There's a lot I don't know about GPS

I am a great fan of foldable maps that can be spread out over a coffee
table and stared at for hours, and so have been slow to move to GPS.
I imagine that there are many fans of GPS among you, for whom I have
some questions:

What should I look for if purchasing a GPS thingo?
Is there some kind of payment/subscription rate involved?
Does the data/system get updated, or do you have to buy a new unit for
new data (eg new roads)?
Anybody get one from ALDI?
Does coverage go everywhere, or is it more along the lines of mobile
broadband?
I imagine that the comforting Massachusetts accent would work well in
a car but wouldn't it be pointless on a bike?
Who does a reliable system for attaching it to a bike? Or is it best
in the clear top of a tank bag?

Cheers, I don't know this stuff.

 

Useful in some situations but no replacement for foldable maps or a street
directory; if you spend lots of time in unfamiliar places saying
'wherethefark arewee?' it might be useful

More useful in a car than on a bike, and most useful when interstate or
overseas especially when a missed freeway exit will really be a bit of a
drama.

Good things to have -

1. Ability to enter waypoints, routes and edit them using a pc and after a
trip to download the where you were bits (called a track or breadcrumbs) -
using the limited buttons on the gps to do all that gets a bit tedious.

2. Small enough to use handheld when on foot when hiking or in unfamiliar
suburbs.

3. Ability to overlay topographic with street maps (the new garmins do this)

4. Secure cradle and easy to charge - as to mounts have a look at he
motorcycle options at - http://www.ram-mount.com/products/products.htm
Ugly as sin, expensive but secure. I used one of their cradles but used the
screen mount thing as the bet way of attaching it out of harms way.

5. A lot of volume on a bike.

6. Ability to update maps by changing memory cards

Fixed speed cameras and school zones are pretty well mapped Australia wide
and usually given in with the maps these days - all of the urban maps are
based on the Sensis / telstra mapping software

Usually you pay for an updated memory card which updates the map for the
whole country, speed cameras etc. How often do you update your street
directory?

Cheap and cheerful; make sure there is a money back guarantee - it may be
needed. Quality and longevity not always big features of Aldi gadgets.

Any where you can see enough of the sky (through window windscreen or
skylight no problem)- an oblique view from inside a window is often enough.
Can be problematic under thick foliage and no use under a roof.

If you can find a dark, out of the way place on the bike (I occasionally
attach mine behind the screen on the wee strom and use it as a more accurate
speedo or to warn of turns coming up that I really should make) - I can
usually see the turn arrows - don't worry about the sound on the bike

Try the ram mounts site up above or where you put a map inside a tank bag is
also good but a bit of a pain getting a power cable to (the internal
batteries don't seem to last long if you leave it on).

Occasionally useful but suggest you borrow one from a mate for a weekend
before shelling out hard $.

Whole gps deal is likely to change when they put turn by turn out on the
next generation of iphones with the ability to import and export to google
earth - which I suspect will replace dedicated hand held gps - but whatever
you do try before you buy.

There is of course the view that you never really get lost on a bike - the
trip just takes a bit longer than you thought it would ...

 

With the TomTom you pay when you want to update your map, just like
you do with a paper one, and download off the net.

As above, simply a matter of paying and downloading new maps, and
uploading onto the unit.

They are satellite based, so should work everywhere in the designated
region. The TomTom comes loaded with mapping for Australia, and you
can buy maps for other regions, eg NZ, Europe, the US.

You get to choose from a couple of voices in the pack, and you can
download others.

The ram mount works well on the Triumph.

I'm using a TomTom Rider 2 which attaches to the bike via a ram mount,
and blue tooth for the ear peice. The Tomtom rider kit came with all
the necessaries, including a Cardo bluetooth unit and the ram mount. I
wound up buying a Blueant Interphone as I wasn't happy with the Cardo
unit, but I am very happy with the Interphone.

I've used it a couple of times in anger now, and it works a treat.
Going into Brisbane, it took me to the doorstep of my friend's
residence painlessly. I buggered up once when I took a wrong exit (two
close together), but I wasn't paying enough attention to the distance
countdown - the unit shows in metres how far away the turns are. The
unit additionally has red light and speed light alarms built in, which
again worked well.

You have to pay to update the maps, prices seem to vary for different
brands.

Other options might include using a mobile phone that has a GPS built
in, and bluetooth to a head set. Some mobile phones have the maps
built in, (eg Nokia 6210 Navigator), others are pay per use.

