GPS again

Right then, upon many recommendations i have bought an IPAQ 4700. It seems
pretty good, although it can be very slow, am going to have to re-organise
the memory a bit I think. Dumping running tasks works quite well to speed it
up. Now I want to get so bits and bobs for it and really would like some
recommendations as I'm blinded by choice at the moment. I want to have it
mounted in the car (in which I also have a road angel). I change between
anything up to 4 vehicles (although mainly between 2) so it needs to be
transportable, window mount? proclips? As I said, already have a road angel,
also have phone mounted in there so don't want any more wires than I can get
away with. Was thinking charging cradle and bluetooth reciever (fortuna
mouse?). Guessing the cradle will need a built in speaker too (Brodit active
holder? seems expensive and not as movable as I might have liked).

Finally software...
My head is spinning with the amount on offer. Now, I spend most of
my time trying to find farms, as you can imagine this is not easy, so
accuracy is a priority. Secondly, I work around birmingham, coventry,
northampton and other large towns, on and off motorways, so avoiding traffic
is quite high on the list. Thirdly, I usually aim to visit 25-30 farms a
day, so it would be useful if I could program these in the night before and
the software find me the quickest route between. I might be asking too much
a 7 digit postcode finder would be nice. TomTom3 seems to be the most talked
about one, but the ALK Copilot live 5 looks good too, seems as though a
combination of the two is needed. Don't know whether its of any consequence,
but have been away for christmas in fathers Disco3 to highlands of scotland,
and was mightily impressed by the route finding software on that.

I will need to buy some more memory for the PDA, I'm thinking 1Gb CF and/or
1Gb SD, will this be sufficient, or are there other solutions I should look
at. It would appear that CF cards come with different speeds, what would I
need?

I would be most greatful for any help that you can offer. Have looked at
pocket pc world and although excellent, it hasn't answered my specific
needs.

Many thanks indeed.

Graham

Graham G wrote:
> Right then, upon many recommendations i have bought an IPAQ 4700. It
> seems pretty good, although it can be very slow, am going to have to
> re-organise the memory a bit I think. Dumping running tasks works
> quite well to speed it up. Now I want to get so bits and bobs for it
> and really would like some recommendations as I'm blinded by choice
> at the moment. I want to have it mounted in the car (in which I also
> have a road angel). I change between anything up to 4 vehicles
> (although mainly between 2) so it needs to be transportable, window
> mount? proclips? As I said, already have a road angel, also have
> phone mounted in there so don't want any more wires than I can get
> away with. Was thinking charging cradle and bluetooth reciever
> (fortuna mouse?). Guessing the cradle will need a built in speaker
> too (Brodit active holder? seems expensive and not as movable as I
> might have liked).
> Finally software...
> My head is spinning with the amount on offer. Now, I spend
> most of my time trying to find farms, as you can imagine this is not
> easy, so accuracy is a priority. Secondly, I work around birmingham,
> coventry, northampton and other large towns, on and off motorways, so
> avoiding traffic is quite high on the list. Thirdly, I usually aim to
> visit 25-30 farms a day, so it would be useful if I could program
> these in the night before and the software find me the quickest route
> between. I might be asking too much a 7 digit postcode finder would
> be nice. TomTom3 seems to be the most talked about one, but the ALK
> Copilot live 5 looks good too, seems as though a combination of the
> two is needed. Don't know whether its of any consequence, but have
> been away for christmas in fathers Disco3 to highlands of scotland,
> and was mightily impressed by the route finding software on that.
> I will need to buy some more memory for the PDA, I'm thinking 1Gb CF
> and/or 1Gb SD, will this be sufficient, or are there other solutions
> I should look at. It would appear that CF cards come with different
> speeds, what would I need?
>
> I would be most greatful for any help that you can offer. Have looked
> at pocket pc world and although excellent, it hasn't answered my
> specific needs.
>
> Many thanks indeed.
>
> Graham

Well your Road Angel can supply the GPS Signal using it's RS232 port to pipe
the data out.

For data you need approx 128MB for UK maps, as for software pay us a visit
for reviews, TomTom is a good start.

--
Darren Griffin
PocketGPSWorld - www.pocketgpsworld.com
The Premier GPS Resource for News, Reviews and Forums

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 15:09:13 +0000 (UTC), Graham G wrote:

> Secondly, I work around birmingham, coventry, northampton and other
> large towns, on and off motorways, so avoiding traffic is quite high
> on the list.

