Which system is best for my needs? Any ideas? Forums

Welshrarebit

Hi Everybody.

I have been following this topic with interest as I would like to purchase a "system" prior to our 3 week holiday touring France, starting 15 July via La Shuttle.

In particular i have been trying to digest the excellent info supplied by Paulaway, needless to say everybodys content has been interesting.

I like the idea of a PDA based system. I would want this to be completly transferable between my Motorhome, car and after retraining (due to forthcoming redundancy) to be used in the lorry of the haulage firm that hopefully will give me my new job. (sorry to bore you,lol)

Paulaway.......can you recommend a combo that would suit all the criteria above.

I like the idea of downloadable topics, namely speed camera location and as a member of the Caravan Club, possibly their location database if possible.
Generally open to all tips to add on to the system.

I have just built my first computer system and getting to grips with MP3 conversion of albums for the hols. Like the idea of extra memory card just to hold MP3 files.

As an avid mountainbiker here in South Wales, i might want to use it for that also. Not high up on the priority list though.

I have UK memory map software currently on this PC. Would this be usefull to me in conjunction with the systems software or not?.

Where would the best deal be.........i have had a quick look at the "expansys" site but the best PDA for the job i wouldn't have a clue about.

Thanx in advance for any help forthcoming, it will be greately appreciated.
My dear lady would really want me to sort this out.It will prevent a repeat of 4 years ago when we were completly green to navigating in France and had a heated discussion at Abbeville.

Dai+Karina

HelenB · Moderator

Navman pin 300 would do all the above Wink

Welshrarebit

Thankyou Helen B for your prompt reply.

I have checked out the 300 and it certainly does all i want, but i notice it is cable-free. Does this mean i have to run it on batteries all thre time as opposed to coupling it to the ciggy lighter?.

Thanx
Dai.

Bluenote

Hi Paulway, I had`nt even thought about the car charging side of things for the PDA, although I imagine this should be easy enough to sort out, but I`ll definitely find this out first before I buy. Other than that I should manage ok and devise some way to stand it on the dashboard.
I believe the Navman and Tomtom softwares are both comprehensive bits of kit and I have`nt heard of anyones opinion as to whether one is better than the other. They do seem to have similar specs and I dont have any worries on that score. Will probably sort it out tomorrow or Wednesday, off to see a great band tonight before going on for an all night pool competition, a weekly fixture for me and a few friends. Yep probably Wednesday then thinking about it!!

Hi Welshrarebit, It will depend to some extent what you want the PDA for apart that is from the sat nav. Do you want to access the internet using your mobile phone or via hotspots, or for entertainment purposes such as music, games etc. If you want it all then its a matter of finding a PDA that covers as much as possible and then adding any extras such as a GPS ariel with bluetooth. If however you have no requirement for the internet it gets a good bit easier. There are several GPS equipped PDAs available straight from the shelf and are very reasonably priced, just tap in `sat nav PDA` and you`ll find lots of them. check around for price as it can vary.

All the best, Martin.

Paulway

Hi Welshrarebit
I like the PiN 300 that is my personal choice. It can be used for accessing the internet and wi-fi by using either a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi SDIO card which goes in the slot where the SD memory card goes. Howevever I must say I think that Bluenote's solution is more elegant and I would now possibly go down that route as the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built in is a good option and at the price that he can get the Dell X30 for that is a real bargain, much faster processor much more functionality than the PiN. (see also my note to Bluenote below)
It is only cable free with regard to the GPS aerial that is built in to the unit, it means you dont have to have a wired 'jacket' as they are known and it is easier to move from vehicle to vehicle, and carry about in your hand or pocket. You still have a charging lead from your car cig. lighter socket when required. This is good and bad in that if you cannot position the PiN in a suitable position to see the 'Sats' then you will have to use an aerial with a lead or go down the Bluetooth route.
Hence me saying I like the setup Bluenote has found.

