GPS and a PDA

[tjmartin1978]

Hi guys

Im in the market for a pda with gps sleeve..

Can you suggest some good bundles for me..

Ive been told the Navman 3450 for the ipaq is very good, however which Ipaq do I need which is compatible with it..

Also I have come across the MIA 168 which is a pda with integrated gps antenna, however, I have never heard of MITAK the people that make this system...

Advice is much appreciated !!!

Tim

[[M]uuhh]

Best place for this is Tech and Gadgets.

[tjmartin1978]

I thought about this but it didnt seem like the tech gadgets was visited much......

[ParrotBoy]

My step-dad has a pretty good set-up - I'll ask him tonight.

[[GPO]Solitaire]

I've currently got an iPaq 3850 with the Compaq Navman sleeve it's a great little setup, but it can take forever to get a lock, drains the iPaq so you only get 2.5 hours of directions before it gives up the ghost and stops working and the maps can get corupted easily if you change the Mem cards to often between sleeves.

If your starting out then get a PDA with Bluetooth, or a bluetooth adaptor if you currently have a PDA. then get a one of the NavMan Bluetooth GPS devices. it will save you loads on the battery life since the PDA will got for a good 3 to 4 hous with the bluetooth turned on. Since the GPS recever will be constantly in your car then it should only take a min or 2 to get a signal lock compaired to my iPaq's 5 to 15 mins!!


NavMan or TomTom are the 2 biggest makers of GPS equipment and software that i've heard of..

[ParrotBoy]

Right, he uses a NavMan Bluetooth GPS unit, and a HP PDA with built-in Bluetooth.

He used to have all the maps loaded onto an 8Gig bluetooth hard-disk, but it broke and he can't find anywhere that sells em anymore...

[[GPO]Solitaire]

Luckly the NavMan maps for the UK can fit onto a 256Mb SD card.

I'd still go for the Bluetooth option.

I got the Compaq Version of the NavMan when they first came out and it is falling to bits :confused: i'm not too keen on there sleeve construction. All four of the retaining screws in the sleeve have fallen out (the plastic is a bit too soft to hold them under constant use) and a few of the threads have actually broke off inside the device! :confused: :confused: but saying that it's still working fine,

[ParrotBoy]

Depends on the maps you use - he uses his for hiking, so they have LOADS more detail on them, he tends to load on the stuff he needs the morning he leaves

[[GPO]Solitaire]

the NavMan i got only covers roads :) That's all i need due to the fact I'm to lazy to walk anywhere :D

[tjmartin1978]

thanks for the responses...

what about the Garmin IQ3600

anyone got one of these ??

[DarkEntity]

IpaQ only way to go :)

[tjmartin1978]

i hear the ipaq 3450 is the best GPS sleeve to go for is that true ??

You think a bluetooth device would defo be the way to go.. does the sleeve let you use the gps whilst walking, as that would be a benefit....

Which model of ipaq would be sufficient to run the software on and which is compatible with this particular sleeve...

Thanks

[sambartle]

one of my mates uses a dell axim with a GPS device and TomTom navigator software and it is easily the cheapest way to get full navigation, with spoken directions, spped cameras marked, and things like 3d maps of inner city areas.

Ill find out what model GPS he uses with it if you like, may take a few days though hes off for easter.

[tjmartin1978]

thanks

id be grateful for that

If anyone has had experience with pda's and GPS and can recommend the best solution I'd appreciate that, theres quite a few different packages software and hardware.....

Thanks

Tim

[DarkEntity]

my other half works for HP

so she would be able to tell u the best IpaQ kit to go for

[jimborocks]

tjmartin1978

I use a medion PDA that i got from ALDI's.

It's a top spec PDA and it came with maps for nothern and southern Europe on 2x256Mb MMC cards(worth over £100!) and disc back-ups.

Also came with sat nav software and hardware for in the car and a holder that attatches to your car window. Also car charger and craddle for connecting to the pc.

It is extremely accurate (within 3 metres to anyplace you key into it) and i'm very pleased with it both as a pda and sat nav.

It cost £349 but as with all aldi stuff they only had it for sale for a short time (you will have to look out for it comming on sale again) or my mate said they had them in halfords for £300 without the flash cards. Looked on halfords on-line but they don't seem to have them at present (maybe have to try your local store.

