technology.

HTH

Clive

Gojive · 27th-June-2005, 12:24 PM

Hi NG

I use the current Ipaq flagship, the hx4700. It has one of the best screens available (640 x 480 VGA), battery life is good, and comes with built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A couple of negative things though - the unit is quite big and heavy, compared to most other PDAs, but I find it will still sit in my shirt pocket reasonably well. The operating system is Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, and the unit comes with Outlook 2002, and Activesync to easily synchronise your contacts, emails, calendar, notes etc. You can even sychronise over the Wi-Fi connection, is your PC is on a wireless network.

For GPS, I use an Emtac Trine II Bluetooth receiver, which works brilliantly with the PDA. The Emtac has the ability to have up to 4 devices connected simultaneously, and has a battery life of around 10 hours. The battery is also removable, so you can carry a spare with you. Performance with this unit, is superb!.

For software, I use Co-Pilot Live for in car navigation, and Memory Map for walking. Both are expensive though, thanks to the huge cost of digital maps levied by Ordnance Survey. Both software packages have some fantastic features though, and I'd highly recommend them.

I also use my PDA as an in car/weekender chalet MP3 player, and as a backup for digital photos when out and about.

I could go on and on!

Hope this helps a little

**Dreadful Scathe** · 27th-June-2005, 12:30 PM

A PDA that will support a GPS card would cost upwards of £150 at least id think. I have a compact flash GPS card that i use with a PCMCIA adapter in my laptop, cos ive only ever used it when driving somewhere but it only cost £15 from ebay. You can of course buy PDAs with integrated GPS like this one from ebuyer but its £235. There are also some mobile phones that have GPS inbuilt or will allow a card to be plugged in.

**Will** · 27th-June-2005, 01:24 PM

I believe TomTom do a PDA that's custom made for GPS called the "TomTom Go". I don't know if it's any good or not.

**philsmove** · 27th-June-2005, 02:35 PM

For ballooning I have been recommended (but not tested) a MIO 168 pocket PC PDA,

This seems to have everything built into a single unit and is capable of using OS maps

Has anyone else used on of these

Clive Long · 27th-June-2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philsmove

For ballooning I have been recommended (but not tested) a MIO 168 pocket PC PDA,

Can't help you on the GPS front ...

but ballooning .... how much a ride?

CRL

CJ · 27th-June-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Long

but ballooning .... how much a ride?

CRL

Ballooning is free. The ride is extra!!

Clive Long · 27th-June-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceroc Jock

Ballooning is free. The ride is extra!!

A ride for a ride ?

**philsmove** · 27th-June-2005, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Long

Can't help you on the GPS front ...

but ballooning .... how much a ride?

CRL

Hope this does not break Franks advertising rules

www.balnet.co.uk

Clive Long · 27th-June-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philsmove

Hope this does not break Franks (ed. Franck's?) advertising rules

I'll take the rap.

Ta.

CRL

**Rhythm King** · 28th-June-2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philsmove

Hope this does not break Franks advertising rules

www.balnet.co.uk

Loud clunk as the penny drops...

so does this make you Phil Clark, the former hot air balloon long distance record holder and recipient of the FAI's prestigious Montgolfier Award for aeronautical achievement?

**philsmove** · 28th-June-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhythm King

Loud clunk as the penny drops...

so does this make you Phil Clark, the former hot air balloon long distance record holder and recipient of the FAI's prestigious Montgolfier Award for aeronautical achievement?

'fraid so

**Northants Girly** · 28th-June-2005, 02:30 PM

Thanks for all the info so far guys - much appreciated

and congrats to Phil

I have another (probably stupid) but related question though . . . . .

What is it about a Smart phone (compared to an ordinary mobile phone) that makes it "Smart"?

**David Bailey** · 28th-June-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

What is it about a Smart phone (compared to an ordinary mobile phone) that makes it "Smart"?

Nothing. It's a silly marketing term. Ignore it.

**Dreadful Scathe** · 28th-June-2005, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Nothing. It's a silly marketing term. Ignore it.

bah ignore DavidJames - its a phone that phones people you really should be phoning but havent got around to yet.

