Sat Nav in a convertible
Discussion
Please bear with me - I've done effall research into this. I am going to, honest, and I'm starting here 
I'm looking for a Sat Nav unit to go in my TVR Griffith. Which means I'd like the following:
a portable unit so I can move it to my other motor (though a fixed unit would be acceptable);
to avoid using the cigarette lighter if possible;
to avoid having trailing wires all over the shop;
with the roof off, I'd like it to be audible (especially at full (road-legal!) chat with a sports exhaust) and visible in bright sunlight;
*cough* safety *cough* camera information;
real time traffic information.
I appreciate there are a myriad options, but I'd like to restrict my research to units that at least address the above. No budget constraints (yet!)
Ta.
edited to add: Oops. Now I've found this thread http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topi . But, you know, that was from nearly a year ago, so things must've moved on
I'm looking for a Sat Nav unit to go in my TVR Griffith. Which means I'd like the following:
a portable unit so I can move it to my other motor (though a fixed unit would be acceptable);
to avoid using the cigarette lighter if possible;
to avoid having trailing wires all over the shop;
with the roof off, I'd like it to be audible (especially at full (road-legal!) chat with a sports exhaust) and visible in bright sunlight;
*cough* safety *cough* camera information;
real time traffic information.
I appreciate there are a myriad options, but I'd like to restrict my research to units that at least address the above. No budget constraints (yet!)
Ta.
edited to add: Oops. Now I've found this thread http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topi . But, you know, that was from nearly a year ago, so things must've moved on
Edited by bigandclever on Wednesday 10th January 21:37
TomTom can be difficult to see with top off if it's sunny, but that's probably going to happen with any LCD-based screen. Avoiding wires trailing everywhere is going to involve investment in extra wiring to go in the nack of the lighter socket. I don't have problem hearing the TomTom with the roof off on the MR2, but the noise levels don't really compare. See if feeding the TomTom's sound output through the stereo is an option.
Can I add to this question, for a fixed unit in a convertible where do you normally hide the GPS aeriel?
I'm thinking of replacing standard Becker radio / CD in the Boxster (2000 model so no MOST bus issues) with the Becker Indianapolis Pro with ipod link as well and I really want to hide as much of the wiring as possible.
Cheers
Chris
I'm thinking of replacing standard Becker radio / CD in the Boxster (2000 model so no MOST bus issues) with the Becker Indianapolis Pro with ipod link as well and I really want to hide as much of the wiring as possible.
Cheers
Chris
Well on my Viper SRT/10 with my Nuvi 310 I had the same problem with the noise and the roof off my solution was.
Get a second fitting kit from the web including a new cable I then bought a cigarette lighter extension lead worked out + and - and wired that into the cars ignition I then joined the Nuvi cable under the dash and placed the rubber mount on the l/h side by the driver with the wire hidden behind the door rubber.
This puts the Nuvi right by my hands and allows easy use plus I can now hear the prompts and use the Bluetooth with my phone. I can even safetly use the controls on the Nuvi while driving.
On a safety point is it illegal to use you Sat Nav while driving?? Its only like tuning the radio, I would say no but if you casued an accident then other offences may apply.
Get a second fitting kit from the web including a new cable I then bought a cigarette lighter extension lead worked out + and - and wired that into the cars ignition I then joined the Nuvi cable under the dash and placed the rubber mount on the l/h side by the driver with the wire hidden behind the door rubber.
This puts the Nuvi right by my hands and allows easy use plus I can now hear the prompts and use the Bluetooth with my phone. I can even safetly use the controls on the Nuvi while driving.
On a safety point is it illegal to use you Sat Nav while driving?? Its only like tuning the radio, I would say no but if you casued an accident then other offences may apply.
I take it you have a mobile? if it is up for renewal soon I would suggest going for sat nav on your phone.
I had sat nav on a PDa then a garmin unit but got fed uphaving to take them all out and trying to hide them etc etc...so I went for a phone unit.
I use a Nokia N70 with the Navicore
www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/12295.htm
That one covers Europe and is priced at £169 but the UK only one is priced at £69.
The price covers the cost of the program which is held on a SD card which slots into the phone and is so easy to set up along with the blue tooth GPS receiver.
Asyou will see from teh link..the product has safety camera alerts, POI , traffic alerts etc etc like everything else...but the best part is that the ohone system allows you to update the alerts and traffic info free as often as you want through the 3 GPRS network.
The system also has a host of other features and can be used used for cycling & walking etc etc...well worth a look.
I had sat nav on a PDa then a garmin unit but got fed uphaving to take them all out and trying to hide them etc etc...so I went for a phone unit.
I use a Nokia N70 with the Navicore
www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/12295.htm
That one covers Europe and is priced at £169 but the UK only one is priced at £69.
The price covers the cost of the program which is held on a SD card which slots into the phone and is so easy to set up along with the blue tooth GPS receiver.
Asyou will see from teh link..the product has safety camera alerts, POI , traffic alerts etc etc like everything else...but the best part is that the ohone system allows you to update the alerts and traffic info free as often as you want through the 3 GPRS network.
The system also has a host of other features and can be used used for cycling & walking etc etc...well worth a look.
Surely the biggest problem with a portable Sat Nav in a Convertible is the sun & the noise. After buying a Mio 168 with Co Pilot Live (crappy build quality but good European Maps) I found with the top down & the sun up the screen was totally unreadable. And in addition to this I could´nt hear the verbal instructions. These two problems appear to be common to all portable Sat Nav systems when used in a Convertible which means, given the current "state of the art", they are a complete waste of money.
Yes It could be a problem, but with the mobile phone systems it links in through your bluetooth headset so you get good clear and conscise instructions without worrying about wind rush etc............and of course you would be using a blluetooth handsfree kit in the car anyway...wouldnt want bib pulling you!
I use a Mitac Mio 168 with both Co Pilot and TT5 in my Chimaera.
I have the unit up high by the mirror, tilting down so reflections are minimised as far as I can (alternate position with roof off is by Window Switches - unit works fine and minimal reflections.
The PDA headphone out feed the Aux In on my Pioneer headunit so the volume of the instructions is not an issue
Simon
I have the unit up high by the mirror, tilting down so reflections are minimised as far as I can (alternate position with roof off is by Window Switches - unit works fine and minimal reflections.
The PDA headphone out feed the Aux In on my Pioneer headunit so the volume of the instructions is not an issue
Simon
Noise is definately no probs. I use an XDA IIi with TT6 and a bluetooth wireless GPS receiver. If i switch on my Nokia Bluetooth headset i can hear all the instructions and warnings through that, or on the PDA speaker if i choose. Either way it's plenty loud enough.
As far as the screen in sunlight is concerned certain map colours are better than others in the sunlight so because TT6 is fully featured and customisable i have shedloads of custom map colours that are great in the day. Plus it's a big screen so you can see everything clearly in any case sunlight or not. Also i can use the phone at the same time as the TT6 so i can still hear all the instructions while taking a call.
I never leave home without it.
As far as the screen in sunlight is concerned certain map colours are better than others in the sunlight so because TT6 is fully featured and customisable i have shedloads of custom map colours that are great in the day. Plus it's a big screen so you can see everything clearly in any case sunlight or not. Also i can use the phone at the same time as the TT6 so i can still hear all the instructions while taking a call.
I never leave home without it.
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