Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

For those of you after a cheap navigation solution... :wink:

In a hurry to replace my (stolen) navigator, before next weeks Flinders trip, I stumbled across this unit at Big W.



$198 gets you one of these puppies (and thats full price... just wait for a sale if your patient :wink: ) That makes it comparible to the cheapest "from China" units (remembering you have to pay postage) on Ebay.

Spec sheet is here:

Z430 spec sheet

It comes with Navteq mapping which is "OK" but I have changed this to IGO8 which I prefer and is a little more sophisticated.

I've also installed OziExplorer and Hema maps ready for going away.

At this stage I've only managed to have Ozi and IGO8 on seperate SD cards, not the end of the world if I can't sort it out in the future, but it would be nice to have both on the unit at once.

Sorry about the piss poor pictures.... wifes crappy pocket camera :roll:











I already had OziExplorer ($40 still I think) and IGO8 (from backup of previous GPS).

If you were to wait for a sale you could get this navigator and Ozi for under $200 I imagine....


Mick

[Snowy FNQ Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowy FNQ]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Nice fine Mick, looks the goods, good price too. I would rather buy from Big W then E bay, especially for warranty hassles.

Do you know the biggest SD card it will handle?

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Do you know the biggest SD card it will handle

Good question... unless I'm blind I can't find it written anywhere in the instructions... might be worth an Email to them.

I am running 2GB cards no problems.....

Mick

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

After much dicking around I have been unable to get a file management program (such as Window "Explorer" or GS Finder running on this unit, so am stuck switching SD cards between IGO8 and Ozi. Not that I'm saying it can't be done... it's just I've gone as far as my IT skills can take me. :roll:

It seems Windows "Explorer" is already running in the back ground behind the Binatone Navagation skin and when you try and open another one it either closes it again just after it opens. (You can just catch the Explorer screen at times during shut down when the unit is busy)

The biggest SD card the unit will recognise is 2GB (Not a drama now I have to switch between two cards)

The unit has not skipped a beat with either Ozi or IGO8 running and is spot on to my Magellian XL running next to it.

For those running the standard navigation software, there is a free update on the Binatone website:
(Suits both the Z430 and Z350)

Free updates


To run Ozi or other street navigation software: (You'll need an SD card for each program. ie: Minimum two cards)

WARNING: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BACK UP CD SUPPLIED WITH THE UNIT OR MAKE ONE!!! (incase things go pear shaped)

Connect the unit to your desk top with the supplied USB cable (You will need Windows/Microsoft Active Sync installed)

Download Active Sync here:
Activesync

Insert an SD card into the GPS unit and turn it on.
Your computer will recognise it as a "Mobile Device"

Using the "Explore" tab in Active Sync connect to the GPS and you'll be able to see all the folders on the GPS's memory including the SD card and one called "ResidentFlash".

Open the "ResidentFlash" folder. In it are files named "Navigator" and "Mobile Navigator" cut and paste (must be cut and paste Not Copy) these two files to the SD card.
This is now your street navigation card.

When the card is in the GPS the navigator behaves just like it did before. (When you select navigation it will find and open the street navigation software)

This SD card can now be removed. (Only ever remove or insert an SD card from the Binatone Navigation/Menu screen. Not while the card is being accessed by the unit)

Assuming you want to run OziExplorer and have downloaded it, ready to go:

Insert your second SD card into the GPS.
Install the OziExplorer folder onto the SD card and then rename it "MobileNavigator"
Open this folder and find the OziExplorer application and also rename it "MobileNavigator"

This is now your "Off road" navigation card.

No matter which card you have in, pressing "Navigation" on the Navigation/Menu screen will open the software on the inserted SD card.


Mick

[Snowy FNQ Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowy FNQ]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Mick,
My Ebay no name Chinese 4.3" GPS does not need a second program (GS Finder or the like ) to change Nav programs.

I just go to the settings sceen and there is an icon to change the "Default Navigation Program".

Click on that and you can access the sd card (just like a file explorer) and just select the OZI or IGO8 execute icons as required.

No swapping SD cards, it's not the latest gizmo, I've had it about a year or so.

Does it have anything in the settings?

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Does it have anything in the settings?

No, unfortunately not. My previous Chinese unit was the same as you describe.

Mick

[Auto-Craft Inactive Find all posts View Profile Close Auto-Craft]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

The VMS units we have had on special will run same software, and progrAMS, BUT BECAUSE THEY BOOT OFF THE CARD, THEY NEED TO SOFTWARE TO BE SEEN TO BOOT FROM, SO, HAVING MORE THAN ONE SET OF SOFTWARE, WITHOUT THE SCREEN BUTTONS TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOFTWARE YOU WISH TO RUN WILL MEAN SWAPPING CARDS.
Oops, damn caps.....

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

I found a Win CE menu program on the web at some point back before the Polaris thread reached boiling point. It was all configurable through a text file but allowed you to link multiple programs from the menu option so you could add any freeware or purchased applications to the unit through a system like that. I might still have the program but had tried to alter the app to include a background to match the GPS unit that I had at the time.

The program looked like this:

I did have a nice swish background and hid some of the buttons so it worked more like the standard menu.

[Yota Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Yota]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Top stuff MickL
Picked up one from big W this morning for $168 and got ozi running no problems with your instructions

Have wanted to do this with a cheap gps for ages but was always unsure about getting cheap units off ebay or puying for a cheap unit & not knowing for sure if it will work or not.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Top stuff MickL
Picked up one from big W this morning for $168 and got ozi running no problems with your instructions

I did notice Big W had a sale on them for the next week or so. Very good value for money IMO.

Glad my write up was useful to to you. :wink:

Mick

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

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Just got one of theses off ebay for under $50 secondhand but didnt include the CD. Can anybody out there got a copy of this just incase it all goes pear shaped when I attempt to load in the Hema maps. Happy to pay you the postage, Zook.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Just got one of theses off ebay for under $50 secondhand but didnt include the CD. Can anybody out there got a copy of this just incase it all goes pear shaped when I attempt to load in the Hema maps. Happy to pay you the postage, Zook.

Sure just PM me your details.

There is also a free update on their website.

Mick

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Just bought myself one of these this morning. Can't wait to get Oziexplorer onto it but I'm only running mac at home so I've got to do something there. If all I want to do is load maps onto the sd card, do I need to do this through the PC version of Ozi or can I just put them straight across onto the SD card and load then through OziCE on the GPS? Am I making sense?? :? :?:
Thanks for your clear instructions MickL - a great help.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

If all I want to do is load maps onto the sd card, do I need to do this through the PC version of Ozi or can I just put them straight across onto the SD card and load then through OziCE on the GPS?

Assuming they are already in Ozfx3 or Img2Ozf format you can just put them in the OziExplorerCE map folder on the card (or create a new map folder and create point Ozi to it)

Mick

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Sub $200 4.3" GPS Navigator (from Big W)

Ok thanks Mick. I guess Ppoint should anticipate a "could people supply me with (legal of course) maps already converted" thread in the future! Once I get Ozi on the GPS.