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ajhscott Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 24, 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:07 am Post subject: To converge or not to converge... |
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Just interested in others thoughts and experience; I'm contemplating purhcasing either TomTom 5 (Bluetooth) to run on my MDA Compact or the Mio 269.
I need UK and European maps but the main thing I'm interested in is how others find using their phone/PDA in the car as their GPS device?
Is it better to have separate devices (I'm usually a convergence fan hence the MDA compact) - to have a device solely for navigation - screen size, can use the phone separately, etc.
All views/thoughts/experience welcome.
Thanks |
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spangelsaregreat Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 22
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
I use TT5 with my MDA Compact without any problems.
The screen is a good size and voice prompts are loud enough to be heard over engine noise (you can connect the device to your car stereo using a tape or FM adapter if you want to play it through your stereo for more volume).
I have basic Halfords windscreen attached holder but a vent mounted unit would work just as well (I have a Skoda Octavia and the vents are a bit fragile for vent mounts).
I use a £50 eBay bought GPS unit which works fine with both TT5 and Memory Map (for use on my mountainbike).
Battery life is okay. I get about 4 to 5 hours of continious use out of the MDA Compact when using it on the bike. Obviously in the car I can use the charger but I rarely do to be honest unless it is a long journey or I am going to be using the GPS on the bike afterwards. The BT receiver has simliar battery run times.
Convergence is the way ahead. I am sure in a year or two most PDA phones will have GPS built in.
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spangelsaregreat Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 22
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Forgot to mention about the phone usage.
I do have a slight problem in that I get a bit of interference in my BT headset if I use it at the same time as the BT GPS. I am not a big phone user in the car so it is not a big problem.
I am not sure if this is a one off or if others have similar problems.
Regards |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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I use the O2XDAIIs which as yet is still running their (supplied ROM) software, I have found it most reliable using a BT headset for the phone aspect and a cabled GPS unit for the sat nav, not sure if the compact will accept serial devices though.
Overall as a single device to do all tasks it works for me I had some problems at first (compounded by a faulty handset) but I now love the devices capability when out and about on the road, in the fells or even the pub / hotels - (still stay connected to the internet wherever you are) - Mike |
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ajhscott Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 24, 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Surrey
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies. I know the latest HP has a built in GPS receiver so it seems to be the way to go.
How about the MDA Compact screen size? Does this work OK? Come to think of it - does TomTom 5 support landscape?
Still not really decided - also quite like the fact you can access the Mio 269's OS (being a MobilePro 900c owner....) and the fact they're releasing a free update in October (which will probably thwart the hacking!).
Input appreciated....
Cheers
Andrew |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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ajhscott wrote: | Come to think of it - does TomTom 5 support landscape? |
It does. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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