Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 22:41:13 -0400
Reply-To: Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Some Comments on GPS Systems and Audio Electronics (Not Short)
In-Reply-To: <C2CF69FF.8C3E%mwmiller@cwnet.com>
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> > She Who Must Be Obeyed
any relation to He Who Must Not Be Named?
:D :D :D
... ok, i admit i'm a pott-head.
sudhir
> >
> > Nonetheless after several navel introspection's, I have come to convince
> > myself that there are at least two critical accessories to maintain the
> > quality of
> > life as I have come to know it. The first of these is a thumping, brilliant
> > and diverse sound system and the second of these is a GPS system.
> >
> > For years, I have traveled the civilized world in rental cars using the Hertz
> > Neverlost nav system. This included the massive first and second generation
> > trunk mount Magellan systems and continues to the current 800/900 derived
> > portable system. At first, I looked at the early generation systems and was
> > stunned
> > to find refurbished and hard used systems going for $1200. So I purchased
> > (eventually) a DeLorme Earthmate Bluetooth system , used the Bluetooth to
> > interface it with my Mac Powerbook (then G3) laptop, purchased the early beta
> > version
> > of Route 66 GPS software with maps for Europe and North America. Worked fine,
> > but for two minor problems. The sun glare on the laptop screen and the detail
> > in the Route 66 maps sent me on many an unanticipated tour. Then there was
> > the near collision with the beer truck near the Hofbrau House in Munich. And,
> > secondly, this era of Mac Nav programs did not include the option for voice
> > prompts and direction. With the Vanagon, the problem was exaggerated by the
> > tendency of the laptop to launch upon braking and acceleration, not to mention
> > turns. I experimented with mounts, but the best put the laptop too far away to
> > read
> > (bad eyes!).
> >
> > So I have watched with drool as the prices of GPS systems dropped - at first
> > slowly, then more rapidly until many worthy units got to the $400 retail
> > level. During this window, our primary family transportation went from a Ford
> > Expedition to an Audi A4 CVT (love that transmission) to the current BMW 330i.
> > The
> > BMW (2005 vintage) is equipped with the Factory Nav system. As the eyes got
> > worse (cataracts) and the print of unfamiliar roadsigns went away, the BMW nav
> > system became a treasured member of the family - and SWMBO willingly drove to
> > more exotic places. So, I determined that it was time to add discursive GPS to
> > the Westfalia.
> >
> > So began the study of available goodies. At first, I examined the single DIN
> > combo stereo and GPS units that flipped a screen out of the unit to rest at 90
> > degrees to the radio GPS combo face. Alas, they broke easily and were too
> > pricey to slip past the family ruling class. I then looked at the portable
> > units
> > and proceeded to devour all the reviews both by experts (read in the business
> > of selling GPS units or magazines or both) and by amateurs. Too quickly I
> > found that the so-called professional reviews closely followed the factory
> > press
> > kit and the amateurs offered little factual substance. The user reviews
> > generally ranged from "unit X is wunnerful, buy it now" to "biggest POS I ever
> > wasted
> > my money on, gave it to the dog for teething stress".
> >
> > Now at the lab three of my colleagues are the very guys who designed and
> > built most of the world's satellite GPS transmitters and radios. We had a few
> > discussions about receivers, decoders, antennas software and maps and I walked
> > away with a few pointers for experiments to separate the men from the mammals
> > (to
> > turn a phrase). So I embarked on a low dollar anecdotal study of GPs portable
> > units to find something adequate for my needs. Of course my needs are not
> > your needs etc. etc.
> >
> > I decided that the performance of the final unit must be at least as good as
> > the classic Magellan 800/900 series, but substantially cheaper and better
> > looking. Finally, my wanderings settled on the Pioneer AVIC-S1. This unit was
> > designed around 2005/6 and was to be retailed at $1200, discounted to $900.
> > The
> > unit now is in its next sales generation as the AVIC-S2. The differences are a
> > more updated Map set and a library of about 5x more points of interest.
> >
> > The unit is available as a refurbed unit out of ebay and several internet
> > retailers for $199 with free shipping and no tax if you don't live in NY. (Why
> > would someone want to live in NY when NJ is so close?). OK, so many of the
> > reviews (users) were bad with specifics. But the tech specs were excellent.
