Brash Imports GPS

Submitted: Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 18:27
ThreadID: 97120 Views:9794 Replies:8 FollowUps:15
This Thread has been Archived
I am thinking of buying a Brash Imports in dash GPS for my 2004 Patrol. Has anyone had any experience with them? Are they any good? Easy to fit? What is the mapping like? Are they easy to use?
Cheers Allan
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Holden4th - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 18:58

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 18:58
My issue with in dash GPS systems is that you have to take your eyes totally off the road to look at them. Updating maps can also be expensive.
AnswerID: 491791

Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 19:31

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 19:31
Brash imports system is windows CE based can run Oziexplorer and in turn run pretty any maps you wish to upload or already have.
Bit on the pricey side compared to a no name unit for less than half the money with the same features plus Ozi in both cases.
Cheaper than the big name units though and far better than a manufacturers system.
0
FollowupID: 767356

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:47

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:47
What is the difference between looking at a screen in your dash or on your dash? And regardless whether in or on dash cost to upgrade maps is the same.

In dash nav units are becoming the norm from most vehicle manufacturers so I assume they do not see them as a safety issue.
0
FollowupID: 767360

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:52

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:52
Hey Alby, these days some Garmin units are shipped with lifetime free map updates, just picked up a neat unit, lifetime maps for $150 very nice
.
Time is an illusion produced by the passage of history
.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 767361

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 21:38

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 21:38
Bonz yes I see that some are now offering free road map updates, I replaced my Garmin unit with an in dash windows unit like the OP is asking about because the screen is larger, it runs Ozi, has Bluetooth ,DVD and a reversing camera.
I think they are good value for money although I am tinkering with the idea of running my maps on the iPad
0
FollowupID: 767365

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 21:41

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 21:41
yes me too, what app are you thinking of running them on?
.
Time is an illusion produced by the passage of history
.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 767366

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 21:50

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 21:50
It all gets confusing but thinking of Bitmap as I already have maps I can use. Mud Map looks easier but more $$$ and some say their maps are not as good??
What do you know about it all?
0
FollowupID: 767369

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 22:08

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 22:08
I have Bitmap and the 250k raster of Oz but I cant get the GPS to work with it
.
Time is an illusion produced by the passage of history
.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 767372

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 22:23

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 22:23
I havn't tried that yet, hope you get it sorted
0
FollowupID: 767374

Follow Up By: Holden4th - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 08:29

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 08:29
"What is the difference between looking at a screen in your dash or on your dash? And regardless whether in or on dash cost to upgrade maps is the same."

Maybe it's just me but I position my GPS on the windscreen so that I am still staring directly at the road in front of me. At very the least, my peripheral vision will work ( I probably have even more vision than that). Having to glance down at a GPS situated in the dash means that my eyes definitely leave the road. I suppose that eventually, modern cars will have a heads up display on the windscreen similar to what fighter pilots use and the keeping your eyes on the road issue will be solved for this at least.
0
FollowupID: 767381

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 08:45

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 08:45
Holden4th fair enough that that suits you best, the main thing is that whichever method you choose is safe and you feel suits your driving style.
0
FollowupID: 767385

Follow Up By: PJR (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 10:36

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 10:36
Holden4th

I cannot stand anything even sitting on the top of the dash or in any way obscuring my vision. Not the safest way for me. Especially in close mountaneous country. "Whoops Didn't see that rock!" There goes the front end. In fact I do not like loose items in the cabin at all. They could very easly be missiles in an accident. The in-dash to me is the safest and also for security the less likely to attract a thief to break in.

I was also wondering about what you said about taking your eyes off the road. Whats the diff erence. Our unit is right at the top of the dash about 4 inches below where I would hope you put yours.

0
FollowupID: 767393

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 10:50

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 10:50
I saw a lady in traffic the other day who had her suction cup mounted GPS mounted slap bang in the front of her at eye level, she must think that looking at the GPS is more important than looking out the window ????
0
FollowupID: 767394

Follow Up By: PJR (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 12:42

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 12:42
They have everything these days. It was for mapping the makeup. Get with the latest technology Alby.

Makes you shudder doesn't it.
0
FollowupID: 767407

Reply By: Ross M - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 19:42

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 19:42
Apart from the advantages/disadvantages mentioned above, an in dash unit isn't portable and soon becomes obsolete.
A portable one can be used in other vehicles and also when walking. Helps to find your way back to where you left the truck.
Because of the lower cost it can be replaced if it fails and you reload the same mapping onto the new one.
This way you are still well below the cost of the original ID unit.
I can't see why they are popular.
AnswerID: 491794

Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:36

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:36
Hi Allan,

I have the Polaris unit, very similar to the Brash version and installed it in my 200, also one in a Patrol and another similair type in a CX7. They are very easy to fit, mostly plug and play, though we had to get a special adaptor for the Nissan aerial, it wasn't the standard round coax like most othe vehicles but a square plug (from memory).

The mapping is dependent on the program as they run WindowsCE. I have found Igo to be the best navigator package after trialling Tom Tom and Sygic (plus Garmin on my stand-alone GPS). The beauty of thes units is that you can easily change the navigation program if you don't like the one you have- most types are available if you search the net hard enough!

Also, I run OziExplorer as well (on screen button to switch between Ozi and Igo). This way you have not only your street navigation covered but also your off-road navigation.

Add to this the bluetooth for your phone, reverse camera, Ipod controller and DVD player (great when waiting to pick up the kids) and this has easily been one of the best mods I have done.

Using them does take a short time to familiarise yourself with all the functions, but once you have the hang of it you will wonder why you didn't do it before. I used to have a Garmin on my dash, no way would I go back to it. They only have a ~4" screen, less than half the screen area of a 7" dash mount and are much harder to see. The bigger screen area means less time for eyes off the road and IMHO are safer - have used both extensively so speaking from my experience.

Cheers

Captain
AnswerID: 491795

Follow Up By: Member - Allan F (Gold Coast) - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 12:22

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 12:22
Thanks for the feedback Captain after a lot of research I have just purchased the Brash Imports one so i guess I will know soon enough what it is like
0
FollowupID: 767403

Reply By: Drew - Karratha - Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:53

Friday, Jul 27, 2012 at 20:53
I bought the Brash Imports unit for my 100 series Cruiser about 4 weeks ago - $740 delivered including OziExplorer and 2 reversing cameras. It was very easy to fit, and everything was plug and play once I got the ISO connector for the Toota harness (another $14). Ozi is getting easier to use the more I get used to it, and I have added the Rasta Maps that I bought from Exploroz a year or so ago. I will soon add Hema offroad maps too. IGo is heaps better than my previous Tom Tom. I would recommend them to everyone!!
Drew
AnswerID: 491796

Reply By: SDG - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 00:05

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 00:05
Does anyone even use paper maps now a days?
AnswerID: 491805

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 07:06

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 07:06
Laying a map out on the bonnet still give you the best sense of the area for planning but the electronic versions are a great addition
Wouldn't want to go back to a UBD for city navigation though
0
FollowupID: 767379

Reply By: AlbyNSW - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 08:49

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 08:49
As an alternative you could look at the A-Sure units on eBay. A number of members on the Hilux forum have them and they have good backup support
AnswerID: 491813

Reply By: Member - Allan F (Gold Coast) - Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 12:24

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 at 12:24
Thanks everyone for your comments and help. I rang and spoke to David at Brash Imports this morning and after a lot of research on line reading reviews and looking at different brands I ordered one. I will let you all know how it goes.
AnswerID: 491821

Reply By: Member - Bucky - Sunday, Jul 29, 2012 at 05:10

Sunday, Jul 29, 2012 at 05:10
Allan
I have one of these 2*DIN units oin our POOOtrol, but got mine from Dig_options
http://www.digoptions.com/

Not bad, but am not using Ozi Explorer, yet, Just use "I Go Ver 8", am happy with the mapping system so far. A mate will install Ozi in the next fer weeks, when I eventually catch up with him.

Wondering how it will handle corrugations, but so far, so good. But since last X-Mas I have not done any real hard work in it.

The Anne Beadell, Connie Sue, and the Gary will test it out next year. !

Cheers
Bucky

AnswerID: 491855

Sponsored Links