Cheap GPS device @ Canadian Tire, may be great for warm weather rides.

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toysareforboys said:
Because I'm sure some people here are more knowledgable then me when it comes to GPS...

Can I axe my Nokia 500 and load the iGo software on it? I'm finding the routing on it REALLY retarded, it takes me WAY out of the way, even when I'm going somewhere close!! I only use it for GPS, I don't watch movies or listen to music on it. I like that it has the bluetooth link to my phone, so when someone calls I can see the callerID info and determine if it's important enough for me to pull over, but that's not a must.

It has a 2gb SD card in it now. Running Windows Mobile something or other.

I tried to program a "route" into it, only allows two "stopover" points per trip :(

-Jamie M.
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I dont trust the routing on a lot of GPS systems. I have an iPhone, a Garmin eTrex and a Garmin 755T. The 755T is not too bad, the iphone of course uses Google maps ,and the eTrex is hit and miss.

I generally use a GPS gor guidance on where I am and whats coming up. I dont usually plan a route because I know more about traffic flows etc that the GPS does.

I just mounted a clip on my bike for my eTrex. Will post a photo soon.
 
You all might be interested to know that our little GPS proved a useful tool in Venice. Although there are no roads to navigate there (iGO displayed a notice that the destination is in an unreachable area) it showed me the way when I needed it. The map of the city was spot on (I guess the fact that it hasn't changed in at least a hundred years helped). Of course, satellite reception in narrow streets was poor or non-existent, but it would pick up at every piazza and almost every bridge. The only thing I missed was a real compass of my e-Trex - Curtis tends to keep turning the map every which way if you are not moving and in a spot with good reception. All in all, no more folding maps of Venice for me, and I can now get lost there with confidence :)
 
very cool... I wish I had something like this when I did my backpacking in Europe for 3 weeks in '05
 
Splash said:
very cool... I wish I had something like this when I did my backpacking in Europe for 3 weeks in '05
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For that kind of use I'd recommend a solar charger - Curtis has a maximum of about 5 hours of battery life. Also some means to wear it like they do iPods, shielded from the elements. With all that you'd have a great GPS, video player, MP3 player, game console... and all of that in a very portable package.
 
Anil_zx3 said:
anyone know where to get cheap gps systems. the cheapest one i found was this.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=8707

or the monochrome one https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=30120
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Those are both old models that are poor in features and Garmin shop prices are not good. In the handheld/waterproof/long battery life category I'd recommend eTrex Vista HCx. As for stores, try GPScity (order online, no PST) or RadioWorld (store is in GTA). DealExtreme.com is also worth a look if you don't want to pay for brand name, mil-spec, waterproof...
 
Vlad said:
For that kind of use I'd recommend a solar charger - Curtis has a maximum of about 5 hours of battery life. Also some means to wear it like they do iPods, shielded from the elements. With all that you'd have a great GPS, video player, MP3 player, game console... and all of that in a very portable package.
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Solar charger...now that has me thinking,,,Eureka!!!!!!
 
Vlad said:
Those are both old models that are poor in features and Garmin shop prices are not good. In the handheld/waterproof/long battery life category I'd recommend eTrex Vista HCx. As for stores, try GPScity (order online, no PST) or RadioWorld (store is in GTA). DealExtreme.com is also worth a look if you don't want to pay for brand name, mil-spec, waterproof...
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the hcx is about a hundred dollers more than the HC what features are worth the extra 1 hundred dollers?
 
It's either the Cx or the HCx. They don't make a Vista or Legend HC

H = High-sensitivity GPS chip. "Catches" the satelites faster and works better in the woods
C = Color
x = Micro SD slot

I didn't know they still made Cx models. The only difference between the legend and the Vista is the barometric altimeter and electronic compass. The Legend has a compass that only works if you are moving.

