Pocket PC GPS: Mounting and Thoughts

[thedusty]

I was curious if anyone here uses a pocket pc solution for GPS navigation. I'm thinking about buying this combo:
http://www.deluo.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DE&Product_Code=CFNS&Category_Code=NAVS

I was looking for general thoughts on it (you like?) and if anyone has any pictures of how it looks using a window mount in their 3?

Thanks!

[dkny2314]

Hi,

I know Garmin makes a pocketpc now with the nav built in. It is called the ique 3600 and it runs on the palm OS. I have heard good stuff about it. Here is a link. http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3600/

Matthew

PS Let me know if you try it out I would be interested to see how it is.

[remington]

why don't you just buy the Garmin streepilot III? Street price is about $700, the color screen is large and it has full voice prompting like an OEM unit, but it's mobile so you can take it in all your cars. I have one and it works great, without voice prompting the utility of these devices drops precipitously, believe me. :sabrina:

[thedusty]

Matthew, thanks for the advice....I think I've read a little about that Garmin..sounds pretty nice! I already have a Toshiba e740 and that link is to a GPS module that is inserted into the Compact Flash slot as well as all the needed software Routis, which uses Navtech maps. I'm curious if anyone has used this type of setup before and how they've managed to make it look nice in their 3s.

Hi,

I know Garmin makes a pocketpc now with the nav built in. It is called the ique 3600 and it runs on the palm OS. I have heard good stuff about it. Here is a link. http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3600/

Matthew

PS Let me know if you try it out I would be interested to see how it is.

[thedusty]

Remington, I've looked at the streetpilot III and they're quick nice. However, the $700 is a bit of a throwback for me. That link is to a kit I can put on my Toshiba pocket PC for only $210 (they're having a 4 of July sale) and the site gpspassion.com has raved about the included Routis software.

why don't you just buy the Garmin streepilot III? Street price is about $700, the color screen is large and it has full voice prompting like an OEM unit, but it's mobile so you can take it in all your cars. I have one and it works great, without voice prompting the utility of these devices drops precipitously, believe me. :sabrina:

[Elwood]

This is what I currently use.
http://www.navmanusa.com/land/gps3420/index.html

Works as well as any gps + map system I suppose. The key's being getting a first fix and having current maps. ttff can be long if you just hop in your car and go. wait a few seconds before u leave and you'll be fine. I tend to only use mine on road trips or when visiting customers. Works great for this but since It's not always turned on in the same location as it was turned off, it adds to the ttff. Unlike a car's built in NAV that's turned off and on in the same location (baring a tow truck ;) )

It comes with a window mount with a QD connection. It works great attached to the window and visibility is very good, but it's out of reach for punching buttons. One of the beni's of having access to a machine shop, is milling your own custom mounting bracket to fix to the AC vents :D

overall, it's a bit of a pill compared to built in NAV, but much cheaper and portable and plus I own it.

[remington]

Remington, I've looked at the streetpilot III and they're quick nice. However, the $700 is a bit of a throwback for me. That link is to a kit I can put on my Toshiba pocket PC for only $210 (they're having a 4 of July sale) and the site gpspassion.com has raved about the included Routis software.


Well, do what your budgt will allow, sounds like a good price. I do think that without the full features of the typical OEM nav, like the streetpilot is, it will get old in a hurry and you will find yourself not using it much. Just a thought, I realise the price point is up there. I've had my streetpilot a couple months and I love it, especially for family trips/vacations.

[phkh]

I have an iPAQ through work and mated it with the Navman 3420 noted above. It works great 95+% of the time. I use the windshield mount in our Honda van but bought (via web) a plastic vent mount for the BMW. Positioned on the far right of the center vents it is close enough to reach but not in the way of controls or shifting.

I found a neat little program to control the display brightness and mapped it to one of the buttons on the iPAQ (a necessity in my opinion since it always defaults back to bright and is a pain to set via the settings program).

It is a much less expensive way to go (iPAQ + $300 for Navman) than the dealer option ($2000) and it is portable between cars. Plus it uses the same Navdata maps supplied to most OEM installs.

If you don't have or need an iPAQ, then I've heard good reports on the Garmin units. Whatever you do, be sure to get a color display.

[dkny2314]

Remington,

Would you happen to know the differences between the Garmin Ique and streetpilot III GPS. I want to buy one and the streetpilot III has a 100 rebate till tomorrow. Please let me know asap.

Matthew

[Orient330iNYC]

I can recommend the Garmin SPIII deluxe. very easy to use and very accurate. I replaced it with a Pioneer AVIC 90 DVD based nav, but sometimes miss the simplicity of the Garmin. the plus of the pioneer is much faster route calculation and the ability to navigate without gps signal when out of satellite coverage. (it uses a gyroscope and is hooked into the wheel speed pulse).

my Garmin SPIII is currently in the possestion of one of my friends. She's not technically inclined at all, but had no problems at all using it to navigate a trip from the metro DC area -> NC-> athens GA -> atlanta GA-> to metro DC. First time she used it, worked perfectly...

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?DPNo=974060

$629 after rebate....
Deluxe package, including 128mb map cartridge, full US unlock, USB programmer, beanbag mount, the works :thumbup:

Here's the Que
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?DPNo=974060

$475, preorder.

I emailed garmin sales when they first announced it, they were "pretty certain" that you could load more maps onto the SD card. otherwise, 32mb is kinda sparse.

[KobeCow]

it was very disappointing. :thumbdwn:
i used it for a maybe 1 hr max.
crashed my Axim (400mhz) a few times.
reception is Zero when indoors.
i returned it he next day.

gonna get a Pioneer DVD nav


check out Navman.com and the new GARMIN 2650/2610