MTP
07-07-2005, 09:44 PM
There seems to be a lot of talk about pda gps units lately.
I blame this all on Bigfoot :)
I got my "used" new iPaq 5550 last week from Ebay and a new Navman 3450 GPS sleeve from Ebay as well. I went this route because it started off as a possible extremely cheap way to get a gps unit. I already had an old Palm M505. However, it turned out a gps unit for the M505 was not much cheaper than a getting a newer unit, so I decided to get a little faster PDA to run the GPS.
All in all, I still saved about $300 over what I was going to spend on a new TTG300. So thats good. Being a PDA is just a "bonus" plus the iPaq I got also has WiFi and BT which makes it more fun to play with.
I have only had 2 days to really try and play with it and that has been on trips to and from my office. So really this is not much of a test of the unit.
GPS signal strength is outstanding so far, even with the unit in my car using the suction holder in the upper left hand part of the windshield.
GPS tracking seems to be right on target (ha-ha bad pun). When I cross an intersection it is right on, speed is dead on to my speedometer on the dash.
Maps seems pretty damn nice as well. I compared them to my buddies GPS unit and my maps must be newer because I have roads listed that his unit does not show.
Now for the "quirks". I have only turned on the POI for gas and banks. However it tends to show an awful lot of banks. It had one listed as being next to me when I was next to a fast food resturant :?
The other issue is either in my "configuration setup" or truely an issue with the software. It tends to pick routes that are not very smart (ie local roads verses HWY). It has an option to chose either shortest or quickest routes. Call me a dullard, but I do not get it. If you are taking the shortest route than would it not also be the quickest???
It does auto reroute very fast when you do not make the turn it had planned. I tested this a lot as I tend to stay on the HWY as much as possible to avoid traffic lights.
The last quirk I am not sure if it is a map issue or software. My neighborhood is off a divided street that has a center median seperating the lanes. On the way home yesterday it wanted me to pass the enterance (which was on my left across the median), make a U-turn at the light down the street and come back. Now that would have been fine as well, but does seem a little weird? If I was in a "strange" area I was not familiar with it would ahve confused the hell out of me.
I have been thinking of purchasing the Tom Tom Navigotar software and installing that to see how well it compares, but I really need to make some real trips to check it out.
I have a small 1hr drive next week to the local Busch Gardens (bd present for my older sons) and in August a nice trip to Harpers Ferry for some camping and tubing.
I'll keep you all posted.
I blame this all on Bigfoot :)
I got my "used" new iPaq 5550 last week from Ebay and a new Navman 3450 GPS sleeve from Ebay as well. I went this route because it started off as a possible extremely cheap way to get a gps unit. I already had an old Palm M505. However, it turned out a gps unit for the M505 was not much cheaper than a getting a newer unit, so I decided to get a little faster PDA to run the GPS.
All in all, I still saved about $300 over what I was going to spend on a new TTG300. So thats good. Being a PDA is just a "bonus" plus the iPaq I got also has WiFi and BT which makes it more fun to play with.
I have only had 2 days to really try and play with it and that has been on trips to and from my office. So really this is not much of a test of the unit.
GPS signal strength is outstanding so far, even with the unit in my car using the suction holder in the upper left hand part of the windshield.
GPS tracking seems to be right on target (ha-ha bad pun). When I cross an intersection it is right on, speed is dead on to my speedometer on the dash.
Maps seems pretty damn nice as well. I compared them to my buddies GPS unit and my maps must be newer because I have roads listed that his unit does not show.
Now for the "quirks". I have only turned on the POI for gas and banks. However it tends to show an awful lot of banks. It had one listed as being next to me when I was next to a fast food resturant :?
The other issue is either in my "configuration setup" or truely an issue with the software. It tends to pick routes that are not very smart (ie local roads verses HWY). It has an option to chose either shortest or quickest routes. Call me a dullard, but I do not get it. If you are taking the shortest route than would it not also be the quickest???
It does auto reroute very fast when you do not make the turn it had planned. I tested this a lot as I tend to stay on the HWY as much as possible to avoid traffic lights.
The last quirk I am not sure if it is a map issue or software. My neighborhood is off a divided street that has a center median seperating the lanes. On the way home yesterday it wanted me to pass the enterance (which was on my left across the median), make a U-turn at the light down the street and come back. Now that would have been fine as well, but does seem a little weird? If I was in a "strange" area I was not familiar with it would ahve confused the hell out of me.
I have been thinking of purchasing the Tom Tom Navigotar software and installing that to see how well it compares, but I really need to make some real trips to check it out.
I have a small 1hr drive next week to the local Busch Gardens (bd present for my older sons) and in August a nice trip to Harpers Ferry for some camping and tubing.
I'll keep you all posted.