Satnav ? best one ?

bobert50 · 18 Apr 2007 at 14:44

I know they're really frowned upon but i end up going to really awkward to find places from time to time. Wondering what the best one is? is it an all in one, one? or a pocket pc + tomtom 6 ?

Ideally i'm after one with a biggish screen + one that doesnt need the gps device to be powered into my car to work like my old one as sometimes i'd need to finish the journey on foot.

All suggestions appreciated!

melbourne720 · 18 Apr 2007 at 14:50

TomTom ONE for me. I tried the PDA/GPS bluetooth module route and that was too much hassle. TomTom just works.

shine · 18 Apr 2007 at 14:54

Another vote for the TomTom One, had one for over a year and no complaints.

ColinR · 18 Apr 2007 at 14:58

Tomtom will also cane the battery of a pda apparently.

I've got a mate who's got a pda with built in gps, and I've just ordered a solar powered bluetooth GPS receiver for this purpose (arrives tomorrow, so no review). 30 hours of power without sunlight once fully charged (according to the literature - real life might be different, but should be long enough to last a night). I plan to stick it on the dash with velcro and stick it in my pocket when I get to my destination.

shiner · 18 Apr 2007 at 15:09

I've got a tom tom 510 and its great would recommend

bobert50 · 18 Apr 2007 at 15:36

Hi thanks for the replies.

I've just been fiddling with my old one with the new tomtom 5 (can't afford 6!).

So i'd like to change my question!!

My only real problem is the fact the gps needs to be in the cig lighter as its separate to the pda (its a hp something or another!). Anyone know where you can buy a new separate gps that would work? sounds like you've bought a separate one already colinR?

thx

ColinR · 18 Apr 2007 at 16:19

"No competitors" posting rule prevents me from posting a direct link, but here's the device:

Double-H DH-GB-ML Solar Powered Bluetooth GPS Receiver works with all Navigation Software £39.95

As I mentioned previously, I've bought it, but not received it. It may arrive tomorrow (unlikely now), but the DVD drive I've also got on order isn't in stock yet (due today) and the order won't be dispatched until it's complete.

So I don't have it in my grubby mitts. I'll be able to tell you if it works with my HP Ipaq 6365 as soon as I get it.

bobert50 · 18 Apr 2007 at 16:23

thanks - please do

gonna go try find the one your refering to now

bobert50 · 18 Apr 2007 at 16:31

cool.

Curious how they'd work. Whether you can just put the gps in your pocket or whether you have to walk around with the pda in your left hand and the gps in your right like a bit of a plonker to get a signal

ColinR · 18 Apr 2007 at 16:35

If the GPS signal can penetrate a windscreen, I think it should be able to penetrate a pocket!

But if I'm close enough to walk, I should be able to see my final destination, so shouldn't be too much of a problem.

stoofa · 18 Apr 2007 at 17:40

If I was buying everything from new I'd probably go for an all in one unit and go for a TomTom.
However I owned a Dell Axim X50v.
So I purchased a Bluetooth reciever and a copy of TomTom 6 and took that route and the setup works excellently.

I have an excellent cradle in the car that has the cigarette lighter attachment already hard wired in - it's designed for use with the Axim.
So it's always charging the unit while I'm in the car.
The Bluetooth receiver has an insane amount of battery life - so I never have any fear of either running down.

Extremely pleased with my selection, however if I hadn't already owned an Axim I would have bought something along the lines of a TomTom One.

ColinR · 20 Apr 2007 at 23:55

Finally arrived this morning, and it works a charm.

It comes with a battery (I think it's the same as a Nokia phone battery) with a charger which looks very similar to a Nokia charger (unsure whether it is as I don't have a Nokia phone any more). It has four very soft rubber feet, that allowed me to wedge it in between my dash and screen without it sliding all over the shop.

When you initially set it up, you're suppose to leave it under "open skies" for 15-20 minutes. I left it on the window sill (after mains charging it for the requisite 4 hours) and it was okay (no way was I going to leave it outside!).

Performance is excellent. It works flawlessly inside a pocket, and even works in the front room of my first floor flat! 9 satellites then 7, then wavered between 7 and 9 for a bit then settled on 7. All this time, my dad's actual Tomtom 300 couldn't get enough to operate. All in all the receiver is excellent...just need to get my Ipaq to speak up a bit now!