Garmin Legend HCx 238.95
Garmin Vista HCx 285.95

 
Has anyone been able to listen to mp3's and have iGO calculate a route at the same time? I have no problem playing MP3's with media player and then switching to iGO, but as soon as I input a destination and it starts to calculate a route I get an out of memory message. iGO works fine other than calculating the route.

By the way, the dynamic volume feature in iGO works great on the MP3's in the background. As you speed up and slow down the volume changes accordingly. It's also easier to change the volume from within iGO since the controls are a little bigger.
 
Anil_zx3 said:
the hcx is about a hundred dollers more than the HC what features are worth the extra 1 hundred dollers?
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Micro SD slot. Definitely worth having, although I wouldn't dare say it's worth a hundred bucks. A 2-4GB Micro SD card ($10-15) will hold all the maps you will ever need plus all your track logs for over a year. Bye-bye uploading maps and downloading logs every other day from/to the meager 24MB of built in memory.
 
Lunatic said:
Has anyone been able to listen to mp3's and have iGO calculate a route at the same time? I have no problem playing MP3's with
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I haven't had much success, but haven't tried very hard either. Mine stops playing music when it navigates, i.e. plays only one song and then stops. I'll experiment more soon, when I get the AquaBox.

Lunatic said:
By the way, the dynamic volume feature in iGO works great on the MP3's in the background.
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That's a good tip, thanks.
 
AquaBox

Medium-wide ARM AquaBox (RAM-HOL-AQ6U) is now $50 in RadioWorld :confused:. The print-out from their web page on may 24 says $25 :mad:. I guess RW doesn't need my business, so I'll do my best not to bring it to them from now on. It's cheaper to order from GPScity.com, even with shipping included.
 
When I copied Singapore & Egpyt's maps to "MAP" folder and restart IGO 8, I can not see them on the country list, but when I do same process for Europe, I can see them on the country list immidiately, who can tell me why and how to fix it, Thanks in advance

Derek
 
Any one knows the reason? region copy right control?:snorting:

derekchai said:
When I copied Singapore & Egpyt's maps to "MAP" folder and restart IGO 8, I can not see them on the country list, but when I do same process for Europe, I can see them on the country list immidiately, who can tell me why and how to fix it, Thanks in advance

Derek
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My car charger fuse is blown....Anybody know where to get a replacement? It's not a regular fuse it has the big protruding nipple to fit into the female socket... Many thanks M.
 
m.breen said:
My car charger fuse is blown....Anybody know where to get a replacement? It's not a regular fuse it has the big protruding nipple to fit into the female socket... Many thanks M.
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That "nipple" comes off, it's not a part of the fuse. You should be able to find the fuse itself in any electronics store, try Active Surplus for starters. You can also repair/rig the fuse if you know what you are doing.

The main question is why it blew? If the new fuse burns as well get a new charger.
 
Vlad said:
That "nipple" comes off, it's not a part of the fuse. You should be able to find the fuse itself in any electronics store, try Active Surplus for starters. You can also repair/rig the fuse if you know what you are doing.

The main question is why it blew? If the new fuse burns as well get a new charger.
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Thanks, I'll get one today at the source hopefully, and why it blew...hmmm, I think I know, I was farting around with ways to charge it. Think I got it hooked up (and working) to a $10 solar battery charger from Crappy Tire. Now I'm all set for camping without electricity.
 
m.breen said:
Think I got it hooked up (and working) to a $10 solar battery charger from Crappy Tire.
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That's cool, keep us posted on the project and take some pictures if you can. I know what it all looks like, but other people may not.
 
Vlad said:
That's cool, keep us posted on the project and take some pictures if you can. I know what it all looks like, but other people may not.
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O.K. It all works great!!! The charger is the one that goes on sale at Crappy tire every once in a while for $10. I just had to solder a female lighter socket to a pigtail so that it would attach to my battery tender pigtail which is hooked up to the battery. Works great....Sorry no pics yet. Maybe I can get one of the kids to post some pics. OOps...the solar powered battery charger has the same pigtail, so I can charge it either way, I prefer the solar.
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