Newby Needs Expert Opinions

[Smilodon]

RE: Newby Needs Expert Opinions

I’m new to the GPS world, but fairly familiar with the technology used. I’ve been trolling the boards and studying the reviews, but finally decided to sign-up here and get some expert opinions on my planned purchase. All the looking and studying of specs can’t make up for real-world experience.

I am a motorcycle rider and a frequent road explorer (I.E. I get lost alot, sometimes intentionally), both on bikes and in cars. I have a fairly new PDA (HP hx2415). This model has Bluetooth and WiFi. When I bought the PDA, one of the planned uses was for GPS.

I am currently planning my third trip to the Isle of Man from the US for the TT (on a bike of couse). After the TT itself, we usually tour the UK in one direction or another. The plan is to try to use GPS technology for this trip. This is the major driver behind my purchase, but I also want to use the unit at home in the US, and in a car as well as on a bike.

Here is a summary of my choices and the reasoning behind them. Any opinions that could be offered, good or bad, would be appreciated.

PDA: HP hx2415. Well, I’ve already got that, so it’s a given.
GPS Receiver: Holux GPSlim236. I chose this unit based on it’s readily available Nokia batteries, SiRF III chipset and USB charging (same as PDA, so one less charger).
GPS Software: Tom Tom Navigator 5.1 or CoPilot Live 6. TTN seems to have the momentum behind it for ease of use and customizable POIs, etc. CoPilot seems to have better maps and a high-end feature set like TTN. But, I’m almost guessing here, with no real-world experience with them.
Accessories: Big SD cards and an extended battery pack (box full of AA batteries) for the PDA. Various chargers (UK and US compliant).

The IOM trip will be two up, and I was planning on putting the GPS receiver and PDA in a plastic bag on my back (so my passenger can see the maps), with headphones for both of us to listen to the directions. I’m still trying to decide if I should spring for a set of bike intercoms (kinda pricey and what models allow aux. audio in?). But the solution also will need to work riding solo with the unit in a tankbag.

We will be using a hire bike during the trip and the exact model and year will only be known when we get it. So, things wired into the bike are pretty much ruled out.

Software-wise, Tom Tom would seem to be ruled out right away, because it has no Isle of Man maps (apparently, hard to get facts here), while CoPilot does (again, apparently). But that isn’t really a big issue (more of an annoyance), as I can only get so lost on the island. The real problem is getting there through the UK, and the touring after the trip. Still, that map missing makes me wonder about map quality elsewhere.

Features I would like in the software: The ability to review an autoroute and adjust it for typical biker things (to ride a special road for example). The ability to save the actual trip taken (for future planning) would be nice, although I haven’t seen this in most of the mainstream software. Good audio guidance (don’t want to take my eyes off the road on a bike). A good interface to the maps to plan a tour beforehand, rather than just point-to-point between addresses. And, of course, custom POIs (bike meet spots, bike shops, etc.).

The main things I am interested in are opinions on the software and the method of use. I was hoping to get a discussion going to help my knowledge, as well as the education of hearing about other’s “ideal” setups, particularly for bikes and car/bike/whatever flexible use.

[lbendlin]

Mapopolis would have been the best of both worlds (excellent trip planner, route recording, decent maps) but unfortunately it is not usable on a bike (it does need a stylus for data entry)

You may indeed need to go with CoPilot.
_________________
Lutz

Report Map Errors here:
TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

[Smilodon]

I had understood reading the reviews (typically out of date, unfortunately) that Mapopolis is a little weak in the voice guidance area.

What is the general opinion of TTN 5.1 versus CoPilot 5/6? Don't want to start a religious war on this, I am completely new to this software and don't really have any preferences.

I do see more positive "buzz" regarding Tom Tom, but that might just be that they have better press agents!

[Darren]

OK, PDA and GPS Receiver, no problems with that. As you have correctly identified, TomTom has no IOM coverage and very basic itinerary planning so CoPilot would seem to be the better of the two for your requirements.