So you need something that takes live traffic info from say
TrafficMaster and reroutes you automagically? Fully integrated sat nav
systems exist but they don't come cheap but as this is for business
use reclaiming VAT and Tax comes into play. B-)

> Thirdly, I usually aim to visit 25-30 farms a day,

17 mins/farm *including* travel, assuming a 7 hour actual working day,
I can't see what you do being excempt from the Working Time
Regulations. Can't be much more than a simple drop off with no
requirement to talk with the farmers.

> a 7 digit postcode finder would be nice.

I wouldn't have throught just a post code would be good enough to find
a farm. Get you to the general vicinity but not much more. Our post
code only has 5 delivery points but none are closer than 1/2 mile of
each other, two of which you can't see from the road you need to know
which track to go down.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On 2005-01-03, Dave Liquorice <[email protected]> wrote:

> So you need something that takes live traffic info from say
> TrafficMaster and reroutes you automagically? Fully integrated sat nav
> systems exist but they don't come cheap but as this is for business
> use reclaiming VAT and Tax comes into play. B-)

Traffic master themselves do products that do live traffic-based
routing, I can't remember how portable they are and they aren't PDA
based.

You can also get a version of TomTom that does it, but IIRC it only
works on specific mobile phones, as in the fat ones that run TomTom on
the phone itself rather than the PDA.

> I wouldn't have throught just a post code would be good enough to find
> a farm. Get you to the general vicinity but not much more. Our post
> code only has 5 delivery points but none are closer than 1/2 mile of
> each other, two of which you can't see from the road you need to know
> which track to go down.

Some PDA software allows you to enter destinations and/or points of
interest based on co-ordinates, but I don't know of any that does it
using OS GB coordinates so it would be lat/long. This makes
conversion from paper maps (e.g Landranger, Explorer) difficult
without special conversion software or access to the OS website.

But if he can get the co-ordinates of the farm from a map or via
streetmap/multimap websites then setting up waypoints for each farm
the night before would work, then he can either use simple A-B
navigation if that's all the software supports (e.g. Mapsonic) or he
can use A-B via CDEF etc if the software is good enough.

--
For every expert, there is an equal but opposite expert

Ian Rawlings wrote:
> You can also get a version of TomTom that does it, but IIRC it only
> works on specific mobile phones, as in the fat ones that run TomTom on
> the phone itself rather than the PDA.

Incorrect, TomTom Navigator 3 has Traffic support which works via any GPRS
capable cellphone that can connect to the PDA. It also works fine on a
PocketPC Phone Edition device such as the XDAII. TomTom Mobile is a
Smartphone product that works in the same way using the GPRS Service on the
Smartphone.

--
Darren Griffin
PocketGPSWorld - www.pocketgpsworld.com
The Premier GPS Resource for News, Reviews and Forums

"Graham G" <[email protected]> wrote

Tom Tom would be my choice but be aware that farm names will not be on the
map. How the heck you manage 30 farms a day I don't know unless it is just
to throw a newsletter towards the front door.

Huw

On 2005-01-03, Darren Griffin - PocketGPSWorld <[email protected]> wrote:

> Incorrect,

I think you mean "negatory". Or is it "Abort on instruction fetch".

> TomTom Navigator 3 has Traffic support which works via any GPRS
> capable cellphone that can connect to the PDA.

Yeah some part of me was saying something like that, but another part
was saying "I checked a few weeks ago", chances are the best part
lost.

All I want now is a version that works on Palm OS that isn't sold in a
hardware bundle and can also do traffic routing. I've not checked the
TomTom site for a while and they don't respond to my question on the
matter so I'm not expecting miracles in short order..

Does not compute!

--
For every expert, there is an equal but opposite expert

Ian Rawlings wrote:
> On 2005-01-03, Darren Griffin - PocketGPSWorld
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Incorrect,
>
> I think you mean "negatory". Or is it "Abort on instruction fetch".
>
>> TomTom Navigator 3 has Traffic support which works via any GPRS
>> capable cellphone that can connect to the PDA.
>
> Yeah some part of me was saying something like that, but another part
> was saying "I checked a few weeks ago", chances are the best part
> lost.
>
> All I want now is a version that works on Palm OS that isn't sold in a
> hardware bundle and can also do traffic routing. I've not checked the
> TomTom site for a while and they don't respond to my question on the
> matter so I'm not expecting miracles in short order..
>
> Does not compute!

