Hi!
we r using GPS since last two years. my brother got it form usa for 80$. i do not remember the make. but it drinks internal batteries like anything. two cells for every one and half hour.it tracks uisng 5 satellites. i think post sept 9/11 one can not buy GPS with 5 sat capability easily. u can buy upto 4 easily. we used it extensilvely on bangalore -visakhapatnam route and also bangalore -hampi-badami-aihole-pattadkal route. way points have to marked manually.

The problem with most GPS systems is that they will not have maps to cover Indian Cities to use it for navigation like they do in the US or Europe. So having such a device may be very useful in those countries but not really useful in India. The reason why I choose Garmin is because of Google Earth Plus. This allows me to trace routes and locations that I want to and analyze it on Google Earth for what ever it is worth. So, technically, I am not really using it as a navigation system. More as an analysis tool.

This is a factual error that I have made in my previous post.

The Geko 201 is "WAAS-enabled, differential-ready, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver continuously tracks and uses up to 12 satellites to compute and update your position"

The WAAS system however is not useful in India.

More tech specs here

Sharath

Anybody using GPS with N series as now am using Nokia N80, am looking for Gps reciever with cradle. about maps of Delhi, Now they can be easily purchased online.
and what are technical things which I should keep in mind before buying a reciever as no. of sattelites?? antena internal or external
Cheers
Wadhwa Ajay

I am using Lowrance ifinder expedition C
It works even on the seat next to me, need not be on the dashboard. But its 16 channel so that helps(Make sure you try to get a 16 channel and not a 12 channel).
If you have a metal coated windscreen(Some expensive cars have these), the reception will be poor so you may beed an external antenna

I am also looking for delhi maps, but I guess I will have to create those with GPS Trackmaker.

check out ebay.in . a few guys selling gps receivers & maps of indian cities.

SatGuide is offering GPS services in India. Their software is based on PocketPC. So, if you have the PocketPC with GPS module, may be you can buy the software and Maps from them.

I got this information from their site. Contact them for any other info including pricing details.

When the GPS receiver with built in antenna is kept on the dashboard, the number of satellites visible is limited by the windscreen. Normally, 7-10 satellites are visible if the antenna can be mounted on the rooftop. There are small (2 inch square) magnetic patch antennae available which can remain magnetically stuck to the rooftop and connected to the external antenna input of the GPS receiver. This assures good satellite locking even when there is tree coverage or urban canyons.

If GPS receiver output is connected to a laptop running suitable navigation software, in real time, one can watch the course of the vehicle. I did it a few years back while driving from Bangalore to Yercaud and back with a Magellan receiver.

Actually no. If that were the case than the GPS device would never see anything inside a bus.
The roof does not block all the signal. + there is reflection and stuff. So if you have a receiver which has a SIRF III or equivalent chip you can get quite a lot of satellites. I can get 6 satellites with the unit on the seat, but if there are trees and all, the number drops. In modern cars where windscreens are slanted(this is for non metal coated) the external antenna can be connected to windscreen itself with a suction cup. For internal antenna devices, you can have a suction cup cradle which places the unit near the windscreen.
This is enough for the Newer Garmins and Lowrance, and also for some magellen receivers.

i wish 2 buy a GPS device with electronic altimeter. can nybody suggest some good options? although i have a watch which has barometric altimeter but the altimeter sucks big time, because of this i wish for a built in electonic altimeter in the GPS unit which gives accurate measuments.

If your use is in India, I would reccommend the Garmin's Geko 201 unit.
They are not as expensive as the other fancy models, very rugged and pretty accurate. Has a compass as well as an altimeter and speedometer.

BTW, I was chatting up with a friend who is into chip design for mobiles yeterday. He was telling me how GPS systems will be come integral part of most mobile electronic systems. These include Cars, Cameras, Mobile phones, etc.

Apparently, in the US, if your car is equipped with a factory fitted GPS system to help the insurance companies to track your car, the insurance premiums are lower. Apparently, they are now building systems which will automatically govern the max. speed of your car based on the roads that you are driving on based on the positioning. Doesn't seem like Science Fiction any longer now.

hi,,
i am using and retailing garmin units,,
i recon they are the best, the m5 pda unit is the best they have,
it has the 4 metropolitans mapped, fully,and all thre highways, if u toch the screen and ask for fast food joints it will give u the location for all the macdonalds in delhi and the distance of each from present location,,
and also the route to the nearest one,, and that to voice activated,,

100meters take left and all that,,

it has a antena which is flip open,, and a car cradle with a cigrate lighter socket for charging, there is a speaker in the unit and in the cigrate charger as well,

is quite accurate and detailed,,
and u can take it to ur trips abroad,,
maps for countries in europe and america are available on the net, but india is only mapped by garmin and is not for sale sepratly, it comes built in the unit,
and what more, it doubles as a pda,,

rocking aint it,,
regard,,
driven

Hey am looking for same one, how much did you paid for this model? and how old is your set, any other reviews abt drawbacks?
Cheers
Wadhwa Ajay

Ajay read carefully Driven is the seller for the Garmin's.