Any ideas on buying and use of one of these? Have used a Navman and more lately a Garmin which packed up within 3 years, and now looking for another one. Any experiences good or bad would be helpful.
I’ve used in nav systems by UBD, Melways, Hema and a number of other manufacturers. They’re great as they hardly ever break down and are highly portable without reliance on batteries :P
For GPS and voice directions, these days I use my phone. It works fine for me. But then I live in a regional city where I’m paid to know my way around. It’s pretty rare for me to have to look up a street at all.
Last time I was looking into this there was some cheap ones available with 7” screen and reversing camera.
I think Skeptic Pete bought one.
The 1930′s version of a GPS: This auto scrolling map was supposed to help people with directions in real time.
I think I’ll go and do a bit more patchwork for half an hour or so.
Peak Warming Man said:
Last time I was looking into this there was some cheap ones available with 7” screen and reversing camera.
I think Skeptic Pete bought one.
Ex China about $80 landed 7” screnn, works good.
jjjust moi said:
Peak Warming Man said:
Last time I was looking into this there was some cheap ones available with 7” screen and reversing camera.
I think Skeptic Pete bought one.
I got one of those, sans canera.Ex China about $80 landed 7” screnn, works good.
Yeah, you can play multi-media on them as well.
Peak Warming Man said:
jjjust moi said:
Peak Warming Man said:
Last time I was looking into this there was some cheap ones available with 7” screen and reversing camera.
I think Skeptic Pete bought one.
I got one of those, sans canera.Ex China about $80 landed 7” screnn, works good.
Yeah, you can play multi-media on them as well.
Won’t play MP3 stuff.
I bought a cheap Navman. I nearly threw it out of the car window it was so useless. I ended up smashing it in frustration. It would tell me to get in the right lane just before telling me to turn left. I never thought it was taking me the quickest way, and on one trip I decided to take the route suggested and it took twice as long as I expected a trip of that length.
pommiejohn said:
I bought a cheap Navman. I nearly threw it out of the car window it was so useless. I ended up smashing it in frustration. It would tell me to get in the right lane just before telling me to turn left. I never thought it was taking me the quickest way, and on one trip I decided to take the route suggested and it took twice as long as I expected a trip of that length.
When I was looking at GPS systems the navman didn’t get good raps. I got a TomTom and it has been excellent.
bucolic3401 said:
Any ideas on buying and use of one of these? Have used a Navman and more lately a Garmin which packed up within 3 years, and now looking for another one. Any experiences good or bad would be helpful.
I bought a joint GPS + reversing camera from ALDI for, I think it was $99. The equivalent in any over brand back then would have been two and a half times as expensive.
Drawbacks
1) The reversing camera needed professional installation, despite being wireless.
2) Some of the roads are wrong. One check is to look at Bowral to see if Shepherd St connects to Old South Road. It doesn’t, but the ALDI GPS says it does.
3) It switches itself off when you start the car, forcing you to press the “cancel” button within 10 seconds.
4) Reversing camera operation is a bit flakey, not working if the cigarette lighter connection is loose or if the GPS is started when the car is in reverse gear.
Advantages
1) The algorithm for finding the shortest route is blooming marvelous – I know I couldn’t write an algorithm that good.
2) The speed it measures is accurate, much more accurate than the car’s odometer, which makes it a vital tool when setting cruise control.
3) Good display, especially the 3D street view in navigation.
4) I love the “go home” option.
I have had a couple of Garmin units and have been very happy with them. When my last one died while interstate, I ended up downloading an app called “Metroview” on my iphone that cost $20, which I thought was pretty steep at the time, but I thought it would be an interim fix until I bought a “real gps unit”.
Nearly 2 years later, I am still using it.
Pros:
The maps are much more accurate than the Garmin and Tom-Tom units I have used.
Cheap.
Only one bit of hardware to cart around while traveling.
Establishes satellite link instantly, instead of sometimes several minutes.
Can plan routes indoors before you get in the car.
The 3G allows you to find the nearest “Bunnings” directly from the app, rather than having to rely on it being in the POI list.
Con:
The screen is as small as your iphone, which doesn’t give enough screen realestate for a “North up” map, it is always “track up”.
Seriously, the best $20 I have spent.
Carmen_Sandiego said:
I have had a couple of Garmin units and have been very happy with them. When my last one died while interstate, I ended up downloading an app called “Metroview” on my iphone that cost $20, which I thought was pretty steep at the time, but I thought it would be an interim fix until I bought a “real gps unit”.
Nearly 2 years later, I am still using it.
Pros:
The maps are much more accurate than the Garmin and Tom-Tom units I have used.
Cheap.
Only one bit of hardware to cart around while traveling.
Establishes satellite link instantly, instead of sometimes several minutes.
Can plan routes indoors before you get in the car.
