In-car GPS Systems: Suggestions, Q&A

[Juz]

Find one that is burnt out, we see them every few weeks around here and try it.

Besides I would expect it to beep well in advance, if it's just 50m, it's no good anyway.

Juz

[MATTBIN]

Is the software configurable i.e. can you set it for 5 10 15mph over the limit or a %, if so set it to 1mph or 1% and try it.
Alternatively get a camera that faces the back of your car then say you dont who was driving.

Or if Mark comes along, drive to the speed limit anyway.

Matt

[johntemp]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Mio or Medion ranges?

Both seem to have good features (top ones have street level european maps etc) and the price seems to be much cheaper than Navman or TomTom kit.

[Nick Kay]

I have the Mitac Mio 168 with TomTom3 - got it from

http://www.globalpositioningsystems....product_id=761

Why that model?
1. Integrated aerial - if you're sad enough, you can walk around city centres and find locations
2. Price - £280 inc TomTom3, 256Mb card, additional external aerial, carmount
3. Mine is the "old" model - the new version locates the satellites quicker and has a faster processor

Other points:
1. A colleague at work also bought the same model from the same place - he's upgraded to TomTom5 and (I think) wishes he'd stayed with the previous version
2. You can download CheckPOInt and camera locations off the net - have mine set up to sound an alarm 30secs and 10secs before you get to cameras - everyone I know who has a PDA and this utility says it saved them many points on their licence
3. TomTom3 doesn't have full Postcode support - only 5 digits - there is an FOC add-on that "used" to be available on the net that adds full lookup - have it on my PDA
4. Also have Nigel's deco and blender s/w - thanks Nigel
5. Had a fault on my PDA - returned it to their centre and returned within 2 weeks - no charge, pleased with the service. However for 5 of those days I was abroad on hols the rest of the time) I felt naked without it - once you have one and use it, you feel vulnerable without it !!!
5. Have mine linked to Outlook/Exchange, so it keeps my calendars synchro'd
6. Don't go for the 368 (I think that the model) - allegedly TomTom won't bring out new versions for that model

Hope this helps

[johntemp]

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

I have the Mitac Mio 168 with TomTom3 - got it from

http://www.globalpositioningsystems....product_id=761

Why that model?
1. Integrated aerial - if you're sad enough, you can walk around city centres and find locations
2. Price - £280 inc TomTom3, 256Mb card, additional external aerial, carmount
3. Mine is the "old" model - the new version locates the satellites quicker and has a faster processor

Other points:
1. A colleague at work also bought the same model from the same place - he's upgraded to TomTom5 and (I think) wishes he'd stayed with the previous version
2. You can download CheckPOInt and camera locations off the net - have mine set up to sound an alarm 30secs and 10secs before you get to cameras - everyone I know who has a PDA and this utility says it saved them many points on their licence
3. TomTom3 doesn't have full Postcode support - only 5 digits - there is an FOC add-on that "used" to be available on the net that adds full lookup - have it on my PDA
4. Also have Nigel's deco and blender s/w - thanks Nigel
5. Had a fault on my PDA - returned it to their centre and returned within 2 weeks - no charge, pleased with the service. However for 5 of those days I was abroad on hols the rest of the time) I felt naked without it - once you have one and use it, you feel vulnerable without it !!!
5. Have mine linked to Outlook/Exchange, so it keeps my calendars synchro'd
6. Don't go for the 368 (I think that the model) - allegedly TomTom won't bring out new versions for that model

Hope this helps

Excellent Nick, great advice.
I had spotted the 269 and it looked a bit odd but had a very good screen and full uk and european street maps.
It pushes the point that it plays mp3s as well but it is not really something I am bothered about.

[Nick Kay]

I believe that Mitac make the units for other companies including those for Navman

And:
- yes the Mio 168 plays mp3 files
- theres s/w around to compress a full DVD into (apprx) 50Mb and you can watch it on the little screen (if your eyes are up to it)

The only addition I made when I got mine was to add a 1Gb card to store additional stuff, e.g. the European maps

One other useful utility you can get (if you need it) is for the London Tube - you can see the "map" on screen and ask it how to get from x to y - it'll tell you the lines you need & where to change (though it doesn't track you while you're on it)

Probably the only thing the Mio doesn't have is Bluetooth & GPRS. Therefore to get your email, you have to plug it into your main PC and its synchs. However, I find a full-size keyb bad enough so thought of sending emails off the PDAs touchscreen... (though I have written them that way and synch'd when I've got back to base)

However, for < £280 inc everything you probably need...

[Pink & Fluffy]

Does anyone know if you can get a GPS system that you can enter in a grid reference from an ordance survey map ?
I would like to get a GPS unit that can be used on the road but could also be used to enter grid references into to get tothe desternation as well . any info would be great .
thanks Fiona.

[Nick Kay]

Hi P&F

Will check with one of my mates - he uses a Navman with OS maps for hiking / cross country walks

[up 4 it]

Originally Posted by Pink & Fluffy

Does anyone know if you can get a GPS system that you can enter in a grid reference from an ordance survey map ?
.

Quite a lot of handheld GPS have this function. You just go into the setup menu and change from lat/long to OS grid refs (I have a Garmin and its very easy to change it)

Steve