Best Ipaq for GPS? Which GPS (Europe, Benelux)?

[KuroNeko]

A friend of mine has seen my Ipaq 3970, and wants a PPC too.

His main application will be the standard agenda features and GPS. Since I don't use GPS and have no interest in it I am at a loss which Ipaq to recommend to him.

Are there good GPS solutions for Europe (Benelux region) for the Ipaq 2215, or should he look at the 4155 series? Which GPS modules should he look at that work bets with Ipaqs?

TIA for any advice!

Neko

[Pat Logsdon]

Personally, I'd recommend a bluetooth GPS - no wires, and they don't drain the battery of the PPC like a CF GPS would. I think the two best BT GPS units are probably the Fortuna Clip-On (http://store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/forclipdualm.html) (which uses a removable, Nokia cell-phone battery), and the RoyalTek BlueGPS (http://store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/roybluegmobd.html) (which has a built-in, non-removable battery). In a few tests I've read, these units have the best battery life, longest range, and the highest number of satellites detected.

I have a 4150. I love the size, and I don't need CF. If your friend doesn't have any CF accessories, they might as well start out with the 4150. If price is an issue (and they don't mind not having WiFi), the 2210 is cheaper.

Software: I think the king in Europe is Tom Tom. (http://store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/tomnaveurmap.html) I wouldn't get their GPS, though - it's not very good, range is bad, etc. But the software gets high marks.

Finally, I'd recommend that you check out gpspassion.com (http://www.gpspassion.com). The owner of that site lives in France, there are great reviews and active forums, and links to sites that sell GPS hardware and software in Europe.

Note: The site I've linked to for the products above is Semsons. While they're located in the U.S., they ship internationally (http://store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/international.html), which may be beneficial with the current exchange rate, even with the higher shipping prices. I've used them myself several times and will again in the future. I have NO affiliation with them, by the way. :mrgreen:

[Whisper]

I have had a 3970 with a Navman 3850 jacket for about a year

It's been reasonably reliable though it has an odd moment every now and again, taking me off a motorway at a junction then straght back on again, or worse taking me off at a junction, back down the motorway the other way then off at the next junction to go back the way I was originally going. Very odd.

Map accuracy can be surprising both ways. A relatively new one way system or traffic control barrier is there whereas a feature which has obviously been around for years is not and it's hard to find another way around. If you choose shortest route be prepared to go across country. It will take you down tracks which may officially be roads but are scary in a Land Rover. If you're towing a trailer or caravan always tell it to pick the fastest route!

The map package is good value with all the European stuff bundled in and my short forays into France show them to be pretty good.

Getting the iPaq in it's jacket fixed to the screen so you can see the screen, see the road around it, getting the power adapter lead into it and have the arial able to recieve is not always easy. It's even more difficult to arrange everything when cycling or walking around, you have to hold the whole lot in your hand which looks OTT. Battery life is about 3 hours and when it's gone the organiser is gone too. A seperate reciever with a bluetooth connection must make life so much easier. The battery life is probably about the same for the reciever but you only need to have the organiser on from time to time, though I wonder how many car adaptors you can run if you're in the car.

There is no way to transfer your favourites to another machine if you upgrade, it all has to be put in again manually.

You can't use the excellent iPaq screen protector which is a pain if you try to put it in a bag while it's on to keep the signal.

Every kind of add on, for example speed camera databases, places of interest, seem to come in a format which can easily be loaded into Tom Tom software. I have yet to find anything which will work with Navman software.

If that looks like a recommendation for a bluetooth GPS then you'd be right. I shall be looking for a bluetooth package soon, maybe check out the Tom Tom set up or find something which will work with the Navman software. If you want to buy a second hand Navman jacket.....