GPS Navigator - Which one to get?

[Ghostrider117]

Wah...cold start 2 mins that get a fix ? Isn't that kinda slow ?

I heard Mapking is developing one for the Nseries of Nokia phones...might as well get a BT GPS receiver for this...most of them can get a fix within 30sec cold start.

 

[daydreamz]

well said...my point exactly too earlier. :thumbsup:

There are far more cost effective options now and the dedicated GPS unit players have had too much of a field day raking in their $$$ revenues at the expense of consumers. They overpriced their units & skimmed the market. Time for the alternative players who are value adding to GPS to kick in now and change the game...end of the monopolistic reign for the dedicated only boys! great times ahead with the mobile handset / PDA / smartphone manufactuers evolving their products to include GPS.

I hear MOTO is soon going to launch their BT receiver that will plug into any of their handsets to offer GPS service to that handset making it GPS enabled in conjunction with that receiver. So dont even need to change the handset or buy a new handset with GPS...simply buy the MOTO BT GPS receiver and go GPS! ;p

Always wanted to have a GPS with me...cos I am a lost sheep when it comes to Tuas area...but with the variety of choices...I was really dunno which to get. Was looking at those delicate GPS but price kinda put me off...$800-$1000 for a GPS that does GPS, play back MP3/MP4 and jpeg files (other than GPS function the rest I have no need for it).

My friend loan me his Garmin set which I tried...not bad. I like it but not the price. The other thing was that it need to be mounted on the windscreen cos the GPS sat need line of sight to work and my windscreen kinda steeply raked...so have to mount it quite far up. But this is a small issue.

Then I tried those BT receiver with a PDA smartphone...work just as well...

So, I bought a Houlex BT Receiver...a PDA phone (cos my old Palm 5 kaput and Motorola V3X went ting tong)...whole investment was only 1.5K (thereabout)

I got a PDA that can read/send email, Wifi enabled, phone, GPS and after office hours its my game boy !! I think its more worth it than spend 800 bucks for a GPS only.

 

[Ghostrider117]

Nokia will sure have GPS for their phones...maybe not the current models...but the newer models will have GPS option...cos they have BT GPS receiver too...

 

[starrynight]

some of us using Garmin 60 CXS. Pretty ok. handheld and car mount available. uses 2 AA batteries. good for walking if we are chasing a bird in forest. Reception great despite dense canopy.bought at close to $800.

 

[redstorm]

Sounds cool. How much did it cost in S$ for this entire setup? Also is it easy to install in car or do we need to go to workshop etc? Cheers.

If you are buying the Garmin for use travelling in Singapore and Malaysia, buy one without the original Garmin map. An original Garmin map add on can set you back by another $200. I understand the original Garmin covers Singapore but doesn't cover the whole of Malaysia and gets updated only once a year. Go to www.malsingmaps.com and downloaded the Malaysia and Singapore maps free of charge. This site is set up by a group of dediccated Singaporeans and Malaysians who religiously updated the maps a few times a year with contributions from members on POIs, new road, etc. That map is superb!

 

[AxeLa]

If you are buying the Garmin for use travelling in Singapore and Malaysia, buy one without the original Garmin map. An original Garmin map add on can set you back by another $200. I understand the original Garmin covers Singapore but doesn't cover the whole of Malaysia and gets updated only once a year. Go to www.malsingmaps.com and downloaded the Malaysia and Singapore maps free of charge. This site is set up by a group of dediccated Singaporeans and Malaysians who religiously updated the maps a few times a year with contributions from members on POIs, new road, etc. That map is superb!

Iam using both, originals MY maps cover till Penang, Recalculating is super fast...:thumbsup:

 

[redstorm]

Iam using both, originals MY maps cover till Penang, Recalculating is super fast...:thumbsup:

Yeah, I heard the orginal Garmin map's recalculation is much faster than the one from malsingmaps, which is not bad too. Bro, see you often in that forum. Ur nick quite similar.

 

[AxeLa]

Yeah, I heard the orginal Garmin map's recalculation is much faster than the one from malsingmaps, which is not bad too. Bro, see you often in that forum. Ur nick quite similar.

