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1721 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 7:29 AM

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#3 of 1721 Connect Laptop/GPS to CD Changer Input? by s852 May 06, 2003 (5:20 pm)
I have a laptop that I plan to use as a navigation system in a 2002 Taurus that has a single disk CD player and no cassette. If it had a cassette, I would just get a cassette adapter to run the audio from the laptop, but that is not an option. I also heard that there are FM transmitters than could be used, but they work poorly. Someone said there is some way to tap into the unused factory CD changer input so I could connect the laptop or even a MP3 player and get full fidelity. Anyone have an idea how this could be done? It would be really cool to use the laptop to play MP3s and also simultaneously hear the navigation commands if that software was running at the same time.
#4 of 1721 S852...THERE'S A WAY by mdsupercooper May 08, 2003 (10:31 pm)
You're in luck. There is a way to hook into your car's AUX input that will result in incredible sound without having to buy an aftermarket head unit. Soundgate makes a product for 1995+ Ford vehicles that enable you to hook up your laptop, or a sirius satellite radio controller or even a cd changer to your factory radio. Check it out. http://www.soundgate.com/products/aux-in/ford.htm# for the aux in.   http://www.soundgate.com/products/cd/ford.htm for the cd changer   Find a dealer near on on their website and have them install the module. Let me know if I can be of further help. Good luck
#5 of 1721 by texasbeast May 18, 2003 (6:18 pm)
My fave is the Garmin StreetPilot III ColorMap, reviewed here <http://gpsinformation.net/spiii/sp3review.htm>. Full color, completely routable, full USA City Navigator detailed street map CD for most major metro areas + internal rural Base Maps, uses small-to-large memory chips, and it talks. Comes with its own separate speaker unit that plugs into your DC socket, and there're several optional combined power/data cables available for it. Costs about $800, more or less. Got mine on sale for $750 from GPS Now!!!.   I'd rather leave the car's speakers for music, or leave them silent. It's creapy hearing "Turn here" in stereo!!!   Good list of GPS vendors <http://gpsinformation.net/banners.htm>.
#6 of 1721 Garmin Streetpilot III by pathstar1 May 19, 2003 (8:03 am)
I just got one of these over the winter and tried it out on a trip last month.   The Good - nice colour maps          - nice to be able to load detailed maps on your planned route          - the beanbag mount works very well and makes it easy to adjust the unit   The Bad - still has bugs in the software (hangs when you get near the loaded files edge and doesn't use the base map when you get to the detailed map area, even though the detailed map didn't have the major highways - BC Canada)         - compared to my GPS III+ very poor receiver in this unit - lost sats. in locations the III+ works fine         - is rather large on the dash         - the III+ allows changing the things displayed on the side of the screen - couldn't see anyware how to do this on the Streetpilot III (I like to see altitude, trip distance, avg. speed, current speed, and time/date)   Overall, I give it a C-. For the money, I think I'd recommend checking out the GPS V. It is practial for handheld use as well and has most of the features of the Streetpilot III.
#7 of 1721 New Portable GPS by s852 May 19, 2003 (9:14 pm)
Here is something newer: http://www.navmanusa.com/land/icn630/index.html Maybe it will work better than Streetpilot III. Has anyone tried this one?
#8 of 1721 Re: StreetPilot III by texasbeast May 20, 2003 (2:21 am)
As with everything, YMMV (your mileage may vary), I guess. Mine has been outstanding on Texas road trips, and one trip to relatives in Alabama, and one to New Mexico. Very few hang-up glitches ever, with these particular maps. I'm a ham radio operator, so I preemptively rigged a special antenna for my unit, and I've never noticed any significant loss of satellite coverage. The thing eats batteries like the Cookie Monster does cookies, color screen and talking voice and all, so I only use it plugged in. (I carry a more efficient, but much-less-powerful Garmin eTrex Vista for non-wheeled unplugged adventures.) And as far as the chunky size--yeah, well, this is *Texas*, and I drive a Dodge Ram MaxiWagon 15-person van, so that big box on the dash is right at home here! Ha ha!   Both being Garmin products, I can use the same media for this and my Vista when on foot. (It gets to be a real pain to have to have totally different media for all your different GPS hardware.) I have the internal built-in base maps for both, plus the detailed CityNavigator that came with the SPIII, and a Garmin topo disc for use with my eTrex when hiking. The little eTrex only has 24 MB of memory, so you have to reprogram it occasionally, but programming is actually kind of fun, so overall this works well for me.   One thing I saw some search-and-rescue guys do was to install a dedicated 8"-ish LCD screen on top of the dash that they could plug the GPS unit into. Swivels and tilts on a little pedestal. This gives the driver and navigator a much easier-on-the-eyes monitor than that puny little 3" deal on the unit itself. You and I may have a little difficulty explaining that monitor being up front near the driver to a cop ("Sir, were you watching TV while driving down the road? Was that why you were speeding and weaving like that?"), but it works well for those who need it in their line of work. A liability insurance-wise, but it sure is a lot easier to see while driving down the road than a handheld or even an in-dash unit.
#9 of 1721 Map Souce media by pathstar1 Jun 23, 2003 (11:31 am)
Going on a trip to Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan. Just bought the Garmin Mapsource Worldmap to use with my GPS III+. When I installed it the program immediatly recognized the Streetpilot Citynavigator install and piggybacked on to it. Very clever. Only have to run one program for two different GPS' (both Garmin, of course). The Streetpilot can't use the worldmap data and the GPS III+ can't use the Citynavigator data, but at least I only have one install to worry about. The program keeps the data on the correct device. The maps look pretty good (better than what I've been able to find on the internet). We'll see how often we get lost next month, but as it's a vacation getting lost is just more adventure .
#10 of 1721 Tractors that steer themselves by steve_ HOST Jul 12, 2003 (8:45 pm)
How far behind will cars be?   The Sky's the Limit (Fast Company)   Steve, Host
#11 of 1721 by steve_ HOST Sep 16, 2003 (3:57 pm)
Anything new for Fall?   Steve, Host
#12 of 1721 new delorme by dudka Sep 17, 2003 (3:12 am)
I got an e-mail from Delorme that they have improved their receiver. The new one is much smaller and only needs 5 seconds to warm up. Big improvment over the older version.   Does that constitute "New for Fall"

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