Electronic Wizardry

[Mattsplat]

Where were you?

Himalayas in India.

[nick crisp]

Mattsplat 1

Nick Crisp 0

Game to you Matt!  :lol

[Mattsplat]

Mattsplat 1

Nick Crisp 0

Game to you Matt!  :lol

:lol :lol :lol

Back to the original topic, believe me when I say dont trust Google maps 100%, even in Europe it'll take you down some 'interesting' tracks.

[richfzs]

So will any sat nav, they all need to be treated with caution...

[richfzs]

Anyway, what were you riding over the khardung la? Please say 'twas an Enfield :-)

[Mattsplat]

Anyway, what were you riding over the khardung la? Please say 'twas an Enfield :-)

No way, I wanted something I could trust  :rollin

Bought a Hero Honda, Pulsar 220.

[NorthWestern]

Navfree is a brilliant app for either android or iphone. Maybe on windows too. Maps are updated often and are stored on the phone so no data/wifi needed.

Used it manytimes and cant fault it. My dad used it recently in spain and worked flawlessly.  Well worth a look

[andybesy]

Navfree is a brilliant app for either android or iphone. Maybe on windows too. Maps are updated often and are stored on the phone so no data/wifi needed.

Used it manytimes and cant fault it. My dad used it recently in spain and worked flawlessly.  Well worth a look

Thank you NorthWestern, will check that out on tomorrow's ride.

Andy

[Punkstig]

Navfree is very good- and free, but it does use a lot of memory space- just incase you was thinking of filling your phone with shawaddywaddy's greatest hits!

[nick crisp]

Tch! Don't you know anything?! It's Showaddywaddy.  :rolleyes

[midden]

I use my mobile phone which works great as long as charging system is without problems ie dodgy lead and ciggy lighter. I've also got an old PDA with a navman expansion case. Not used it for a long while but when I did I installed tom tom software which covered Europe.
Whichever system you opt for  you need it to connect to in helmet sound to reduce need to look at the maps   

[mtread]

Depends how much money you want to spend. Advantage og Garmin or Tomtom bike specific is that they are 100% waterproof and are easy to see, mounted on the handlebars at the right angle. No roaming fees either. My Tomtom Rider 2 works 100% of the time and has taken me right across Europe and back I've had it now 6 years and it's bulletproof. But they are £300+. My mate's Garmin resets itself occasionally .....
The trouble with the car ones, or the phone ones, is they are not waterproof. No box is 100% waterproof, and if they are in a tank bag they are difficult to read. I've ridden with mates using them and they have had to rely on mine.

[NorthWestern]

Yeah the tank bag or even the phone holders with the vynl windows are poor. You can get aluminum ones with gorilla glass that you fit your phone in (on ebay for around a tenner) these are waterproof and can be made so good you can leave it in the bath with a smear of instant gasket on the join.  Nice fitting arm etc and your set.

Like people say it depends on money. I have a galaxy s3 that I use as I only need it rarely, certainly not enough to buy a sat nav. 

[esetest]

I use a Tomtom with full Euro maps  , cost me about £ 90 from Halfords , in a tank bag sat nav holder , I only find them difficult to see if it's pissing down , I used to have a dedicated Garmin bike satnav which was mounted on the handlebars so easier to see , but eventually the charging bracket fucked up due to water ingress although it was supposed to be waterproof ,  but it still took your eyes off the road , but I don't look at it unless i'm lost , I just follow signs and take a good map as a back up , cos gadgets tend to fuck up when you need them most  .

[Fuzzy]

I have a TomTom Urban Rider. It's pretty good for what I paid, it was a discounted factory refurbed example. Battery lasts well and it's never cocked up in a major way. Took it to France and it was good there too. I have a smartphone but the TomTom takes a lot of the faff out of it and if you keep it for a few years would probably be a worthwhile investment.

[Fuzzy]

Forgot to say, it is waterproof and mounted on my handlebar, it clips into a spring loaded holder/mount fixed there. Screen is easy to operate with gloves. Can link up to your phone and/or Bluetooth headset (so it can shout directions at you or so you can take phonecalls) although I've never felt the need to bother.

I just follow signs and take a good map as a back up , cos gadgets tend to fuck up when you need them most  .

Like esetest, I still keep a map in my tank bag as backup though

[Grahamm]

I was reading an article recently (unfortunately I can't remember where right now) saying that using Sat Navs in the mountains can be dodgy as the maps aren't always up to date and they won't tell you eg if a particular pass has been closed due to snow etc!

Also don't forget that, in France, it's illegal to have Speed Camera warnings operating (although you can have warnings of speed camera zones).

[richfzs]

I was reading an article recently (unfortunately I can't remember where right now) saying that using Sat Navs in the mountains can be dodgy as the maps aren't always up to date and they won't tell you eg if a particular pass has been closed due to snow etc!

Aye, cos a paper map covers that one for you :rollin

Also don't forget that, in France, it's illegal to have Speed Camera warnings operating (although you can have warnings of speed camera zones).

I think the term there is danger zones, not camera zones?

[nick crisp]

[quote author=Grahamm link=topic=11118.msg118348#msg118348 date=1388182168]
I was reading an article recently (unfortunately I can't remember where right now) saying that using Sat Navs in the mountains can be dodgy as the maps aren't always up to date and they won't tell you eg if a particular pass has been closed due to snow etc!

Aye, cos a paper map covers that one for you :rollin

Also don't forget that, in France, it's illegal to have Speed Camera warnings operating (although you can have warnings of speed camera zones).

I think the term there is danger zones, not camera zones?
[/quote]

He does have a point though. I take it there'll be places where you can check for mountain weather forecasts and current pass status before heading fruitlessly up one road or another?

[Mattsplat]

This is a handy site Ive used for the passes 

They list all of the passes, opening times, tolls and they rate the rides with gold, silver and bronze routes, all for bikers.

http://www.alpineroads.com/passes.php

I probably should have put this post in your touring thread  :rolleyes