SKYMAP 2000 GPS - PCMCIA V1.0 SINGLE 1-DOC $75 rebate-NOTE~early buyers~pricematch yourself w/onvia

[TurboCivic428]

barebottoms: I know I can get it anywhere. I just wanted to see if there are anymore coupons so I can hit the $60 range. Thanks for the reply.

 

[emaij]

The Microsoft software is available at Costco for $26 less the $20 rebate. Is that the best software to go with? I need something that has Canadian maps as well as US.

 

[barebottoms]

TurboCivic:
You can do the Computers4Sure thing posted on the board from Nitz.
Here is SkyMap PC-Card Version
From computers for sure.

It works out to be close: $61.44 includes shipping, but tax (if applies not added)

emaij: I just choose Street Map because of the Price. I did the rebate thing too last time. To be Honest, the SkyMap software is better because it gives you directions via Voice. But it just does not support NT and 2k.

 

[Cyberian]

cmv


"Garmin eTrex:
eTrex at Garmin.com
Interfaces: RS232 with NMEA 0183, RTCM 104 DGPS data format and proprietary GARMIN"

Unless you already have the eTrex or are on a 'very' tight budget, I would recommend that you condider the Garmin 12 as opposed to the eTrex.
Nicer display, better waypoint setting, and a few more other features for about $15 more.

 

[emaij]

barebottoms: have you tried any of the gps software at download.com? anything worth getting?

And how does the Microsoft software work? Is the functionality similar to Skymap aside from no voice? Sucks that Skymap doesn't have Canada.

Also, have you tried the traffic interface? From what I can tell it requires wireless internet access if you're driving.

 

[spec411]

wow im gonna get this and then finally get a laptop! this is WAY cheaper than alpine's navigation I was thinking of getting, you get a bigger screen, can move it from car to car or take it camping, and you can always use the laptop computer!

Question: what is the slowest/cheapest laptop you would recommend using with this? I dont have the min requirements for the software..i was thinking about getting a older used laptop, but maybe a cheap new one would be better?? any advice appreciated!!

 

[barebottoms]

emaij: I've tried some of the shareware/freeware gps software out there. A couple of them are really good. I don't remember the names. The ones I tried where ones that did way point mapping for you. Something Street Maps and SkyMap didn't do. What it does is record points you've traveled and allows you to use the maps databases out there to overlay the points.

What makes this type of software different from the Street mapping software, is that you can use basically any map. Good for if you need topographical maps. The only drawback to GPS software other than the commerical ones, is there is generally no compression and indexing of the maps. You have to have a bunch of maps stored at different detail levels to accomplish the basic zooming and detail features of the commercial software. They also lack in speed when zooming, changing to the next map etc..

SkyMap and Microsoft street both are basically the same in terms of basic navigation. SkyMap has features like Etak (real time traffic condtions) and voice announced directions. While Microsoft Streets can be updated with construction details. I don't remember who either one of them uses for Map data, but they're pretty comprable.

If you have big bucks, and really wanted good software. TravRoute CO-Pilot 2000 the one to go with. It as voice announced and voice activation. The maps database is pretty up to date, with great details.

But aside from that, look at it this way. You buy the GPS you will get SkyMap with it. Grab Microsoft Street when they have the rebates. You can find Rand McNally's pretty cheap from time to time too. I got Streets for about $6 and Rand McNally for $19. They always go on sale. All of these mapping software are consumer grade databases. They're all about the same, don't expect to find fairly new roads on them.

Then for the fun features of digital bread crumbs. Play with the freeware ones.


Spec411:
I suggest you try it out on a slow computer first. I tried to do something similar with the I-Opener. Which is the cyrix 200Mhz processor. The graphics card wasn't great. The screen redraws are painfully slow.

 

[Neuroanatomist]

I've tried a few of the laptop GPS programs with my hacked Netpliance I-opener and with a Pentium 166 laptop.

1) DeLorme Street Atlas 6.0 w/ Earthmate GPS
2) Sony SkyMap 2000 w/GPS (serial version, NOT PCMCIA)
3) Rand McNally Streetfinder 2000 w/GPS

DeLorme Street Atlas GPS AND I-OPENER
GOOD
- For those of you considering getting a GPS for the I-Opener, the GPS with the DeLorme Street Atlas can run off of 4 AA batteries. The other 2 GPS units take their power from the laptop's PS/2 port.
- You will need to convert the serial connection to USB to work with the Iopener.
- The I-OPENER only cost $100, plus an extra laptop hard drive
BAD
- While the I-Opener is a self contained computer, the screen is passive matrix and hard to read in direct light.
- However, having had my I-Opener in the car for a few months, I finally took it out. Having a color monitor with a full computer in the car is a cool tech toy, but it's difficult to mount, to supply power to, and is not the kind of thing you want to leave while parked in New York or at the mall parking lot.

