Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 18:32
Jay,
If you want to run OziExplorer you will need a PDA that runs Windows Mobile 5 operating system.
A PDA with an inbuilt GPS like the HP units would be a good choice. These accept SD and CF cards and you load the maps to the card to save on board memory. NATMAP Premium maps are excellent for country wide travel, but you need to run a conversion on the maps to enable them to be recognised by OziExplorer CE, the version that runs on the PDA.
If you already own OziExplorer (it's on your laptop right?) the additional cost for a CE version through the
ExplorOz shop is minimal.
For street navigation you will require something like CoPilot Live 6, available from
GPSOZ, or TomTom Navigator 6 if you can buy it.
Another option to consider is to enquire with GPSOZ on the suitability of buying the CoPilot Live Pocket PC, which runs windows mobile and then install OziExplorer CE and the maps on it.
The folks at GPSOZ will give you practical advice.
I have both CoPilot Live 6 (running on my PDA) and a TomTom street navigator and I would have to say they compare favourably with each other. The 3D view in TomTom is better than CoPilot but all other features are similar.
TomTom Navigator 6 is available, but only from overseas, which means you would need to buy it with UK or US maps, then buy the Aus maps separately.
TomTom UK
The other advantage of TomTom over its competitors is the availability of a wide range of maps for other countries if you are travelling, otherwise CoPilot is fine.
I have just completed a trek using both a laptop running OziExplorer and the PDA as a "backup".
I have now convinced myself the ease of reading the PDA screen (despite its smaller size) plus "tapping" the screen to record a waypoint leaves the laptop operation for dead.
My laptop (Dell Inspiron 6000) appears "washed out" in sunlight and is therefore very hard to read properly.
The PDA was sitting just above the instrument panel, attached to the window and was always easy to read the map.
Just my experiences for your reference.
AnswerID:
283158
Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 23:20
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 23:20
You don't have to have Windows Mobile 5 for Ozi, it will run on Windows CE 2002. Tom Tom 6 is pretty good, I like it, but Co-pilot 6 allows u to route thru a waypoint or predetermined place so I think that better (ish) or just use TT6 to take you to that place then the next etc etc etc
Sounds like you've got a similar setup to me Sandy
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 09:28
Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 09:28
Hi Bonz,
Yes, Ozi will run on various versions of Windows CE or Mobile Operating Systems. I was assuming Jay was maybe going to buy a new'ish PDA and therefore would more than likely be using WM5 or even WM6.
I can't keep myself from "experimenting" to obtain the most practical
"tools" for travelling.
Although I have CoPilot 6 and TomTom Navigator 6 available on the PDA, the practical restriction from running either of these programs and Ozi at the same time has led me to two devices. The programs will run and receive input from the GPS OK (using GPSGate), but I cannot switch between the applications. TomTom and CoPilot both take up the full screen and you can't get at the switcher icon to swap to Ozi, etc. So you need to close down whatever city navigator that is running to see OziExplorer.
Now I run Ozi on the PDA and TomTom on a Go 720 so I can see and operate both at the same time if necessary.
There doesn't appear to be any way to assign the switcher program to a button on the Dell Axim PDA I have, which would overcome the practical restriction.
Bill.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 17:56
Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 17:56
mmm GPSGate eh? Got to try that. I have programmed the extra keys on the bottom of the PDA to open TT or Ozi and I can switch between them with these keys or another I have down there that opens like a menu that I can select the running application I want, maybe that just a HP thing.
I also have TT6 and Ozi running on Mobile6 and its not too bad.
FollowupID:
547977
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 at 13:17
Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 at 13:17
Bonz,
Onya Mate!
You have just provided me with the solution I have been seeking.
I too have buttons assigned to Ozi and CoPilot to start the applications, but I never considered also using them once the programs were running. Easy as. Can now swap between them at will and with GPSGate, each application shares a virtual port for the GPS input.
And me in the IT game too.
Sometimes the simple things are just overlooked.
Well done mate!
FollowupID:
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