However, CoPilot doesn't major on custom POIs and I personally find TomTom the better of the two with regards to the User Interface and geberal usability. TomTom do have an Intinerary facility but whether it would suffice for your needs is difficult to say.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[Smilodon]

Thanks for the info! 8) I am "hearing" that CoPilot 6 improves the custom POI ability. Has anybody had the new version long enough to verify this?

[Smilodon]

Addendum (I'm full of questions, or full of something anyhow! ):

Anybody have any experience about how iNav's iGuidance would fit my needs? I really haven't heard that much about it, particularly in terms of how it works in the UK (roundabouts, map coverage, speed camera database compability, etc.)

[lbendlin]

- no custom POIs (means no speed cameras)
- no itinerary mode

that pretty much rules it out for your requirements
_________________
Lutz

Report Map Errors here:
TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

[Smilodon]

Well, I'll have to grit my teeth and buy something at some point. I'm leaning toward CoPilot 6, but the price of USA/Europe maps for it ($500 8O ) is scaring me off. I may end up with Tom Tom Nav. 5.1 unless somebody can suggest something better.

Thanks again for all the help. 8)

[Smilodon]

Hopefully, I'm not straining the helpful nature of the experts here , but I'm still deciding (actually angling for an xmas gift now! ).

It took me a while to realize that "OnCourse Navigator" and "Navigon" are related products (hence no OCN page here as Navigon would be the UK product). I was thinking of OCN 5.1, as the features and map quality look good (all Navteq US and Europe I believe). Now that I know it is similar to Navigon (5), any thoughts on this product for my needs?

OCN does appear to be a bit heavy on resource usage, so not sure if my hx2400 is up to the task. The relative performance of the products isn't really addressed in a comparison-type format that I've seen.

BTW: I found better pricing on CoPilot (an oddity in their US site web ordering setup), so now Tom Tom 5.2, CoPilot 6, and OCN 5 are roughly in the same price range. It's really a matter of features at this point, rather than price.

[lbendlin]

If your machine has a 400 MHz processor or better then OCN may work acceptably. I would not want to use it on a bike though, the UI is just not fit for that.
_________________
Lutz

Report Map Errors here:
TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

[Smilodon]

Thanks again. Well, it looks like it'll just be a tough decision then. I'm leaning toward CoPilot, simply because I can try it for 30 days.

Tom Tom looks the easiest to use, and I think I can live without some of the features I wanted, but map quality is an issue (and no Isle of Man).

On Course seems very good as well.

Why doesn't everybody provide trial software!

[TazUk]

[Smilodon]

I decided to go with CoPilot for the moment. I plan on using the 30 day trial to make sure it does what I want.

The planning, waypoint and map quality (inclusion of Isle of Man was a plus) were key factors. But, the trial period was the final seller. I can make sure it works with my GPS hardware, PDA, memory card, etc. with little risk.

If it works reasonably well, I will keep it, and get the UK region maps activated before my big trip.

[JONZEY]

I am using the IPAQ 2210 with a Holux compactflash GPS receiver on my BMW Motorcycle. As for the connection to the earphone socket I am using a a single earphone which clips and fits around the ear lobe. It costs only £4.99 from Maplin and you can still wear your ear plugs !!!. A lot cheaper than your autocom as far as single riding is concerned. The only problem, it is awkward at first putting your helmet on, however after a bit of practice it isn't to bad.
MUST BE WORTH A TRY FOR £4.99p

[Smilodon]

Yeah, the autocomm would be a secondary purchase for passenger/rider communication, not primarily for GPS listening. I have any number of cheapie earplug/headphones for that.

Although Autocomm was having a half-price sale! But too much money spent for the time being on gadgets.

Thanks to Santa, I now have a Holux GPSlim 236 and CoPilot 6 installed on my IPAQ 2415!

I took a test trip to 5 unknown locales (used book stores) in the truck, and it worked admirably. CoPilot has its share of usability issues, which I will discuss/get help with in the near future in the CoPilot forum.

But for routing me around it was great! Motorcycle tests to follow.

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