The Next Generation In GPS Navigation Plus
A look at the cutting edge, from Lug_Nut. Many RV owners consider the addition of adding a GPS navigation system to their existing coach. Most choose the portable type mounted on a holder attached to the top of the dash or windshield. These offer the advantage of portability which allows them to be used also in the towed vehicle. However, one of the biggest drawbacks is the somewhat small screen.
Then there are people that like the look and feel of the in-dash type. Screen sizes on these are normally about 7” diagonally and many offer touch screen control. The in-dash units contain a combination of features. They are the AM/FM radio, Sat radio, CD player, back up camera capability and of course satellite GPS navigator all in one. The cost of these before installation can be $600 to $1500 or more.
Okay, that has been the choices that we have had in the past. But, things are changing. No longer are we going to be confined to using the same looking and functioning GPS navigation equipment that has been unchanged for years.
Well, for those that want to bring their motor home or tow vehicle into the next generation of the electronic future, consider this. An Apple iPad can deliver more information on one big screen as well as offering the ability to be interactive. The huge 9.7” touch controlled screen can deliver a high definition GPS navigation including voice guidance. It can replace the need for your radio and provide iTunes and more. It’s your hands free telephone and will also look after your e-mail needs. It can store and display lists of rest stops or any other locations at the touch of an icon. It can be removed and used on your boat with a full blown marine chart display. Local weather radar in real time is also a great application that can be displayed. All of your navigation software can be updated as needed. You can use it as a virtual dash, displaying your speed, trip mileages, altitude, acceleration and much more. There are hundreds of thousands of software applications, many for free or very little. There are even applications that allow you to position it on your dash and provide HUD (Heads Up Display), though apparently they have some challenges in bright sunshine.
There are several models of iPad that are available. You should go for the gusto, buy the most expensive, about $850 or so. It comes complete with 3G wireless connectivity, built in GPS and WiFi.
Now, how can you mount it to have that factory built look? This can be easy with the newly developed mounts that are about to hit the market. These mounting fixtures fasten right to a double DIN radio location and come complete with the wiring plug-in hidden behind. The rectangular screen can be positioned vertically or horizontally and the iPad knows and automatically reads right. These mounts will probably range from $250 to $350.
This sure beats any in-dash navigation unit currently being sold. In fact, people considering buying a new rig should take a look. Why pay the $2000 option price for a basically non-upgradable in-dash GPS unit. After all, it will only come with a half dozen functions, why not go for thousands?
For those interested in looking at some of the Apps (Application software) that are available here is a Link.
Well, if nothing else, it is food for thought.
With A High Definition Window To The World - Lug_Nut - Peter Mercer
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Hopefully they have decent software. I tried using Streets and Trips, which I love for planning trips, but found it was a poor substitute for our Garmin Street Pilot. Also tried using our Onstar turn-by-turn on the toad but again the Garmin was way better.
Street Pilot pretty well died so we replaced with a lower model Nuvi that works for us. Sometimes I wish we’d gone with a higher class Nuvi, but for $100 we got what we need.
■Dennis Anderson, Well that’s the great thing about the Apple Apps, there are probably 10 or more different auto navigation programs available. In addition some of these may provide a method of adding features an POI’s to them. Thanks for your input.
Do you have to have 3G or WIFI connected going down the road, or can it function as a GPS stand alone?
Great article. Apple has become the standard. There are already apps for ham radio and geocaching hobbies. It will only get better over time.
I agree that buying a built in GPS is ridiculous. If it breaks, you are looking at high $$$ to replace whereas a hand held is cheap. As for the iPad, I think the idea is pretty good except for the size and I am not so sure about the durability (especially for marine applications). I have dropped my GPS many times but have no idea what would happen to the iPad.
For the cheap model, WiFi and 3G you are looking at $629 AND a 3G plan. It will also not be able to use your cellular plan if you already have one. Add to that, you are stuck using AT&T for 3G (I prefer to be able to select my provider). The signup for 3G is $15 or $25. The nice feature is that you only have to sign up for a month.
On top of that, you need to purchase your software for a GPS. Most are very inexpensive but some charge extra for text to voice. Then you need an auto charger.
I would say that if you are going to purchase a very sophisticated GPS for $400+, this would be a viable alternative but there are quite a number who pay less than $150 OR use our phone (I use a Garmin). Handhelds also charge quite a bit for map updates. Not sure about the software.
Just remember that the purchase of the handheld is all inclusive (current map, text to speech, charger, mount, etc) whereas the iPad is a computer that you will need to outfit for a GPS in your car.
John, No, the GPS feature works as a stand-alone with no WIFi or 3G connection required. Thanks for your post.
■Ham Radio, Great info, thanks. Thank you for your participation on this topic.
Scot, Well actually I was surprised on how cheap the repairs were on a Z1 Pioneer ($2600 set). I had mine sent to Pioneer service in California as the camera functions had quite working. The quoted price for repair was a flat $200. I thought it was reasonable. Thanks for your very informative comments.
Does the GPS app have a truck routing option? I used to occasionally get into trouble using auto routes.
Newt, I can not confirm that but as there are over 200,000 apps and add-ons, I would think it could be found and downloaded. I’m going to get one and experiment. The bridge height would be nice. Thanks for your input.
Love my GPS; however, the grade of the road (How steep the road is) is not considered on current GPS models with regards to my 22.5K + toad Class A RV. So, take caution with your directions. They might just get you into an ‘interesting’ situation.
Sure, going over that hill will get me there, theoretically, 30 minutes earlier; but at what cost? My nerves shattered?
