iPhone as SatNav again

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I connect iPhone (Navigon app) to Autocom with the stereo 3.5mm (?) jack lead supplied with the phone. The phone is connected to a (TomTom) USB adapter in a cigar lighter accessory socket under the seat. The Autocom is powered by lithium batteries, which have been lasted nearly two years so far. Works for me, but I'm content with a pretty 'hair shirt' approach. I don't want to be distracted by a screen, so stuff the whole lot into a Kreiga bag on the tank and just listen to sexy Serena telling me what she wants and where she wants it.

I don't understand the comment about restricted route choices (because I'm no expert and decidedly thick, no doubt). I can create any route I want, down to the tiniest and most illogical back lane meanders.

I can appreciate that a dedicated sat nav would be the mutts nuts, but I can't justify the price of pukka bike units. That's getting on for the cost of a Maxton shock, which IS on my shopping list.

[Hondougie]

The divergence of opinions and experience on the optimum satnav solution indicates that the "convergence device" is still to come.
I really do not want to invest in another bit of hardware but research reveals that none of the reputable iPhone apps (TomTom, Garmin or Navigon) allow pre-planned routes to be loaded, although they can be planned on the device. TomTom's app is getting slated for un-avoidable social media integration - and many folks warn about the phone getting damaged (although this bit puzzles me, I would have thought most handsets are shockproof enough to withstand a bit of jarring if in a suitable foam lined case. I've bounced mine down concrete steps a few times and in an Otterbox case it's survived).

It seems I can buy a car Garmin Nuvi Western EU for 79, only 10 more than the iPhone software app with the same maps, which will fit nicely in the recess in the top of my tank bag. However, I can't determine if you can upload pre-planned routes (e.g. planned in Google maps) to the cheaper Garmin devices? Any ideas?

[Hondougie]

..belatedly answered my own question - for 80 quid you can get a Garmin Nuvi 40 Western EU - but compared to the iPhone + Garmin App, it has critical limitations:
1) No headphone jack for audio output, only a speaker
2) No Bluetooth
3) No route planning capability

So not much use on a bike.
iPhone in the tank bag with BT headset and GPS app still seems like the low cost, most easily portable convergence solution.

From what I can figure out, of the differentiators between the 3 top Europe Apps: Tom Tom (49), Garmin (69), Navigon (79)....

Navigon's (now owned by Garmin) advantage is that you don't have to carry all the maps on the device - but it no longer provides lifetime map updates therefore is not worth the additional cost IMO - and you can't buy countries individually, which is rather against the point of having the separate map files....

Garmin (formerly Streetpilot) allows multi-leg route planning on the device but will not allow uploading of preplanned routes.

Tom Tom does not allow you to pre-plan routes, it knows best. It has a slightly more user friendly interface, voice prompts and some add-ins like traffic - but it has been slated for forcing you to transmit location info and integrate with social media to use some of the "navigate to" features. This last bit rules it out for me, although I have been very happy with Tom Tom in the car for the last 7 yrs.

If anyone has up-to-date experience with any of these 3 Apps on an iPhone 4, on the bike, I would love to see a review.

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I'm not sure what I can add to the little I've said already but, having found my way around the Navigon app a bit more, it does everything I need it to. From sticking in a postcode and letting it decide (it usually gives me three options), changing route profiles for numerous options or creating a custom route. Route planning is straightforward and not restricted at all, everything works just fine. If you have any particular questions, I'd be glad to at least try to answer them! On the whole, while it's probably not a match for an all singing, all dancing dedicated unit for the dedicated techno freak, I reckon it's damn good, good value and thoroughly recommendable.

[Rogbear]

I just bought the Garmin2415 and it's great, superb screen an graphics. Mapping/routing is excellent

[bikerbyrne]

I use a free app called (of all things) Nav free on my I phone 3G which I mount in the map section of my tank-bag with power from a optimate lead and in helmet headphones http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5mm-Angl...item3cb7a4f171. It does not use the internet connection to work just the inbuilt gps. I found it more than adequate for my journey to Poole and over to Guernsey.
There is also good back up from Nav Free.

[Rogbear]

Originally Posted by bikerbyrne

I use a free app called (of all things) Nav free on my I phone 3G which I mount in the map section of my tank-bag with power from a optimate lead and in helmet headphones http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5mm-Angl...item3cb7a4f171. It does not use the internet connection to work just the inbuilt gps. I found it more than adequate for my journey to Poole and over to Guernsey.
There is also good back up from Nav Free.

I can still remember setting up my ipaq in a rugged case to use on my bike with RAM mounts, it was such fun.

[bobvfr?]

Originally Posted by Hondougie

1) No headphone jack for audio output, only a speaker
2) No Bluetooth
3) No route planning capability

So not much use on a bike.

For work we use an XDA, it only has a speaker, it could bluetooth to my headset (Scala) but I use that with my phone, got to admit I can't really work out the "no route planning", ain't that supposed to be what a satnav does.

I use a small Hein Gericke tank bag with a pouch and my XDA sits in this, I can pretty well hear it at everything other than motorway speeds, and you don't really need a satnav on a motorway, I can easily take it out and have a look if I need to.



Bob

[Hondougie]

Thanks for all the input and reviews. I ended up with the Garmin app on the iPhone, in the tank bag talking to me through a Buhel Bluetooth helmet headset. The GPS app was great, very fast location, easy route planning, excellent map zooming and scrolling so you can review your route in great detail or overview. Had every POI I tried already in it too. Serena never got us lost when I could hear her but voice prompts were a bit mangled by BT cutting off the first syllable or so and the vibration transmission Buhel headset is all but useless above 60 mph. A couple of minor gripes- phone shut down on high temperature a few times, need to keep air flow into the tank bag top to cool it! My inability to find the lock screen rotation setting on the Phone. I am sure there was one but maybe not on iPhone 4/iOS5?
Rapid deceleration or flipping the tank bag up to fill up caused the screen to be inverted. The tank bag location was fine, though, screen readable by shielding with hand in bright sun. Having tried it over completely unfamiliar territory, I can see no reason to spend 8-10x on a dedicated bike satnav if you have an iPhone - but I can see the value of investing in a quality headset/intercom for music and audible voice prompts.

[Hondougie]

Bluetooth voice prompts.... If you do not have music playing continually, which the direction voice prompts fade into, then either phone or headset or both seem to drop the connection, or go into a powersaving mode which means you miss the first part of the prompt. Tried it with a helmet headset and a Sony Erricson stereo BT headphone adaptor too. Same issue. Anyone else experienced this with BT & Sat Nav?

[PaganPaul]

My old iPhone 3GS with Copilot, in a tank bag is perfectly adequate for my needs. Can't do anything fancy with it but just to get me somewhere it's fine.