Second part. Allen Thomas ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "'Matt' via VFR List" <[email protected]> Date: Jun 23, 2015 9:46 AM Subject: [vfr-list] Re: Cheap Chinese Waterproof Motorcycle GPS - for those of us who can't afford a $600+ Zumo To: <[email protected]> Cc:
I just posted this on VFRDiscussion: Update: This arrived about 10 days after I ordered it (Not too shabby for free shipping). The included hardware is pretty substantial including everything required to connect it to your bike and use it in your car—but for a motorcycle you may want to modify or use a different way to attach it to a RAM mount (I am just getting there) One guy on the Kawasaki Versys site thinks this is more comparable to the $600 Garmin Zumo motorcycle GPS than the cheap GPS units you see discounted to $100. The only thing missing is an AC charger although you could use one of those cigarette lighter sockets that plugs in the wall. You can plug your USB into a charger and it will charge fine. IT WILL NOT CHARGE FROM THE USB CORD PLUGGED INTO YOUR COMPUTER/CAR WHILE IT IS TURNED ON. So, don’t expect it to re-charge while it is plugged in and running (or at least that’s what I’ve seen so far in the car). The big issue with this unit is you have to provide your own navigation software and maps. The GPS system uses Windows CE 6.0 as its operating system—this is good, because most of the in-car GPS systems and many other portable systems that aren’t Garmin or TOMTOM use this software and therefore it can be modified by people and see continuous improvement. However, you do have to either source the software elsewhere – such as purchasing an SD card with NavteQ Maps and an Navigation software like IGO 8 or IGO Primo—some people source maps and software off of Torrent websites like Piratebay or Android-Zone (http://android-zone....dl-3dc-poi-dem/ <http://android-zone.ws/topic/1-igo-world-maps-fbl-fda-fpa-fsp-ftr-hnr-3dl-3dc-poi-dem/>) et al…but I don’t suggest that’s the easiest or safest way to do it (nor legal YMMV and at your own risk). If you purchase the SD card online from somewhere like this - http://www.gpsmapsto...lt/?q=IGO PRIMO <http://www.gpsmapstore.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=IGO+PRIMO> (I have no affiliation) they will ship it to you with everything you need to get started—it is pretty simple… If you can get past this issue – that you have to load the maps and the navigation software, it is a really great deal for a motorcycle GPS (that is shock proof, water proof and comes with 2 cradles as well as two power supply cables, one for the bike and one for the car. There is nothing else required to use it on both your bike and in your car, but....* if you’re not at least a little bit computer savvy or are expecting the simplicity of a plug and play experience don't buy this unit.* Basically if you download the software and maps as RAR files (compressed file like a zip file). You then extract them on your computer. When you extract the software from the RAR file it forms a directory tree with all the included files in the right place except the map and poi (point of interest files). The map and poi files included with the map data (downloaded separately) then have to be copied into the MAP and POI directories. There’s a great tutorial here on post #47 that goes into gory detail: http://www.advrider....t=697456&page=4 <http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=697456&page=4> You then just plug your GPS unit into the computer and copy the Navigation software over to the software's root directory. You copy the Map files onto the SD card into the correct folders. If you buy the SD card its is just a matter of copying files to the Root directory and the Map files to a Micro SD [maximum 16MB] card and insert the card into the GPS. Additionally, there is the ability to change the look of the IGO Navigation software. A motorcycle forum in the Netherlands has changed the graphical user interface and menus and mapping/routing options to best suit motorcyclists. They even changed some of the buttons to make it easier to use with gloves et al…this is called a “skin”…the link to the newest software that you copy to the IGO folder in the root directory is on a thread here look at posts #78 and #79: http://www.st-owners...-Rage-GPS/page8 <http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?134842-Setting-Up-A-Chinavasion-Rage-GPS/page8> The guy who started the thread is super nice and the ST-owners forum is a great website—similar minded folks who are passionate about riding…so I got some questions answered when my IGO Primo skin was all in Dutch! [image: 90a41b48-2dc3-43c1-b1fa-c833285979ca_zps] He got me to the right menu and I changed the language to English…Like I said if you are not willing to work through a couple small issues (took me an hour or so total after installing to get it set up for use in the car) you probably should do something else. I used it on the way to and back from work in the cage - and it routed me (not necessarily obvious) the typical routes for a similar setup in my old Garmin Zumo. Visibility is slightly worse than my old Zumo--but I will add a non-blare sheet to this and it wil help. BTW the skin from the folks on the Netherlands site includes a color pallete that is easier to see in sunlight than the "standard" IGO software settings...AND you can choose profiles to bob between moto specific setup and cage specific setup. Next I will tackle making routes, importing them onto and using them on my Chinavasion 4.3” GPS…will report back. 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