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Advice on systems wanted for ambulance use

 
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medic7staff
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Joined: Dec 29, 2005
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:30 pm    Post subject: Advice on systems wanted for ambulance use Reply with quote

I need to fit a GPS capability to a bike used by an accident doctor (www.medics.org.uk) attending emergency calls for the ambulance service, so it needs to be reliable.

We have two bikes, a GL1800 two seater and a pan European ST1300 single seat, so the sytem needs to transfer between these.

We also need to update our phones so could consider a phone based system rather than a dedicated unit if it would be reliable enough.

We are consider three options:
1. A Garmin Quest (if we can confirm that it will do a full 7 digit postcode search) linked to the different intercoms/radio systems we have on each bike, which we need to update anyway.
2. A new Nokia Communicator (we like these for other reasons to do with address book capabilities and need to replace our current 9110 anyway) with appropriate software loaded (is Tomtom any good) and a bluetooth GPS dongle. The phone to connect to the bike intercom/helmet either by bluetooth (if it can support multiple connections) or cable.
3 An iPaq 6515 (GPS Enabled) with added TomTom (or other) software for full satnav function, linked to the bike the same way as proposed with a Nokia Communicator.

If we use the phone options, the phone (and possibly the dongle) may stay in the pocket of our jackets as there is limited safe space on the ST1300 for a mounting and if we attach too much to the handlebars it will get nicked when we forget it and dismount to attend a job in less pleasant parts of the city.

We obvously need something that is accurate, responds fast to changes in our speed and direction, can re-route on the fly if we get diverted and which can be updated as and when there are major changes to street layout, the ability to add addresses (both at the unit and via a PC) are important and any camera locations (for when we are not "responding") would be useful as well. We need absolutely full UK mapping.

If anyone has any comments on our ideas, or any reasonable alternatives to suggest, I would be grateful.

Thank you
Charles
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Keba
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Joined: Dec 05, 2005
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you are after just full postcode search and not interested in GPS location destinations, then don't exclude the TomTom Rider - it will fit in with your requirements as far as you have outlined them above.

TomTom don't (currently) do on-the-fly GPS location destinations, but do have the full postcode entry system and full UK mapping as much as anybody else has the full mapping (the maps are done by a small number of companies and used by GPS manufacturers - the Rider uses a slightly different map company to the rest of the TomTom Go range, but its compatable with the other type as well that TomTom use). This is relevant to all the TomTom software as in the end its based on the same core system regardless of if its an all-in-one or PDA based device.

Combining a GPS system (regardless of its type) with an Autocom or Starcom1 unit would be the only other recommendation that I would give that you may have missed - very few of the 'comes in the GPS box' systems work reliably at over 40mph for a motorcyle rider as far as my research has determined.

Starcom1 currently do a very small (waterproof) bluetooth 'powered by the bike' pairing system that can be paired with either the phone or potentially the GPS unit. Autocom's bluetooth option currently is not designed for a motorcycle (its a Nokia Car Kit that isn't very waterproof according to my research), although rumours are rampant that Autocom will be releasing a Bluetooth integrated system sometime in 2006 - something Autocom themselves keep denying. There are other brands too such as Intaride as well, but it appears Starcom1 and Autocom are best of breed in this respect.
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alix776
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Location: leyland lancs ENGLAND

PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

one thing springs to mind is copilot 6 but you would need a pda phone to get the full benifet from it as it would give you the opportunity for control to route and send to new kob to the rider this could be done on the fly as circumstances change have word with someone like holuxuk or one of the emergancy services providers
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Skippy
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Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

medic7staff wrote:
1. A Garmin Quest (if we can confirm that it will do a full 7 digit postcode search) linked to the different intercoms/radio systems we have on each bike, which we need to update anyway.


The Quest won't do 7 digit postcode search. The newer Quest 2 will.

The Quest is a good unit but probably too small for everyday use. The main limitation is the address entry which can be a pain without a touch screen. Route calculation speed is reasonable, but if you are going somewhere with blue lights on then you will probably find it too slow.

Have a look at the StreetPilot 2720 which does postcode lookup, speed camera alerts etc. It's not cheap though.

When buying a unit, check to see if you are getting UK maps only or full European maps. The Europe maps are an expensive add-on if you need them.

For mounting, check out RAM mounts. They are solid mounts and quick release. http://www.ram-mount-uk.com/

I used to use CoPilot before I got my Quest. I gave up because it was a pile of junk and kept crashing, giving wacky routes or having problems bonding to the Bluetooth GPS unit. There is a new version out now but it seems to have it's own problems. Read the CoPilot forum carefully before you consider buying CoPilot. Caveat emptor.
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