I found this....

http://www.delorme.com/earthmate/overview.asp

A lot cheaper than most street GPS's. Anyone have any experiences they’d like to share?

I’ve been thinking about a GARMIN iQue 3600 but $550 is a lot.

I was using this:http://www.usbgps.com/

bye

How did you like it? I know the Laptop/PDA hook-up can be a pain but did it function well?

Thanks

it was working well on my Notebook over USB. I did resell it after a cupple of tests....I am using now a Emtac Bluetooth GPS Receiver (CRUX II/ BTGPS™ Receiver). This one is really cool. I did install it fix in my car (have already 5V for the WLAN Access Point) and using it with the Wayfinder GPS Software on the SE P800 over the AUX Port from my Empeg for the voice output.

bye

I have a Linux box and a Mac, so the Delame USB is useless. No specs on the chipset. I recommend the Deluo for the same price, since it will work with Mac, Linux and Windows.

Instead, though, I got a usb to serial frob from Deluo and am still using my Magellan GPS receiver.

...using it with the Wayfinder GPS Software on the SE P800

You're using the Wayfinder software ? How do you like it ? Is it any good ?
I've considered this software too for my Nokia 7650. Does it need GRPS or is WAP just fine? And when it uses GPRS, does it need a lot of data transfer ? (over here, GPRS services have to be paid per used block of 100KB)

Sorry for hijacking the thread...

Back on topic then. I've also got a USB GPS device, and I've recently bought the Alturion GPS bundle. But I haven't had a chance to try it yet. It's this one. (bottom of the page)
I haven't tried it yet because realised that using a laptop while driving is far from ideal, and now I'm saving up to buy myself an IPAQ.

Hello Archeon,

Yeep, I am using the Wayfinder software. It's pretty cool and really usefull without having any maps on the device. You have also an Webinterface to prepare you destinations over the PC and then sync down to the Handy...

It works only over GPRS....You are using about 100kb per route...Ok...it depends where you wanna drive and how many time the software have to recalculate the route because of missing a street or whatever...Try to get from them a demo version. So you can get a better feeling. Cool is also that you have all the maps from europe available.

I bought the earthmate that you linked to back in May and I've been using it ever since. It works great. It loads considerably faster than the previous serial earthmate. The standard load time usually runs around 10-20 seconds but sometimes it loads as fast as 5 seconds. It has great reception and rarely loses it's signal.

I really like the fact that it has the capabilities for bluetooth. I probably won't buy it, though, because I don't really need it and it's priced to high, IMO. I use the earthmate for traveling with my laptop and I just bought a meridian gps receiver for geocaching and a few other things due to Mark Lord's great geocaching adventure at the Cincinnati Meet. Thanks Mark for a newfound hobby!

Thanks a lot for the info Melki ! But.. 100 kb per route? Their website mentions 5 to 6KB ? But that's probably the theory and you're probably telling me about the practice.

Now I'll just wait for the Siemens Sx1 to be released and then I'll probably buy that Wayfinder software too. I've been thinking that it wouldn't be any good with my Nokia 7650 : the phone's handsfree function is way too quiet to be usuable and I can't make it work with a bluetooth carkit because it doesn't support it. Buetooth audio that is...it DOES support bluetooth data. Like THAt is the most important on a mobile phone!
I guess I *could* buy a Nokia carkit of course, but that's not really an option considering I'll get rid of my 7650 as soon as the Sx1 is released.

Archeon,

It depends where you starting with routing. ..If you start near the destination, then you need less data over GPRS:..But believe me, for a normal route you need about 100k.

bye

Of course.

What distance would you consider a "normal route" ? 100 kilometers ?

What distance would you consider a "normal route" ? 100 kilometers ?

I'll bet it's not so much the distance, but the number of data points (i.e., bends in the road and specific turn instructions).

For instance, a lot of long straight roads without many turns would be a small file. A route through the mountains with lots of turns would be a large file.

this is difficult...Because if you are going to a special place in a bigger city with a lot fo right and left turns and maybe reroutings then you need more data form there server...It's really something you have to get a feeling about the costs during using that software....

But I have all the maps form europe with me...Hopefully I will find next time the Campanile better or the way back to Switzerland with this solution than with the ICN630 form Navman...You can ask Peter Rheingans about the trip back....

bye

I'll bet it's not so much the distance, but the number of data points (i.e., bends in the road and specific turn instructions).

That makes sense. The more data there is because of the road itself (turn, exits), points of interest or other factors, the more data there will be to download.

In that case I'm particulary unlucky, because Belgium's road network is one of the most dense in the world.

It's really something you have to get a feeling about the costs during using that software....

True. I can believe that. IMO it's still the best solution for me because I only have to use a GPS solution on occasion and nowhere near on a daily basis. So I think that for me it would be ideal.

But I have all the maps form europe with me...

You mean paper maps ? Or is there a way to upload all of the info of one country to your phone all at once, getting rid of the necessity to remain connected to the dataserver of Wayfinder?

I still think this Wayfinder solution is the best solution one for me : I won't buy a dedicated GPS system because I can't justify the cost (won't need it enough), the IPAQ with GPS software is a nice alternative solution, but that would require me to buy a $500 pocket PC (which would be of no other use to me) + the added cost of the GPS software. ($200 easily)
Now with this solution, I've already got the necessary hardware (GSM phone), so I can save about $500 because I don't have to buy an IPAQ now. Of course now there is the added cost of the GSM gprs connection to the Wayfinder server. But I'm sure that will be not extremely high.
Especially if I use it like this : when I have to get to somewhere I've never been before, about 95% of the road can be covered by ordinary paper maps and road signs. It's only the last 5% of the route that is tricky, and for that part then I would then use the GPS. I'm sure that would be (by far) the cheapest solution, and for me it would completely fill my needs.

Thanks a lot for all the info.

Hey, I just became a veteran! Cool!

You mean paper maps?

Now I was meaning about the wayfinder...



bye

So country maps ARE included! TOO cool! Now I'm REALLY sure I'm going to buy this product!

Thanks a lot Melkon!