Tip: Dont buy a Smart car, it'll drive you round to their house too.

**ducasi** · 28th-June-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northants Girly

What is it about a Smart phone (compared to an ordinary mobile phone) that makes it "Smart"?

A smart phone is a phone that thinks it's a PDA (or a PDA that thinks it's a phone. )

... In other words, it has a "proper" operating system on it. The key thing is that it then allows you write/buy/obtain programs for your phone that do things that non-smart phones can't do.

Smart phones tend to be bigger than non-smart phones and go through batteries faster too!

**philsmove** · 28th-June-2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducasi

A smart phone is a phone that thinks it's a PDA (or a PDA that thinks it's a phone. )

... In other words, it has a "proper" operating system on it. The key thing is that it then allows you write/buy/obtain programs for your phone that do things that non-smart phones can't do.

Smart phones tend to be bigger than non-smart phones and go through batteries faster too!

I have a p900 smart phone it's great

I Simply plug it into the cradle on my PC and it automatically synchronises with MS Outlook

But the screen is too small for map reading

Battery will last 24 hours with heavy use

Or 3 days with normal use

27th-June-2005, 11:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Northants Girly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northants Posts: 1,439 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 552	PDA and GPS advice and info 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?

27th-June-2005, 12:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gojive Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Staines (if you're not careful) Posts: 1,347 Rep Power: 2 Reputation Total: 588	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info Hi NG I use the current Ipaq flagship, the hx4700. It has one of the best screens available (640 x 480 VGA), battery life is good, and comes with built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A couple of negative things though - the unit is quite big and heavy, compared to most other PDAs, but I find it will still sit in my shirt pocket reasonably well. The operating system is Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, and the unit comes with Outlook 2002, and Activesync to easily synchronise your contacts, emails, calendar, notes etc. You can even sychronise over the Wi-Fi connection, is your PC is on a wireless network. For GPS, I use an Emtac Trine II Bluetooth receiver, which works brilliantly with the PDA. The Emtac has the ability to have up to 4 devices connected simultaneously, and has a battery life of around 10 hours. The battery is also removable, so you can carry a spare with you. Performance with this unit, is superb!. For software, I use Co-Pilot Live for in car navigation, and Memory Map for walking. Both are expensive though, thanks to the huge cost of digital maps levied by Ordnance Survey. Both software packages have some fantastic features though, and I'd highly recommend them. I also use my PDA as an in car/weekender chalet MP3 player, and as a backup for digital photos when out and about. I could go on and on! Hope this helps a little

27th-June-2005, 12:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dreadful Scathe Papa Smurf Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Planet Scathe Posts: 9,788 Rep Power: 7 Reputation Total: 2273	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info A PDA that will support a GPS card would cost upwards of £150 at least id think. I have a compact flash GPS card that i use with a PCMCIA adapter in my laptop, cos ive only ever used it when driving somewhere but it only cost £15 from ebay. You can of course buy PDAs with integrated GPS like this one from ebuyer but its £235. There are also some mobile phones that have GPS inbuilt or will allow a card to be plugged in. __________________ "defiantly a pork soared" -fletch "This is a discussion forum, not some sort of hippy poetry-reading commune" - TAFKADJ

27th-June-2005, 01:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Will Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London Posts: 1,419 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 557	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info I believe TomTom do a PDA that's custom made for GPS called the "TomTom Go". I don't know if it's any good or not.

27th-June-2005, 02:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
philsmove Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,697 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 601	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info For ballooning I have been recommended (but not tested) a MIO 168 pocket PC PDA, This seems to have everything built into a single unit and is capable of using OS maps Has anyone else used on of these __________________ “Where the man goes, the lady must follow...” Liz , Strictly Ballroom

28th-June-2005, 02:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
Northants Girly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northants Posts: 1,439 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 552	Re: PDA and GPS advice and info Thanks for all the info so far guys - much appreciated and congrats to Phil I have another (probably stupid) but related question though . . . . . What is it about a Smart phone (compared to an ordinary mobile phone) that makes it "Smart"?

28th-June-2005, 04:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
Rhythm King Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Peripatetic, Poetic and Chic... Posts: 2,913 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 1259