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Here is my solution to Off Road Navigation \
If you need the very best in off road navigation then look no further.
This set up be it $3500 does off road navigation very well, as well as all other features your home pc can do.
I use this set up for when I am working and need to not only no where I am but also map and log into the unit which is often fiddly to use when using lighter programs running on Windows CE not to mention only 4-7" screens.
I use a 12.1" Motion Computing Tablet that I bought from the states, custom mounted near the dash of the Prado. (Approx range between $1500-5000 Australian) As you are only running the mapping software not editing a blockbuster, remember you only need middle of the road. Most people are using old Pentium III Laptops with only 128MB of Ram.
My picks of the Range would be a Motion Computing LE1700 or LE1600 with a 60GB Hard Drive. (This is what the Variety Officials Use, run fantastic, and cost about AU $1500.)
An iGPS-M Mouse is used to input the GPS Data but any USB NMEA input would be fine. (Approx $50 Australian)
The most expensive part of my setup was the Maps. However, these have been gradually acquired and to start with, you would only require a copy of either
(Ozi Explorer with Natmap 2008) approx $60 + $200) or Memory Map Tour $200 (In my opinion the best value)
Software is open-ended as the Tablet runs Windows XP/Vista.
I personally run the following
Memory Map Topo which Covers Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand in 1:25000 or 1:50000
Memory Map Tour is used to cover all states in 1:250000 as well as all Hema's Digital Maps
Memory Map Rooftop is used to cover Victoria and New South Wales as an alternative to the other maps (Very Useful Off Road)
Ozi Explorer is used as well due to many other people using it, (Mainly Variety Bash SA Officials)
Maps here are as Follows
NATMAP Raster Premium 2003 1:250000
NATMAP Raster Premium 2005 1:250000
NATMAP Raster Premium 2008 1:250000
Flinders Rangers is covered from Nth to South by 1:50000
Eyre Penisular is also covered from Est to Wst by 1:50000
Also have a copy of Rooftop, and Hema Great Desert Tracks Installed
Just added Co-pilot Live for Turn-by-Turn Navigation, it works well and finds lots of shortcuts between NE Victoria and Adelaide, Lot better than the TomTom
If you want to run both applications at one time then you will need a virtual com port application
I use XPort or Franson GPS Gate 2.5 (Both free downloads)
As for the Install Here are some pic's of the custom Stainless Steel Mount
This is the Top of the Mount, Inside the sleve is a nylon bush to ensure no rattles and the wing nut keeps it possitoned.
The mount attaches under the passangers seat bolts and has a piece of flat running to the rear right seat bolt
The screen is held to the bracket by Stick on Velcro, I have 2x 300mm x 20mm strip about halfway down and every time i go to take it out i nearly pull the plastic cover off the screen it holds that well!!!!!!!!!!!
It sits only just above the dash but I may lower it down to be level with the dash. It was originaly positioned this height so passanger could still get to climate control switches.
The GPS Mouse sit on top of the Dash and is held in place with some Velcro or a cable tie and is positioned where there is no airflow for demisters.
If you need the very best in off road navigation then look no further.
This set up be it $3500 does off road navigation very well, as well as all other features your home pc can do.
I use this set up for when I am working and need to not only no where I am but also map and log into the unit which is often fiddly to use when using lighter programs running on Windows CE not to mention only 4-7" screens.
I use a 12.1" Motion Computing Tablet that I bought from the states, custom mounted near the dash of the Prado. (Approx range between $1500-5000 Australian) As you are only running the mapping software not editing a blockbuster, remember you only need middle of the road. Most people are using old Pentium III Laptops with only 128MB of Ram.
My picks of the Range would be a Motion Computing LE1700 or LE1600 with a 60GB Hard Drive. (This is what the Variety Officials Use, run fantastic, and cost about AU $1500.)
An iGPS-M Mouse is used to input the GPS Data but any USB NMEA input would be fine. (Approx $50 Australian)
The most expensive part of my setup was the Maps. However, these have been gradually acquired and to start with, you would only require a copy of either
(Ozi Explorer with Natmap 2008) approx $60 + $200) or Memory Map Tour $200 (In my opinion the best value)
Software is open-ended as the Tablet runs Windows XP/Vista.
I personally run the following
Memory Map Topo which Covers Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand in 1:25000 or 1:50000
Memory Map Tour is used to cover all states in 1:250000 as well as all Hema's Digital Maps
Memory Map Rooftop is used to cover Victoria and New South Wales as an alternative to the other maps (Very Useful Off Road)
Ozi Explorer is used as well due to many other people using it, (Mainly Variety Bash SA Officials)
Maps here are as Follows
NATMAP Raster Premium 2003 1:250000
NATMAP Raster Premium 2005 1:250000
NATMAP Raster Premium 2008 1:250000
Flinders Rangers is covered from Nth to South by 1:50000
Eyre Penisular is also covered from Est to Wst by 1:50000
Also have a copy of Rooftop, and Hema Great Desert Tracks Installed
Just added Co-pilot Live for Turn-by-Turn Navigation, it works well and finds lots of shortcuts between NE Victoria and Adelaide, Lot better than the TomTom
If you want to run both applications at one time then you will need a virtual com port application
I use XPort or Franson GPS Gate 2.5 (Both free downloads)
As for the Install Here are some pic's of the custom Stainless Steel Mount
This is the Top of the Mount, Inside the sleve is a nylon bush to ensure no rattles and the wing nut keeps it possitoned.
The mount attaches under the passangers seat bolts and has a piece of flat running to the rear right seat bolt
The screen is held to the bracket by Stick on Velcro, I have 2x 300mm x 20mm strip about halfway down and every time i go to take it out i nearly pull the plastic cover off the screen it holds that well!!!!!!!!!!!
It sits only just above the dash but I may lower it down to be level with the dash. It was originaly positioned this height so passanger could still get to climate control switches.
The GPS Mouse sit on top of the Dash and is held in place with some Velcro or a cable tie and is positioned where there is no airflow for demisters.
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