Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Cheese Country
Posts: 15

This question may be answered in James' upcoming Geode review and is based on ignorance. But assuming (yes, that's a big one) all the current Visor GPS modules (Handy GPS, Magellan, Geode) have the same specs (time to get a satellite fix, accuracy, battery life, etc.), what's the diff, other than price?

Is the difference, solely that the Geode has onboard memory and one is not using Visor RAM for maps as would be used for the Magellan and Handy GPS? Or is there something else? I know my question's assumption of equal technical performance is questionable given the posts in this forum regarding the HandyGPS. But as someone looking for a GPS module, it's better to ask first and hopefully not make mistakes later.

thanks

Head Fra

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 40

Geode has Content

Go to http://www.geodiscovery.com/home.html
You will find that the Geode has higher specs all around.
One feature that you mentioned is that it can store info on two MMC cards. That is not active yet. Geodiscovery has released the Geode before the file managment sofware for writing to the MMC's was ready. I have one in my hands, well on my desk (I'm trying to type). It works great! I am looking forward to using the MMC's in a month or so. But that will only make a great product fantastic.
The big diferance with the Geode and the others is that Geodiscovery is pursuing partners in the travel industry to provide content, that's up to date content. Picture this, as you taxi though a city on a trip, you look at your Geode - Visor and notice that you are passing a theater, so you tap on the theater icon and up comes info on what is playing and at what time and for how much. Or you are in your hotel and you look up resturants and find what you want to eat and know how to get there. Hold on it gets better. On Geo's web sit they have a place for Geode user's to post info that they gather using their Geodes. So I happen to know that the best by far BBQ joint in SLC is Shugarhouse BBQ the last time I was there I did Control C to copy the location to my personal file of favorite resturants. As I had dinner with my wife I took a minute mayby two and put in some info, hours, adress, and phone number. It was on the menu. Now as soon as the Geode Exchange site is running (Should be this week) I'll post this with my comments about the place. http://teamgeo.geodiscovery.com/GeoExchange/index.html
Any other Geode user can download it and it will show up on their Visor.
If you don't have a Geodview you can still share info:
Shugarhouse BBQ; Dinning; Alt 4231; Lat 40.722943; Lon-111.870756; recorded 1/26/01-7:19pm; Address 2207 South 700 East, SLC Ut; Phone 463-4800
And all you have to do is copy (type) this info to your Visor with GPS or map software or what have you. But if you were here I could have beemed it to you and it would show up on your map whith my notes attached.
This thing will be realy fun to use as more and more people find it. It has a real feeling of community about it.
Now I could be the Fox in Easope's fabel that lost his tail and now wants all the other fox's to lose theirs. So all you need to do is talk to some people about their other GPS units and compare. And I highly reccomend it. Don't get it on my say so, it is a pricy toy. You should go find the one that is right for you. As for me I am glad I waited for the Geode. I'm sure other people will be glad that they waited for the, what ever it is...
Good Luck
Dafydd

Have Geode,
Love to Tarvel!

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

Geode

I just got my Geode on Friday, so I haven't had a chance to play with it much. So far, however, I give it an enthusiastic recommendation. The hardware seems very solid, locks up fairly quickly. The software (when fully implemented - see previous post) has great potential. All in all, I'm very happy with it.

The other great thing about the Geode is the folks behind it. I've been a casual beta tester, and followed the beta test forum. They have done a great job keeping the Visor community plugged-in on what they are trying to do. Their customer service folks have been very responsive.

If you review the prior review on the HandyGPS, plus the various posts, I think you will find it's not even close on any of these points - customer service, hardware, software, they have all been problem areas. I haven't had a chance to play with one, but based on what I've heard, I don't feel I need to to give the not to Geodiscovery.

I really don't know enough about the Magellan to offer an opinion - it may turn out to be a worthy competitor.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 714

I have a Magellan on pre-order, I did so because of a few things.

1. Its price, this will be my first GPS and I don't need something super fancy.
2. The brand name means it should be of decent quality.
3. It outputs industry standard signals so any Palm GPS software, including Geode's, should work with it.

Now to just wait for it to arrive...

__________________
Matt Nichols
[email protected]

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Bloomingdale, TN
Posts: 3

HandyGPS *sleek, compact, affordable

Hey,

I received the HandyGPS the other day as a gift and I can't stop plaing with it. Here is a hyperlink to an unbiased review that I found very helpful http://www.visorinsider.com/wwwboard/messages/287.html

My wife ordered the GPS off of amazon.com, they have some great customer reviews on there, a lot of helpful tips.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

I have tried both the Magellan GPS and the HandyGPS. Of the 2, the Magellan GPS is BY FAR the better unit.

HandyGPS: The unit is small (it's only advantage). It doesn't stick out much from the top and back of the Visor. However, the reception is weak. I was able to get locks, but they were lost easily. On the highway, everytime I went under and overpass, satellite lock was lost. The unit was able to reaquire the lock when I emerged, so this wasn't a big problem. The software (from UbiGo) is not as good as that of the Magellan. It's not in Color (I have a Prism). And it's a bit slower than the Magellan software. You can't search for intersections, but you can find streets. However, the search algorithm needs work. While you can find a street, it usually locates it far from where you want it (especially if it's a long street). The HandyGPS drains batteries very quickly. It's own and the Visors. The weaker the batteries in the HandyGPS, the more Visor power it uses, thus draining your batteries even faster.

