Which GPS???

[Del Prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Del Prado]

Hi All,

i'm looking to purchase a GPS for use in the Prado.
but am stuck for which to go for....
i'm looking at the Garmin iQue 3600 as i like the big screens of the Pda style GPS.
has anyone got one... used one... any good/bad feedback welcome!

also has anyone got and suggestions for me for something similar that they have and found good to use?? the main thing for me is the larger screen (as i don't have a laptop to connect to) and the compatability with decent map software that shows all the off-road tracks!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!
Luke

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

I have two gps units....I have been using a garmin etrex vista for a long time. Its great for getting anywhewre you like but the wife hated the small screen and said it was hard to navigate with.

I went out and bought her a tomtom GO 500. Its a bloody awesome unit. Did I mention its a bloody awesome unit???

It has auto routing and speaks to you. We dont drive without it now. The wife loves it as she can "program" it easily. I showed some friends.....both of them after seeing it in action bought one each...they showed another friend and he bought one as well....

Ask me any questions and I'll answer them for you.

Its fast, it has realistic voices..not computer generated. I have John Cleese on it. You can change icons, splash screens...etc.

The tomtom GO 500 also has bluetooth connection to your mobile phone so its also a handsfree unit. It also can send and recieve your sms's....

Did I mention its a bloody awesome unit??

[Del Prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Del Prado]

thanks embi,
i have done a quick search and read some info on the Tomtom.
it looks great as an in-car unit however, i'd really like something that could easily be taken around when walking.
how is it off-road on dirt tracks e.t.c?? does the suction cap hold onto the windscreen when 4wdriving??
i see it uses where-is and UBD map software, which is supposed to be pretty good? does it come with this software or was it an additional cost?

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

thanks embi,
i have done a quick search and read some info on the Tomtom.
it looks great as an in-car unit however, i'd really like something that could easily be taken around when walking.

Its not really a device for walking hence I have the etrex vista.

how is it off-road on dirt tracks e.t.c?? does the suction cap hold onto the windscreen when 4wdriving??

It has shown me some quite small tracks in the middle of nowhere so I was quite suprised. The maps are great. I have done some rocky driving since I have had it and it doesnt move a bit. I am very impressed with the suction mount.

i see it uses where-is and UBD map software, which is supposed to be pretty good? does it come with this software or was it an additional cost?

It comes with all the maps supplied. No extra cost. A garmin will however require you to buy extra maps to get good detail.

[Del Prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Del Prado]

Thanks mate!

Yes I would like to walk around with it, but realistically that would be needed very often!
And if it did become a problem I could always do as you did and purchase a cheaper, purpose built ‘trekking’ GPS.

If you don’t mind me asking what did the kit cost you??

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

By kit I presume you mean the tomtom....

it was $1029. I got it from JBhifi. A friend in adelaide got his from JB for $940

[Del Prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Del Prado]

wow... thanks for that...
alot cheaper than i presummed!

thanks for all your help!

[embi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close embi]

If you dont require the phone capabilities you can get a tomtom GO300. it does have a slower processor though. Its around $850 for the 300.

But it goes from a 400mhz to a 200Mhz

[Del Prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Del Prado]

No I wouldn’t need the phone capabilities… but for an extra $100 I’d opt for the faster processor!
I see they have a 700 out that has 2.6gb hard drive in it too.

I think my best bet will be to go into a store and handle a few different ones!
But thanks for all your advice.

[Guest Close Guest]

RE: gps

Del Prado,
i have an Imate PDA, all i did was download the tom tom navagation software off the net for pocket pc, (free) then went out a purchased a blue tooth gps for $200, all in all not a bad price for a very good gps system. but if you do go with the Imate you must have external power derived from somewhere, battery life is no good!

[AJs Prado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AJs Prado]

Ben,

What's the site/URL for the tomtom download?

Thanks

Andrew

[Guest Close Guest]

RE: gps

Andrew, i used a program called Limewire, download and install it, then search for the tom tom navagation software through that. You can also download another gps software package through Limewire, called Destinator, but be warned its painfully slow and you may have to try a number of times before you get a hit that is downloadable. A mate has also downloaded it but im not to sure where from, when i see him i'll ask and post it for you. Cheers.

[DaveO Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DaveO]

OziExplorer (yes its a genuine ozzy program) seems to have a lot of local support, and can use scanned maps, free downloadable maps, or commercial maps.

Supports a number of formats too.

I use it, and coupled with a (even a basic) PDA is great. Works with Windows too.

http://www.oziexplorer.com

[Ba77hy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ba77hy]

Hi i found my cheapest option was to purchase and Ipaq Rz1710 for $100.00 of ebay, Haicom HI-204 with 12v cig lighter adapter to operate GPS reciever and charge PDA $around $90, 1gig SD card for $40 and then I purchased Oziexplorer for about $50.00.

I find the PDA advantages are the PDA has multiple uses not just GPS and you can load multiple programs, ie I also have nav software Destinator, and Price less that $300.00

Disadvantages may include screen size and ease of use,, PDA should use stylus!!

Happy Global positioning

Ba77hy

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

I've had a navman icn510 for about 2 years now, never had any problems with it (that weren't self caused! by me trying to "tweak" it)

when i first got it the maps were pretty ordinary, as an example, for those of you in or around brissy that may know, if i pulled on to coronation drive in the city, and said take me to sydney, it the first direction i would get was continue 180 odd k's, the first turn it recognised was a roundabout in balina. none of the freeway exits between here and there, or any help getting through tweed heads.

but has improved significantly in the 2 map updates since.

contains a lot of roads in the middle of nowhere too.

not sure if that helps at all or if you've already purchased!