SatNav for car and bike

[magnatom]

I've been thinking of getting satnav for a while for the car, for the odd occasion where I am driving somewhere I don't know. However, I am also starting to want to do longer rides on the bike and it would be nice to have some satnav back up for these rides so I don't get lost.

Anyway, looking full satnav units, it seems they are still quite expensive (and I'm a bit skint at the moment!). So I thought about using my phone. I have a Sony Ericsson K850i which has bluetooth. So I wonder if just buying a relatively cheap GPS receiver and loading something like amazegps, might do the trick.

What do you think? I'd need to find a way of mounting the phone on the handlebars and waterproofing it (but I beleive that is possible with some rubber covers!). Has anyone else done something similar?

 

[pzycoman]

Iv got a Garmin 60 CSx (Top of the range), I use it in the car and on my bike and when i go hiking (Also used it when I went abroad so I didnt get hopelessly lost!) - can pick it up for about 200 quid off ebay, but you can get the cheaper versions and just load the maps onto it...

 

[magnatom]

Mmm. They are nice, but if I ever want a new bike I'll have to keep the costs down. I can get a GPS receiver for £40 or less and the amazegps software is free (and I already have the phone). I was wondering if anyone had had experience of the software or could recommend a receiver that would be good for both cycling and in the car.

 

[marinyork]

I know a mate who has a gps on his pda as an add on. It works very well, the problem is getting a sane mounting for either car or bike for it.

 

[magnatom]

There is always this...

 

[wafflycat]

Got one of these for other half. But it did cost..

Primarily got it for MrW to use when he's out & about driving in strange parts on his own. But it has some OS maps pre-loaded and you can get others. It's also properly portable (reasonable battery) and it's waterproof - and you can get a bike mount for it. So it's of use in car/on bicycle/when walking.

 

[magnatom]

Aaarrggh! Stop showing me the expensive gadgets. My next big purchase is going to be a bike! When I see gadgets I get these strange urges....

 

[wafflycat]

Aaarrggh! Stop showing me the expensive gadgets. My next big purchase is going to be a bike! When I see gadgets I get these strange urges....

Lucky Mrs Magnatom!

 

[fossyant]

Take a map....and spend the extra on a bike...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Take a map....and spend the extra on a bike...

I agree. An OS map is a thing of beauty, a twat nav is just an irritating bleeping gadget which will gradually remove your very soul. So there.

 

[wafflycat]

On my bicycle I much prefer OS maps. I find an OS map a thing of great beauty as well as great information. Alas, MrW's work involves a great amount of motor mileage in parts unfamiliar. This is where the satnav has a good use. Instead of having to stop and look at a map, there's a wee voice saying "in one mile..." "at the roundabout take the second exit" and the like. It has its uses. But it isn't a thing of beauty in the way an OS map is.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Alas, MrW's work involves a great amount of motor mileage in parts unfamiliar.

So does mine. But I still prefer A-Zs. Each to his own, I suppose - my brother (also a lorry driver) swears by his Sat Nav.

 

[sheddy]

Check out the battery life, the battery life the battery life, the battery life.

 

[domtyler]

Have you got Google maps and GPS on your phone? Far better than irritating SatNav.

 

[wafflycat]

On the satnav I got MrW, the battery life is not bad - up to 8hrs. Plus, when in car it runs off the car battery and you can also buy extra battery packs, so it's adaptable enough for our usage