The GPS/Maps Discussion Thread (Dedicated Satnav, Smartphones, Tablets, etc)

ruchirtnt · 27th August 2010, 08:43

there is one more suggestion for fellow bhpian, and it is purely personal and based on my experience with a GPS device, the general screen size of a GPS varies from 3.5" - 4.3", in that case it will be better that you buy a good screen size handset like N97mini, N900, Iphone, samsung Galaxy S, Sony X10 and get a windshield mount for car, these handsets have a very good screen size varying from 3" to 4"

it will have following benefits

1. The device will be with you all the time as compared to GPS which is useful only in the car
2. You can make the maximum use of it and it will be more secured in your pocket/ hand than the car
3. It will serve all the purpose instead of only one all you need to do is just buy the maps or can rely on OVI/ nokia maps
4. Will be more VFM device

sgiitk · 27th August 2010, 09:29

@ruchirnt; I will advise against Nokia since their phones take ages to get a 'Lock'. We have found htc to be probably the fastest in this regard. I find the friction mount more useful than a windscreen mount since the windscreen of a Civic sloped from too far away. One think you may miss is the variable scale on dedicated GPS units.

zuch · 27th August 2010, 14:49

I bought a Garmin nuwi 255w on a recent US trip. I purchased the SatGuide maps and they've sent me a microSD card.

The problem is that I need an SD card for my GPS. They said I will have to use a microSD to SD adapter which I have to buy separately. Anyone knows where I can get one in Hyderabad?

Also if I can get a card reader can I read the contents of the microSD card and write them to another SD card and use that one or is this data not readable from a standard card reader?

sgiitk · 27th August 2010, 15:05

@zuch: You need an adapter. Contact SatGuide or buy one on the local market. Is very inexpensive. I asked SatGuide for a uSD with adapter when ordering and got exactly that.

f1fan · 27th August 2010, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by zuch

I bought a Garmin nuwi 255w on a recent US trip. I purchased the SatGuide maps and they've sent me a microSD card.

The problem is that I need an SD card for my GPS. They said I will have to use a microSD to SD adapter which I have to buy separately. Anyone knows where I can get one in Hyderabad?

Also if I can get a card reader can I read the contents of the microSD card and write them to another SD card and use that one or is this data not readable from a standard card reader?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgiitk

@zuch: You need an adapter. Contact SatGuide or buy one on the local market. Is very inexpensive. I asked SatGuide for a uSD with adapter when ordering and got exactly that.

+1. Even I asked Satnav to send me the SD Adapter with the Micro SD and they sent me one. I believe you can still ask Satnav for the same and they will send it to you FOC or buy one from the market as it is not very expensive.

sgiitk · 27th August 2010, 15:59

Also, please note copying the data will not work since it is 'locked'

Digital Vampire · 27th August 2010, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgiitk

Also, please note copying the data will not work since it is 'locked'

I'm sorry...It really did work for me after copy from one card to another.

Satnav sent me a 1GB SD card and I copied the contents to a 8GB SDHC card and it worked like a dream. IIRC the only extra thing I did was rename the new card to the same as Satnav card. I dont remember trying before the renaming procedure though.

wanderernomad · 27th August 2010, 16:34

@Vampire: It worked because probably you were already using an unlocked device. But I could be wrong. Could you post your set up details regarding the device you are using.

Damu · 27th August 2010, 16:56

The friend in the US who bought my Garmin for me sent this to me today:

Garmin recalls 1.25 million GPS units for fire hazard

https://my.garmin.com/rma/recallLanding.faces

Garmin owners can check their serial number in the link provided.

EDIT: Apparently not a serious problem, recall is as a matter of abundant caution.

Digital Vampire · 27th August 2010, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

@Vampire: It worked because probably you were already using an unlocked device. But I could be wrong. Could you post your set up details regarding the device you are using.

OK...that explains. I forgot the model #, but it was an ASUS PND which I purchased off Craigslist in Canada.

perseus · 27th August 2010, 19:37

Made a recent trip to Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. While coming back(to Noida) from Fatehpur Sikri my MapMyIndia took me through some village roads and after some 10 kms road vanished but still it was telling me to go straight. Finally had to ask local villagers and they directed me to a road which lead me to NH-2 (MapMyIndia did not know about that road)

zuch · 27th August 2010, 19:39

Thanks sgiitk and f1fan for your quick replies. I got an SD adapter from a local mobile phone shop for 40 rupees.

I was excited to try out the device and ended up spending over an hour in crazy hyderabad peak traffic after work

just because the device took me through the most congested roads but it was well worth it I think.