Typically, GPSs consider only smaller maneuverable vehicles that dont balk at a fairly steep hill. We RVers have another line of thought, dont we?
Carl C, There are data bases on the internet with the grades of all roads. Possibly this could be viewed on a computer or on an iPad. Thanks for your valued input.
I’ve been using Garmin for a few years, and my NUVI265 has constant traffic alerts, which sometimes work! Otherwise, it has Bluetooth connection to my phone complete with voice dial etc, and accesses to my phonebook contacts. Not bad for $175. I used Streets & Tips ‘09 even in Mexico and found it had great detail and lots of display options, again for under $100. While I love our Mac at home, I travel with a laptop and wish there was some justification for the “tres cool” iPad; I can’t see it for now.
Sure, you can have my NUVI, when you pry it from my cold dead….etc
■proyham, The NUVI units work great for the cost. Streets and Trips have also worked great for me. The iPad is of interest mainly due to the over 200,000 applications and growing. I think we will see more interest here soon. Thanks for your great input.
Which app is shown in article? I use my iPad a lot and have a couple of nave apps but nothing that the look of the app you show.
I wish some one in the RV industry would come up with a GPS unit that would be made for RV people. points of interest such as
1-showing every camp ground privet and public
2-parks and rest stops were RV’s can park
3-boon docking spots
4-roads with low and narrow bridges
5-roads that us RV ers should avoid
6-if internet driven could show detours construction alternate rotes cheep fuel good places to eat an their specials, times when POI are open and cost
not just a GPS but a trip planing tool it could be software that could be added to computer or I pad type device
now would that be the cats meow
One slight problem.
Most places have laws against any device that can play movies from being visible from the drivers seat while the vehicle is in gear.
Most of the fancy built in systems get by this by having a lockout that is active when in gear.
Don’t bet on your insurance voiding if you are caught or a cop in a bad mood from fining you.
■Jimmy leggett, I’m not sure which app it is, or even if it is not a mock up to demo the HD. Thanks for the question and for your input.
Jim, This may be the closest we have come to that in as much as program add-ons may make most of that possible. Thanks for your comments.
Steve, Oh come on, you don’t think that base is not already covered? There are auto locks currently sold that automatically lock your wireless device for out going calls and text. Nice thought though. Thanks for the input.
No one is covering the question many of us would like asked, “why does road coverage stop at the western snow line of the Cascades”. Have tried Streets and Trips which failed to include the actual roads and exits in Yakima (remember that Macrosoft is from Seattle), some better luck with Garmin although leaving the Interstates showed some major holes ever with the upgrade, and now you suggest buying a non-dedicated unit? Until the warranty includes full price return of product for data failure will continue to buy the lowest priced unit with usable features. Garmin works well West of the snow line even if the search mode requires you to preselect the actual state of you destination for usable routes. The truckers model still leaves out grade info on many 2 lanes in areas between the Cascades and the Rockies. Would cheerfully pay for a actual road listing with a upgrade guarantee. So far the market seems to be nervous about being even a little out of the low price area.
I have been using a Tom Tom 3.5″ GPS since early 2006 and love it. It has made two trips to Alaska and thoroughly toured AK both times; it even showed the roads within rest areas (the big ones that make a “U” or loop). For $39.95 a year, I got quarterly map updates. Now I have a new Tom Tom 5.5″ GPS that I’ve been using for three weeks and it is much better than the old one. For $176.95 I got the new unit with lifetime map and traffic updates free. I do not know how accurate or often the traffic updates will be but so far, it warned me of an accident ahead of me on I-40; gave me an estimate of the time delay and offered to reroute me around the accident. All of that for $176.95 one time outlay. So, is the iPad and the monthly AT&T charge really worth it? Not to me.
■Gerald Strickland, Your Tom Tom sounds like a great value. The added bonus of real time traffic is super. Remember the iPad does also not require to be 3G operational to use the GPS guidance. Thanks for your informative input.
It would be helpful if you could list the apps that resulted in the pix in the article. I spent sometime on Apple Apps, but am not sure which ones you referred to.
Scott, I wrote this some time ago and had gone though thousands of apps. I will try to locate the particular product. In the meantime do a search for “iPod Glass Dash” “iPod auto dashboards” and the like. There are many interesting apps in this field with new ones showing up every day.
I read the specs. The operating temp limits are 32 deg to 95 deg and the altitude limit is 10,000′. Most of the time that would suffice, but travelling through deserts with the device on the dashboard during the summer months and the trips to the mountainous regions, I have exceeded both of those specs many times.
I can understand the temp limits, but the altitude? Will the screen implode or explode if the altitude limit is exceeded?
Also, you mention the dashboard stands. Do you have a web site for those stands?
I’d consider buying this guy just to get rid of my indash GPS system on my motorhome, but I’d need to have apps just for RVers that would do good GPS routing for RVs which would include height restrictions and weight restricitons.
When they advertise those apps, I’d buy one.
Byron
I just don’t think it’s ready yet for prime time RV users….
I’m waiting a few weeks to see what the new Samsung “ipad” has to offer. It is going to be handled by the big 3 telecoms, that way I don’t have to by an “Apple” product. Robbie
Screen shots are CoPilot Live HD. $29.99 in the app store..
Maybe it is time that RVs go the way of aviation and adopt a glass cockpit approach. We could have 2 displays on the dash one for speed and engine diagnostics etc and the other for nav and weather and terrain for those heavy fog incursions. Maybe add a system to detect other vehicles that are in a possible collision situation.
hmmm, I have a iPad but mostly use it for email when I am on the road. Will have to check out those apps for sure.
Barry, Great, there are a few good apps with more surfacing every day. Thanks for your comment.