Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 at 21:18
Hi Mark,
I currently run Oziexplorer on the Polaris, just have to swap the SD cards over. One card for Ozi, another for Sygic (GPS program that comes with it) Only cost $40 to have a fully legal copy of OziexplorerCE. But you also need to add the maps too.
The Polaris is a re-badged Caska 3119 unit from China. The VMS unit ($2595) are a rebadged Roadrover imported from China.
Both can be purchased on-line from China for around the $800 mark but that is without the AUS navigation maps (~$50 to buy) or Oziexplorer (~$300 with maps) loaded. Both units have AUS nav software updates when they are imported so they run properly 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 from what I have read I believe the Sygic is superior (read other web forums and see what users report).
There are other minor differences between the VMS and 3119 units (VMS comes with camera and Oziexplorer), 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 management 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 previously about this).
The Polaris is $1295 while the VMS is $2595. The advantages the VMS does have are:
* the VMS can have 3 cameras whereas the 3119 only has one (but you can easily get a video splitter for as many as you want).
* the bluetooth cannot upload your phone contact book.
*VMS can use SDHC cards (up to 32Gb) while Polaris limited to SD card (4Gb)
* once Oziexplorer is up and running on the 3119, you have to swap the SD card to get normal street navigation back (am looking at a work-around for this)
I recently added the reverse camera (cost $75 from Derek at ABR plus $55 for wiring), very very happy with it and would recommend adding the camera from the start.
If you decide to go down this route, MM me and I can provide the info required to load and run Ozi on the Polaris.
Cheers
Captain
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