The maps look alright at first impression. I would like to use them mostly for highway drives and I believe they should do well there. Will update if something interseting comes up.

wanderernomad · 27th August 2010, 20:35

@zuch while setting route see which option for routing have you checked. There would be one for fastest and the shortest routing. Maybe if you set the parameters correctly it would not take you through the congested roads.

zuch · 27th August 2010, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

@zuch while setting route see which option for routing have you checked. There would be one for fastest and the shortest routing. Maybe if you set the parameters correctly it would not take you through the congested roads.

Hey I think you're right there are options for faster time, shorter distance, less fuel, off road!

It was set to 'faster time'. Next time I will try 'shorter distance' that might work better for our conditions.

shajufx · 27th August 2010, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

.....There would be one for fastest and the shortest routing. Maybe if you set the parameters correctly it would not take you through the congested roads.

Does that mean 'fastest' MMI will take you through villages where roads dont exist ?

I am struggling to get the internal GPS working for my MMI on Vivaz installed 2 days back. GPS detection failing all the time. Wisepilot worked like a charm even with cycle roots shown clearly, but the trial period expired and it costs more than double of MMI.

27th August 2010, 08:43	#1246
ruchirtnt Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,066 Thanked: 132 Times View My Garage	there is one more suggestion for fellow bhpian, and it is purely personal and based on my experience with a GPS device, the general screen size of a GPS varies from 3.5" - 4.3", in that case it will be better that you buy a good screen size handset like N97mini, N900, Iphone, samsung Galaxy S, Sony X10 and get a windshield mount for car, these handsets have a very good screen size varying from 3" to 4" it will have following benefits 1. The device will be with you all the time as compared to GPS which is useful only in the car 2. You can make the maximum use of it and it will be more secured in your pocket/ hand than the car 3. It will serve all the purpose instead of only one all you need to do is just buy the maps or can rely on OVI/ nokia maps 4. Will be more VFM device
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 09:29	#1247
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,808 Times	@ruchirnt; I will advise against Nokia since their phones take ages to get a 'Lock'. We have found htc to be probably the fastest in this regard. I find the friction mount more useful than a windscreen mount since the windscreen of a Civic sloped from too far away. One think you may miss is the variable scale on dedicated GPS units.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 14:49	#1248
zuch BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 122 Thanked: 0 Times	I bought a Garmin nuwi 255w on a recent US trip. I purchased the SatGuide maps and they've sent me a microSD card. The problem is that I need an SD card for my GPS. They said I will have to use a microSD to SD adapter which I have to buy separately. Anyone knows where I can get one in Hyderabad? Also if I can get a card reader can I read the contents of the microSD card and write them to another SD card and use that one or is this data not readable from a standard card reader?
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 15:05	#1249
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,808 Times	@zuch: You need an adapter. Contact SatGuide or buy one on the local market. Is very inexpensive. I asked SatGuide for a uSD with adapter when ordering and got exactly that.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 15:59	#1251
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,808 Times	Also, please note copying the data will not work since it is 'locked'
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 16:34	#1253
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,552 Thanked: 1,296 Times View My Garage	@Vampire: It worked because probably you were already using an unlocked device. But I could be wrong. Could you post your set up details regarding the device you are using.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 16:56	#1254
Damu BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 222 Thanked: 64 Times	Garmin recalls some Nuvi units The friend in the US who bought my Garmin for me sent this to me today: Garmin recalls 1.25 million GPS units for fire hazard https://my.garmin.com/rma/recallLanding.faces Garmin owners can check their serial number in the link provided. EDIT: Apparently not a serious problem, recall is as a matter of abundant caution. Last edited by Damu : 27th August 2010 at 17:14. Reason: Added text
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 19:37	#1256
perseus BHPian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 61 Thanked: Once	Made a recent trip to Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. While coming back(to Noida) from Fatehpur Sikri my MapMyIndia took me through some village roads and after some 10 kms road vanished but still it was telling me to go straight. Finally had to ask local villagers and they directed me to a road which lead me to NH-2 (MapMyIndia did not know about that road)
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 19:39	#1257
zuch BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 122 Thanked: 0 Times	Thanks sgiitk and f1fan for your quick replies. I got an SD adapter from a local mobile phone shop for 40 rupees. I was excited to try out the device and ended up spending over an hour in crazy hyderabad peak traffic after work just because the device took me through the most congested roads but it was well worth it I think. The maps look alright at first impression. I would like to use them mostly for highway drives and I believe they should do well there. Will update if something interseting comes up.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 20:35	#1258
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,552 Thanked: 1,296 Times View My Garage	@zuch while setting route see which option for routing have you checked. There would be one for fastest and the shortest routing. Maybe if you set the parameters correctly it would not take you through the congested roads.
	() Thanks