Which Sat Nav & Car kit?

[suitstusir]

Having recently purchased my XDA II I am very keen to get some form of sat nav system installed and a car kit.

I basically would like to know:
Which is the best software?
Which is the best Blue tooth reciever?
Which is the best car kit?

Ideally I would like to be able to have the ability to use the sat nav both in the car and on foot.
On the reciever side battery life is important to me as is its size and convenience of using both in and out the car.
On the car kit side I would like the phone to auto mute the stereo when a call is incoming and to also auto mute the stereo when I need to hear an instruction from the sat nav.
On the software side I need to be able to set my own 'way points' and would like to do postcode searches. Also places of interest, restaurants, shops etc. would be nice.

Any info you could post on the above would be really appreciated. :D

[boydneal]

I did a lot of research into Sat Nav and had the same requirements as you.

I finally decided to buy the Navman 4410 system, which gave me everything I wanted. A small receiver that fits into my pocket which comes with the straps to use whilst on foot. It features postcode search and shows places of interest etc. Navman quote 30 hours on a set of batteries, but it does come with a cable to plug into the cigarette supply.

All in all I am very happy with it.

With regards to a car kit, I am still working on that. Looking on the web, I think it will not be long until there is a suitable available for the XDA II.

Hope this helps.

[lummac]

I have the navman 4410 as well, this is a bluetooth device

But if you would go hardwired in the car, wait for the carkit from t-mobile (now available in germany) which is only199 euros and comes included with satnav

[SimonTALM]

I don't know about the Bluetool GPS or the Car Kit, but the Sat Nav software I'd recommend is Tom Tom - especially if you wait a few weeks to get Version 3 due to be released end of March to Mid April.

Why?

1) The system is incredibly easy to use whilst driving - all major functions can be got to through large soft or hard buttons meaning you can use your fingers and not have to worry about using a stylus (or Key :wink: )

2) Version 3 will have a system for automatic traffic info with redirection around the problem that works though a GPRS connection - ideal for us XDA users who don't need to have a seperate phone :D unfortunately it does cost extra (49 Euros a year, or 9.95 Euros a month) to activate this option.

3) There are loads of free tools to highlight POI (points of interest) as you approach. Some are free such as CheckPOInt

4) Hundreds (may even be thousands) of FREE POI databases to tell you where almost anything is e.g. Mc Donalds, Little Chef, KFC, Speed Cameras :!: (remember the POI Tools in point 3 :wink: )

5) Tom Tom didn't used to beable to do postcode based searches although I believe this is fixed in version 3 and there are third party tools for version 2 available (probably free)

Tom Tom meets my needs exactly - mind you I don't use the GPS outside the car, so I can't tell you how good it would be for navigation on foot.

www.pocketgps.co.uk is great source of info on GPS navigation for pocket PC's, and has a Free POI database of UK Speed Cameras 8).

[W4XY]

Please try and look for a suitable sub forum before you post questions. They are there with a reason.

[suitstusir]

Thanks for all your feedback.
I cant believe how many systems and options are available!
Does anyone know of a shop or similar where it is possible to view all these products?

Also does anyone know if Tom Tom & Navman software allow you to record a snail trail and do they both have voice instructions?

[SimonTALM]

Tom Tom certainly does have voice and allows you to record your route, I can't comment on NavMan as I don't own it (I've seen it on at mates Ipaq though).

There are plenty of online shops where you can view the systems and the prices.

I bought mine through www.routeplanners.co.uk - orderd on a Friday at 2:30 had it in my hand on the Saturday morning at about 10:00 (Royal Mail Special Delivery :D )

As I said in a previous reply www.pocketgps.co.uk is a great source of information - has reviews on all the main Sat Nav software and also has reviews / comparison tables for Wired and Bluetooth GPS Receivers.

[suitstusir]

Cheers Simon.
I'll keep the forum posted on how I get on...............................................