I need an expert for advice please!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dogsta]

If people think this question has been asked a zillion times before please feel free to direct me to the correct thread. I have spent the past couple of weeks reading all the threads in this section looking for the right information and I’ve done the same on Downunder4x4. I’m hoping an expert can tell me if I’m on the right track or correct me and steer me in the right direction.

I know very little about GPS apart from the basics. I can read topo maps no dramas; I just want to enter the electronic age.

I want a GPS Navigation device that will give me street by street voice commands to a location in and around towns and cities. I also want to be able to chart where I’ve been and where I want to go off road outback/bush tracks, middle of nowhere etc (you know what I mean…. I hope).

From my research in order to have one device that does all of this I think I need a PDA which has a GPS receiver inbuilt or the ability to add one (such as a Bluetooth GPS receiver).

Is this correct??

This device would also need to have the ability to have mapping software installed either directly into the device or via a memory card of some sort (SD, MS, etc).

Is this correct??

Obviously the device would need to have an operating system to read/run the software etc and a speaker for voice prompts etc.

If I’m on the right track what do people think about these options??

• ASUS MyPal A639: RRP - $599,
• ASUS MyPal A636 WITH CoPILOT LIVE: RRP - $699,
• HP iPAQ rx5965 Travel Companion – with TomTom6 Maps of Australia - RRP - $697,
• Mio PDA/GPS P550: RRP - $660.

All the screens on these devices are 3.5 inch with a resolution of 340 x 250 or something similar. From what I’ve found they appear to be fairly small, any theories?

Would an external aerial assist these devices perform better??

As far as the prices are concerned they were just the prices I saw at one online store, I would be prepared to shop around.

Thankyou for reading this far, any advice would be welcomed.

[Jules @ Aawen4x4]

Dogsta,

Sounds like you are on the right track with all of your research. You are correct that you would need an inbuilt or an external (bluetooth) GPS. You are also correct that you would need software either built in or on some sort of removeable media. The four options that you have put forward all look like they will work. They are also all of a similar price. I would recommend getting one of the bundles with map software pre-loaded as this will save you money in the long run. Co-Pilot by itself is $360ish. As far as I know there is no bundle that has topo maps, most people on the forum would reccommend OziExplorerCE to run the topo maps for 4wd trips and planning.

Yes the screens are small and I found this to be an issue, you could take a different tack and get one of the larger screen PDA's with a bluetooth GPS reciever. There are some with screens up to 4.5" these would be easier to read/use. They also up the resolution to 640x480 which will make it clearer and fit more on the screen at one time.


An External antenna on these devices will assist in improving performance in marginal areas. Dense tree cover and valleys will degrade the performance of any GPS, to what extent depends on the quality of the reciever and antenna. An external antenna should improve the reception but you may find it difficult to find a device that can utilise an external antenna.

Do shop around for prices as there can be a big difference between shops and you may be able to save yourself up to $100 by choosing the right shop.

I hope this helps clear the mud somewhat. Drop me a line if there is anything else that would aid your investigations.

Jules @ Aawen4x4

[Dogsta]

Jules, Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Thankyou for the reassurance, I'm happy to know that I haven't been wasting my time researching something that won't work. I'll have a look at the PDA's with the larger screens and then have to compare the prices (add up the cost of GPS receiver, mapping software etc).

Mick

[Emo]

Have a look at an Ipaq HX4700. Big screen for a PDA. You'll need to load Oziexplorer CE and either Tomtom or Destinator onto it.
Hook it up with a decent bluetooth GPS receiver and away you go. From my experience, running an external aerial makes very little difference.

[maca82]

So many options... The only way to know if you're getting the right unit is if it ticks all the boxes in our checklist.
Don't forget that the Garmin Quest does something like what you're after.

If you want to learn more about GPS and how it work - follow the link in my signature.

While you're there - check out the TRIMBLE JUNO ST HANDHELD, it has blue tooth, WiFi, and it runs Pocket PC software, so it can do everything (like run tomtom software) you want and probably more, PM me if you'd like more info on this new release GPS unit.

Good luck,


~MACCA~

[hillbilly123]

:D :thumb: This is a good one I have one and it even works in the glovebox or inside the house in your pocket even. Dont ask me how but it definitely does. Far more sensitive than the Haicom USB unit I bought with Copilot. And at about 2/3 the price I paid. Works with my Nokia N70 with TOM TOM mobile as well

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BT-338-BT338-SiRF-Star-III-Bluetooth-GPS-Receiver_W0QQitemZ160122899953QQihZ006QQcategoryZ3 4290QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[SLOGQ]

:D :thumb: This is a good one I have one and it even works in the glovebox or inside the house in your pocket even. Dont ask me how but it definitely does. Far more sensitive than the Haicom USB unit I bought with Copilot. And at about 2/3 the price I paid. Works with my Nokia N70 with TOM TOM mobile as well

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BT-338-BT338-SiRF-Star-III-Bluetooth-GPS-Receiver_W0QQitemZ160122899953QQihZ006QQcategoryZ3 4290QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mate, would i be right in assuming that if i bought this, i would only need some software and i could have a GPS on my girlfriends PDA? The PDA has bluetooth....

Sorry if the question sounds dumb but i have never used a GPS before......

[oldmacdonald]

Check out the HP 5700 or 5900 series ipaqs. They have built-in GPS and reasonably large screens. They also come with Tom-tom navigation software which I hear s pretty good.

[Elmer]

Dogsta,

Also try the Dell Axim x51v - I got one second hand off ebay - a lot of corporate blokes are selling their PDAs off for new fangled phone/PDAs.

I also got a bluetooth GPS BT366 (?) works bloody well just thrown up on the dash. I run Destinator 6 for the voice directions but still haven't got around to getting Oziexplorer yet - its on the list.

The other thing with a PDA is to get either a powered mount (work best IMHO) or a cradle and a power lead - they will suck power a bit.

Oh, and I reckon the Axim PDA has a bloody good screen and resolution - easy to read on the run.

[hillbilly123]

In answer to SLOGQ yes I would look around on the net for Tom Tom software as it will be fine on a PDA PM me for location

[dags79]

okay i have got a mio c310x pda gps with i bought from hardly normal as i found them cheapest around. i got it for $400 and online would have saved me about $20. i dont need a external arial i never loose satellites. i run oziexplorerce with all my rooftop maps and works like a gem. i can also install tom tom software on it if i want which i maydo shortly. i also got a 2gig sd card which fits all my maps (8 rooftops) software and a couple of games and i got 1.6 meg free still.comes with car charger 240v charger and a windscreen mount

[grover1968]

How you going
You will probably notice that those of us who have all the gear you want, usually have a few systems running, this is mainly due to the fact that there is no point in having 250k mapping squeezed into a small little screen.
Garmin sell little voice guiding street map units for around $250 at WOW sight and sound. I put one of these little babies in my wifes car. I run ozi explorer through my in car, computer system now.( Used to use my laptop) on a 7 inch monitor with natmap Raster premium loaded. I use a streetpilot as my street voice guidance unit as well as Hand held Garmin as a backup. Both can run with Ozi explorer.\
You will find while all these are sweet if you get lost, Taking the time to use the ozi explorer side of things needs a co-pilot as your mates are not going to hang around while you dick around with software.