Advice needed please

Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

Hello people

Been doing a lot of reading on this forum, and starting to get a bit dizzy now with the knowledge you lot have Laughing

I am very tempted by a PDA based navigation system.

Reasons :

I am in independent I.T contractor, and have recently taken over managing the I.T for a school. Everything was a mess, and there's nobody to really understand computers, so I've got to now deal with various administrative departments, lots of phone numbers, addresses, passwords, information, and so on.

There is a need to carry around information, emails, documents, and don't want to have a laptop on the London Underground and go through the hassle of security checks and the subsequent wastage of time.

Which is why, I think I need to get a PDA which I can carry around conviniently in my pocket.

I have a few mates, who have these PDA based navigations systems, and am quite impressed so far.

One bought an iPAQ, got 2nd hand TomTom and GPS kit/mount from eBay, and he's sorted.

Another bought the Dell Axim, but it had some trouble (like Dell usually do !) and he had to get a replacement. But still, did the job.

Another one got a full HP rz1710 with TT setup. Very nice.

The possibility of being able to 'pick up and move' the whole setup from one car to another is ideal for me, as we have 2 cars in the family.

AND, now, the reason why I'm asking the question, is because the wife has booked a 3 day trip into Europe in 3 weeks time, via Eurostar, and then drive along into a choice of a few countries we fancy - probably France and Switzerland.

So, as you can see, I haven't got much time to go out, buy, then setup, and then test out the reliability of these PDA based systems - don't want to get lost in a foreign country !

I'm tempted by 2 choices :

1. HP iPAQ HX4700 PDA, Microsoft Windows PC 2003, Tom Tom 3, an SysOnChip CF II GPS Receiver, 256MB SD Card, all orginal software/manuals etc.

Comes with Arkon iPAQ hx4700 CM705 Powered PDA Mount.

This is a 2nd hand system, only a few months old - how much is it worth ?

2. Buy a brand new HP iPAQ HX2750 PDA. Then go out and buy TomTom Navigator 5, and a good GPS Receiver/mount.

I'm actually tempted by the HX2750 as it is smaller, lighter and with better functions than the HX4700.

Found this one on eBay : Link here

Could someone please tell me whether going for this PDA setup worth the money ? Don't want to end up with a useless bit of kit within a year or so Embarassed

Sorry for the long post, appreciate all help/advice. Thanks in advance....

mikealder · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 9:11 pm Post subject:

From the link supplied it looks as though is is not a true copy of TomTom but yet another copy - the price might seem attractive but you get no upgrade path to the later versions or support so I would steer clear of this purchase. If you want the 4700 then by all means purchase the unit via e-bay but get the software from TomTom as a true purchase as you will need to upgrade to version 5,1 for it to work reliablely on the ipaq - although with two days to go I think you will be hard pushed to get what you need in support of the upcomming trip - Mike

Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

Hi Mike

Thanks for the reply.

I'm surprised to read about that version of TomTom being just a copy. He seems to make tall claims then about it being a totally genuine product ?

I'm more inclined towards the 2750 rather than the 4700, because the 2750 is smaller and lighter (not much though). But it has fingerprint ID, which I think is a good security feature.

So, if I get one, and then get TT 5, will I get the GPS receiver and mount from TT, or can I buy that seperately from elsewhere ?

Found a company called EuroSimm selling the 2750 for a pretty good price. Anyone knows about them ?

mikealder · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:27 am Post subject:

The choise with the GPS and car holder is down to the buyer, the TT units will be OK but I am sure there are better units out there in terms of battery life and sensitivity, have a dig around on here for revues etc. but in reality most GPS units will do what you want, if you have a car with a-thermic glass get one with real good sensitivity, as for the mounts I personally like the amplified ones as it saves hammering the PDA's speaker, although mine is now coupled through the car audio system, so the nav sounds eminate from the stereo along with the music. As for the e-bay I just think the way it is worded gives it away, "TomTom pre-installed with a CD back-up for re-installations" does not claim to be OEM disk(s) or licence, also the PDA offered has little memory and will not prove to be upgradeable for very long, you can run TT5 on that modl but not without messing with the install - Mike

Donald · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Advice needed please

Greetings Sir B

Firstly, I would definately say that you a a prime candidate for the PDA route. I use my PDAs extensively for notes, addresses, appointments, etc. And recently added the GPS facility (via TT2, 2.3 5 & now 5.1)

Very happy with it!

Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

Hi Donald

Thanks for the reply.

Been 'trying to' do some reading up, as there are SO many different options, I just seem to be going round and round in circles about which GPS receiver/mount to go for.

About the Dell comments, well, I used to like them about 3 years ago, BEFORE they got all greedy and their customer services went out the window.

This school I'm referring to; they bought 25 brand new computers, 4 have had monitors replaced in 2 months, and out of 4, top of the range laptops, 1 had a dead motherboard. Out of the box !!!

Anyway, I'll stop ranting about Dell. Let's talk about better things. Laughing

I'm quite tempted by either the option 1 that I mentioned in my first post, or get an iPAQ 2750 with a 1 GB memory card, and then get the bits I want.

Only question now is : what GPS receiver and mount do I go for ?

Donald · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:34 pm Post subject:

Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

Yes, I've read a bit about the ARKON range, and they seem to be highly recommended, but I can't find much ARKON range available here in the UK Crying or Very sad

I've browsed on eGay, and found a few of the highly recommended GlobalSat SIRF III Bluetooth receivers.

BUT, most of them seem to be supplied from HongKong or other countries.

Here's an example

Has anyone got any experience of such units ? Will it be OK to use here in the UK ?

StevenGourlay · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:42 am Post subject:

Why not have a look at the Holux 236 SIRF III Bluetooth receiver, you get UK support on them and you can see the review on this website below

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=144806#144806
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Steven Gourlay
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Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

Hi Steven

Thanks for the link. That unit does look very good.

However, I browsed around and I can see the TomTom Navigator 5 Bluetooth package, which is the software and their Bluetooth receiver (which uses sIRF III), all together.

Since I'll be needing the software anyway, is that a good package to go for ?

How good is that receiver, when compared to the Holux one ?

StevenGourlay · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:05 am Post subject:

The GPS is good but it does not have a removable batter so after 12 months if your battery fails then you need to buy a new GPS. Thats the good thing with removable batteries.
_________________
Regards
Steven Gourlay
Bike Pics! Bike Chat! Visit-Ullapool

Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

Point taken Steve Thumbs Up

So far, this is what I've decided to buy :

1. HP iPAQ HX2750.
2. Holux 236 sIRF III chipset Bluetooth receiver

Now, what mount do I go for ? The Arkon CM705 for iPAQ 2750 ? Or is there a better mount ?

AND, most places I've seen the TomTom Navigator 5 software, show that comes on a 256MB SD card.

Will I be able to move all the data from this onto a different card ?

Reason being that I will be buying a 1GB SD card, and want to keep all data on that, so I have 1 spare slot if required ????

Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

Hmm. Can't seem to be able to edit my post, hence a 2nd reply by myself Exclamation

Forgot to mention, ideally, I want a vent mounting kit, as I am not too keen on a windscreen mounted kit. Although, I believe there are a few mounts with both options ?

Sir_B · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 17

*BUMP*

Anyone ?

Talkingbollox · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:40 pm Post subject:

Sir_B

If you buy a Proporta clear case for the 2750 you don't need to buy a mount.

This case comes with an optional belt clip which gets attached by a screw into the back of the case. For the car I use the screw with the case and just hang the iPaq on a vent mount.

I'll take some pics when i get the chance.

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