Ha ha....ya lor....everywhere I k-po....in fact I try to copy the sd card, but alas....cannot...no skill....;p

 

[redstorm]

Ha ha....ya lor....everywhere I k-po....in fact I try to copy the sd card, but alas....cannot...no skill....;p

If u are talking about the original Garmin Mal/Sin maps, u can forget it. I heard it is copy-protected and so far nobody has managed to copy it.

 

[AxeLa]

If u are talking about the original Garmin Mal/Sin maps, u can forget it. I heard it is copy-protected and so far nobody has managed to copy it.

Must befriend some hacker....:bsmilie:

 

[redstorm]

Must befriend some hacker....:bsmilie:

Yeah, I am sure someone competent enough should be able to hack into it. We have yet to see a hacker doing the job for us. :bsmilie:

 

[AxeLa]

Yeah, I am sure someone competent enough should be able to hack into it. We have yet to see a hacker doing the job for us. :bsmilie:

Hmmmm.....I go google see have or not....

 

[redstorm]

Hmmmm.....I go google see have or not....

Do let us know if u can find it. Thx.

 

[AxeLa]

Do let us know if u can find it. Thx.

Ha ha u joker...:angel:

 

[vickuik]

Bought a Garmin Nuvi 310 last week frm Allbright, textile centre, jln sultan.
Got tts (text to speech) n bluetooth function. MP3 n also photoviewing capability using sd card. I'm using malsing map. So far, enjoying every minute with it. Drive to Muar with it, very spot on.

Cheers

Allbright is the authorized dealer and the price is reasonable.

 

[Skippy]

I can't understand why one should go for the N95 GPS navigation, especially for use in a car. At the same time turn down the dedicated GPS units. My guess is they have not used a GPS unit in a car.

Here is the reality of things. N95 GPS navigation is best used when one is walking. The user interface is not optimize for use in a car. Firstly the screen is very small and second is the it is not touch screen, which mean that pressing the button to navigate. Image how would one search for the location he/she wants to go. Next, the CPU in the phone will be very slow in computing the routing path. Lastly what will happen to the application when there is an incoming phone call?

The dedicated GPS units are optimise and specialize for GPS navigation. Large and touch screen capabilities. Able to use our fingers to key in the location one wants to go. CPU is dedicated. The one advice would give is get a dedicate GPS unit that is not fixed in your car. Get one where you can bring it with you. So that when you travel to other country, you can bring it with you. There are lots of free maps out there.

Because I already have a Palm TX. The Palm TX has one of the largest touch screen PDA around. Reusing what I got, I just need to spend around $250 for a BT Garmin GPS unit. All the reset (software and maps) are free. Garmin is now providing and actively upgrading the GPS software and malsingmaps is doing the same as well.

I tried the Nokia E65 simple GPS software, connected to my BT Garmin GPS. Not bad, but screen is too small to see while driving and need to press buttons to navigate to other screen to view other information. The default loaded GPS software on the Nokia E65 does have any maps or routing capabilities.

If you want to get a GPS. Go for the Garmin range.

 

[szekiat]

for what its worth, different horses for different courses. If u want to use it off road or for hiking, the garmin 60CSx series is probably the best with its rubber armor and all. For me, driving in the EU, i prefer to use a local brand called TOMTOM as it has better maps and regular traffic updates. I used a garmin nuvi and CSx in the UK for a few months but gave up on them as they are not as up to date. Lesson learnt, get what is more common in your locale. Someone mentioned travels to the US, might be good to check US GPS forums to see what maps are frequently updated.

Garmin and Magellan are frequently used by the military for their rugged casing more than their accuracy. The military also has their own maps which are a lot more up to date for the regions they need. Lastly, some of the models they use are not sold to public. One cannot judge the value of a company just cos its a defense contractor.

 

[astroboy]

Anyone tried using GPS in China or Vietnam? What's yr experience like? Where to get the maps?

 

[AxeLa]

Anyone tried using GPS in China or Vietnam? What's yr experience like? Where to get the maps?

PW have...