GPS and PENTIUM 166 LAPTOP

DELORME STREET ATLAS W/EARTHMATE GPS
GOOD:
- Good, accurate map
- does not use alot of CPU horsepower
- can be powered by AA batteries or laptop port
- GPS program works with other GPS units
BAD
- The GPS unit broke after 4 weeks
- GPS unit does not output standard NMEA sentences.

SONY SKYMAP 2000 W/GPS
GOOD
- Accurate map
- smallest unit (size of a pager)
- although I had the serial unit, I would think that the PCMCIA port is good because you don't lose the use of the serial port or the PS/2 keyboard port.
- The speech feature was ok, but got old quickly
BAD
- The coverage of the ETAK service is limited to major cities. (In the New York area, I got alot of traffic advisories and alot of them were on routes that I were out of my region of interest and I didn't find it too useful.)
- Included GPS does not work with other programs.
- Program requires took alot of horsepower, as compared to the other programs, the screen redraws were slow.

RAND MCNALLY STREETFINDER FOR LAPTOPS
GOOD:
- Maps are easy-to read
- GPS unit outputs standard NMEA
- primarily good for moving map or for kids
- cheap at less than $100
BAD:
- Map was accurate in New York but very inaccurate and unusable on a recent trip to Hawaii
- Hard to use for door-to-door directions (not for navigation)
- Minimalist. Not as full featured as DeLorme or Sony products.

FUTURE PLANS
RAND MCNALLY STREEETFINDER FOR PALM V
I just got a Palm Vx so I'm planning to get the Rand McNally Streetfinder for Palm V and get rid of the laptop and GPS in the car.
GOOD
- This should be a much smaller, portable solution with less wires. This GPS attaches to back of the Palm V. Small size and battery power will mean that I can take it hiking or mountain biking.
- Plus it comes with a windshield mount, so it could be placed in a better field of view (as opposed to on the passenger seat or car console).
BAD
- The maps will be in black and white (ever tried to use a map that was from a photocopy?).
- There will be less use for door-to-door navigation, but I use my GPS more for the moving map function to see how far I've travelled and where I am relative to other routes.
- I've read that the maps that come from RandMcNally take alot of room on the Palm V, but the QuoVadis program by Marcosoft sounds like a good alternate Palm GPS program.

GARMIN STREETPILOT COLOR MAP
$611 at computers4sure.. but with 20% brands4less discount, $489.

GOOD
- self contained GPS unit with moving maps
- car mountable, color maps

BAD
- small screen size (compared to Palm V)
- need to purchase additional CDROM and data cartridge to use additional maps



Rand McNally has had a 20% discount on your first purchase when you register at their travel store. GPS for Palm V is $169 - 20% = $135 + $18 shipping. However, probably be better to use one of the other currently available deals at buy.com or computers4sure.com


For more GPS reviews see http://joe.mehaffey.com/



<< Cartography and GPS Navigation = Brain Imaging and Stereotaxic Neurosurgery >>


- Neuroanatomist

 

[barebottoms]

Neuroanatomist:
I use a Garmin and the Rand McNally unit on my Palm Vx. It doesn't fit snug on the Palm, but works great in a car. I have GPS Antennae on the dash, and the car holder unit propping up the Palm. For Software on the Palm, I use Atlas, with maps exported from Microsoft Streets. Using Streets is easier to calibrate the maps than Rand McNallys.

As for the GPS units being able to be self-powered. Its not that difficult to make any of the serial port ones Self power.

EARTHMATE GPS can be turned into a NEMA unit, there is a person on the net that made a PIC unit to convert the Earthmate sentences to NEMA.

 

[Dx-treme]

I called SKYMAP directly with some specific questions about skymap 2000 and found out some really BAD NEWS.

THE COMPANY OFFICIAL TOLD ME THE $75 REBATE IS FOR THE INTERNAL (SERIAL) VERSION ONLY !!!

Meaning: YOU ARE STUCK WITH THE SONY SOFTWARE ONLY (non NEMA compliance) !!

I even directed him to the netbate website showing the $75 rebate regardless of the version. He said, UPON inspecton of the UPC cutoff that you send during rebate time, only the serial (INTERNAL) version with the right UPC will get the $75 rebate. The only reason there is $75 rebate is to get rid of the serial version.

I try calling netbate with their tel no from their website but all i got is a automated talking %#@%#@%#@ phone. So i cannot verify it from there. HE also mentioned that rebate centers sometimes give out the wrong info.

GOOD NEWS:
WIn 2000 k update/drivers is in the work and should be available in 4-8 weeks.

OVERALL not a HOT DEAL. I was disappointed myself and thank god i did not place an order.

 

[emaij]

Thanks for all the info. I did buy the PCMCIA version and have been using it in the car. It's a great toy but is only really useful for more serious roadtrips because of what was just pointed out... difficult to mount, etc... It takes a lot to set it up and then you have to get it out of the cabin when parked. It is very cool to watch yourself driving.. what I'd really prefer is a goggles mounted version. How much are those things? I think I saw $5000 somewhere.

 

[barebottoms]

Wait! That is still good news. Internal would be the PC-CARD (the device formerly known as PCMCIA). External is the serial.

