PDA GPS

[cols110]

G`day all, at the moment I`ve got a Garmin Emap GPS which is getting a bit dated, and I`m thinking about treating myself to a new toy for my birthday and getting a PDA.

My real need and want from a PDA over a GPS is I hope to be able to load the software for different countries as and when needed.

In Europe Tom Tom seems to be the dogs bollocks for auto routing etc, my real question is there similar software for Australia, I dont know a real lot about it all, but I`m under the impression that Aussie Explorer is more for mapping taylored to your own needs, not so much general driving. So do people like Garmin etc offer a good software package which will look after detailed street mapping with auto routing etc.

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

[incisor]

Destinator

http://www.destinator1.com/

[cols110]

Ecxcellent, thanks for that, any one on here using it.

[incisor]

me

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[cols110]

Cool, what do you think of it, not a bad demo on their website, certainly looks good. I imagine the cities are quite detailed, but whats the detail like in country areas.

[incisor]

very good, surprised me no end how good, actually.

they use the mapinfo map data i believe and it is supposed to be the most complete for AU

i have been deep in national parks and state forests in SEQ and it nearly always shows the road, it has left me utterly astounded a couple of times, middle of nowhere and it will pipe up and say there is a left turn 300 metres ahead and low and behold....

even on the Mt Mee aulro outing a few weeks ago it showed all but one section of the roads we were on.

a mate of mine says the maps out west of Qld are very complete as well, but i cant say first hand as i havent been lucky enough to get out there since i obtained it.

even shows redlight camera and speed camera areas.

[cols110]

Bloody eel, that sounds good. It certainly wont be cheap by the time I get a PDA and the different software, but it certainly seems a lot more versitile than a dedicated GPS that comes hard wired with a particular world region base map.

Thanks for that, I did&#96;nt think the software would be that good, so now its time to start trawling Ebay for a PDA and GPS. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[wardy1]

G'day Incisor,
How much was the software and maps package?

[incisor]

it is expensive, cannot remember exact pricing..

i got my software second hand..

limewire and a search on destinator can be a rewarding experience i have been told on a couple of occassions.

[cols110]

Interesting. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[dullbird]

yep i have destinator too!!!

i brought it in england off ebay before i came to oz but i got european maps and uk map with it as well............

the funny thing was a brought it off uk ebay for £25 thats like just over $50 because no one really wanted ozzie maps in the uk 8O

couldn't think why :roll:

it was an original disc no box but it wasn't the lastes version as it was not upgradable but hey how many massive roads do they build a year so i will just keep it for few years then go out and buy another load of cheap sofware........

i also for my friend got him a pda before i left the uk and what a good deal he got

brand new acer n30 pda with destinator software discs and comes already preloaded on a 256mb sd card........a bluetooth gps unit the size of a match box with no slip mat for the car and the pda also came with in car charger for both gps and pda and a pda mount for the car with with two atcments one for the dash and one for suction mount on the windscreen

and got all that brand new in it's box for £180

whats that about $360-$420 some thing like that..........really good price
wish they were around when i first brought my'n

still i have the guys number in the uk he is an offical acer dealer and deals in acers excess stock

dullbird

[LRHybrid100]

I have just bought the Acer N35 PDA with built in GPS, comes with Co-pilot software which is great for the urban areas but also have Oziexplorer installed!!!

LRH

[sclarke]

might have to see if i can find this Destinator

[Steinzy]

Hey Inc, can you get the bluetooth Gps units for PDA's in at your shop????

I have a I-Mate PDA 2K which is a CDMA Phone/PDA and it doesn't have built in GPS https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[incisor]

cheaper to get them in from taipai on ebay... buy mine there https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[landrovermick]

Originally posted by LRHybrid100
I have just bought the Acer N35 PDA with built in GPS, comes with Co-pilot software which is great for the urban areas but also have Oziexplorer installed!!!

LRH

hi LRH im keen to find out if the cradle for the n35 will fit the Navman pin570 as they look VERY similar

Mick

[p38arover]

I just did an eMule search for Destinator Australia - 13 entries for downloading. A search for Destinator alone brings up 300 downloads available.

Ron

[matbor]

I have both used Destinator and TomTom, prefer Destinator !


Matt.

[LRHybrid100]

Originally posted by landrovermick+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(landrovermick)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-LRHybrid100
I have just bought the Acer N35 PDA with built in GPS, comes with Co-pilot software which is great for the urban areas but also have Oziexplorer installed!!!

LRH

hi LRH im keen to find out if the cradle for the n35 will fit the Navman pin570 as they look VERY similar

Mick[/b][/quote]

I think someone once told me that the Navman Pin 570 was a Acer N30 machine? - Best is talk to GPSOZ, where I got mine from.