MagellanGPS: This unit is much better than the HandyGPS. The unit is bigger than the HandyGPS, but it weighs about the same. It locks really fast and locks in lots of satellites. With the HandyGPS I was lucky to lock in 4-5 satellites (4 is required for a 3D fix). With the magellan, I can get 6-7 easy and sometimes 8 satellites. I don't lose satellites while going under overpasses on the highway. AND I can maintain a 2D (2-3 satellites) lock inside my house! The Magellan uses a rebranded version of Quo Vadis by Marcosoft. This is probably the best GPS software on the market right now. You can search by street or intersection. The maps are small and performance is good. Overall, the MagellanGPS is a much better value than the HandyGPS. The downside of the Marcosoft program is that you can save waypoints of points of interest. You can only search for one final target. You can't save a list of destinations for easy recall.

Which bring us to the Geode.

I have not used a Geode. From what people are saying, hardware-wise, the Geode is the best. Built-in compass, WAAS support, MMC slots, etc. However, I downloaded and tried their software MobileView and it's horrible. Extremely slow. At the speed I drive , I don't believe the screen redraw rate is fast enough to keep up. Everytime you go off the screen, it has to redraw and the redraw is slow. No street names shown. You have to tap on each street to get it's name. Not a good idea when your moving at 70mph. Maps are huge! I mean extremely hugh. Example, Magellans Chicago map is 246k for the entire city (not including suburbs). MobileView's Chicago map is over 2megs total (they divided the city into sections). Certain sections of the city are 800-900k. People are really touting the points of interest (POI) feature, but we'll see how this works out. The main detriment to this program is performance. I ran it on a Visor Prism with 1 map section loaded and it was slow (I had no points of interest added). I can't imagine the performance when multiple map sections are added with lots of POIs involved. The other downside is the high price of the unit ($289).

The best of both worlds would be Magellans/Marcosoft's software with the Geode hardware, but this doesn't work. Quo Vadis doesn't recognize the Geode as a GPS unit.

For $150 you can't go wrong with the Magellan GPS. Stay away from the HandyGPS and go for the Geode is you have extra money (but try the software first to see if you like it.)

Thomas

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 13

Magellan vs. Geode

I've got the following gps modules:

-Geode
-Magellan GPS Companion
-Garmin eTrex GPS connected to the EFIG module

At present my preference is the Magellan hands down. It's the most compact of the solutions and it is fully NMEA compatible meaning that it will work beautifully with just about any third party software out there, (Solus Pro, GPSCompass, Vindigo, and it comes with an enhanced version of Quo Vadis). The native software it comes with is wonderful. It comes with waypoints, bearings, headings and path recording, as well as support for all different types of units and Lat Lon formats. It works straight out of the box, and is a very professional package.
Except for the added bulk, the combination of an eTrex and the corresponding cable and serial adaptor is just as good. Be sure to use the EFIG module, the Delorme adaptor ( http://delorme.com/earthmate/visor_pac.asp ), or the mark space unit ( http://www.markspace.com/datacord.html ). A serial cradle or the ATL cable will not work! Once again, NEMA compatibility makes this solution compatible with all third party software. This solution is great if you plan to use both a laptop and a visor with mapping software. You can use the freeware package GPSa to upload waypoints to the eTrex itself, which can then be used for terminal guidance. In a car, you can place the eTrex on the dash and control it from the dash, which maximizes sattelite visibility, very nice!

In both of the above cases, NMEA compatibility is a real plus. I particularly like to use Solus pro in conjunction with Street Atlas both from DeLorme. You can plan a route on the PC and dump it to the Visor. Solus Pro then keeps track of your route and alerts you to the next two turns generating alarms as the intersections are approached and providing left-right turn instructions. You can also dump maps from anywhere in the continental US from Street atlas to the visor, very nice!

The Geode on the other hand is big, heavy, curvy and looks good on paper but turns out to be expensive, unstable, and not very informative (the Anna Nicole Smith of GPS units). The hardware looks to be very nice and seems to work reasonably well. I say that the hardware seems to work well since the software is so pathetic that it is impossible to exploit half the features the hardware has! The software is a sloppy, late alpha, very early beta design which is totally unacceptable in a production unit. This would be fine except that, in a fit of idiocy on the order of the introduction of "New Coke" the Geode was made entirely proprietary, so as to stick the user with this gastly software. They claim NMEA compatibility, but in reality they are 100% incompatible with all third party software (at least they're consistent). Don't belive me? Read the official FAQ: http://support.geodiscovery.com/faq.html#har , last question. That said, if they fix the software and provide true NMEA support they have potential. Unless you are very patient, don't touch the geode, a big heavy expensive sparkly paperweight. A tenth of the features at TWICE the cost!

