Cell phone as/with GPS

jimbob59

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One of these days maybe I'll get my F658 and want a GPS for it...

I have a:

Garmin Handheld (hiking) eTrex Vista Cx

Garmin, and a car-mount C330 (the bigger "wedge shaped" unit so not good for MC mouting)

I guess I could use one of these, but not really a good match...

So I've started looking at MC-adapted GPS units like the Zumo 500 but started wondering if anyone has had success using a SmartPhone as a GPS -- either a Windows Mobile device or the new iPhone 3G ... are they worth considering as an option -- either without "enhancement" or used with something like the Garmin Mobile 10 smartphone/PDA software? Like here: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=138&pID=9796


Thanks,
Jim
 
Last edited:
jimbob59 said:
One of these days maybe I'll get my F658 and want a GPS for it...

I have a:

Garmin Handheld (hiking) eTrex Vista Cx

Garmin, and a car-mount C330 (the bigger "wedge shaped" unit so not good for MC mouting)

I guess I could use one of these, but not really a good match...

So I've started looking at MC-adapted GPS units like the Zumo 500 but started wondering if anyone has had success using a SmartPhone as a GPS -- either a Windows Mobile device or the new iPhone 3G ... are they worth considering as an option -- either without "enhancement" or used with something like the Garmin Mobile 10 smartphone/PDA software? Like here: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=138&pID=9796


Thanks,
Jim
Click to expand...

i know its a little late
ive been using the Nokia navigator 6110 for the last4 months just brought out a 6210 model as well link it up to your bluetooth headset or speakers and off you go only problem is the battery only lasts 3 hrs with satnav and bluetooth on so a charger is necessary but only comes in ciggerate lighter form for the car so adapter necessary software provided is route66 but others available gets me around wales,exmoor and the peak district fine
 
Thanks Adam!

I had not given much thought to battery life....
With some cabling the phone/GPS it's self is not so much trouble ... but the bluetooth earbud hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :o

Jim
 
nokia

For the last couple of years I've been using Nokia smartphones running Tomtom with Western Europe and Eastern Europe mapping.

Currently I use a Nokia N95 in a Krusell case hanging from an adapted Krusell belt clip screwed to a bracket on the handlebars. The Krusell case is protective but isn't waterproof, but if it's very wet it all fits neatly into an Aloksak which is like a heavy duty clear plastic zip-bag.

The thing is easy to see and bluetooths directions to my Scala Rider headset, so no wires. Battery life is an issue with the N95 at any time,and when it's being used as a sat-nav it's plugged into a cigar lighter supply.

It's taken me to various parts of Germany and Switzerland and as it's my main mobile phone it makes an effectiive and cheap sat-nav. So good I wouldn't bother buying a proper bike sat-nav!:thumb2
 
Zundapp said:
... and as it's my main mobile phone it makes an effectiive and cheap sat-nav. So good I wouldn't bother buying a proper bike sat-nav!:thumb2
Click to expand...

Thanks Zundapp... that's kinda what I'm thinking ... I'm WAY overdue for a new phone anyway... :thumb

Jim
 
Nokia N95 GPS

Using a couple of cut down shampoo bottles, I have an N95 on the handlebar with a modified car cigarette charger running off the extra power outlet on under the fuel tank. Then it's bluetooth voice guidance as previously mentioned. Works a treat! :) Also, because it's Nokia the maps from a 100 countries can be downloaded on to the SIM card if you want to go a little further..
 
cbattson said:
Using a couple of cut down shampoo bottles, I have an N95 on the handlebar with a modified car cigarette charger running off the extra power outlet on under the fuel tank. Then it's bluetooth voice guidance as previously mentioned. Works a treat! :) Also, because it's Nokia the maps from a 100 countries can be downloaded on to the SIM card if you want to go a little further..
Click to expand...


How did you utilise the 'cut down shampoo bottles'?

