GPS systems who uses what and why?

Ron, I wouldn't replace your Palm with a PocketPC. I recently broke my iPaq 4700 and replaced with it a Palm T5. A much better unit, quick, reliable, easy to use. Cheaper, too at $499.

However, I do run a PocketPC PDA in my 4WD. The VGA models are definitely worth it, but in reality you could just as well run one of the older models like an iPaq 3800 which is no worth around $100, check out eBay, Trading Post etc. All you'd then need is the cable for around $100 again, see www.gpsoz.com.au. There are expensive mounts but mine is made of metal bent in a vice, angle-grinded and spray-painted matt black. So the PDA option need not cost a lot, especially as being a laptop owner you will already have electronic maps. OziCE is $40 I think.

Thanks for the ideas, Robert.

I had been looking for a HP LX620 but you've made some other good suggestions. I will check them out.

Ron

Robert

I currently own a Garmin GPS72, great for in the boat on the water,

but I seem to be running around in circles chasing Rays' tail

or is he chasing me??? 8O 8O when it comes to an in car mounted system

:idea: Might just go down to Johnny Appleseed in StKilda

:idea: See it all set up and go from there

Hopefully the EBay gods could be helpful after I decide

Regards
Gavin

The "what GPSR do I buy" question is as easily answered as "what 4WD do I buy".

The only way is to research, look, ask and keep that loop going until you're as comfortable as you get with your own opinions.

Hi RMP,

My decision has come down to either a Garmin GPS276C Map or a HP iPaq H5555 or similar with Navman GPS 3450 sleeve, I currently use a eagle explorer hand held a unit that has given 8 years of off road and marine (open and wet tinnie) use without a hitch, but due to the great gains in technology would like to be able to get some better use with a new unit in regards to mapping interfacing aswell as voice direction etc, the latter would be of great use for work and the better half and I'm sure makes for safer city driving in unfamiliar areas.

I like the ability of weatherproofing of the GPS276 and it gives me the flexibility of being transferable between car and boat, but the bulkyness on the dash of the company hack falcon might be an issue, I doubt it being an issue in the disco, on the other hand I may end up getting a combo unit for the boat as the current sounder is showing its age (technologically)

I suppose the question I really need to be answered is the ability between the PDA combo I mentioned and the GPSMap276C, as pricing for either option is similar so what is the best system for placing routes and trips and map data etc on the units and the best mapping on screen ability, are the voice direction programs as effective on both etc, as both sales info suggests that they are, or is one system clearly better than the other, something thats very hard to compare unless you can get the units together in real life situations.

I hope this is reasonably easy to answer as the more that I look at it the more I seem to get confused and think I'll stick to my Explorer, nav charts, topo's, refidex (UBD) and directions from SWMBO.

Regards Glen.

The 276 will be robust, easy to use, have autorouting and handle waypoints, routes etc.

The PDA option, and I'd recommend an iPaq 4700 not the 5555 as the 4700 has a VGA screen, will be less robust but still strong enough for 4WDing. It will be more complex to set up. It will do autorouting but will require more software. You have an unlimited choice of maps.

You could link the PDA to the 276.

The speaker on the PDA won't be all that great in a noisy vehicle, but can be improved easily by an external speaker or linking to your car stereo.

SWMBOs are ok for navigating, but let me list the advantages of an electronic router over a SWMBO:

1. Tells you to turn before you get to the turning.
2. Knows left from right, and right from left.
3. Stress level remains at 0.
4. Does not need to turn its map upside down to read it when heading south.
5. Automatically recalculates the route if you deviate, as opposed to spitting the dummy so far it goes into orbit.

cheers

It sure is a confusing area for most of us, this whole GPS thing.

Quote:

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Originally posted by p38arover

I dropped the Palm and broke the screen. Palm wanted A$260 to repair it - but my daughter found a new screen for $15 on eBay and I replaced it myself.)

Ron

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Lucky you. We use the $400 iPaq's at work for collecting stats when we interview people :roll: (don't get me started). Three people (none me I;m happy to say) have managed to break the screens, simply by dropping thje things from around hip height. None too strong.

How do the all-in-one GPS units stand up to this sort of abuse? Are they much better?

Now aside from the question of the GPS unit itself, it the question of "which PDA is best". Perhaps someone, ahem RMP :wink: , might write a thread on this issue itself. i.e the pros and cons of each model.

Quote:

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Originally posted by rmp+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rmp)</div><div class='quotemain'>

The PDA option, and I'd recommend an iPaq 4700 not the 5555 as the 4700 has a VGA screen,[/b]

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:?: So what PDA do you recommend if I was going to use the Navman GPRS 3450 Sleeve, why the VGA screen and what type is the 5555?

<!--QuoteBegin-rmp


SWMBOs are ok for navigating, but let me list the advantages of an electronic router over a SWMBO:

1. Tells you to turn before you get to the turning.
2. Knows left from right, and right from left.
3. Stress level remains at 0.
4. Does not need to turn its map upside down to read it when heading south.
5. Automatically recalculates the route if you deviate, as opposed to spitting the dummy so far it goes into orbit.

cheers[/quote]

Yeah I've tried various SWMBO options, even completely changing models once, but it always seems to end up in tears :roll:

Sometimes even mine 8O

Glen.

Quote:

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Originally posted by seqfisho+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seqfisho)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-rmp


The PDA option, and I'd recommend an iPaq 4700 not the 5555 as the 4700 has a VGA screen,

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:?: So what PDA do you recommend if I was going to use the Navman GPRS 3450 Sleeve, why the VGA screen and what type is the 5555?
[/b][/quote]
Reading the PDF file from the Navman site it states for the 3450 sleave the following are used - HP iPAQ™ H3600, H3700, H3800, H3900 and H5400 Series.

Does this mean its limited to this lot, or that was what was currently available at the time of publishing?

OMG this has opened a whole lot of cans of worms! (and my interest in buying one)

I recommend the Toshiba e800, e830 or iPaq 4700 as all these have 4-inch VGA screens. With PDAs for mapping, the bigger the screen and the higher the resolution, the more effective it is.