OnCourse Navigator 5 (GPS Software Solution) Released [Archive]

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Ekkie Tepsupornchai

07-08-2005, 08:15 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.oncoursenavigator.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.oncoursenavigator.com/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"OCN5 launched with an exciting new price, new map coverage and new line of GPS receivers. Render your PDA into a first-class navigation device with the new OCN5: Easy & Professional modes for both car and pedestrian navigation, precise & accurate turn-by-turn spoken instructions, Voice Command to input your destination address, CleverMap - additional maps can be activated at anytime, cross border navigation, easy finger input for address plus POIs, Microsoft Outlook Contacts, Favorites, or Select on map."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/MNSplash_OCN5_PNA.jpg" /><br /><br />Well, even though I don't own a GPS solution (yet), I'm actually quite excited about this announcement. You may recall a <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37147&highlight=oncourse">PPCT review of OnCourse Navigator 4</a> earlier in the year by our very own Doug Raeburn. It's a terrific GPS solution and one of few (perhaps the only?) GPS solution that makes the most of VGA displays. There were some limitations and/or bugs that really kept it from being the clear #1 choice in my opinion. For example, there were reports of certain streets of certain cities not being recognized at all by OCN as well as some performance complaints. Hopefully, OCN5 addresses these challenges. For registered users of OCN4, the upgrade to OCN5 (along with "new maps") is free. Prices on the <a href="http://www.oncoursenavigator.com/">OnCourse Navigator website</a> range from $79 to $229.95 with several levels in between depending on desired coverage. Has anyone had a chance to try this? Give us your thoughts!

kozak

07-08-2005, 10:04 PM

Haven't had a chance to try it yet, waiting for my Upgrade email. There were supposed to go out yesterday for OCN4 owners. OCN4 is awesome, if you learn about it's quirks (it needs A LOT of memory), it's rock solid. Best maps and best voicepromts that I've experienced (I tried them all). It is also the only solution for those of us with VGA screens.

griph

07-08-2005, 10:46 PM

Have to say that the very few screen shots whilst looking cool doesnt give you much of an idea of the functionality of the app. Has anyone done a review of the APP?

Phoenix

07-08-2005, 11:20 PM

Have to say that the very few screen shots whilst looking cool doesnt give you much of an idea of the functionality of the app. Has anyone done a review of the APP?

This version doesn't ship until the 11th - but perhaps someone got their hands on it early. Haven't heard of any reviews, though.

I was reading on BuyGPSnow (www.buygpsnow.com) about some of the new enhancements - this is the GPS software that has interested me the most. I've been waiting until this release before investing in a GPS solution - looks like a great upgrade and from the little I can see/read, it seems to address the biggest flaws of OCN4. I'm sure GPSpassion (www.gpspassion.com) will have plenty to say about it at some point soon.

Should make for a great combo with the GlobalSat 338.

The only thing that OCN5 doesn't seem to have is labeled streets during 3D mode which would be helpful.

Ekkie Tepsupornchai

07-08-2005, 11:29 PM

Should make for a great combo with the GlobalSat 338.
That's the exact same combo I'm looking at. If OCN5 doesn't improve on OCN4, then I'll probably go with iGuidance instead (along with the GlobalSat 338).

If you get this, be sure to report back on your impressions!

stoker

07-09-2005, 12:09 AM

Phoenix

07-09-2005, 12:33 AM

I have the Globalsat 338BT GPS, and was told that Navigator 4 would not work with it. Incompatible. If anyone does end up being successful with the same hardware, please let me know. I might have even seen this incompatibility with OCN 4 on their site, that is why I am curious about ver. 5. Thx

Whoever told you that doesn't have accurate info. BuyGPSnow sells a GlobalSat 338/OCN4 (w/free upgrade to OCN5) bundle. Many people on GPSpassion also have this combination and OCN on their website shows a 338 and OCN5 combo as well.

Phoenix

07-09-2005, 12:34 AM

griph

07-09-2005, 12:45 AM

the GlobalSat 338).
I have the AVL BT-15 GPS receiver which although 'only' allows 16 channels against the GlobalSat 338 it has a better battery life at 20 hour operational time at full power - not trickle mode. Works really well with my MDA Compact!

lapchinj

07-09-2005, 01:15 AM

Looks really Cool and complete. The ability to plan a trip across the US in a corridor is awesome. I'm in the process of purchasing the software I'm just waiting for them to get back to me and tell me if my Phros GPS-360 will work with OnCourse Navigator 5.

