[kezman50]

Currently doing the research into getting a PDA gps solution for my MCS. I'm a rookie with this whole area.......Mini2 people help!!

A lot of people it would seem with other cars are obviously locating their PDA's on top of dash's and sucked up on to windscreens etc. I personally feel with the design of the mini however this looks a bit naff and would much prefer to situate the PDA along the same level as the radio/cd HU, near the passenger's right leg.(UK car). Obviously the cigar lighter/12v is near there anyway so power to the PDA wouldn't be much of a wire tangle in that respect would it?

With this location in mind, am I right in saying that the GPS receiver, whether directly plugged into the PDA or from a mount/cradle would suffer with reception (being a fare way from the line of sight from the front window or have Mini owners found this not to be a problem? Further more, if the reception in this scenario is an issue, would a Bluetooth GPS receiver solve this problem ? I have read that in real world use, a Bluetooth GPS receiver.... keeping their power up is a consideration. Could i situate one near the back quarter window and keep a constant power to one of these things from the boot 12v outlet?

What cradle mount solutions have people found successful? who manufactures? Where do you put them?

Hardware wise, am currently thinking of going for a HP ipaq hx4700 which I understand is a top of the range Joby with a great screen and the TomTom NAV 5 software. What do you think? Can you route the speech through the Mini's stereo? In this respect do you need instalation of the Mini aux socket?

Sorry to go on but there's so much to think about...and when your spending in the region of £500 +......Any feedback, any suggestion, Pictures, much appreciated

[kezman50]

No-one with any imput at all ?

[SteveM3]

You didn't get any answers as everything you have asked has been answered before.
There are several different PDA holders for placing the PDA at stereo height, the higher
any aerial is the better and bluetooth is convenient for this, you can play the output
through the stereo but there is no point a PDA speaker is plenty loud enough. You can
search this forum for ideas/pictures and also check out www.newministuff.com
and www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk for ideas/pics/prices.

[minionefun]

I currently have a HP 2100 PDA and tom tom 5 , comes well recommended tom tom 5 is brilliant. use a blue tooth gps device and put it on the parcel shelf and plug it into the aux socket in the boot,

[Fru_T_Bun]

Have been using PDA - Navman for almost a year.

The "naff" windscreen sucker keeps it at eye "glancing" level, in my setup, just to the right of the steering wheel. PDA Navman, once the route is activated, displays the map at a 45 degree angle, with the route highlighted red, that way, you are can glance at the route in advance of voice instructions. More useful than it first seems.

If you place yours at the height you suggest, you might end up looking at the PDA instead of out of the windscreen!

Just a point to ponder. You can see my "naff" windscreen sucker attached to the windscreen in my sig picture.

[E74778]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fru_T_Bun

Have been using PDA - Navman for almost a year.

The "naff" windscreen sucker keeps it at eye "glancing" level, in my setup, just to the right of the steering wheel. PDA Navman, once the route is activated, displays the map at a 45 degree angle, with the route highlighted red, that way, you are can glance at the route in advance of voice instructions. More useful than it first seems.

If you place yours at the height you suggest, you might end up looking at the PDA instead of out of the windscreen!

Just a point to ponder. You can see my "naff" windscreen sucker attached to the windscreen in my sig picture.

I agree that where you have your PDA is the correct place, just a glance to the right is all that's required.

My wife also has a Tom Tom Go sat nav unit mounted in the same position on her MCSC, the bracket is much stronger than the bracket you have on your car so it does not bounce around. The only issue we have and I assume you have the same is that your car is a convertible and with the top down on a sunny day the glare off the screen makes it hard to see.

Alan.

[kezman50]

My apologies Fru_T_Bun if I've offended with the naff line...you have your PDA in that location and that clearly works for you. I also take on board the safety issue regarding a flick of the eyes to your PDA where my proposed position would certainly be an actual head turn, taking my eyes of the road ! It's just for my needs,... though I'll admitt one of the primary reasons for the PDA would be Sat Nav, it's also to serve multi-functions. Say...for my passenger to have control of the PDA when of course it's not being used for navigation........watch a movie etc. Hang on then.....looking at your gallery am I right in thinking you have 2 mounts, one for each scenario? This way could be a consideration for me. I've just got to be convinced that speech from the PDA will be loud/clear enough so as not to feel the need to use the stereo. There's also the power consideration up in that top right corner. Question.....is the PDA's battery ample for 3hrs+ journeys? (don't want a tangle of wires) don't want a powered mount up there !

[moonshine]

I've mounted mine beside the stereo, have a look in my gallery.

Gerry