Re: SatNav software

On Nov 15, 2:13 pm, Jaimie Vandenbergh <jai...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:10:41 -0000, "Sammy" <nos...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi,
Can anyone recommend any satnav software for use on a pda or laptop?
Also is there any good gps receivers out there?

I use Tomtom on Symbian, or MS Autoroute on Windows. For offroad stuff
get a dedicated GPS handset, it's so much less pain.

For a plain GPS reciever, you want a SiRF III device for best
sensitivity. I got mine - bluetooth and I think USB connectivity -
fromhttp://www.mobilefun.co.uk/search/?searchterm=sirf+

I use the no-brand one. Builtin battery lasts about two days before
needing recharging over the USB lead, lock-on in well under 30
seconds.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
I think I'm too sarcastic to believe in myself. -- Nietzsche

I have a leadtek one. SIRF III.

Regarding charging the battery. It is almost crucial to be able to do
that from your car! People use the cigarette lighter hole. There are
car chargers that fit in it. Better than plugging a cigarette lighter
into that hole.

USB or mini usb socket on them is great because USB is 5V. So you can
get any USB car charger and it is the right voltage. Otherwise, some
devices are like 4.5V or 5.5V. (actually, some USB car chargers may
be 5.5V so be careful).

If you turn the car key part of the way such that the engine does not
turn on, but the radio and other things, including the charger hole
works too. So you can charge them with your engine off .. That is
useful if they have run out of charge for some reason, and you are
fiddling around with them. Apparently Leaving the engine running and
not moving uses the same amount of fuel as driving at 40mph or
something.

With my GPS. sometimes it is not obvious that it is On or Off.
Sometimes I leave it on, and it runs out of charge. And recently
when I used it, I found it only worked when on the charger. I don`t
know if that is because it is low on charge. Either way, being able to
charge it in the car is very important.

With my Pocket PC, from time to time that gets left on. No idea how,
maybe it gets a knock and turns on. So that can run out of charge too.
Recently I lost the software on there (data is no big deal, since I
keep it in the car, as a tomtom, there is not much data on it).
Prior to using it with TomTom, I had it set to turn off if not being
charged and not being used for 5min. But TomTom software does not
seem to register as activity, so it turns off. So sometimes if I do
leave it on accidentally, like in the boot of my car overnight, then
it will drain its battery.

TomTom is not perfect, but it does work.
I do have some software called memory map too. It uses an A-Z map and
has a red dot for your location. And you can zoom in and out. I set
the buttons of my pocket pc to work the zoom. But I stopped using it.
You either zoom out and see the map but not the road names. Or you
zoom in and see a road name but no other roads. And the little red dot
is hard to see.. I think it zooms out as you zoom out!!! I have used
it when on foot. And once when the GPS lost its charge in the days
before I had a charger in the car.
I was very zoomed in, and used the + control on the hp ipaq to move
the map around while I was driving. Very hazardous.

There have also been one or two times where the TomTom has sent me in
circles, and I have used that A-Z map.

It does also take some time with the TomTom learning what it means
with some of its instructions.
"AHEAD, TURN LEFT". Now, that is often WAY AHEAD. there may be a left
turning coming up but don`t take it!!! There is a different
instruction for a left turning coming up.
or
"GO STRAIGHT ON" and you are in the far left lane, on a big road like
an A road. And if you stayed in the lane you are in, you`d leave that
road. So move into a lane to the right.. Moreso with big roads. I
guess that is regular driving though.

A really bad one it pulled on me, was I told it to go somewhere, and
it said 1hr 20min, or some time which was about right. What I didn`t
realise was it had sent me on 135 miles or something ridiculous. What
it had done was sent me on a motorway. So now I set the preferences
to always ask me "avoid motorways?" whenever I tell it to navigate to
somewhere.
I only found out when it said "GO STRAIGHT ON, THEN, TAKE THE
MOTORWAY". I went straight on, it was too late to turn back!!!!

These are issues with workarounds. I am sure you will run into your
own the hard way.

Another thing.. Get a Holder for your device.

When I had the memory map software and the pocket pc on the floor of
the seat next to me, I almost hit a car coming in the opposite
direction. So I quit driving until I got a holder. (with that
software you have to stare at the screen. there is no audio)
Then the holder broke.
I found a way to drive safely. Hold the device in your hand while you
steer.
Some people just keep the device on a seat and listen to the
instructions. You can do that with TomTom.
When holding it near the steering wheel the police stopped me thinking
I was on a mobile. Then I explained the situation, holder broken, and
I had a broken holder sitting outside a plastic bag. (saying it
broke that day would have been a good idea. Their classic is to say
"so you`ve been driving for one week with it broken".. or "for this
whole 20min journey without a seatbelt".).
Anyhow... So get a holder! I found that a mobile phone holder worked
fine.

Regarding TomTom software.. I had a version of TomTom6 that did not
have full postcode support. You entered like GA5 followed by any
number. That number is arbitrary. And it lists a load of roads for
GA5 [0-9]... And you had to enter the name of teh road. But then I
got a later version of v6, and it had full postcode support. Much
better.
But these are things you live with.. and workaround.

I don`t like TomTom. But having tried it and memory map.. I use TomTom
regularly. And memory map is too unsafe for typical driving. It is for
on foot or emergencies. It does operate even if the GPS is broken,
you just don`t get the red dot. You can check the website memory map
navigation software. It uses A-Z maps which is a big plus. The
TomTom map is pretty crap on detail, I think it just shows you a view
for a driver to safely glance at.. Not very detailed at all. Even at
Tom Tom set to highest level of detail, maybe the A-Z is still more
detailed. I don`t really see them as alternatives. I see them as
different purposes. I see the A-Z one as incompetent at fulfilling the
regular use in car purpose.
.