HTH

LRH

[HangOver]

Hi All

I quite like the idea of using a PDA for a GPS system.
It’s already been suggested an ipaq can be used.
I had a look on e-bay and there seem to be lots of different Ipaqs from both HP and Compaq, there also seems to be various versions of operating systems too.

I was wondering what models/makes I should be looking out for?
I would like one that could be 12v powered.
What OS? Or does it matter?

The cheaper the better as long as it will do the job.

Thanks
Steve

[Grizzly_Adams]

G'day Fellas dunno if this would be a problem in Oz but over here in Europe I have had several friends purchase PDA Street Navigator systems only to find that if you use them for a while they run out of memory and the entire thing freezes.

This happened to me a long time ago with my Palm Pilot but I thought it was just the palm. However a few years later a friend of mine bought a IPaQ / TomTom (I think?) setup and it did exactly the same thing. After some searching he found some information about it.

[incisor]

FYI the acer n35 and one of the navman are mio168 clones...

i use a mio168 with desttinator & OZIexplorer and it runs for weeks on end and i havent seen any freezes or lockups.

i run a 1gig memory card with full AU map for destinator and oziexplorer.

[LRHybrid100]

I have the Acer N35 - comes with Travroute Co-Pilot, pretty good for the suburbs etc and run Oziexplorer when 4WDing.

Like Inc I have 1Gb SD card for my maps and MP3s!!!

I have only had mine for 3 months, no problems so far.

HTH

LRH

[LRHybrid100]

just a point, PDAs can be salary sacrificed and dont attract Fringe Benefits Tax.

SO for example if you buy a complete set up for $990 and organise with your employer to salary sacrifice, then they claim the GST of $90 back and you sacrifice $900 of your PRE Tax salary.

THEN you can also write the $990 off on your Income Tax return!!!

Disclaimer : This is NOT Tax advice - pls talk to your Tax adviser before you commit!!!

[loanrangie]

I just picked up an Ipaq 4150 running pocket pc 2003 and also bought a 1gig sd card off ebay, looking at bluetooth gps units but dont know anyone who has one or used one. Is there a way i can use a usb gps without using the cradle ( i dont have one) ? could use a sd card gps but then i wouldnt have an input for maps.

[matbor]

I brought a bluetooth GPS for my PDA a while back similar to this one...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/EVERMORE-Bluetooth-...1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/EVERMORE-Bluetooth-GPS-16-channel-for-HP-AXIM-O2-TOMTOM_W0QQitemZ9707113656QQcategoryZ34290QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem)

Just make sure u get one that has a external antenna socket and u might as well buy the external antenna when u buy the GPS, just means u can hide the GPS in the glove box and mount the antenna on top of the snorkel (Best place for reception !!).

Matt.

[loanrangie]

Thanks Matt, most of the ones i am looking at on ebay have ext. antenna sockets so that sound the way to go, then i can still move it from car to car if needed. Most will be around $100 inc postage so this will be a cheap setup since i found the Ipaq in the middle of the road near my house https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ - couldnt believe it, i was going to buy one off ebay !

[matbor]

Originally posted by loanrangie
Thanks Matt, most of the ones i am looking at on ebay have ext. antenna sockets so that sound the way to go, then i can still move it from car to car if needed. Most will be around $100 inc postage so this will be a cheap setup since i found the Ipaq in the middle of the road near my house https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ - couldnt believe it, i was going to buy one off ebay !

Good work.

I normally use Destinator with my PDA, also have TomTom software but don't think it's that good.

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by loanrangie
i found the Ipaq in the middle of the road near my house https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ - couldnt believe it, i was going to buy one off ebay !

Fell off the back of a truck, so to speak https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[loanrangie]

Originally posted by VladTepes+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VladTepes)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-loanrangie
i found the Ipaq in the middle of the road near my house https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ - couldnt believe it, i was going to buy one off ebay !

Fell off the back of a truck, so to speak https://www.aulro.com/afvb/[/b][/quote]

And was almost about to be run over by a truck if i didnt run onto the road and rescue it , it was my civic duty to save it from destruction and give it a new home https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[VladTepes]

We've got some cheap Ipaq's at work (the $300 ones) that can't survive a fall from chest height.

If yours still works, you're lucky.

[loanrangie]

It was in its case and probably only slid out once it hit the ground, got a few accesories of ebay for it, bluetooth dongle, 1 gig sd card, bluetooth gps and a couple of spare styluses. Will test it out tomorrow to / from work but its getting good satellite fixes from my study no probs now i just need a full version of ozi ce ( instead of demo) and off i go.