I'm always looking for a better/alternative/cheap way of mounting the N95.
 
Nokia N95 GPS

I cut the bottom off one bottle and cable tied just the neck to the bar to the right of the speedo, then cut the top off (the slightly bigger) bottle so the remainder would slide over the first bottle with the phone inside... It took a bit of a search around Tesco to find the right bottles.. It's been working fine for a year or so now though it looks a bit Heath Robinson..
 
I have tried going down the N95 route (!) but find the GPS chipset to be very slow to aquire satellites and drops them all too easily. Have only used the very local map that came with the phone but wonder what the cost is of downloading them for rides outside it's coverage

With respect to Bluetooth, can the N95 run the "map" application audio and the phone at the same time?

When I tried using the 3.5mm wired headphone output it disabled the BT
 
I don't use the built-in sat-nav and maps on the N95. I've got Tomtom Navigator 6 running on the phone with both Western and Eastern Europe maps. This connects wirelessly with an external bluetooth sat nav receiver (about the size of a matchbox).

Works perfectly, picks up satellites quickly and costs nowt to run once you've got the kit. The verbal directions (Joanna Lumley, usually) are crystal clear in my Cardo headset.

The only cable is the charger wire to the phone itself.

You can also use Route 66 on the phone in the same way. It really depends on which you prefer, although I find the Tomtom interface nicer, but even with Tomtom's latest maps, Route 66 maps seem to be a bit more up-to-date.
 
Zundapp said:
....... This connects wirelessly with an external bluetooth sat nav receiver (about the size of a matchbox)........
Click to expand...

If you pair with the BT GPS I guess you have to give up the actual phone operation to your Cardo headset?
 
Yes, that's right. The phone automatically connects to the Cardo headset anyway, and if I'm using the phone for Tomtom, the Tomtom voice directions are transmitted to the headset. If a call comes in, it takes priority and the Tomtom is muted, although the visual mapping is still on screen.

I can also say, from experience, when riding at about 70 mph, close to Ullapool, I received a call from my work in Ayrshire, had the conversation, and the person calling me had no idea I was on a bike, the quality was so good. And the Tomtom was running at the time.

So I'm very happy with the set up! :D
 
I've been using Garmin Mobile XT on a N95 for over a year now. (I also have a 278 for the bike and a Nüvi in my wife's car.)

Some conclusions:

- GMXT uses maps in the mSD card. No expensive telecom required.

- I have it with me. Always! It's available when I need it! Great!

- The N95 finds the satellites faster than any other GPS I have tested. Typically around 10-15 seconds.

- In the car I prefer to use the N95. It shows a more detailed map than the Nüvi and it's less clumsy than the 278. It need no external antenna.

- Most negative thing is the small buttons. But this is a general issue with the N95. Poor ergonomy. Another problem is that the N95 dies and needs restart quite often.

I have tested a few other navigator applications in the N95 but Garmin GMXT proved superior. The possibility for easy upload of waypoints from Mapsource was a critical advantage. No other application could upload 50 POI's in an efficient way.

For walking in a city it's great. Upload a set of POI's you want to visit in Roma or Barcelona. Start GMXT when you need guiding. Battery life is no big issue since you only need to have GMXT running a short while when you find out the direction. When you are lost just start GMXT again. Its extremely fast satellite fix makes it possible to use the N95 this way.
 
Now that looks really interesting. I'm due a new phone and rather fancied the Samsung Omnia cos I can run Tomtom on it, but that one might be worth waiting for...
 
I have a SE Xperia X1 and run TomTom Navigator 7, it works well but in terms of real world practical use on the bike my old StreetPilot 2720 knocks spots off it.

Getting a PDA or smart-phone working effectively on a bike is going to take some fiddling around with cables etc that just adds to the fragility of the whole set-up. A made for purpose device is a better bet IMHO though I under stand that for those with a capable phone and no GPS it's a tempting, and cheaper, prospect.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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