Sadly as you have found out, the PalmOS version is only available in a
bundle. Traffic support for the common navigation engine version (that used
on the Palm) is under development but I wouldn't expect to see it until the
common nav engine is released on PPC this year.

--
Darren Griffin
PocketGPSWorld - www.pocketgpsworld.com
The Premier GPS Resource for News, Reviews and Forums

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Graham G" <[email protected]> wrote
>
> Tom Tom would be my choice but be aware that farm names will not be on the
> map. How the heck you manage 30 farms a day I don't know unless it is just
> to throw a newsletter towards the front door.

I appreciate that most won't have a name or exact location, but accuracy is
needed, currently I use autoroute then print the maps out. The accuracy of
that can leave a lot to be desired. Essentially what I'm after is something
that will land me in an area that gives me a fighting chance of finding the
place. It would save me no end of time if it would direct me to within say
1/4 mile cos I'd just drop on the place then. I usually spend a fair bit of
time sat in laybys with an os map and scratching my head, not terribly
efficient.

30 farms isn't as difficult as it sounds, if I get myself sufficiently
organised and manage to target a specific area with appropriate maps its ok.
I spend half my time going back and forth up the same roads either because I
can't find a farm, missed it or have planned my route badly. If I could
reduce this it would give me either more time on farm or allow me a more
consistant work rate. Some days I only see 15 farms if i have above
difficulties. I usually recon to average 20+, 25 most days, 30 on the best
days, 15 on the worst.

Graham

On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 19:43:08 +0000 (UTC), "Graham G" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...

>I appreciate that most won't have a name or exact location, but accuracy is
>needed, currently I use autoroute then print the maps out. The accuracy of
>that can leave a lot to be desired. Essentially what I'm after is something
>that will land me in an area that gives me a fighting chance of finding the
>place. It would save me no end of time if it would direct me to within say
>1/4 mile cos I'd just drop on the place then. I usually spend a fair bit of
>time sat in laybys with an os map and scratching my head, not terribly
>efficient.

It sounds to me that you'd be better off with a basic route mapping
gps (Garmin 60c??) and then as you get close use it with a laptop and
one of the packages that uses high resolution maps. Anquet is the one
favoured by walkers and they have 1:25000 maps for much of the
country, at a cost. I use a more d-i-y method.
>
>30 farms isn't as difficult as it sounds, if I get myself sufficiently
>organised and manage to target a specific area with appropriate maps its ok.

30 years ago I used to get thrown off farms and told never to come
back doing this sort of job (selling IH tractors).

AJH

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 19:43:08 +0000 (UTC), "Graham G" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>
>>I appreciate that most won't have a name or exact location, but accuracy
>>is
>>needed, currently I use autoroute then print the maps out. The accuracy of
>>that can leave a lot to be desired. Essentially what I'm after is
>>something
>>that will land me in an area that gives me a fighting chance of finding
>>the
>>place. It would save me no end of time if it would direct me to within say
>>1/4 mile cos I'd just drop on the place then. I usually spend a fair bit
>>of
>>time sat in laybys with an os map and scratching my head, not terribly
>>efficient.
>
> It sounds to me that you'd be better off with a basic route mapping
> gps (Garmin 60c??) and then as you get close use it with a laptop and
> one of the packages that uses high resolution maps. Anquet is the one
> favoured by walkers and they have 1:25000 maps for much of the
> country, at a cost. I use a more d-i-y method.
>>
>>30 farms isn't as difficult as it sounds, if I get myself sufficiently
>>organised and manage to target a specific area with appropriate maps its
>>ok.
>
> 30 years ago I used to get thrown off farms and told never to come
> back doing this sort of job (selling IH tractors).
>

That's what comes of selling crap.
ROTFLMAO.

Huw

On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 22:40:26 -0000, "Huw"
<hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

>
>That's what comes of selling crap.
> ROTFLMAO.

Glad it made you smile, now at least I know the phrase to respond with
;-).

AJH
ps I only sold a 384 and then they decided to do without my services.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 22:40:26 -0000, "Huw"
> <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>
>>That's what comes of selling crap.
>> ROTFLMAO.
>
> Glad it made you smile, now at least I know the phrase to respond with
> ;-).
>
> AJH
> ps I only sold a 384 and then they decided to do without my services.

You were only there for one day then, not even 30 calls worth hehehehe.
These youngsters just don't stick LOL.

