Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 203

HandyGPS Pro

The GPS has always been the Module we've waited for. As soon as we heard that Visors were expandable, we all longed for the day we could mount our Visors to our dashboard and head for the open road. After a number of arguably failed attempts, has Nexian got it right with the HandyGPS Pro?

http://www.visorcentral.com/content/Stories/1304-1.htm

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: King William, Virginia USA
Posts: 70

And the must-buy external antenna costs??? Maybe y'all should put "Price As Tested" on your reviews so that it'll be clear to folks what it will cost them to get the performance implied in the review.

Also, I would list their use of "NMEA V2.2 Navicom proprietary protocol" in the "Cons" section since I take it that means that other maps won't work?

Just some observations from someone who long since found out he could do without GPS as long as he had good maps that he could add locations to - using Mapopolis 2.0 and highly recommend it. If I decide to get a GPS, it will be an Etrex.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 347

Pretty good review...

If i traveled more then this would be a great module to have. I wonder if it would work from an airplane?

A few comments about the review itself, I would have slowed down the animated GIF's. It went too fast to see what was going on. Maybe put them at 2-3 seconds instead of 1? What about a link to the manufacturer's website?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: King William, Virginia USA
Posts: 70

quote:

---

Originally posted by creole
Pretty good review...

If i traveled more then this would be a great module to have. I wonder if it would work from an airplane?

---

Well he did say the external antenna had "a VERY strong magnet "

quote:

---

A few comments about the review itself, I would have slowed down the animated GIF's. It went too fast to see what was going on. Maybe put them at 2-3 seconds instead of 1?

---

I'm glad you said something about the animated GIF's, pretty cool use for them but I agree that the one finding the taco place is too fast. Unfortunately animated GIF's are so often misused for ads I wonder how many folks have looping turned off like I do and will never see them? Maybe some sort of caption would help.

quote:

---

What about a link to the manufacturer's website?

---

I was wondering about that myself until I found a "mystery link" on the right pane that will eventually take you there...

Last edited by YBYSAIAH on 10-30-2001 at 05:12 PM

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 48

I have the Geode and now, it sit as a paper weight. A month ago, I bought the Magellan GPS and never look back. It is an excellent GPS and it works with a ton of software, including Mapopolis 3.0beta and Solus Pro. I used Solus Pro for topograhical maps and Mapopolis 3.0beta for street level maps. You should take a second look at Magellan GPS.

quote:

---

Originally posted by YBYSAIAH
Just some observations from someone who long since found out he could do without GPS as long as he had good maps that he could add locations to - using Mapopolis 2.0 and highly recommend it. If I decide to get a GPS, it will be an Etrex.

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 6

HandyGPS Pro vs the Geode GPS

Since the reviewer is in Portland, I'd be happy to meet up with him and compare the Geode to the HandyGPS Pro.

I know a lot of people here are probably down on the Geode, and rightly so - the company is "less than responsive" right now, which is understandable and the fact remains that it's hard to buy a product from someone that you think can properly support said product.

That being said, my Geode GPS is obviously NOT a paperweight. I use it during the week, occasionally, and often on the weekends when I'm geocaching or hiking. I like the Geode because it acquires satellite locks "quick enough" - usually in 30-60 seconds from a cold start - and it's very accurate. The easiest way for me to determine accuracy is to simply look up the coordinates of a NGS marker, find the marker and stand on top of the marker. I know where I should be, according to the NGS, and I know where the Geode says I am, which is usually within 10-15 feet. That is pretty darn accurate.

I'm realistic in that I know I can't really sway anyone to buy a Geode GPS unit right now - even I wouldn't recommend anyone purchase one right now - but it's always nice to know how your favorite toy stacks up against the competition.

If anyone else in the Portland, OR area is interested - especially if they have non Springboard GPS devices, like the Garmin eTrex or a handheld Magellan unit, lemme know - I'd be happy to get together somewhere and compare/contrast.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Moraga, California
Posts: 2

Comments on HandyGPS Pro

I am an optimist. So, although I tried and tried to enjoy my experience with the first HandyGPS, I resigned with the opinion that it did what it was made to do... and that's it. As an optimist, though, I thought I'd give Nexian a second chance, and gave it a go with the HandyGPS Pro. For the most part, I would have to agree with the reviewer.

I do want to respond, though, as one who's tried it out, to a few earlier posts:

YBYSAIAH said:

quote:

---

And the must-buy external antenna costs???

---

Registered: Aug 1999
Location: Inverness, FL
Posts: 428

quote:

---

Originally posted by creole
What about a link to the manufacturer's website?

---

__________________
<B>Marcus Adolfsson</B>
Editor

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Elk Grove
Posts: 26

I had a Magellan...HATED IT. I have a HandyGPS Pro with Streetfinder and an antenna and I don't go anywhere without it. I just moved from Colorado to California and it's been very useful. They got it right this time.

