Advice needed on GPS

[s2-wolf]

Hi folks
I need some advice on GPS systems.
The wife has got interested in the "sport" of geocaching and wants to get a GPS system to use. It will need to be handheld, easily usable and have a mapping capability.
If we are going to spend out on a GPS I would also like it to be usable for on/off road navigation. Bonus points would be a colour screen, spoken directions for road navigation, a good on-board memory and easy access to upgrades etc.
Don't want much do we?!!!
Now I need to pick your brains - is there anything out there that will fit most of our criteria?
What would you recommend that isn't on the list?
Can you recommend any specific makes/models from personal experience?
Any recommended suppliers who give a good deal and good service?
Any help, advice or recommendations would be gratefully received!

[That Ruddy Squirrel]

hi,


I have this, and have added a 1GB memory card, and Memory Map software - it now has spoken instructions for on road use, OS maps for offorad usage and can be handheld, in car mounted or even bike mounted !!!!


Trev

[Guest]

How about get an Ipaq with TomTom navigator for the on road stuff and then get Memory Map Navigator for the off road stuff. Memory Map uses OS maps and you can set waypoints and it will work with the hardware for the Tomtom system.

Best way to do it to get exactly what you want would be to buy the component parts.

Ipaq (a second hand 3850 would do the job)
Emtac GPS Jaq which is a jacket to slip the Ipaq into which has a built in GPS antenna and a compact flash slot for a memory card
TomTom navigator software only
MemoryMap software only.

You may want to get an external antenna for the car - the emtac GPSjaq supports the mini MMX connection.

And you might want an in car charger cable for the IPAQ as well.

All up you should be able to get the whole thing for less than £600 which you would be hard pushed to find anything else that gives you on road naviagtion with spoken directions plus off road navigation from OS maps with waypoints etc.

Cheers

[AndyLala]

That is nice...

I use the following... http://www.directions.ltd.uk/ on my laptop with a Ram Mount....

Tough Tray on a Ram Pod III base... http://www.rammount.com/ramcat/ramve...hiclead04a.pdf

But thinking of changing the Ram Pod to the Ram No-Drill base, if I can find one that will fit the Surf, or be close enough to modify...

Got the software, GPS puck and the Ram Mount stuff from these guys...
http://www.gpsw.co.uk/
Good on the phone, great in person, seem keen to help you get sorted out.

AndyL

[VMC]

Gps

Hey man, I had a similar requirement and bought a Navman ic510. A new model. Its brilliant, the screen is touch colour landscape and you can also down load all UK speed camera data. It is so easy to move from 1 car to another. I bought extra screen mounts and a remote control. Spot on and I don't work for or have anything to do with them, before someone asks!

Price is £399 inc VAT before extras.

Try this link:

http://www.globalpositioningsystems...._id=14&vt=list

[da SLUG man]

all i want to know is... what's "geocaching"???

[Malenibo]

I use the Ipaq 5500 with a GPS jacket. It is excellent and very transportable if you want to use it to navigate around the streets. The voice instructions could do with a bit more volume when used on its own. For this reason I have got a car mount with powered speaker, when usinf this I run the Tom Tom Software from a wired GPS receiver on the dash board. I like to be able to get my E-mails on the move through using the bluetooth connection to the mobile phone. Went to France last week and it navigated me around the Paris periferiq with putting a foot wrong. It was brill. The best buy I have made for a long time.


I put my kit together from E-bay items total cost £350 for very hi spec.

[s2-wolf]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the info so far - it has certainly given me some ideas for further research before spending what would appear to be a considerable amount of dosh!
The geocaching sites all go on about Garmin and Magellan kit, which no one on this forum has recommended so far.
To answer Matts question, "What is geocaching?"
It seems to me to be a good excuse to get out and about in the countryside, but the official line can be found here!

http://www.geocaching.com/faq.asp

Thanks again for the info and keep it coming!!

[Chillitt]

ok i know what it is now..... but whats the point of it? i dont get it, dont they have numbers on trains any more?

[da SLUG man]

ok i know what it is now..... but whats the point of it? i dont get it, dont they have numbers on trains any more?

so nasty people like me can move the objective and film someones sunday afternoon being ruined!!... hahaha!!!... i might wee in the bucket!

[Chillitt]

i used to sell garmin and magellan handhelds for hill walking, the only time you could get better than 100meter accuracy was when they turned the variation off cos the military use the same system and want to bomb something! and now you say you can find a bucket with them??????

[da SLUG man]

i used to sell garmin and magellan handhelds for hill walking, the only time you could get better than 100meter accuracy was when they turned the variation off cos the military use the same system and want to bomb something! and now you say you can find a bucket with them??????

the tom tom that i used only pin point a position through logic working out which way you're heading and that you must be on a road!... when 2 roads are parallel it often puts the arrow on the wrong road!... wouldn't wanna rely on it for pin point accuracy!... the speed function on it is always WAY out!

[Pete]

so nasty people like me can move the objective and film someones sunday afternoon being ruined!!... hahaha!!!... i might wee in the bucket!

Matt, think you best stick with the dogging
Pete

[Danno]

i used to sell garmin and magellan handhelds for hill walking, the only time you could get better than 100meter accuracy was when they turned the variation off cos the military use the same system and want to bomb something! and now you say you can find a bucket with them??????

My memory map software is 99.9% accurate. It only goes a bit off piste due to the very occasional OS mapping cock up! Always right on the button following the RUPPS and Byways.

I've got a very 2nd hand iPAQ 3630 and external GPS antenna on the dash. Great investment i'd say. The external antenna comes with a PS2 plug that connects to the cigar lighter plug and the I/O port on the iPAQ. All in the box.

See here

http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/618

[s2-wolf]

ok i know what it is now..... but whats the point of it? i dont get it, dont they have numbers on trains any more?

My feelings exactly, but the wife says its a good excuse to walk the dog and who am I to argue, especially if it means that I can get my hands on a decent sat nav system for on and off road navigation in the Surf!!!