Martin,
both these software programs have their devotee's, and as with all software the providers are competing all the time so as one comes up with an improvement so the next incarnation of the other overtakes. I think the TT V5 has just been released and this has brought it up to, or possibly passed??, the Smart ST V3 program. To be frank I think you get used to what you use and any improvement to it is a bonus and seems better than the opposition. I like ST V3 because it is simple and I like the interface, to me the TT is a bit 'fiddly' but that is just my opinion.
I don't like Navmans upgrade policy for maps and programs, they give no consesions to users who have to pay the same as everyone else rather than a reduced upgrade fee, I think they have shot themselves in the foot with that one, but then I don't know what TT policy is on that either. I know that at least one of my freinds has changed to a different program, TT actually ,purely on principle that as he would have to pay full price to upgrade to ST V3 from ST V2, he decided to try a different program completely that was available a bit cheaper. Interestingly CoPilot offers a competetive upgrade i.e. you buy their program and give them your old program of a competative make and you get it half price, according to their website!!
Whatever you go for make sure that you are getting like for like, some do not have full European street level mapping, some charge extra for Europe maps.
All the Best Paul

Welshrarebit

Bluenote and Paulway, thanks for your comments.

I have ordered a Navman PiN 300 with an extra SD card from Totalpda.
Apparently it will come with the european maps of only major roads. I will have the choice of using an "unlocking code" to unlock down to street level maps of the country of my choice. This will be France for me.

Didn't require internet connection as am not able to take a two year sabatical from work just yet.

Going to use the SD card to load my Memory Map software for the mountainbiking. Also some MP3 files.

Will d/load speedcamera location file also.

Is there a d/load for the Caravan Club sites or do i have to input the data as points of interest manually.
Can you think of any other d/loads that would be usefull to the cause?.

Thanks.

Paulway

WelshRarebit Thats not good! One of the strongest points of the PiN was that it came with European mapping to street level, I notice now that they give you all the maps but only an unlock key for one region. That, in my opinion makes Bluenotes route even more attractive as in terms of software he will get the whole of Europe unlocked for the same money that the PiN gives you for one region plus only one extra!!
You would be better advised in your case with the PiN 300 to consider the cost of a Pan European key as they charge £79 per region or £149 for the whole of Europe. Although you only want France now should you decide you want, say Germany or Spain later to buy the key for that additional region, the total cost for the two regions you have bought, will work out the same as for the Pan European key. As there are 8 regions in total you can see the price differential that this makes!
I believe this is a bit of a money grabber, similar to the no concesions for upgraders, and does fall in line with the only real adverse comments that I have encountered about Navman i.e. they are more interested in the money than the customer..

Welshrarebit

Ok on your comments Paulway. Will give them a bell after i get up this afternoon.
Didn't think to ask the guy during our telephone conversation.

Bluenote

Hi Paulway, what you`ve been saying about Navmans money grabbing ways and no upgrade concessions made me look into the competition, well tomtom 5 and copilot 5.
I could only find a price for TomTom 5 with one country map and I could find no details of how much it costs for additional countries. This makes me very suspicious, as I imagine it aint going to be cheap or they`d be giving price details. Is this a ploy to get people hooked into it so they can be more easily fleeced of their hard earnt cash. No advertising for a full EU software for PDAs anywhere. Mind you when one company comes up with a way of getting more money from you the competition are bound to follow.

I`m kinda put off copilot 5 by something a reviewer said about unclear mapping.

The thing is I like the sound of tomtom 5, especially the 7 digit postcode search, but I`ve a feeling its gonna be more expensive than smart st v3, and without being able to tell how much more I dont feel inclined to go down this route. (doh, no pun intended). If I`ve got it wrong with my cynical ways, and someone can point me in the direction of a more comprehensive pricelist for tomtom 5 I`d definitely go for this software option
Welshrarebit, I hope you have a system you will be happy, and if you`re sure its only needed for France and the UK it should be. What Paulway has said does make sense though as a system like this can last for some years and therefore may be needed for other countries by many holiday makers as well as those planning a longer trip.

Cheers Martin.

johnsandywhite

Map of Europe £5.99. Map of Britain £1.99. Does not need charging and the Nagivator speaks all the time. Sometimes never stops talking (only joking). It works for me and THOUSANDS OF OTHER'S TOO. Wink