Rhonda

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

quote:

---

Originally posted by YBYSAIAH
If I decide to get a GPS, it will be an Etrex.

---

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Elk Grove
Posts: 26

I was lucky I got a brand new HandyGPS Pro and an antenna on ebay for $100. The seller received it at a trade show last month but he has an HP Jornada and had no use for it. He had HandyGPS Pro in the title of the ebay listing but the description was for a HandyGPS. I guess no one asked him which one he had but me. Lucky for me.

Rhonda

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 59

With the Streetfinder software, can I do get directions? For example, can I fire up the software on my Prism, put in 2 addresses and get directions, or can I only do this on the PC?

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

quote:

---

Originally posted by kgeissler
With the Streetfinder software, can I do get directions? For example, can I fire up the software on my Prism, put in 2 addresses and get directions, or can I only do this on the PC?

---

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: kennesaw, ga
Posts: 1

Prism screen

How easy is the Prism screen to read when you're driving around lost in the daytime?

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Elk Grove
Posts: 26

You can search for an address on the Visor if it's in a map/city you've already downloaded.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Antigo, WI
Posts: 37

I was one of the first HandyGPS owners

But now I Own a Geode and still like and use it.

I bought the visor because of the spring board add on and the potential of a GPS, waited over a year for the HandyGPS to be released and bought it. Was very disappointed with the map content, the accuracy and the sat reception, so I returned it.

Then the Geode and Magellan came out about the same time, Geode seemed to have more potential and was speced to be more accurate and the MMC option for map storage all stiered me in that direction, so I bought it. I the Geode has had it's ups and downs, being a beta tester I was on the cutting edge of their software and it was fun testing it out and interacting with other beta testers. It sure make last winter go by fast. I second everything Exocet said above. I will stand by my Geode and give Geode Discovery all the support and encouragement I can to get it together. In the mean time, my Geode Works.

I am glad HandyGPS Pro came out and appears per the specifications to be a contender in the GPS race. 33 feet accuracy is much better then the original 75 feet, but still doesn't compare with my Geode at 6-10 feet. (when I had the HandyGPS and hike along the creek on my land, it would position me on the wrong side of the creek.)

Good Luck Nexian

__________________
Jim Klapste
[email protected]
http://www.newnorth.net/~jimmy/

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 347

Re: Comments on HandyGPS Pro

quote:

---

Originally posted by groversd
Umm... an accuracy of 25 meters can be fatal for any pilot. I wouldn't trust my life to a $200 device.

---

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: El Segundo,CA
Posts: 374

The max setting is 300 MPH. Has anyone used the Pro on a plane?

__________________
My Treo has more memory than I do.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 11

GPS in the Air

As a licensed pilot and GPS enthusiast I wouldn�t leave the area around my home airport without having some type of GPS in the cockpit. The GPS is a great tool for VFR (Visual Flight or Good weather flying). Currently pilots use a variety of techniques to navigate from one location to the other. Radio beacons are a primary way for VFR and IFR (Instrument flight or bad weather flying) pilots to navigate� But these practices are tedious and require prior planning to plan your route, copy down frequencies and interpret the instruments in order to navigate toward the origin of the beacon. With a GPS, (especially with aviation software loaded) you just tell the GPS which airport to fly to and it lets your know what direction to fly. Also the radio beacons aren�t usually in a straight line, with the GPS; it is easier to make a direct route instead of vectoring to the navigational beacons.

As far as an accuracy problem, no pilot would use a Handy GPS for landing information, or flying in bad weather. The FAA really only has a select list of GPS units which are certifiable for �IFR� use, even if they are certifiable they need regular maintenance and checks in order to maintain their status (By the way, I don�t know of any GPS unit on the FAA list selling for less than $800, most are well over $1000).

The GPS works great for any pilot, and when used properly in conjunction with other navigational aids will make the day much easier and give the pilot greater reassurance and ease of mind. Things look different from the air and the GPS is just another tool to help make the pilots life easier and less stressful.

Also when someone makes comments on a GPS saying that it is not accurate because you weren�t on the road, or weren�t on the correct side of the river� chances are it is not the GPS at fault but it is the map that is off. GPS are pretty reliable and accurate tools in themselves.

__________________
<B>Ken Crandall</B>

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 1

HANDYGPS

Thinking about buying , here are some of the questions I'd like answered:

The default map datum is WGS-84, does it also support NAD-27 CAN, which is used for most Canadian topographic maps?

How many waypoints can it store ? Is this dependent on the amount of memory in the Visor ?

Can you enter names and/or descriptions for waypoints ? If so how long a name/description ?

How many tracks or paths can you store if any ?

Does it support UTM coordinates or just Lat/Long ?

Are there maps available for Newfoundland, Canada, with the optional mapping software ?

What's the advantage of using this version with the Visor over a regular handheld GPS ?