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 52

Thanks for this information, Monopole and Roundy. It sounds like Solus Pro is exactly what I need to complete my Magellan GPS package. The Map Companion program is great but since a view is limited to 18 or so miles, another program is needed to plot and guide a new route.

Mapopolis is a great free program -- wish it worked with a GPS though.

Thanks again, guys (or gals).

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 714

Beryl - I e-mailed the guys at Mapopolis a couple of days ago and they said its should be in next release.

__________________
Matt Nichols
[email protected]

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 6

I have both the Megallen and Geode GPS. I tested both units for car navigation and this is my conclusion.

Satelite aquire time to get 3d fix.
*Geode got a 3d fix in under 1 minute.
*Magellan got a 3d fix in under 2 minutes.
winner Geode.

Ability to keep a 3d fix.
*Geode kept a 3d fix most of the time, switched between 2d and 3d a few times, and lost a lock for a few seconds on one occasion. Seemed to keep a fix on about 5 to 6 satelites.
*Magellan kept a 3d fix most of the time. Did switch to 2d once, but never lost a fix as the geode did. Seemed to keep a fix on about 5 to 7 satelites.
Winner Magellan.

Battery life
*Geode batteries lasted about 5 hours using full power mode. Using power saving mode for car navigation just does not work.
*Magellan batteries lasted about 9 hours.
Winner Magellan

Price
*Geode is $289 carries a 1 year warranty and has a 30 day return policy
*Magellan is $150 carries a 1 year warranty, but does not hava a return policy that I could find. Since I bought the unit at Compusa, I got a 15 day return policy through them.
Winner Magellan

Reliability
*Geode is a new company with an unproven product line. Still working out the bugs.
*Magellan is a proven company with a proven product line. Only bug I found was that the springboard loaded gps software has trouble finding an initial lock, but if you use the cd loaded gps software, gets a fix quickly.
Winner Magellan

Potential
*Geode has two MMC slots and we already know that the unit can be flashed to upgrade the internal software. The company has great plans in the works, but are mostly unrealized at this point. Only time will tell.
*Magellan product is a gps unit only. (not that this is bad). Not sure if you can flash update the unit with new software. Product is relying on 3rd party vendors for software functionality. From what I have read on this site, it works with other gps software.
Winner Geode

Maps
*Geode has provided maps for the entire US, but you must download them form their website and they are free. Map functionality is very limited at this time and for car navigation are essentially useless. Needs the abiltiy to search, show street names, refresh faster, keep location centered on the map.(basically needs the quo vadis software that comes with magellan)
*Magellan ships with a modified version of Qou Vadis 2.0. This is the best navigation software that I have found for the palm. Not to say that there are not improvements that need to be made like the inclusion of street numbers, and rotating maps so your direction of travel is always up.
Winner Magellan

Conclusion:
The geode has great potential, but is still in the beta test stage. I have trouble paying almost $300 for a beta unit. The magellan has most of the functionality that I need now and has solid hardware, and will work with 3rd party software. Maybe in a year or so I might pick the geode over the magellan, but for now I think I will be keeping the Magellan.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Accuracy of Magellan GPS Maps?

I've had the Magellen "GPS Companion" module for about a week and I've been pleased with it, except for the following:
- no street addresses shown (Mapopolis has addresses, but no GPS support until April)
- map accuracy...when traveling with the GPS on, the map shows my position appx. 300' from the actual point. The GPS indicator isn't on the actual street, but is moving through the adjacent neighborhood at least 300' away.

Has anyone else noticed this? Any ideas?

Thanks! Kirk

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
Posts: 205

It's not the GPS, it's the maps. This is a common problem with GPS tracking systems. They are far more accurate than the maps that the tracking is being displayed on. Most maps are based off of Arial Photographs and then traced. Hopefully, with the proliferation of GPS units, the maps will get more accurate.

__________________
Sven

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: CT
Posts: 11

This difference is the software

quote:

---

Originally posted by HeadFra
This question may be answered in James' upcoming Geode review and is based on ignorance. But assuming (yes, that's a big one) all the current Visor GPS modules (Handy GPS, Magellan, Geode) have the same specs (time to get a satellite fix, accuracy, battery life, etc.), what's the diff, other than price?

Is the difference, solely that the Geode has onboard memory and one is not using Visor RAM for maps as would be used for the Magellan and Handy GPS? Or is there something else? I know my question's assumption of equal technical performance is questionable given the posts in this forum regarding the HandyGPS. But as someone looking for a GPS module, it's better to ask first and hopefully not make mistakes later.

thanks

Head Fra

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: CT
Posts: 11

Re: Accuracy of Magellan GPS Maps?

quote:

---

Originally posted by JediKirk
I've had the Magellen "GPS Companion" module for about a week and I've been pleased with it, except for the following:
- no street addresses shown (Mapopolis has addresses, but no GPS support until April)
- map accuracy...when traveling with the GPS on, the map shows my position appx. 300' from the actual point. The GPS indicator isn't on the actual street, but is moving through the adjacent neighborhood at least 300' away.

Has anyone else noticed this? Any ideas?

Thanks! Kirk

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