navigation systems....anyone use them?

[DJC-346]

hi guys, looking to invest in a nav system.

looking to spend up to and around 2k

basically, what i need is this.

i need to be able to plot routes. ide like to have 1000 stop offs on these routes.

i need to be able to save the route

i would prefer it to be able to understand ubd references

i would like to be able to connect it to a laptop, so i can download the route, work out where i am up to etc etc.

ummm, i think thats it for now, any help would be greatly appreciated. ive been in and talked to a few stores but they are pretty hopeless. i guess to really know the product u would have to use it eh.

thanks in advance

[SV8VY]

Why would you need 1000 stop offs?
Navman Pin (pda) or ICN 510 is a cheap portable unit and works very well.
You don't need to spend over $1000.
You can actually also put in Red light cameras and fixed speed camera locations.
Make sure you get Version 3 software though.
I use my Pin all the time and love it.
www.aussiefones.com.au is a good place to buy I hear :D

[VXII SSimo]

Going the outdoor style as opposed to PDA style, I have a Garmin GPSMAP 76CS. Auto-routing, colour screen, flux compass, etc. Supports realtime laptop tracking, voice direction from laptop. Exceptional bit of kit, for a bit under $1000, plus a few hundred if you want the good software (City Navigator) which has petrol stations, food, accom, etc. Plus rugged and handheld which allows it to go fishing/hunting with me. Can load marine maps and hook upto a transducer for water temp and depth.

Cheers
Simo

[Febs]

*cough*CarPC*cough*
If you like tinkering and occasionally want your SatNav to stop working for no apparent reason. :D :p

(Actually, having said that mine's been pretty good since putting it in. Hardly any problems, and the navigation seems pretty smart/accurate.)

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Ls1CorpCruiser]

I've got a Navman 510 too.... got sick of looking up address' on the run.

Have been using it since day 1 at least once a day and has not let me down yet. Well it did once but only because I tagged the wrong suburb abd didnt realise it.

Easy to use, great screen and best of all the intruction list view and abitlity to turn off the anoying voices.

For less than $1000 it is a great little tool.

[cashie]

Why would you need 1000 stop offs?
Navman Pin (pda) or ICN 510 is a cheap portable unit and works very well.
You don't need to spend over $1000.
You can actually also put in Red light cameras and fixed speed camera locations.
Make sure you get Version 3 software though.
I use my Pin all the time and love it.
www.aussiefones.com.au is a good place to buy I hear :D

I also own the PiN and also think it is excellent.

One question though, where have you mounted yours and where do you get power from?

[SV8VY]

I also own the PiN and also think it is excellent.

One question though, where have you mounted yours and where do you get power from?I have it mounted on the front screen with the adapter you should have recieved.Power supply via the cig lighter but I dont use it often.When the power runs low I charge it.
For $20 you can get fixed speed camera point around Australia and Red light camera points (getting updated frequently)This will also work with the ICN 510.
Pm me anyone that wants more info.
Regards
Bob

[kompiler]

I use Destinator 3 on my PDA.
http://www.c1au.com/destinator.html
It comes with red-light camera and speed camera locations and gives a verbal warning when approaching them (configurable distance).

You can also use it on your computer with a freeware tool called Map Monkey.
http://www.mapmonkey.net

Tells you when your speeding (which can be turned off ;) ) as well as ETA, ETR, Speed, Distance Remaining yada ya

Kompiler

[Azza]

I own a PiN too.
Used in the U.S last month was good only thing was because I didn't have time to learn what to do before I left Australia so, as a result would go the "long way" some times because I had not ajusted the setting to avoid toll roads or more freeway useage but, it got us there in the and as programed. Also like the feature of how it will re-route if you miss a turn.

[Nidz]

Yeah I'd agree. For less than a K I'd go the PDA route. That way you can constantly update the software.. Like buying a new Melways/Ausways each year. I run a small pc in my car with a USB GPS reciever and some software called Map Monkey. It's ok but you gotta rig up your own hardware/touch screen. I was told the stock Holden GPS system was not very good at all.

[KeenGolfer]

I've got a Garmin 2600, can buy from the USA fairly cheaply. Great bit of kit, I love it.

[spaceman347]

Garmin iQue for me, only because it was a PDA that ALSO had GPS functions and therefore tax deductable :)

Works great although I have had to do a couple of hard resets when it locked up a couple of times (pin in the little hole on the back).

Oh... and just the other day it got amnesia and forgot everything I had ever entered into it, all waypoints, addresses etc (reverted back to base configuration). very annoying.

[CarlFST60L]

RhinoCo Technology have them on special for around $750, look good, go good, also an MP3 player and a phew other things...

[lxhatch]

I use the Mio 168 PDA - similar to Navman and Destinator.

The Co=pilot live software has all the major cities and towns in Aus in it - used it last year in Darwin, Alice, Katherine, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide.
It's like having all your UBD's in your top pocket of your shirt.

Also loaded up Oziexplorer (~$130 I think) and some topographical maps ($99 extra) so you can do your 4by driving up minor tracks. Will take marine maps as well. Just get the biggest SD card you can to stick all this on (1gig available now).

Has all the other pda stuff of course - phone/address book, Word, Excell, etc - has dictaphone, sketchpad blah, blah, blah.......

about $850 for superseded version, $1,000 for latest version.

go to Johnnyappleseed sites for good info on all GPS stuff
www.ja-gps.com.au/

hth

[DJC-346]

hey guys, thanks for all the info.

few answers,

i need 1000 dropoffs, as part of my job is to monitor TCS sites as a subcontractor for transfield. (traffic light intersections) of which they have 751. basically, i have to visit each site once a month and service as required.

what i want to do is load every site into the nav system, then have it plot the best route from site to site, then at the end of the day download my progress into the laptop so i can email it off to my boss. it takes a full month do do every site. i also want it pretty easy to use so if i had to be elsewhere for the day i could send another guy in my place.

money really doesnt bother me, im prepared to pay more then 2k if the system can provide an added bonus for me.

car computers, needing to have a laptop running etc are not an option as i dont have room, i work out of either a falcon ute or a transit trayback truck, and they are already loaded up with too much jazz as it is (arrow board controllers/reversing camera/ dedicated trip meter things, and the rest of the room is taken up with other crap. i basically just need a dedicated dash mounted nav system. (i can dash mount real easy....tech screws work wonders) although it cant be too big as the dash has more crap mounted to it atm then a cop car.

thanks for the ideas