Hope this helps

J

[tjmartin1978]

ok thanks ...

Its so confusing all these different options...

[tjmartin1978]

http://www.ipaqnavigation.com/index.htm?referrer=hp

if you go here there are 4 options...

bluetooth
sleeve
compact flash gps
serial cable gps


Obviously the sleeve or compact flash would be the most compact.. i know people where speaking of bad battery life with these, but if its plugged into the cars 12volts supply surley this isnt a problem....

which of the 4 would you get ??

[[GPO]Solitaire]

TJ you bought a GPS + Ipaq yet?

if not look here

evesham's PDA with builtin GPS (http://www.lowestonweb.com/products/displayInfoMain.asp?e=A689B78A-BE83-45BD-9ACA-F562423B6912&td=1) At £449 not the best or fastest PDA on the market but it's good for a GPS system :)

[tjmartin1978]

hi

Thanks for all the responses !
am getting closer to getting a pda/gps bundle

can someone suggest a good reliable/respected seller of this equipement ??

whats globalpositioningsystems.co.uk like anyone ?


Thanks and regards

Tim

[The Pimp]

As I sell these things now day in, day out, the most popular package & the same one I use myself, is the O2 XDA-II & TomTom Bluetooth Navigator. No worries with the XDA-II in needing to connect to your mobile for GPRS coverage for traffic reports, etc, as the phone is built-in to the handset, 400Mhz processor, 128Mb RAM, 64Mb ROM, MS Windows for Pocket PC 2003, Tri-Band, Bluetooth, VGA Still & Video camera (limited only to how much storage facility you have left on the device), SD-IO slot for compatiable Wi-Fi, SD & MMC cards, superb as an MP3 player or even movies ripped from DVD onto SD/MMC cards using DVD2PDA (available from Handango.com), 320x240 65k colour touch screen, and full connectivity package supplied (docking station for PC & seperate charger unit). Range of accessories also available.
The TomTom navigation system is the best GPS system that I have come across. Fast connection from fresh or standby and 100% reliable. The maps supplied with the Navigator 3 software as reasonably upto date and routes can be plotted down to individual house numbers & postcodes.
The XDA-II can be picked up for around £249 on an O2 voice contract & I paid less than £250 for the Bluetooth navigator kit, 256Mb SD-Card & XDA car kit (cradle & car charger which is needed if you are intending on long trips) including delivery (from E-buyer (wash your mouth out now!!!!)).

Worth every penny and much more powerful & functional (less kit to carry around with you as well) than seperate PDA/mobile/GPS setups.

[Nikumba]

www.expansys.co.uk is one of the best sellers of PDA's i have found and do have some good deals on. You can get a iPaq 4150, plus Navman GPS for £477.45

Dell also have a deal on with there Axim PDA's with GPS bundeles

Nikumba

[The Pimp]

The Dell Axium Bluetooth connections are very flakey at best of times. Last thing you want is for the connections to be lost whilst travelling in the middle of nowhere. I have seen no end of problems with these.

[PJ Matthews]

What about those Toshiba e755? I found them refurbished for £130 which ain't bad for pocket PC 2003, 400mhz processor ATI graphics, Wifi, Compact flash and SDIO slots.

[HitmanIP7]

Ive been thinking of this for a while as well, as my sense of direction when driving is awful at times :o :D

Whats the cheapest PDA you could use for this?

[The Pimp]

Best solution at present price to performance & feature ratio, is still what I suggested before, as the price of the XDA-2 has now dropped to £179.99 on a £25 per month or higher contract (in O2 retail stores) and you can get the Bluetooth TomTom, car kit for TomTom & XDA-2, and a 256MB MMC Card (for storing the maps on) for under £250 inc next day delivery from Ebuyer.

[lordpercy]

I have tested almost every system available over the last 6 months (I love my job) and have to say that Tom Tom is the best software for PDA's IMO if you are running palm then Kirrio is the best bet.

Navman just comes up short for me and has lost every head to head test with Tom Tom, the new Tom Tom Go unit is really good but that is an all in one rather than PDA system.