I am really a newbie in GPS a month ago. My quest is to determine the best GPS setup for me ie the most economical and up to date maps. Being a total noob to GPS, it is very difficult for me to determine the best GPS setup on my own without discussing it with anyone else such as fellow gps users or retailers. After several days of extensive research by reading through forum threads and reviews on gps hardware & software, I finally succeed in my personal quest.
The fact is this. I am using a Nokia 6120 classic. Among the issues that I had to solve are these:
1. ‘the Hardware’ – What hardware/s to buy without making my Nokia 6120c redundant.
2. ‘the Software’ – What is the best navigator software available for Malaysian gps users?
Those are the 2 main issues. On the first issue, my initial choices, reasons of decisions & explanations are as follows:
A. The Hardware issue
There are a 2 choices here.
1. Buy a ‘real’ gps hardware with a BIG lcd screen which can be seen from 10 feet with a built in/pre-installed navigator software + local maps such as the Garmin Nuvi series. However, this choice does not seem economical as the cheapest Garmin Nuvi 200 cost about RM1000. And my Nokia 6120c will be redundant – this is a big no no for me. I want to use my Nokia in my quest.
2. Buy a Bluetooth GPS receiver that can be paired with my Nokia 6120c. This choice seems to be the better one. However, I encountered further sub issues. Compatibility issue arises here. What type/brand of BT GPS can be paired with my Nokia? How can I be sure that there will be no compatibility problem? I realize that have to take some calculated risk here in buying a BT GPS receiver because I can never be 100% sure because my research was based on forums and comments posted by the GPS community.
There are numerous types of GPS receivers out there. For GPS receiver, one has to decide on two things. What type of chipset it has? Moreover, what brand? What is the price range? Where to buy – online or real world? I have chosen the MTK chipset over the other one. And for brand of BT receivers, generally it should not be an issue. I have found out that MTK chipset has better spec, although most of the branded GPS receiver and the internal built-in receivers (such as in Nokia 6110 etc) are using the other chipset. But MTK chipset is gaining popularity.
However, the brand of BT receiver is also very significant. I have found out also that this issue relates to the software issue that I shall discuss later. Generally speaking, there certain navigator software that requires their own BT GPS receivers namely Garmin Mobile XT navigator software. Thus, this issue is actually most critical.
Finally, I bought a G-top BT GPS Receiver with the MediaTek 51 channel all-in-view tracking technology (aka MTK chipset). I bought this receiver from an ebay seller in USA for a total price of about RM200. This is considerably cheap because I notice local sellers in www.lelong.com.my selling MTK 51 based gps chipset for price exceeding RM270 (shipping included). Basically, one can only get the lower spec gps chipset with the budget of RM200 in lelong.com website. So, it is obvious that ebay seems to be the better choice here.
B. The Software issue
As for Malaysian GPS users with a Symbian OS s60 smart phone, I figure that I have only 3 choices. I reckon that majority of GPS users are using PDAs or PDA phone with Windows Mobile OS coupled with a BT GPS receiver or the pure GPS type like the Garmin Nuvi series. Symbian gps fan like me has the least number of followers based on my observation while reading through hundreds of forum threads.
I can stick with Nokia Map, or get Mapking or use Garmin Mobile XT. I’ve tried Mapking demo on my Nokia 6120c and it works…with voice navigation and everything. I also tried Nokia Map and it also works but without the voice navigation, which one has to pay for it. But I personally like Garmin Mobile XT because of its interface and good map supported by Malsing.com mappers community. I have issues with Mapking because I think their website is total failure. I can’t figure out have to buy their software online other than to personally go to their local retailers. They also don’t answer emails. Nokia Maps is free but the voice navigation is only available for a fee which is too expensive and ridiculous. I prefer a one-time payment. However, Nokia maps is sometimes better than the malsing community compiled ones as far as ‘remote areas’ are concerned but it lacks the excellent ‘Point of Interest’ supported by Malsing maps which feature I like the most. So I decide on getting a Garmin Mobile XT for my navigator software. It is also worth mentioning here that Garmin Mobile XT software REQUIRES a Garmin BT GPS receiver to enable it to work because it cannot pair with non-Garmin receivers. Thus, one has 2 options namely:
1. to buy a Garmin BT GPS receiver with the capability to download and use for free the Garmin Mobile XT navigator software; OR
2. to buy a non-Garmin receiver and also buy the navigator software Garmin Mobile XT. Only then, that the navigator software can be paired with the non-Garmin BT GPS receiver. I’ve chosen this option because I’ve already bid and got the non-Garmin BT receivers in ebay. (Another reason I like to buy in ebay is because I can pay via credit card coz I got no cash. In lelong.com, one has to have cash to bank into the sellers bank account). Generally, the price of the software is about RM100 and one can get through lelong.com or through Garmin authorized dealers. Garmin actually sells the software preinstalled in the memory cards. I’ve bought mine which is a microSD type pre-installed with the Garmin Mobile XT and I just need to use it instead of my old microSD phone memory card.
Conclusion
Well, that is basically it. I’m already enjoying my GPS supported journey which is very very convenient. I’ve spent not more than RM400 to enable my Nokia 6120c to become GPSed at par with the big bro Nokia N95 & E90 Communicator & Nokia 6110 Navigator. Yahooo!
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Posted by bopihz 
Posted by bopihz 
