Cheapest and no-frills way to GPS

[Kelpie]

1. There have been some threads on fancy and expensive GPS devices.

 

2. However, even for a frequent traveller to the North, I thought a GPS would still be of help to reduce time spent on searching for locations. So I thought GPS would save me precious time.

 

3. I don't think I would spend money on a fancy GPS device. All those Bell and Whistles like MP3, video and etc are just not practical at all. A GPS device should be good at telling accurate road direction. While driving, map is of less use since concentration is on the road and to watchout for signboards.

 

4. It looks like what I need is a normal PDA (don't even need sim card) that is able to use a GPS receiver. I heard free map is easily available but wonder what is the error rate? Perhaps add another mounting kit and there we are. What do you guys think? Who have DIY such GPS setup before and would like to comment and share ideas?

 

Thank you very much.

 

Regards,

Edited February 21, 2007 by Kelpie

[Raymansg]

dunno about the sim card thingy but a lot of folks are now using Dopod D810 with the new ROM + mapking 2007. Works accurately for me.

[Kelpie]

dunno about the sim card thingy but a lot of folks are now using Dopod D810 with the new ROM + mapking 2007. Works accurately for me.

 

Won't your setup equate to the cost of a dedicated GPS deivce? I don't like the idea of bringing a bulky phone around.

 

Regards,

[Esvtec]

Hi bro,

I used my 'un-used' O2 Atom as my current GPS system in my car. Though that PDA don't come with GPS Receiver, I got a GPS Bluetooth Receiver at about $200 at ebay which come with free map as well.

I do not know about how others (expensive/better) GPS System works, but I tink my current system suits me.

Maybe you would like to try it.

[Chemz]

i use a garmin etrex.. something similar to the army. only thing u need are the coordinates. just mark it and work ur way there.. obviously such a method would not come with left/right turn directions. only the destination itself and how far is it from your current pt.

[Pisces69]

This wud b more useful on the sea, air or desert terrain. Not really much use if u need to follow roads.

[Kelpie]

i use a garmin etrex.. something similar to the army. only thing u need are the coordinates. just mark it and work ur way there.. obviously such a method would not come with left/right turn directions. only the destination itself and how far is it from your current pt.

 

Sometimes I wonder if I can hood a GPS receiver to my touch screen HU panel. One thing good about dedicated GPS device is the touch screen function but you probably won't change your course frequently during a trip.

 

Regards,

[Kelpie]

Hi bro,

I used my 'un-used' O2 Atom as my current GPS system in my car. Though that PDA don't come with GPS Receiver, I got a GPS Bluetooth Receiver at about $200 at ebay which come with free map as well.

I do not know about how others (expensive/better) GPS System works, but I tink my current system suits me.

Maybe you would like to try it.

 

I don't have a PDA phone to start with so your approach is expensive to me. By the way, which brand & model of receiver did you buy?

 

Regards,

[Kwchan]

i have been doing that with my old HP 2210 PDA for quite some time, just need to find a GPS with serial output and feed the signal to the serial port of my PDA

 

more reliable than using Bluetooth

Edited February 21, 2007 by Kwchan

[Flameblade]

are u using a nokia phone (like nseries)?

if yes http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showthread.php?t=1533392

free maps for u, you just need buy a bluetooth gps reciever.

 

if not on the market there are some gps phone like the Dopod D810 etc, or just buy any window-based pda and a bluetooth gps reciever.for me as i am using a pda phone, i just install the software and maps inside and buy a bluetooth gps reciever.

 

my 2 cents

[Somebody]

if we have a gps receiver... do we have to pay to receive? or as long as you have a receiver one can receive?

[Kelpie]

1. I've an understanding that GPS phone doesn't perform as good as a dedicated GPS device in term of speed and precision. I wonder if this is wrong?

 

2. It seems to me that dedicated GPS device such as TIBO has weak resales value.You probably can get one used one, which is less than one year old for S$500. If that is the case, GPS phone setup may be even more expensive to me. I wonder whether should I go for a used TIBO instead? Any advice or comments from TIBO users and others? Thanks.

 

Regards,

[Adrianli]

Hi, I'm a Tibo user.

 

Never used PDA+GPS receiver combo before.

 

If u want no frills and no user editable map functions, Tibo is the one for u. Juz input ur destination n it'll direct u there. It has both SG n MY maps built in. Upgradeable twice yearly by Elecom, the distributing agent.

 

After using it for slightly more than half a year, I would like to move on to a Garmin unit where there r more user editable map functions. So I'm willing to let go my Tibo if the price is rite.

[Kelpie]

What is an user editable map function? Do you have to pay for any upgrade by Elecom? Thanks.

 

Regards,

[Adrianli]

What I read, malsing maps, user can add in POI(point of interest) on to the map. Whereas Tibo mapping software forbids such operation. It only contains its own POIs.

 

There is a yearly subscription of S$8+ plus GST where u can go to them to upgrade the Tibo twice yearly. So far I have gone to them once for an upgrade. Roads r always changing so upgrade is good. As I say, Tibo is for those no frills n lazy ppl like me. Juz leave everything to the company.

 

Ur questions r best answered here:

 

http://www.elecom.com.sg/CustomerService/faq.asp#32

[Kelpie]

Thanks for the link, I'll PM you instead.

 

Regards,

[Esvtec]

Hi bro,

I used my 'un-used' O2 Atom as my current GPS system in my car. Though that PDA don't come with GPS Receiver, I got a GPS Bluetooth Receiver at about $200 at ebay which come with free map as well.

I do not know about how others (expensive/better) GPS System works, but I tink my current system suits me.

Maybe you would like to try it.

 

I don't have a PDA phone to start with so your approach is expensive to me. By the way, which brand & model of receiver did you buy?

 

Regards,

I am using holux shld be model 236... Not bad, quite useful!!!

[Adrianli]

Received n replied accordingly.