 

[Scyber]

DX-- Can you clarify your post. You talk about the serial gps, but then you say internal gps. Unless I am mistaken they are different. Which one are you refering to??

Scyber

 

[cmv]

Cyberian: What other features does the Garmin 12 have over the eTrex? I like the idea of waterproof so that is up there on the list of features for me (I want to use it while fishing). The other point high up there is just getting a NMEA signal out of the thing into a PC that I'd have in the car (running linux). That would just be fore fun at first but there is 10 GB of maps that you can download for free or get on CDROM (they were in the debian project at some point in time)... Just imaging road trips and tracking, saving into database, come home, babam!, wireless network pops the data over to the home server...

Hehehe....

 

[Dx-treme]

OK, let me clear things up, i am too confuse about this external, internal #@$@$#.

PCMCIA <-- this is what you want ! this allows you to use any NEMA compliance software.

Serial connection <_--- this is bad, You are stuck with sony's software


NOW, the rebate is only for the serial ones. thats the reason for the rebate according to the company, to get RID of the non NEMA compliance.

hope this helps.

 

[emaij]

Dx-treme:

F@!$@##@$K! But I'm ready to fight for this one. Good sleuthing anyway.

 

[Blindman]

Ambigous . . .
It dosnt say in the rebate therefore

 

[emaij]

I bought Streets &amp; Trips 2001 to use with my Etak PCMCIA GPS unit but I can't get it to work. It keeps saying that I do not have a GPS unit attached... even though I have set the switch to NMEA.. Could it be that the Etak is not NMEA version 2.0 compliant?

 

[emaij]

Damn! I just spoke to Etak tech support and they told me that the PCMCIA GPS unit is not compatible with Microsoft Streets &amp; Trips 2001. Chip in the unit is from 1997 and so is it's and old version of NMEA 0183. According to him there is no way to upgrade it. Anyone know better?

 

[Sesopedalian]

Etak sent me an e-mail saying the rebate would be honored with the PCMCIA model.

 

[barebottoms]

Sorry... I was all wrong. It wasn't Street Maps that supported the Etak GPS, it was Rand McNally's mapping software and ONLY for the serial version. I've also noticed both Computers4Sure and Onvia lowered to price to a bit under $90..

~$83 for external serial
~$85 for PC-Card version

So either ask to exchange, refund, demand difference etc..



So either make money (if you did the ECS thingie) and get the difference credited to you. Or end up with one for ~$15.

 

[RobsTV]

WOW!
Thanks for the great post ygreenkitty.
To clarify,
Only the PCMCIA version supports NMEA, and it has been
tested fine with Rand McNally's TripMaker and StreetFinder,
and may work with other mapping programs.

This PCMCIA GPS package is now less than $10 shipped!
Go through brandsforless to get to computer4sure and get free shipping.

EDIT:
Go through Brandsforless to get to Computers4sure.
http://www.brandsforless.com/
They have a free shipping deal if you go through their site,
so you will get the $5.25 shipping charge refunded back in
about 4 weeks. I've done this before, and it works fine.

In the box at the top titled:
&quot;Find your next purchase here:&quot;
enter &quot;Skymap&quot; and press GO.

Scroll down and click on:
SkyMap 2000/GPS - PCMCIA
This will take you to the computer4sure page with the GPS.
Buy it for $84.99 and pay the $5.25 shipping.
Print out your receipt, or write down the order number.
Then, at the top of page, (or go back to brandsforless main page)
click on free shipping, and fill out the form, to get reimbursed for
the $5.25 shipping.

Next, go here for a $75.00 manufacturers rebate:
http://www.netbate.com/coupons/sony/1258.htm

Final cost $9.99 after rebate.

SkyMap 2000 Frequently Asked Questions

 

[cmv]

RobsTV: how do you get it down to $10 total? Maybe you could summarize a tad, this is getting long, hehe...

EDIT: got it...

do the brands4less link to get free shipping, then email the CSR at etak to get rebate?


EDIT2: thanks for laying it out RobsTV, awesome deal

 

[barebottoms]

Actually its either version that you can get for around $10.
PC-CARD version is aroun $85, external serial verion is $82.

And AGAIN I apologize. Its not the PC-CARD (PCMCIA) that works with Randy McNally (which I originally thought was MS Streets). Its the EXTERNAL SERIAL version.

Okay.. this is going to get complicated..

PC-CARD will DO NEMA, but since I don't have a Win2K driver for it, it didn't work for me. If anyone can confirm on a 98/95 system that it acts like a comm port device (comm 1 to 4) then this might work.

Serial Port version, does NOT do NEMA, but with Rand McNally's software, you can choose ETAK/SONY binary format GPS.

(Just because I mistook MS Streets for Rand McNally, I don't get credit for the reduced price?)

 

[emaij]

Top notch job on the price redux but what do I do with MS Streets now? And is there anything I can use with my PCMCIA GPS to map my way in Canada?