I'm guessing the best option is to get one of these as opposed to to a really expensive system that needs to fit into the dash.

Any opinions? Something that works very well in UK, keeps up to date, reliable, has all the streets - as much detail as possible etc etc.

I don't have the first idea so any advice would be appreciated.

I've been told that TomTom is a good GPS package for the iPaq. I've never used it personally but I know some people that have.

Several folks have suggested the iQue. Otherwise, look at the Magellan and other Garmin products. There may be other reputable manufacturers, as well.

I have & use Travroute's Pocket CoPilot (v4.5). I have the sleeve version for an ipaq & quite like it. It's really only an in-car routing system as the GPS unit eats battery so fast you can't really use it for more than 1/2 hour otherwise. I have an older 200Mhz model and it does fine. The text to speech voice (esp. the male version) can be difficult to understand.

The iQue looks pretty cool too & has gotten good reviews.

-Zeke

One thing to remember about the iQue is the dismal battery life. I hear it is under 3 hours, but if you had a car mount you could power it in the car.

Perhaps a daft question, but how do these units keep up to date with information - I mean is it live? And do I have to keep subscriptions to any services either for the actual GPS service or the maps?

Anyone heard of CoPilot? http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=107864

I love my IQUE. Battery life my not be the best but it is not an issue with me because it is usually in a charger at home or the car.

If you get one make sure you get a car kit (or similar).

You can turn off the backlight; have it shut off in a certain amount of time and use battery packs if you need to.

I got mine for just over $400 @ www.ecost.com

IQUE forum….

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=108

Most packages require you to get a yearly upgrade CD or download. If you don't want to upgrade then you obviously don't need to.

Apart from map updates, it's free. It's not like the Trafficmaster system which requires you to have a subscription to it's service.

On another note... I just got a Garmin GPS V. I ALSO just got some NiMH batteries. Will the GPSV charge them? Or do I need to charge them externally?

So what tells the satellites for example that the M8 is closed, or junction 26 is blocked?

Nothing. Do you know of some service that does that?

Nothing. GPS doesn't do that. It's just to locate you. It's the trafficmaster style systems that do that and you need a subscription for that.

Only trafficmaster-type things. I was hoping there would be something else that could do this!

I already have a pocket PC, so i suppose something like Tomtom would be ideal for me. I'll be researching for a while yet though.

Do you know of some service that does that?

TMC.

TMC is broadcast as a sub carrier on Classic FM, the last Toyota Avensis i hired had Sat Nav with TMC. It worked very well. Although all the systems mentioned will almost definitely not support it as it would require an FM receiver/demodulator. I'd say either full blown pukka sat nav or IPAQ and cheapo trafficmaster box.

I'm extremely happy with my NavMan 3450. I'll be even happier when they release the US maps in Europe so I don't have to pay for NeverLost on business trips.

Only problem I've had has been occassional rebooting when using a microdrive - but a regular CF card works fine.

Rob

Because Trafficmaster is transmitted over the paging networks you can actually receive it for free with a scanner and a soundcard, although not much reverse engineering has been done on the protocols so you'd have a bit of an uphill struggle!

Gareth

Hiow up to date do they keep the maps? Some reviews of Tomtom navigator say they are waay out of date. Also, hows the reception? Is it hard to get a signal when in the car due to it being a jacket-type GPS?

I've used a PocketPC jacket GPS and receiving signals is normally not a problem, unless you have a car with a windshield that has a [very thin] metallic layer, normally used as heat protection...

My new car [Peugeot 206], in which I haven't yet tried the GPS, has such a layer. Up around the rearview mirror the layer is missing and there is instead a dot pattern similar to that that is normally on the outside edge of car windows. It is intended to allow for mounting of things like toll-road tokens, and I think a GPS antenna mounted up there would work OK.
Will have to see how the sleeve GPS does - maybe the pattern is enough for it the signals to come through - perhaps only if it's mounted inconveniently high up by the rearview mirror...

/Michael

I use my iPaq with a car mount Tom Tom kit and have good results. A friend uses the jacket version and again has good results. The only problem I've had is in changing cars. The actual sat receiver is powered from the cigarette lighter which on my old car had a constant feed. On the new one the cigarette lighter is only powered with the ignition on and it now takes 20 - 40 mins to get a decent signal. I don't think my car has windscreen shielding problems as well but I'm not sure.

Handnav.co.uk do decent car mounts (for phones as well) but a friend got the same unit as I did for chepaer from elsewhere so if you go that route do a search for brodit products as well.