Orbit GPS, walking rather than driving?

[jann]

Trying to get an answer to this question, but nobody seems to know the answer so far.

I'll buy the Oribit if it can do the following:

a) be used whilst walking in e.g. central London to help me find my way to various full postcode locations/streets (i.e. held in hand, easy to read display)

b) ideally, also be able to be kept hidden in inside pocket, with verbal instructions coming via bluetooth headset.

I noticed in one forum that b) was ruled a problem, as apparently e.g. WM5 does not allow audio such as TomTom instructions to be sent to a bluetooth headset??

[Realflo]

I think, that Bluetooth is not the problem... I think, it will work.
But: GPS with device in your Pocket won't work.

[StiflersMom]

Cable-Headset works fine, Bluetooth Headset not (at least mine).
Running TomTom in your jacket or rucksack is no problem.

But using TomTom for walking is not very good - even when you switch it to the "Walking mode". If you walk slow, it doesn't really know what dircetion you are walking and the map is rotating very often.

[MGTF]

hi

i Used TT in london last year device in pocket worked a treat don't know about stability of map as it was in my pocket most of the time and used a wired headset. just had to view map ocassionally to get an idea of the general direction i was heading.

[jann]

Thanks people,

Varied answers! - maybe due to different models?

"even when you switch it to the "Walking mode". - oh well, good to hear it actually has a 'walking mode'

"bluetooth" - I believe someone mentioned some issue whereby (forgive me for vagueness) WM generated sounds could not be sent via Bluetooth (but obviously phone or music audio could). Yes, I was confused as well...

[StiflersMom]

Yes - it has a walking mode. But that mode is for the way how TomTom calculates the route - e.g. pedestrian areas, oneway streets.

Another thing is - in large cities the device will find less satellites due to high houses around you. That's another point why it sometimes does't know what direction you are walking. That was my experience in Boston last year.

[benih007]

I use memory map 5 with the Orbit and I think that's exactly what you want. I have the full london A-Z and using the GPS can pin point my position. I also have ordinance survey maps for kent and sussex which are great for walks.

When you connect the orbit back to your PC, memory map will download your route to the PC and display it within the 'main' memory map software.

[spinzolone]

I've bougth HTC Artemis recently and used it in the labirinth of Venice Italy. I thought I couldn't use it but I managed to use it.
Surprisingly it could find the position. I mean surprisingly if you know that the streets in Venice are 3 meters large, at best, and the surroundings houses never lower then 12-15 meters.
Yes, it's a problem for TomTom to find the direction where you're going but, if you ask to see the graphical demo of the calculated route, you can easily go where you want. You're looking at a freezed map showing the next connection, turnout or whatever. As soon as you've reached it you can press the skip of next button to see next istruction. More on this, while you look at the graphical demo of the route, you get the vocal messages.
Bye

[jann]

thanks, all interesting especially memory map 5 by the sound of it!

[mikealder]

Memory Map is great for walking but it will not give you spoken commands as to where you need to go, it is a topographical map (it looks the same as the paper map you would purchase from an outdoors/ camping style shop) but its in electronic format displayed on the PDA screen with current position displayed. You can set waypoints to offer a vector, distance and time to go to reach the destination - great out on the fells but limited in cities to be honest.
If you want spoken instructions TomTom or Route 66 work great on the Artemis, both can display the map in 2D mode which is easier to interpret when walking - Mike