GPS Advice, Software & Hardware

**orbs** · 10-09-2007, 03:00 PM

Hello. I currently use a GlobalSat BT-338 receiver with iGuidance on my PDA. It works fairly well, however I'm considering building a real car-computer when I buy my next car.

I'm wondering 3 things:
1. Should I keep my GlobalSAT BT-338 or should I buy a navigation package for my new vehicle and hook my car-PC up to the auto-manufacturer's GPS?

2. Is there any navigation software for Windows that includes real-time traffic data in route calculation without charging a monthly fee for traffic data?

3. Is there any navigation software for my Windows Mobile PDA that includes real-time traffic data in route calculation without a monthly fee (to tide me over until I buy my next car)?

Thanks very much!
Jared

**KryptonianJorel** · 10-09-2007, 11:51 PM

This all depends on how much you wanna get your hands dirty. If you really wanna build a Car Computer or if you want a factory unit installed. I think that there is an on-star equipped system that does traffic updates. I know XM systems have live traffic updates.

Well, Both of those are subscription. In my knowledge, if you want live, you're paying SOMETHING for it. Some people use interesting ways to get cheap internet access in their cars to get live traffic updates.

as for 1. its hard to combine custom car-pc stuff with propriety manufacturer stuff. either buy it or build it.

**orbs** · 10-10-2007, 01:28 AM

I'm happy to get my hands dirty. I want a real Car Computer and not a factory unit as I want web browsing, multimedia, bluetooth phone integration etc. etc. The most important feature to me is GPS however which is why I started on this forum.

I want a GPS system that includes real-time traffic and I don't want to pay monthy for it as the data is freely available, I just don't know what software (if any) uses traffic data on the internet or if there are GPS receivers that get traffic data for free (for example, the GPS receivers that come with vehicles if you pay for navigation systems).

I also saw a thread about how to hook up a Car PC to an OEM GPS receiver so I know it can be done, the question is, is it worth it? If it gets me free traffic integration (assuming there's software that can accept the data) then yes, it's worth it.

**KryptonianJorel** · 10-10-2007, 01:50 PM

I've only seen it done with an onstar system, even then, its a pain in the ***. Just buy a receiver on ebay for $50 and be done with it.

I'm pretty sure that traffic receivers are just FM receivers. Traffic data is sent over FM on a certain frequency and this picks it up. I don't know if you can buy it and a GPS seperate, or if it is only available as one unit.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gps/...-part-1-a.html

Your best bet is to check that.

I'm thinking you'll have to check the traffic info via web and plan your GPS route around that.