How much to pay for an A4?

[George Selby]

At 06:20 PM 7/31/02, you wrote:
>Steer well clear of the Earthmate; reception is quite poor compared to the
>on-board antennas of most handheld GPS units.  Put a $40 external antenna
>on the handheld GPS, and you'll get even better results.
>
>Second reason not to buy an Earthmate: no internal clock(at least in the
>version I used.)  What does that mean?  Really long startup times every
>time you go to use it, because the thing has no idea where it last was, or
>what time it is(by "time", I mean time accurate enough to use for
>GPS.)  My ancient Garmin II+ gets a lock with an external antenna, in an
>open space, in about 10 seconds, and has all a lock on all unobscured
>satellites within a minute.
>
>Third reason not to buy an Earthmate: not NMEA compatible(ie, nothing will
>be able to talk to it except the included software.) -Everything- that
>does GPS can talk to NMEA gps units.
>
>Fourth reason: Earthmate was pretty expensive, more than a GPS unit and
>mapping software separately, if I recall.
>
>Fifth: can't be used separately, for hiking/boating/whatever(GPS units
>make pretty handy bike trip computers, for example.)  Most
>data-interface-equipped units allow for downloading/uploading waypoints,
>tracks/routes and such(there's a sport now called Geocaching, where you
>download/input a waypoint where there is a "secret" stash; the object is
>to find the stash.  Some are -very- difficult; remember, GPS only gets you
>to within 10-50 feet!)  Some units allow maps to be downloaded into them.


Good info, I would disagree with some of it.  My Earthmate gets quite good
reception when placed on the dash as intended (it frequently gets all
available sats.)  I made it to the flat portion (way underwater) of the
tunnel under Norfolk VA before it lost track, and it immediately regained
position once you started back up towards the exit.  It has never let me
down (never lost touch with all sats where you couldn't get a lock-in,
except in the middle of a tunnel.)  Maybe you investigated it before SA was
dropped.  The computer does remember where you last stopped, and although
the initial lock in does take as long as 2-3 minutes (the first time of the
day) it takes much less time after that. So basically you start up the
computer while pulling out of the driveway, and it locks on before you
leave your street.  The rest of the day you don't notice the start-up.

True, it is not NMEA compatible, but Street Atlas is, so if you don't like
my particular idea of Earthmate, you can get a different GPS reciever to
use with your computer.

As to portability, you can load maps onto a PalmPilot, and hook the
Earthmate to the Palm, instant semi-portability.

As to ease of operation while driving, I don't have any difficulty driving
and using the laptop for navigation at the same time, even when I use the
mouse instead of voice (maybe because I'm a professional driver.)  They
make special stands to hold a laptop in a convenient location, I just put
it on the seat next to me.  My primary outdoor-type use for the GPS is
four-wheeling, so the truck is going with me anyway so there is no problem
carrying a computer with me.

Expense:  I didn't find it unreasonable, and my point was you could get a
whole new laptop, software and the GPS receiver (of whatever brand) for
less than the cost of a factory nav system.

So basically we have two totally different reviews for the same product,
one person hates it and another finds it ideal for their particular
uses.  I generally use nav for long trips (more than an hour away.)  If you
live in a major metropolitan area, where you frequently seek things nearby
whose location is unknown to you, I can see the benefit of a in-dash
system.  If I was in such a situation, I would probably be far more
inclined to go with an aftermarket system, rather than a factory one
(reasons on my part being:  lack of reliability of factory gizmo
electronics,  high cost, and doubtful availability of map upgrades in the
future [I'm sorry, sir, map upgrades are no longer made for FactNav
1.45a.   We have a nice new '08 A4 with the FactNav 1.45e which has all the
newest streets.]

One final thing about nav, everyone who rides with me and sees it in action
is amazed, and it can keep someone entertained for quite some time.

George Selby
gselby4x4 at earthlink.net