VMS System

Submitted: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 11:37

ThreadID: 59667 Views:5773 Replies:2 FollowUps:7

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Member No 1

Anyone in Adelaide had the unit fitted and by whom
were you happy with the results?

I am thinking of getting one

(to find my way out of town via Gepps Cross Willem)

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Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 11:50

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 11:50

Hi Nudie,

I have just typed a reply (below) in thread 59652 but have cut and pasted here for info. I hope you find it relevant!

The VMS unit is a rebadged Roadrover imported from China, the same way the Polaris is an imported Caska unit form China. Both can be purchased on-line for around the $800 mark but that is without the AUS navigation maps (~$40 to buy) or Oziexplorer loaded. Both units have AUS nav software updates when they are imported so they run porperly out of the box.

The main difference between the two is that the Caska unit runs a modified Windows CE system thus you can load Oziexplorer on it (takes a bit of mucking around) while the Roadrover runs a different processor (ARMS I believe) thus can only be modified at the factory level (or so I believe). There is a heap of info on pradopopint.com.au about this, its where I got my info and downloaded the method to install Oziexplorer on the Polaris unit.

Another major difference is that the VMS runs navteq maps with Route 66 as the on-road navigator. The Polaris runs Sensis maps with sygic autorouting software. You can compare the two on their respective websites but I believe the Sygic is far superior (read other web forums and see what users report).

There are other minor differences between the two units, but for the price difference there is no way IMHO the VMS can justify the markup for its product. I was prepared to pay the Polaris markup to have an Australian warranty and technical backup support and hence why I didn't buy off the web direct from china.

Another advantage of the Polaris unit is that is has pre-loaded the TMPS (tyre pressure mamagement system) so that you can monitor tyre pressures from the unit. Note that Polaris has included this software but you cannot buy the hardware until later this year (spoke to Polaris last week on this).

I am actually installing a Polaris into my BIL's 2008 GU patrol today so will be able to report shortly just how good/bad/otherwise this unit is. Looking at it last night it appears to be a well made unit with a solid aluminium chasis at the rear. It is well supplied with all connectors ready to splice into the Nissan harnass. We also purchased a Nissan radio harnass adaptor so we do not have to cut the factory harnass.

I have also ordered one for my 200 series Cruiser and would have been installing that today too, but it didn't arrive yesterday like my BIL's. The unit for the toyota is slightly different and comes with the factory harnass ready to simply plug in, but otherwise has the same functionality.

Anyway, will give a full report on both once I have them up and running. With the Polaris retailing for $1295 and the VMS for ~$2600 it was a no brainer for me, especially given that the pradopoint consensus was that sygic with sensis maps was a far superior auto routing navigator than route 66 with navteq maps.

Cheers

Captain

AnswerID: 314805

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:00

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:00

ta Captain...will check out the polaris

FollowupID: 580850

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:23

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:23

who has them in oz?

FollowupID: 580853

Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:30

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:30

I got mine from Deering Autronics (WA) for $1295. They wanted to charge me $1695 but when I pointed out that Polaris had them on the web for $1295 they simply said fine and matched the price! You may be able to do better by ringing around different distributors, we don't have many in WA.

Cheers

Captain

FollowupID: 580854

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:33

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 12:33

found em...

FollowupID: 580855

Follow Up By: Member - Alan H (QLD) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 13:01

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 13:01

Captain

I would be most interested to hear how the Polaris goes in 200 series as I am about to take delivery of same.

Alan

FollowupID: 580860

Follow Up By: Member - Don M (NSW) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 15:37

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 15:37

Well Captain, you sem to have it sussed OK but surely you are not comparing apples with apples when yopu quote the difference in price, ie $1295 for the Polaris & $2600 for the VMS.
First of all, the Polaris does not come with topo mapping and that will cost something,. secondly, the Polaris price doesn't iclude a rear camera, (VMS does) and the VMS has 3 camera inputs. My memory at the Sydney Show was that Polaris only had one.
Anyway, too late for me, I have the VMS in my 200 and am quite happy with the mapping and not sure why Sensis maps should be any better and Navteq are the premier nav mob on the planet from all accounts..aren't they somehow linked to US military??
Anyway, agree that the pricing difference seems excessive...I guess time will tell.

FollowupID: 580872

Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 00:47

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 at 00:47

Don -the VMS does come with more kit, no questions. I reckon it should rrp for ~$1600-$1800 and I would have probably bought it instead. I haven't used either mapping system, am only going off other forums and what the general consensus was.

Alan -
I put the Polaris in today and am very impressed. Its not perfect, but it does what I want and has even exceeded my expectations in a few areas. The GPS isn't quite as intuitive as my Garmin Nuvi 660, but overall it has more functionality and I think I will actually prefer it over the Garmin once I get used to it.

The bluetooth is acceptable, not quite as good quality as the original Toyota one, but better in that you can dial from the screen - but cannot access the phone book via the screen.

The Ipod connection is excellent, so good I will probably buy myself one instead of borrowing my sons.

The radio is very good, perhaps better than the original. the CD/DVD is also good.

When starting the car, it takes ~5 seconds to boot up before the radio comes on. Not a drama but not instant like before. When switiching to Navigate you have to check a Disclaimer icon before proceeding, I think that wil become a pain over time.

Overall my first impressions are very good, will take some time to get the hang of it all. The installation was an absolute breeze, cannot believe it was that easy.

Cheers

Captain

FollowupID: 580964

Reply By: Member - The Crow (QLD) - Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 21:15

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 at 21:15

I now have the VMS unit in my 76 Series and find it great at the moment. I am waiting for a 32Gig SDHC card at the moment so that I can put my 17gig of Mp3 music on then I won't have to worry about Cds or the like.. Hopefully it will arrive before I head to the Kimberley in 2 weeks.