How much to pay for an A4?

[Ray Rollins]

I'm with George. I have Delorme's latest software and the time to lock has
greatly improved compared to earlier versions. As a hobby I have been
installing pc's in my cars and have traveled thousands of miles with only
Street Atlas for navigation. I recently spent the day beating on BMW's at
their Drive For the cause and the nav system in those cars cannot compare to
Delorme's. The 745's I drive was so complicated that it was a chore to
change the radio. I can control every function of my carputer with a mini
trackball. When I sort out my 100Q carputer setup I will post picks. I have
been stuck lately with finding a place to mount my 15" LCD monitor without
causing any damage to the dash : (

Ray
90 100Q

----- Original Message -----
From: "George Selby" <gselby4x4 at earthlink.net>
To: "Brett Dikeman" <brett at cloud9.net>
Cc: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 3:35 AM
Subject: Re: How much to pay for an A4?


> 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
>