Navigation aids

[STRbutts]

Hey All, I'm interested to know what forms of Nav Aids you all are using. I'm a paper map kinda guy myself but have been thinking of upgrading technology coz I'm sick of not knowing how the map unfolded in the first place . As far as GPS and software is concerned, whats the go? I know there are plenty of forums on GPS' around but they all seem to be a bunch of wierdo's that whinge about the availability or not of features between the likes of Garmin, Tom Tom etc. All I want to know is what is versatile in so much as they can do off road maps as well as street. I doubt I'd hardly ever use street nav. I live in Adelaide, the easiest city in the world to navigate... but it would be nice to have off road tracks.
I have a Apline IVA W202E TV screen in my dash, is there any GPS that have a video out that will allow display on my TV screen? What works? what's wank factor? I'm not keen on sticking stuff to my window either which is why I'm keen on utilising my dash screen. I like things to be integrated. suction cups and flying leads...not keen.

 

[Kickars2]

well i have a tomtom car gps.

i also have a uniden gps/uhf all in one, it doesn't have maps or anything but you can recored ya tracks and and place's ya go, so it's ok

one of those tv gps systems with the maps would be wicked but for the cost how much are you going to use it?

 

[Jason]

I have a Tom Tom One XL, only used for street nav because they don't make compatible maps for off road use.

There is an add-on program you can get for the Tom Tom's that allow the use of raster maps but I haven't been able to find any decent QLD raster maps.

 

[roundy]

Hey mate i have a garmin nuvi760, it has an offroad function (draws exact line point to point) and i use shonky maps or tracks for australia which have alot of known tracks etc. These are loaded onto the memory card and the unit can switch between them and road navigation.

As for not wanting anything hanging off the window i would look into what your existing screen can be used for, ie; what inputs it has.
Looking on the Alpine site (nice unit btw) you don't have any gps option (able to get a aerial), but maybe a video in (reverse camera etc)
So dending how tech savvy you are you could load software to a device such as a Pda with a video out & gps, running wince and load ozi explorer from it to display on your screen.
Ozi explorer is moving maps program and you can load any map even scanned paper maps can be calibrated. Also the shonky & T4A work on it which are free.

When i was shopping for mine i didn't see a portable gps with video out but some of the cheaper asian brands, like aldi or Mio or random ebay, might mave it if you search around, they can usually be hacked to run WinCE and Ozi explorer also.

Hope that helps abit not confuses

cheers

 

[STRbutts]

well i have a tomtom car gps.

i also have a uniden gps/uhf all in one, it doesn't have maps or anything but you can recored ya tracks and and place's ya go, so it's ok

one of those tv gps systems with the maps would be wicked but for the cost how much are you going to use it?

Yeah, I saw the HiTV site after posting this and they make a unit that plugs right into my Alpine and allows the touch screen. expensive I know..but as long as it achieves the goal and does the job I need it's prob worth it. I mightn't use it all that often but it I spose that's what I need to get on top of, how future proof is this stuff in terms of software running it? I assume they have all come a long way in the last 5 years

 

[STRbutts]

Hey mate i have a garmin nuvi760, it has an offroad function (draws exact line point to point) and i use shonky maps or tracks for australia which have alot of known tracks etc. These are loaded onto the memory card and the unit can switch between them and road navigation.

As for not wanting anything hanging off the window i would look into what your existing screen can be used for, ie; what inputs it has.
Looking on the Alpine site (nice unit btw) you don't have any gps option (able to get a aerial), but maybe a video in (reverse camera etc)
So dending how tech savvy you are you could load software to a device such as a Pda with a video out & gps, running wince and load ozi explorer from it to display on your screen.
Ozi explorer is moving maps program and you can load any map even scanned paper maps can be calibrated. Also the shonky & T4A work on it which are free.

When i was shopping for mine i didn't see a portable gps with video out but some of the cheaper asian brands, like aldi or Mio or random ebay, might mave it if you search around, they can usually be hacked to run WinCE and Ozi explorer also.

Hope that helps abit not confuses

cheers

I looked at the Alpine site and they quoted a GPS unit that seems to plug into Multi media Centre's, maybe not mine? It's the software thing I'm not savvy with this WINCe and what not, I don't understand. Mate of mine runs shonky maps. it has kept us out of trouble.. As for wiring things in and getting the screen to work etc, If I can't work it out I know ppl that can. companies like Alpine are prtty good at reducing what you can and can't plug in to protect their interests I think

 

[STRbutts]

I have a Tom Tom One XL, only used for street nav because they don't make compatible maps for off road use.

There is an add-on program you can get for the Tom Tom's that allow the use of raster maps but I haven't been able to find any decent QLD raster maps.

Cheers Jason, I have heard of Raster Maps, Shonky Maps and Hema. don't know which is best or how or why you have to get programs to make this work and not that work etc.. Isn't there a basic engine that drives the lot whatever you decide to buy as the consumer?
The next 12 months I am setting to do a september trip to QLD and head to cape yorke. That's what this is all in aid of. suggest to stay away from Raster if the QLD maps no good??

 

[STRbutts]

What do you guys think of this? It fits the bill perfectly I reckon but again, not sure on the software capability etc. Naveq, Win CE 5.0...I dunno? iSNACK 2.0



HiTV Communications Integrated in car entertainment solution, digital TV GPS DVD headrest

edit: you are all legends for chiming in by the way. love this forum

 

[roundy]

Different devices just handle mapping in 2 different ways, raster and vector or both

Correct me if i'm wrong but i think raster maps can be made, scanned from paper. After being scanned u calibrate them and the gps just moves your placement over the top of the image.
So in theory if u have a paper map that has everything u want u could load it onto a device that uses raster, just when you zoom in you loose resolution.

Shonky and t4a are vector and are searchable etc, just like the normal gps road mapping but people can openly add tracks and stuff. I've found the street nav quite surprising as to what can be found. Anything you can look up on google maps etc

Johnny Appleseed GPS Maps Page (quick explaination of different maps)

If you want to see what detail different maps have of where u r planning to go i can try and do a screenshot with shonky, t4a and streetmaps

 

[roundy]

That unit looks pretty good if it will work with your unit.
Hema off road maps are meant to be real good, they specialise in offroad mapping (paper and digital) also with wince u could load other software (ozi explorer) I'd say there's afair chance could also load t4a and shonky as well for backup if one doesn't have a track ur on.

Hema Maps Australia > Home

 

[Jason]

If money was no object I would be getting a Hema Navigator with their maps, they look great.

 

[roundy]

Yeah i wanted one of those but the portables were like 1200 or something, ouch

 

[STRbutts]

Thanks all for the responses. starting to make sense to me now. BUT unfortunately I have a much larger problem to deal with. details elsewhere. Calling all diesel mechanics...