I've travelled extensively using folding maps, and always managed to
get to where I was going to, but the GPS makes life very easy. I'd be
reluctant to go back to paper maps only.

cheers, Bill

 

They work well and are well worth having if you travel a lot to
strange new places. There is a safety aspect to them in that you can
set yourself up properly for turns, as well as convenience associated
with not having to U turn big bikes in suburban streets after missed
turns. There are lots of ram type mounts so setting up is fairly
straight forward. You need a waterproof system, and thus $$$ are high
for a bike. I use mine for Aviation, the car and the bike, and it is
also suited to marine work, so it is relatively economical despite the
high initial price. Mine is mounted via a ram mount onto the tank bag,
thus avoiding drilling holes or scratching chrome. It is hooked into
the Autocom, and is powered by the bike charging system. It is totally
portable and if you take the tank bag off the bike there is no trace
of it remaining, apart from the connecting cords that can be moved out
of sight.
You can buy updated software. You can change the voice but you have to
accept the American accent.
It's a good thing, but it is expensive and you have to do your own
economic analysis, I guess.
HTH

 

I, too, love proper maps.

You need to think about what you want to use it for, and how much money
you are prepared to throw at it.

Sometimes, depends on make and/or method.

Phone based systems, I believe, run up quite high data transfer costs.

Again, depends on make. Some have free updates, others charge... Oh boy,
do they charge!

BTW, the mapping has mistakes in it. :-(

Some are deliberate, and some can be quite confusing.

New roads are typically updated properly, but when a local council

Yes. Cheapskate that I am, I resisted buying a GPS navigator unit until
ALDI had one for $129.

I had originally got it for Angie's use, since she spends a lot of time
driving about with her job, and we were sufficiently impressed to buy a
second one, a Garmin, on special at $185-ish.

GPS based ones work where ever they get some sight of the sky.

Some of the phone-based systems only work when the appropriate phone
network is available.

Again, depends. If the GPS talks, and you have a way of hearing on the
bike, then it works. The ALDI one has a wee socket to plug in old
fashioned wire connected earphones, inside the helmet, so I can hear
that one.

As it happens, the ALDI also has the option to have different voices and
different languages.

The Garmin that I have doesn't have any connection for sound, it just
talks, and, of course, is pretty useless on a bike.

If you already have bluetooth comms stuff sorted out for your bike, a
bluetooth talking GPS should be able to hook into that kind of gear.

Both GPS navigators that I have are small screen jobs, which are basically
too hard to use, just visually on a bike, but you can get 7" screen units
which might be useful, if you watch them often enough, although that is
less
useful for speed camera/school zone warnings.

I don't know that much myself, but I reckon, if possible, folk would do
well to contact the likes of GPSOZ for some hints.

www.gpsoz.com.au

For example, they sell Garmin units, and also maintain their own road
hazards, POIs, speed camera locations, for free update by their
customers, provided the unit was bought from them.

Hope this helps a bit.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

my quick 2 cents as every one else has made great points


dont buy from ALDI... I have one here on my desk and its faulty and
they are crap
Pay the little extra and get the TomTom One
http://www.shopbot.com.au/pp-tomtom-one-price-18632.html
learn to use mininova.org and download new maps


TomTom one is not good for the bike, if you want one for the bike then
its the TomTom Rider
http://www.shopbot.com.au/default.asp?kw=TomTom+Rider&position=search

when you need to get to point A to B in the quickest time, forget
maps.. GPS all the way, brilliant..

when you want to find the most enjoyable fun route, sit down with your
maps and plan your route, then program it into the GPS... best of both
worlds

or just program your destination in, totally ignore it go where ever
you want and just pay attention to it when you want to finally get
there, it will just recalculate the route on the go.


They are a fantastic tool, but far from a replacement for maps
especially for recreational riding.

hth

mh

 

You've asked most of the important questions yourself, so I'll answer them
as we go along.

AFAIK, only for the Windows Mobile combination phone/organiser ones.
Basically, they stockpile maps internally (via internet) as you drive along,
so if you pass that part again, it isn't downloaded again. Some have options
to pre-download sections where you might not have phone data access when you
get there.
However, this involves internet data transfer, so you're paying - and in
Australia, that usually means quite dearly.
As far as subscriptions go, some may offer free internet downloads but with
a fixed subscription, others the other way around.
Those who use this service could answer this question more comprehensively.

The "rest of them" contain data for the entire country, and nothing is
downloaded. You're paying more up front, but basically don't have to fork out
another cent for years. (or ever if you choose).

As above, if there is new data, it'll download (or could optionally
download) the updated bits as you go along.

As for "the rest" you can usually purchase new SD cards or CDs with updated
data every few years or so.
For some units, they are very definitely a one-off purchase with no more to
buy. Ever. Others are updated on a (semi?)regular basis, others are updated
till the manufacturer chooses to no longer support it.

