Sat nav for bikes

[Viney]

Originally Posted by Bellerophon

Ho. Ho. Ho.

now that Laurel and Hardy have had their say, can someone give me a proper answer?

I was being serious. Unless you have a REAL need, like Ceri, then whats the point?

Originally Posted by Viney

I was being serious. Unless you have a REAL need, like Ceri, then whats the point?

I was being serious too, you can't run an mp3 player through a map.

Oh ok, I get it.

Get a decent phone and you can use it as an MP3, sat nav (if you have a GPS receiver, £40ish, and the right software) and failing that, mines got a compass on it to

I got a Nokia 6810, waiting for the GPS receiver

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by svrash

Get a decent phone and you can use it as an MP3, sat nav (if you have a GPS receiver, £40ish, and the right software) and failing that, mines got a compass on it to

I got a Nokia 6810, waiting for the GPS receiver

Problem I see with that is all those items drawing power from one battery.

I used to be a big fan of the "one gadget to do everything" school.

But now I go for discreet, purpose built items that can be linked together.

If my GPS goes on the fritz then my MP3 player and Phone are still fine.

All have their own batteries (although the TomTom will be wired in when I get brave enough) so over-use of one will not affect the other items.

Also does your phone have a touch screen that you can mount on the front of the bike, that is big enough for you to view at a glance and not have to worry about rain?

Phone/PDA and GPS reciever ARE a good solution - although I would perhaps argue better suited to a car than a bike.

David

[SoulKiss]

As Promised - pics

Not particularly good - camera phone in bad light but you should get the idea - will try and get better if needed





David[/img]

[timwilky]

Well I aquired a copy of tomtom6 last night. Maps are a damm site more accurate and upto date than the 5.21 I was using. but I am dammed if I can get the post codes to install.

So just aquiring a seperate distribution, for trial. Otherwise it is back to the 5.21

The Tom Tom Rider is not bad, had it a while on my SV now.

Have you updated the firmware to version 6? Or did it have it already? There are a few quirks about version 6but overall its worth the update, to me anyway

Cheers

Rich

[tinpants]

Originally Posted by Viney

I was being serious. Unless you have a REAL need, like Ceri, then whats the point?

Well the thing is, I do have a need for one. Especially a system like the tomtom rider. It can be used in the car as well. I'm going to Le Mans again in May and find it difficult to find my way around in France. The plan is to stay with some friends in St. Marie du Mont in Normandy so I need to know how to get there as well. I'm also aiming to to more long distance rides on the 'Storm next year.

Map reading isn't an issue with me, I can tell you generally which blade of grass I'm stood on by relating things to the map but I've spent a lot of time by the side of the road contemplating my next move that I'd rather go for the easy option.

I've seen Rider systems recently for as little as £280.00 so I may just take the plunge and get one.

As somebody who has found there way all round Europe,North Africa and the Middle East with paper maps it astounds me that you can't read a map to find out where you are. Everybody is quick enough to start shouting about mobile phone users being distracted while using the phone while driving,so can you please explain the difference in looking at a small screen and listening to instructions,this I take it is not a distraction?especially for riding in cities where you need all your concentration for the traffic. I'm sorry but it is a natural reaction to look at the screen when you recieve instructions and I fail to see the difference between this and a mobile phone. Surely if you pre- plan your route this is just a toy and one which doesn't take into account for road closures,diversions,traffic delays etc. without you needing to operate/press control or instruction buttons/screen to compensate when they arise
IMHO they are bad enough in cars but can become a bigger hazard than help whilst riding a bike and before anybody jumps down my throat you will be saying you stop to make the route adjustments,in which case you could look at the map which in many cases would give you several alternatives and not just the one you get from the Satnav

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by justmacsv650

As somebody who has found there way all round Europe,North Africa and the Middle East with paper maps it astounds me that you can't read a map to find out where you are. Everybody is quick enough to start shouting about mobile phone users being distracted while using the phone while driving,so can you please explain the difference in looking at a small screen and listening to instructions,this I take it is not a distraction?especially for riding in cities where you need all your concentration for the traffic. I'm sorry but it is a natural reaction to look at the screen when you recieve instructions and I fail to see the difference between this and a mobile phone. Surely if you pre- plan your route this is just a toy and one which doesn't take into account for road closures,diversions,traffic delays etc. without you needing to operate/press control or instruction buttons/screen to compensate when they arise
IMHO they are bad enough in cars but can become a bigger hazard than help whilst riding a bike and before anybody jumps down my throat you will be saying you stop to make the route adjustments,in which case you could look at the map which in many cases would give you several alternatives and not just the one you get from the Satnav

The beauty of SatNav is you miss your turning and the device re-computes the route for you - it may say "turn around" a few times, but it soon gets the hint and works out the best route from your current location.

Yes I can read paper maps, and I love paper maps, but this is dynamic, reacting to the situation - come to a closed road, just follow the diversion and you may even get diverted by the sat nav onto a better diversionary route.

The screen is useful to glance at to see the road-layout ahead, but you certainly dont study it.

The "voices in your head" are limited to "in 300 yards, turn right" or "at the roundabout take the 3rd Exit"

Its no more distracting than a Driving Examiner or Instructor on the radio

This is all without taking into consideration the bells and whistles of being able to have it tell you where petrol stations are, or up to date traffic info, or weather at destination etc.

Its just another tool, and some people like it, some people dont.

But I do

David