The 3G allows you to find the nearest “Bunnings” directly from the app, rather than having to rely on it being in the POI list.Con:
The screen is as small as your iphone, which doesn’t give enough screen realestate for a “North up” map, it is always “track up”.Seriously, the best $20 I have spent.
morrie said:
Carmen_Sandiego said:I have had a couple of Garmin units and have been very happy with them. When my last one died while interstate, I ended up downloading an app called “Metroview” on my iphone that cost $20, which I thought was pretty steep at the time, but I thought it would be an interim fix until I bought a “real gps unit”.
Nearly 2 years later, I am still using it.
Pros:
The maps are much more accurate than the Garmin and Tom-Tom units I have used.
Cheap.
Only one bit of hardware to cart around while traveling.
Establishes satellite link instantly, instead of sometimes several minutes.
Can plan routes indoors before you get in the car.
The 3G allows you to find the nearest “Bunnings” directly from the app, rather than having to rely on it being in the POI list.Con:
The screen is as small as your iphone, which doesn’t give enough screen realestate for a “North up” map, it is always “track up”.Seriously, the best $20 I have spent.
How do you view it while in your car?
morrie said:
morrie said:
Carmen_Sandiego said:I have had a couple of Garmin units and have been very happy with them. When my last one died while interstate, I ended up downloading an app called “Metroview” on my iphone that cost $20, which I thought was pretty steep at the time, but I thought it would be an interim fix until I bought a “real gps unit”.
Nearly 2 years later, I am still using it.
Pros:
The maps are much more accurate than the Garmin and Tom-Tom units I have used.
Cheap.
Only one bit of hardware to cart around while traveling.
Establishes satellite link instantly, instead of sometimes several minutes.
Can plan routes indoors before you get in the car.
The 3G allows you to find the nearest “Bunnings” directly from the app, rather than having to rely on it being in the POI list.Con:
The screen is as small as your iphone, which doesn’t give enough screen realestate for a “North up” map, it is always “track up”.Seriously, the best $20 I have spent.
How do you view it while in your car?
The reason I ask is that I have just spent the last couple of hours with my friend who lost his 3 kids in a car accident in Denmark. He is on a bit of a campaign about the use of phones in cars, as the driver of the car that collided with his wife’s vehicle, resulting in the death of their children had apparently sent 15 text messages in the 20 minutes before the accident. iphones in cars – not always a great idea :(
the copper on tv the other day said that it is illegal to have the phone in your hand if the engine is running (even stopped on the side of the road, the engine must be off)
morrie said:
How do you view it while in your car?
Hands-free kit that sticks it to the windscreen just like any other GPS unit.
stumpy_seahorse said:
the copper on tv the other day said that it is illegal to have the phone in your hand if the engine is running (even stopped on the side of the road, the engine must be off)
The copper on the teev is spreading misinformation. (That is not the case in QLD at least)
Carmen_Sandiego said:
morrie said:How do you view it while in your car?
Hands-free kit that sticks it to the windscreen just like any other GPS unit.
Carmen_Sandiego said:
stumpy_seahorse said:the copper on tv the other day said that it is illegal to have the phone in your hand if the engine is running (even stopped on the side of the road, the engine must be off)
The copper on the teev is spreading misinformation. (That is not the case in QLD at least)
dunno, he was specifically on the show to clear up the ‘use of mobile phones’ ruling, also the drinking/eating and driving rules
Carmen_Sandiego said:
stumpy_seahorse said:the copper on tv the other day said that it is illegal to have the phone in your hand if the engine is running (even stopped on the side of the road, the engine must be off)
The copper on the teev is spreading misinformation. (That is not the case in QLD at least)
The requirement in Qld is that to be using your phone in any way other than an approved mounting unit is that you are “Parked”.
I believe this means that the motor can be running but the handbrake must be applied and the engine presumably in either neutral or park.
stumpy_seahorse said:
Carmen_Sandiego said:
stumpy_seahorse said:the copper on tv the other day said that it is illegal to have the phone in your hand if the engine is running (even stopped on the side of the road, the engine must be off)
The copper on the teev is spreading misinformation. (That is not the case in QLD at least)
dunno, he was specifically on the show to clear up the ‘use of mobile phones’ ruling, also the drinking/eating and driving rules
When the laws first appeared in QLD, a Townsville bloke got done while parked on the side of the road with his engine running (to keep the aircon on). A single news story in the paper was all it took to get a letter of apology from the QLD police commissioner and the ticket put down to “over-zealous cops”.
It is a perfect example of the letter of the law being more important than the spirit of the law when it comes to keeping the quotas up.
You can use mobiles while driving, just that you can’t hold them in your hand, they have to be mounted and use some sort of hands free or wireless kit.
I’m still trying to work out why it doesn’t apply to VHF/UHF microphones.
party_pants said:
You can use mobiles while driving, just that you can’t hold them in your hand, they have to be mounted and use some sort of hands free or wireless kit.
yeah, that’s what he was saying, but he was clearing up exactly what the law states. (it was in sydney, so i guess different states must vary)
Teleost said:
I’m still trying to work out why it doesn’t apply to VHF/UHF microphones.