Some may argue their value for money, but there is no doubt they are cheap.
In every possible way. No upgrades for one thing (if that's important for
you over the product's life span).

As above, if it gets maps as it goes along (WinMobile+Phone) then yes,
unless you have the option of downloading maps before you get out there.
With the units that have maps built-in, then it has what it has already in
there.

Theoretically, yes you can route audio, (and yes I've done it) but
personally, I never bothered past the initial "playing with it" stage. The
visuals for me were enough to do the job.

There are motorcycle options for many of the units, (external power,
handlebar mounts, waterproof) etc.

For the rest, <http://www.ram-mount.com/> Note that some units comes with
RAM-brand mounts straight out of the box, but I've found those cheap and
nasty. It appears RAM make cheapos designed for mass marketing and included
for certain products only (not available on their own), but they are CHEAP.
Presumably to not increase the total cost too far, and certainly crappier than
their usual compliment of goods.

No. It's akin to placing the unit in a car near the gear level
(intentionally I mean, not the TomTom units that have fallen off the
windshield and cracked themselves against the gear lever).

I tried using a tankbag map, it pissed me off in short order that I had to
look and squint against the plastic in the sun...

Other things that come to mind:

The obvious: Water proof. When it rains, you get wet, and so does the box.
But where you get a bit soggy, the unit stops working.. So if your unit is
not waterproof, be sure you can get it out of the rain quickly.

There are "cheaper" higher quality options which run on WindowsCE boxes (or
Windows Mobile but without the subscription online stuff). OziexplorerCE,
Fugawi, Memory Map etc.
But for these, maps are "optional" in that you have to buy them as extras.
If you choose this, it will (most likely) be cheaper, better value for
money, and superior functionality compared to everything else.
But, there is a steeper learning curve for all the functions (even if it is
worthwhile), and you don't get autorouting with most/all of these options.

</soapbox>
Autorouting is the biggest crock of shit I've seen ever. I know my way
around in a foreign city better than it does, I don't need to do bloody
U-turns every 10 minutes, and I don't need some mindless bimbo telling me to
do bloody U-turns every 10 minutes.
</soapbox>

There, I feel better now.

 

I use the TomTom One on the bike. Works fine for me. But then
again, I have low expectations.

Absolutely agree.


Even good in the lounge room. Was thinking of doing a trip to
Shepparton Vic (I'm near Sydney) and in a couple of minutes TomTom
told me it was 745 kms, and that it would take me 8hrs 15 min.
Cool.


=================

Onya bike

Gerry

 

as another Scot cheapskate I bought a cheap one too, only to find the voice
commands were "cold, cold, warm, warmer.... hot hot hot.."
actually I bought a Mio P350 two years ago as it was also a PDA and
claimable on my tax. We were looking for a new house at the time and I was
driving and my wife was navigating... so I bought a GPS.

Joe.

 

I use mine for Aviation, the car and the bike, and it is
also suited to marine work, so it is relatively economical despite the
high initial price. Mine is mounted via a ram mount onto the tank bag,
thus avoiding drilling holes or scratching chrome. It is hooked into
the Autocom, and is powered by the bike charging system. It is totally
portable and if you take the tank bag off the bike there is no trace
George
Which unit are you using George?

 

Garmin GPSMap296
It's an overkill for the bike but the versatility works for me

 

With the tom tom although you pay for new maps the camera position
update can be free.There seems to be a user facility where users can
notify new positions and people can update from it

 

You already got a lot of sensible advice, but in a nutshell: the unit
must be waterproof, vibration-resistant, able to be operated with a
gloved hand, fitted with screen bright enough to compete with daylight,
and able to charged off a motorcycle.

We've eliminated anything you can buy from Aldi right there. Motorcycle
GPS (including mount) run around $600+. You have to really *need* one to
spend that sort of money.

 

Thanks CC

 

Hey martyh

why does the car one not work on a bike vibez?

how do u do tha mininova thang?

 

U can by tinned fruit in shops u don't have to go to spc

 

I reckon it would be feasible to run a mobile phone GPS in a tank bag
(probably in a zip lock bag for waterproofing), with either bluetooth
or ear phones. The voice directions I've witnessed (I was going to say
'seen') on a Nokia 6110 Navigator appeared functional.

Bill

 

U go 2 teh syte, thn ya get teh bitz u needs. Instructies in dem too.

 

I'll pay that one ...

=================

Onya bike

Gerry

 

If you can get any device to operate bluetooth for several hours without
failing, you're clearly smarter than pretty much the whole of the rest
of humanity (including bluetooth engineers). Assuming the battery lasts,
that is.