Huw

> It sounds to me that you'd be better off with a basic route mapping
> gps (Garmin 60c??) and then as you get close use it with a laptop and
> one of the packages that uses high resolution maps. Anquet is the one
> favoured by walkers and they have 1:25000 maps for much of the
> country, at a cost. I use a more d-i-y method.

Thats certainly an idea. Most places I can find once I'm in the right area,
it would then be a case of locating the ones i couldn't on the laptop....
hmmm one to think about, thanks.

> 30 years ago I used to get thrown off farms and told never to come
> back doing this sort of job (selling IH tractors).

Only had that response from maybe 2 farmers out of 550 odd. I think these
days with few farm workers and big kit many are glad to see someone to have
a chat with.

Graham

>> 30 years ago I used to get thrown off farms and told never to come
>> back doing this sort of job (selling IH tractors).
>>
>
> That's what comes of selling crap.
> ROTFLMAO.

Not sure I'll say what I'm selling after that response ;o)

Graham

"Graham G" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>> 30 years ago I used to get thrown off farms and told never to come
>>> back doing this sort of job (selling IH tractors).
>>>
>>
>> That's what comes of selling crap.
>> ROTFLMAO.
>
> Not sure I'll say what I'm selling after that response ;o)
>
> Graham
>

That means it just must be New Holland. Oh dear!

Hehehehehehehhehh Heeeeeeehehhehheheheheh.

I really do feel for you ;-)

Huw
GDARFC

"Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote

> > So you need something that takes live traffic info from say
> > TrafficMaster and reroutes you automagically? Fully integrated sat
nav
> > systems exist but they don't come cheap but as this is for
business
> > use reclaiming VAT and Tax comes into play. B-)
>
> Traffic master themselves do products that do live traffic-based
> routing, I can't remember how portable they are and they aren't PDA
> based.

Visiting that many farms in one day would suggest most driving is on
minor roads, which don't have the TrafficMaster cameras.

About 12 to 24 months ago I often had a TrafficMaster in the cars I
had to drive.

Generally TrafficMaster just confirmed that I was in a traffic jam,
stopped on the M25. Or that there was a jam ahead and there was
nothing that I could do about it.

However a few times the warning given by TrafficMaster enabled me to
take an alternative route.

Reg

> Visiting that many farms in one day would suggest most driving is on
> minor roads, which don't have the TrafficMaster cameras.
>
> About 12 to 24 months ago I often had a TrafficMaster in the cars I
> had to drive.
>
> Generally TrafficMaster just confirmed that I was in a traffic jam,
> stopped on the M25. Or that there was a jam ahead and there was
> nothing that I could do about it.
>
> However a few times the warning given by TrafficMaster enabled me to
> take an alternative route.

A fair amount of my time is spent on minor roads. Traffic master or similar
wouldn't help on this. However I do spend an equal amount of time driving
in, around and through major cities like coventry, in order to get to the
minor roads and farms. In this instance it potentially could save me a bit
of time since its not unknown for me to spend 1.5 hrs getting to a farm
thats only 30 miles away.

Graham

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Graham G" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>>> 30 years ago I used to get thrown off farms and told never to come
>>>> back doing this sort of job (selling IH tractors).
>>>>
>>>
>>> That's what comes of selling crap.
>>> ROTFLMAO.
>>
>> Not sure I'll say what I'm selling after that response ;o)
>>
>> Graham
>>
>
> That means it just must be New Holland. Oh dear!
>
> Hehehehehehehhehh Heeeeeeehehhehheheheheh.
>
> I really do feel for you ;-)
>

It *IS*, isn't it?
Woops.
Sorry!

Huw

On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 00:26:14 -0000, Reg wrote:

> Generally TrafficMaster just confirmed that I was in a traffic jam,
> stopped on the M25. Or that there was a jam ahead and there was
> nothing that I could do about it.

I think you must have had one of the flashing light/talking jobbies. I
tend to forget that these exist as I have a YQ that shows the entire
country... Extremely useful.

When I lived in St Albans but still had a flat in Bristol I could stay
at home until the M25 had cleared, or now that I'm up north and go
south. I could see when still north of the M62 that the M1 was
seriously stuffed just north of Nottingham so kept to the A1 then cut
around underneath.

Pity I've stopped doing the long distance traveling now, apart from
Leeds and back and can't really justify the price of a data key for
it.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail