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MG MGF Technical - Car navigation systems

Hi

Does anyone use a car navigation system in their F?

Im curently looking into getting one and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations .. what sort of things are available and what to look for and the like?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Cheers,

Chris
Chris J

I'm hanging around until later on in the year. Compaq iPaq handheld with then have integrated GPRS phone and with the SatNav gizmo plugged onto the back it will give phone, eMail, browsing and GPS all in one handy pocket sized unit.

- Andy
Andy Gilhooley

Chris

Depends how much you want to pay.

I use the Garmin StreetPilot system - which is a portable unit that I can also use on my bike. It does not have to have a CD unit as you download via a pc onto a memory chip.

But if you want a non-portable system then there are some billiant units out there - some of which replace your radio and the screen 'pops-out' from where you might have a single disc drive unit.

Of the 'installed' units you can now get DVD as opposed to CD and that gives you the whole of Europe on one DVD disc.

A couple of WWW to look at:-

http://www.offroadstore.co.uk

http://www.gpsw.co.uk

Ted
Ted Newman


Hi all,
Dieter and me have had some talks around possible ways to get signals out for a in-car system. He fitted such a unit some time ago (VDO?) and also solved the input signal problem. When he´s 50 + some day´s and have recovered he will most probably be back with more info !

Regards , Carl.
Carl

Chris,

I had a system fitted in our F about two years ago and for a couple with a crap sense of direction and a wife who thinks a map is a novel in Serbo Croat, it is a God send. We good the VDO colour system and it consists of a box in the boot containing the map CD, processor, giro compass. The receiver is mounted on the dash, as is the colour screen. As mentioned by Carl, most built in systems require a speed feed from the car.

I confess I let the professionals install it so don’t know how they achieved it. However the full install only took an hour so it can’t be that difficult.

Nearly all the systems seem to use the Nav Tech map disks and if you don’t go for a DVD based system, then you need 1 disk for country. These are about 90 quid each although you can get a set of eight covering the UK and Europe for around £280. The maps seem excellent and have lots of useful information. For example when you arrive in a strange town and you need somewhere to park you just ask for the nearest car and get directed to it. It also covers tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, sports venues, train stations and the list goes on….

If you do a lot of driving these systems are just excellent. Planning a journey is no more than entering the address at the start. System tells you the distance, time of journey and ETA. It then talks and displays ever road, turn, roundabout to get there. If you go wrong it calculates a new route.

Occasionally it does not know a changed road layout and very, very occasionally (3 times in 2 years?) it gives a ridiculous instruction. In a very built up area with tall building it does occasionally get it wrong, however these are usually easy to spot and driving to a more open area lets the system sort itself out. When you realise how the system works you understand how signals bouncing off tall builds could be confusing!

I would not now have a car without one of these. Since all the systems use the same US satellites and the same maps disks, I suspect all the systems are much the same in terms of performance. VDO seemed the best when we bought.

Here are some web sites that you might find useful….

http://www.vdodayton.com/h_index.htm
http://www.navtech.com/index.jsp
http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/index.php3
http://www.caraudiodiscount.com/home.html
http://www.incar-discount.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Car_Navigation___Mobile_Entertainment_11.html

Cheers

Patrick
Patrick

Carl

I dont follow you! Why do you need 'signals out' for a SatNav system?

I use a Garmin and I know Patrick has another system and they both work well without any input (other than power) from the car.

Ted
Ted Newman

Seems Patrick and I crossed in the post!

The Garmin calculates its own speed from the satelite detection and in fact gives you a speed reading that is far more accurate than that given by the car.

Incidently the Garmin system is also used at sea and in the air so they are well tried and tested.

The only draw back with Garmin StreetPilot is the screen is a little on the small size = 3.5 inches wide by 2 inches tall but as I said earlier it is fully portable.

Ted
Ted

LOL, I think there are misunderstandings due to *car navigation system*

The VDO (Philips) needs also a speed signal.
Same as at my Becker TrafficPro system.
http://www.mgfcar.de/navi/index.htm

Chris,
>what sort of things are available and what to look for and the like?

You see already from our comments that it's difficult to suggest anything. *depends on what you want*
All systems are very different and you should verify your needs and what you can efford.

Garmin alone has two differnt things special for car enthusiasts.
- Ted may explain what his does.
http://www.mgfcar.de/Treffen/dk_DCP_6659.jpg
- As well Patrick for the VDO :)
Some more here use the Palm with GPS add on.

I decided for the Becker, cause it is also an excellent radio with CD changer and has no big screen. The Becker software covers most EC countries without needing more of the expensive routing CD's.
Driver gets 'controlled' mainly by voice (I like the sexy voice of women #3).
I only have to access one multi function knob and key in Target country, city, and road. House number sometimes availiable.
Then 'she' calculates the route and tells me the directions. Soon right, now right, second road right etc. Tells me about the estimated arrival time (I always get there quicker).
ICE functions cover also the mobile, the CD changer and control support for a activ bass booster.
http://www.mgfcar.de/audio/DKcp_0421.jpg
Mmm, but it's an expensive piece of technology with all included what's possible currently like TMC etc.

Regards
Dieter
Dieter Koennecke

The Becker system is an approved accessory. I think the cost is circa 2000pounds though.

Now I am a complete heretic in this field, but when specialist radio comms people used to dealing with state of the art stuff that the military play with are impressed, then perhaps it is pretty good.

Rog
Roger Parker

Rog, if bought from new including installation, then yes.
The wife would have scalped me if I'd spend 2k for this state of the art game.

*g* look at ebay :)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1717898342
or cheapest sources in D at http://www2.guenstiger.de/gt/main.asp?Kat=97&USID=1
(copy & paste)

:o)
Cheers

Dieter Koennecke

Becker sys is £1100 self buy - Offered under MONOGRAM - - looking at it for the ZED T190+ that fills my dricve on Friday!
Jerry Flint

This thread was discussed between 28/03/2002 and 01/04/2002

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