I don’t know, over.
Teleost said:
I’m still trying to work out why it doesn’t apply to VHF/UHF microphones.
Teleost said:
I’m still trying to work out why it doesn’t apply to VHF/UHF microphones.
originally it was due to the fact that emergencyservices use them whilst driving, but they are exempt from the mobile phone rule in emergencies, so i don’t know why the rules haven’t changed to suit
stumpy_seahorse said:
party_pants said:
You can use mobiles while driving, just that you can’t hold them in your hand, they have to be mounted and use some sort of hands free or wireless kit.
yeah, that’s what he was saying, but he was clearing up exactly what the law states. (it was in sydney, so i guess different states must vary)
Yes, tis an unfortunate situation. You would think in this day and age in a unified country like Australia we would have sorted out the anomalies in state and territory laws in all sorts of things. How hard can it be to have a single national standard in car communications.
morrie said:
Teleost said:
I’m still trying to work out why it doesn’t apply to VHF/UHF microphones.
In time, I think that there will need to be some rules and technology applied to all of these things to overcome what seems to be a clear problem.
Or driverless technology will reduce us all to mere passengers, never knowing the joy of kincking it back a cog and planting the boot.
My advice would’ve be to:
1. Pick a name brand; there is often a reason you haven’t heard the really cheap makes.
2. Set your self a budget and stick to it
3. Spend and hour or two reading recent product reviews
4. Shop around
Skunkworks said:
stumpy_seahorse said:
party_pants said:
You can use mobiles while driving, just that you can’t hold them in your hand, they have to be mounted and use some sort of hands free or wireless kit.
yeah, that’s what he was saying, but he was clearing up exactly what the law states. (it was in sydney, so i guess different states must vary)
Yes, tis an unfortunate situation. You would think in this day and age in a unified country like Australia we would have sorted out the anomalies in state and territory laws in all sorts of things. How hard can it be to have a single national standard in car communications.
i’ve been studying the roadworthy rules from state to state recently, it’s amazing the amount of differences between states in those rules
diddly-squat said:
My advice would’ve be to:
1. Pick a name brand; there is often a reason you haven’t heard the really cheap makes.
2. Set your self a budget and stick to it
3. Spend and hour or two reading recent product reviews
4. Shop around
also some stores have display models on show. Go in and have a play with it, see how easy each one is to use
Skunkworks said:
stumpy_seahorse said:
party_pants said:
You can use mobiles while driving, just that you can’t hold them in your hand, they have to be mounted and use some sort of hands free or wireless kit.
yeah, that’s what he was saying, but he was clearing up exactly what the law states. (it was in sydney, so i guess different states must vary)
Yes, tis an unfortunate situation. You would think in this day and age in a unified country like Australia we would have sorted out the anomalies in state and territory laws in all sorts of things. How hard can it be to have a single national standard in car communications.
Never underestimate state parochialism in Australia.
I have had a Garmin and 3 TomToms. One TomTom survives. I prefer the TomTom interface and found it very good in France, but like most things, hopeless in regional WA once outside major towns.
piketty is french for marmot. apparently.
Teleost said:
I’m still trying to work out why it doesn’t apply to VHF/UHF microphones.
Because the law states that you have to have both hands on the controls. (which is anything that is part of the car – steering wheel, gear stick, dash switches etc. and CB radios are technically part of the vehicle controls. (A hand-held radio or mobile phone or sandwich would not)
Laws have come out specifically stating that mobile phones (even those in similar mounting) cannot be operated (read: touched) under any circumstances, which puts an iPhone being used as a GPS navigation unit in a grey area.
For those with Android phones, the new Google directions built into Google Maps has been working very well for me. I went for a 5 day ride up along the thai burmese border and back to central thailand last week and the voice remarks were suprisingly accurate. I wasn’t even looking at the screen, just had a headphone in one ear. Phone was in the pocket.
The only bleamist I found with the software was that is used the term ‘Turn straight’ instead of continue straight ahead. It confused me the first couple of times as I was moving at paces and wrongly anticipated a left turn. It is still inbeta so MYYV, but it was better than average.
A sombre note in an earlier post but I must recall a time I was on a ride with a mate heading back into Brisbane from Mount Grorious and we were cut off by a guy in a car with phone in right hand connected to his ear. He didn’t even notice our emergeny braking and swerving to stay upright. We followed a safe distance behind and at thenext red light we filtered up to him. Said mate put his left hand through open window and wrenched phone from the driver’s hand and through it with much force into the middle of the intersection.
The look on the stunned driver’s face almost made the near accident worthwhile. I still smile when I recall it.
Your asian correspondant,
Stan 101
mollwollfumble said:
3) It switches itself off when you start the car, forcing you to press the “cancel” button within 10 seconds.
4) Reversing camera operation is a bit flakey, not working if the cigarette lighter connection is loose or if the GPS is started when the car is in reverse gear.