Tom Tom Navigator(2)

[Guest mick]

Looking into buying Tom Tom navigator2 packaged with a HP2210. Has anyone used one and are they as good as reviews suggest?

Does the UK disk cover literally only the UK, or does it cover the main roads of Europe aswell. Conversely, would a European disk (Benelux for example) give reasonble coverage of UK.

[iainkirk]

I've got TomTom Navigator 2 running on a Viewsonic V35 PocketPC.

 

Got mine from www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk, but I don't think they do the bundle I purchased any more. Cost me

[Guest mick]

Thanks for the info.

 

File share the maps???....Perish the thought!! :(

[Guest mick]

Hi Iain K. Further question, hope its not too daft(?)..... With the TomTom Navigator, do you have to work out where you want to go on a home PC, and then download that to the PDA/TomTom, or do you load the entire map from CD onto the SD/CF card in a oner, and program the PDA? There must be some disadvantage / reduction in coverage etc versus the built in units - the TomTom + PDA works out at about half the price of a fitted unit! :blink:

[iainkirk]

Mick,

 

The TomTom software is loaded onto your PocketPC/PDA via your PC, as are the maps. The whole of the UK fits onto a 128MB card with about 40MB to spare.

 

You select your destination etc directly from the PocketPC, either from the comfort of your armchair, or from the comfort of your Ford armchair!

 

PocketPC versions are much more versatile than built in ones, as you can add other programs, like TrafCam for instance, which warns you where fixed or regular mobile speed cameras are located (using a POI database which is updated via the internet, as are the maps and software).

 

You get voice commands as well, in a choice of english voices (or rude americans if you so desire), plus about 10 other languages if you're that way inclined!!

 

You also have all the advantages of a PocketPC of course! ie syncronised Outlook, email facilities, other software packages, games for when you're in a traffic jam!! etc

 

Plus, you can move the installation easily from car to car.

 

As far as I'm aware, the PocketPC versions have all of the functions of the built in ones, plus a few extra.

 

The only disadvantage is the smaller screen size, but it's perfectly adequate for the purpose.

 

I've got mine fitted on a windscreen suction bracket to the right of the steering wheel. My internal satellite receiver (size of matchbox) sits next to the triangular window (mounted on a velcro pad) and works fine (10 satellites usually). I have routed my power cable behind the trim that the driver's door closes against, through the fusebox area and round to the cigarette lighter socket. It's well hidden.

 

If you mount the receiver in the front windscreen you may have signal problems, due to the wiggly wires in the quickclear screen, or so I'm told.

[Guest mick]

Thanks for this Iain......Dixons.nl here I come!

[johnb80]

I presume with Tomtom / PDA approach you don't have the gyro's and the speed signal of the built in one and therefore accuracy will be significantly reduced. The VDO MS5000 that I have on my van I could consistantly stop a metre away from my garage door with my eye's closed. I know this level of accuracy is not guaranteed nor really necessary BUT when I tried navigation software on a laptop alongside the VDO unit, the built in unit was miles (pun?) better. I feel a lot depends on what you want SatNav for, if it's just occasional use for the odd journey then the PDA approach would be ok, if it's for more serious, everyday use then go for a built in unit.

 

Regards - JB

[_dg]

I use tomtom 2, and GPS wise it is dead accurate - it tells me to turn where the kerb stones start to bend!

 

There are some issues with missing towns or towns in the wrong place, but this is a data input issue by the programmers and all such mapping units have some errors.Check out the forums on www.pocketgps.co.uk

 

An added advantage is the regularly updated Speedcam database from the above site, and also all the other POI's (points of interest).

 

Just imagine how cool it is to pull out of a traffic jam, or leave the bank holiday motorway jam at the next junction, tap your screen, and let the unit take you down the country lanes to your destination. Brilliant

 

Also I still can't believe that it manages to store all the UK info on the machine and you can zoom in to door number level.

 

After the steering wheel, it is the best invention for the car.

 

The big advantage with the Galaxy, is that you can mount the Pocket pc on the dash and you then have a speedo that is not obscured by the bloody steering wheel. Hurrah.

[johnb80]

I too find it incredible that the whole of the UK and additional information can be stored in such a small space, the programmers must have done a very good job with data compression. Any of the SatNav systems will recalculate your route after a wrong turning or leaving the planned route after an accident etc, the really cool way is with TMC. This system allows the SatNav to guide you around the hold up automatically BEFORE you see there's a problem ahead. I accept totally that the system works and works very well BUT I still say that the pukka units like the MS5000 are better. If you lose the satellites the MS5000 can keep going based on gyro and speed signal daya and is suprisingly accurate in these situations, I went from Gainsborough to Bristol with No Sat Data after the first 5 miles and still was guided to my destination without a problem. It really does depend on the application, ambulances in Lincolnshire use the MS5000 as standard equipment after a lot of research done nationally, there must be some differences or surely they would have gone the much cheaper route ? My new Galaxy is having a Clarion Sat Nav fitted, I'll report on that when I get it, I'm also buying an HP PDA / Tomtom II for occasional use in the Smart car but I will, just for fun, put it in the Galaxy and do a direct comparison between the two.

Regards - JB

[_dg]

If you're interested, then Aldi will be having a PocketPC with GPS for

[iainkirk]

The "Aldi" offer looks quite good, although it doesn't say what the satnav software is. Sounds like it only does major roads from the description, so not a street-level software package.

 

It says it comes with two 256MB MMC cards, so that sounds like good value at

[Guest mick]

Well, I took the plunge and bought the TomTom Nav2 bundle. Once the software was loaded on the Pocket PC, and the Benelux map onto the SD card, the route calculation is certainly swift.

 

Have fitted the GPS unit loosely next to the LHS triangular window and hidden the cable under the trim/glovebox. Will secure once route for PC cable and where best site for PC has been fully determined and tested, probable in the same area as Iain K's (Cheers Iain).

 

Did a trial run with it today and was well chuffed with the accuracy and clarity of instructions. Almost expect it to congratulate you on reaching your destination, or pipe up with 'thank you for travelling with us and look forward to seeing you again'!

:angry:

[Guest grannybill]

I bought the Medion from Aldi, Its Brilliant and just one of the 256mb mmc sticks covers the whole of Europe from the Artic to the South of Spain. It works down to approx 3 feet shows all the details like the Tom-Tom and does not need any extras to be purchased. It is COMPLETE as supplied. I'll bet good money they are all sold by now. Where else can you buy a PPC with 512mb of memory + Sat Nav. gear for

[Guest grannybill]

Sorry I should have said that the Aldi Medion Package has 576mb of memory not 512 as reported.