Anyway I wonder how Jon Westfall will handle this software on his Tech Diet. (I can't)

Let The Experiment Begin! :devilboy:

Jeff

szamot

07-09-2005, 06:13 AM

I don't know to me this looks like another app with lines as streets and big blocky letters for writing. If someone could harness the power of Google Earth and make that into a PDA GPS solution I would bow down and be very, very impressed.

stoker

07-09-2005, 02:42 PM

I have confirmed that from ONcourse Navigator site (they do have a device compatability list there) that my Toshiba e830 won't work with OCNav 4,, any idea whether OCN5 will work with my device now?

griph

07-09-2005, 09:39 PM

I have confirmed that from ONcourse Navigator site (they do have a device compatability list there) that my Toshiba e830 won't work with OCNav 4,, any idea whether OCN5 will work with my device now?
Houston. There seems to be a problem!

signothefish

07-10-2005, 06:19 AM

From the OcN forum (http://www.oncoursenavigator.com/forum/default.aspx?f=10&m=1265), here is the pricing scheme:

1. product is with just one region map of North America useable for 79 $
2. product is with all region maps of North America useable for 139 $
3. product is with seamless USA map and all region maps which are completely covered by the seamless USA map useable for 199 $
4. product is is with seamless North American map and all region maps which are completly covered by the seamless North American map for 229 $

And you can always upgrade from one to another product.

Clark60613

07-18-2005, 10:11 PM

You will be able to plan a trip across the US or North America but not long just based on a corridor. You have to have a big map like seamless USA which fit on 1 GB SD card.
But it will of course work with your Pharos GPS due to it is also a GPS receiver.

Looks really Cool and complete. The ability to plan a trip across the US in a corridor is awesome. I'm in the process of purchasing the software I'm just waiting for them to get back to me and tell me if my Phros GPS-360 will work with OnCourse Navigator 5.

Anyway I wonder how Jon Westfall will handle this software on his Tech Diet. (I can't)

Let The Experiment Begin! :devilboy:

Jeff

lapchinj

07-19-2005, 03:54 AM

You will be able to plan a trip across the US or North America but not long just based on a corridor. You have to have a big map like seamless USA which fit on 1 GB SD card...
Yeah I was only thinking of getting the seamless US map. That's what originally attracted me to the product. I was thinking of making my hp4155 my standalone GPS to run OCN5. But thier tech people talked me out of that and told me to use my Dell X50v.

I was hopping to make my purchase a lot earlier and maybe be able to contribute a little more to this thread but that didn't work out as planned since I haven't been home long enough to buy it. Right now it seems that I can buy it sometime next week. Then I have a month of buisiness trips to places I've never been so that might prove very interesting since I always miss exits. I better print out the manual if it doesn't come with it since I have a feeling I'll be needing it.

Jeff-

signothefish

07-25-2005, 05:40 PM

As a beta tester for OcN5, I can say, without a doubt, that this software is much better than OcN4.

The VGA support is better in both landscape and portrait, and allows you to change your orientation on the fly, without having to exit the software.

There are interfaces from Navifriends that allow you to input your own color schemes and store your own GPS waypoints as mass data files in ASC format.

The seamless maps are real nice, because they are highly compressed so that they can fit on a single memory card, and they allow you to navigate long distances without having to change maps.

Although it only works on major roads, I really like the Speed Limit feature, which warns me if I'm speeding more than a designated amount over the speed limit, both audibly and visually.

There are three input methods, one of which is a large all-letter keyboard which enables you to input alphabetic characters with a single finger press instead of the multiple fingerpresses per letter required in OcN4.

The menu system is also cleaner, and easier to use, requiring less screen taps to accomplish frequently performed tasks, such as road blocking.

If you have any questions about the software (i.e. its capabilities/limitations), post here and I'll do my best to answer it, including some screen shots if necessary. A little forewarning... I don't have experience with other GPS software, so don't ask me how it compares to product X. Also, I don't have a BT GPS receiver. Mine is a wired connection through the serial port, so keep the BT questions to a minimum. But I'll do my best to provide your BT-related answers from a search of the beta tester forum there.

Phillip Dyson

07-25-2005, 06:43 PM

Is there any indication as to why the e830 is not compatible with this software?

signothefish

07-25-2005, 09:23 PM

Ekkie Tepsupornchai

07-25-2005, 10:42 PM

As a beta tester for OcN5, I can say, without a doubt, that this software is much better than OcN4.
This is encouraging... I'm really leaning towards getting this solution now... that is, once I'm ready to plop down for a GPS package.

Thanks for the info!

Phillip Dyson

07-28-2005, 01:52 PM

Hi sojourner,

The Toshiba Bluetooth is not supported. User can either use the CF GPS or get a compatible Socket Bluetooth CF/SD adapter card to communicate with a Bluetooth GPS receiver. The built-in BT GPS stack is not fully compliant with SPP protocol per our test with both OcN4 and OcN5.

I just tried a Belkin bluetooth CF card using the WidComm stack and still can't get the software to recognize the receiver.

Is it the stack that needs to be compliant or the hardware. Does it have to be a socket card specifically?