> > Liked
> > the look. Comes with dash and windshield mounts, AC and 12 vdc power supplies,
> > USB cable, DVD software disk, carrying case, internal antenna, internal
> > battery with a few hour lifetime, AND bluetooth. Now the Bluetooth goodie lets
> > one
> > use the AVIC-S1 as a hands free telephone if your cell supports Bluetooth.
> > Mine
> > does, I like it. Holds its one phone directory, etc, etc. Good.
> >
> > So I got one. Looks good. Uses NavTeq map database in the US. Has a 2005
> > version MAP. Pioneer says 2007 Map upgrade by end of summer. They probably
> > lie.
> > But it so happens that the BMX was delivered with the identical 2005 map
> > database. By nefarious means, I also have Navteq DVD's of their 2006 and 2007
> > updates
> > and am currently running 2007.2 in the BMW. Now, it turns out that I can
> > report that in my travels with the BMW across the lands west of the Rockies, I
> > have found no difference in the Maps (2005 vs. 2007). I tend not to examine
> > the
> > Points of Interest feature because I never found anything I needed save a gas
> > station anyway. My primary test case is the campus of UC Santa Cruz. Isn't
> > there!
> >
> > So I proceeded to test, twixt Death Valley and San Diego, Malibu to Palm
> > Springs, the attributes of the AVIC-S1. Including the specific negatives
> > raised
> > by previous reviewers. Bogus. Turns out that they were just ignorant or tried
> > to use it in the tried and true Mac Fashion (Manual, who needs it!). It fact
> > the thing performed superbly. According to my GPS friends, resolution is a
> > biggie. Lots of access roads parallel to freeways in this part of the world.
> > Factory BM W messed up a few. The Pioneer got em dead on. The second issue is
> > a
> > combo of software algorithms and microprocessor power. Namely, if you miss a
> > turn,
> > how quickly can the Nav system give you a calculated detour to get you back
> > on track. Here the BMW is worth a few blocks at LA street speeds along with a
> > few softly uttered expletives. The Pioneer, over the same course, was like a
> > damn machine gun. Spits out a new route for every street passed. Impressive!
> > Finally, does it get lost in concrete canyons of high rise buildings. Answer
> > in
> > downtown LA --- BMW lost lock several times, but the dash mounted Pioneer
> > never skipped a beat.
> >
> > OK, the point of this ramble is that I think the Pioneer AVIC-S1
> > (refurbished) is a steal at $199 shipped. I bought the 3 year warranty (only
> > comes with 90
> > days) for $20 additional.
> >
> > Now for those not yet sleeping, a paragraph on sound. As described in the
> > archives, I have a substantial sound system in the Westfalia including BA
> > speakers(8) headphone jacks aplenty, power amplifiers for all speakers and a
> > powerful
> > subwoofer system mounted under the driver's derriere. It includes cassette
> > (!) capability, a CD changer and auxiliary inputs. But times have changed. In
> > the BMW I listen to CDs (rarely) Sirius radio and my iPod all through the BMW
> > sound system. Well, out with the current head unit, and out with the CD
> > changer.
> > I have now added a JVC KD-HDR1 head unit that include the traditional AM and
> > FM tuners along with a CD player. BUT it also includes a full HD radio tuner
> > for AMHD and FMHD. It also has an optional Ipod interface that is controlled
> > by
> > the head unit or the remote control, displays selections on the head unit
> > while charging the ipod. The JVC head also has an optional Sirius radio tuner
> > that is controlled through the head unit. The line-outs are controlled through
> > a
> > built-in graphic equalizer. The refurbed KD-HDR1 head is $115 plus shipping.
> > The ipod adapter KS-PD100 is $25 plus and the Sirius tuner SIR-JVC1 kit is
> > $70.
> > So for $210 plus shipping one gets the current collage of broadcast,
> > satellite and custom music sources. So I blew $460 and change for a complete
> > modernization of the electronic care package!
> >
> > Hope somebody gets something out of this missive,
> >
> > Frank Grunthaner
> >
> >
> > **************************************
> > Get a sneak peek of
> > the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
>
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