Anyone use a portable navigation screen unit?

3340 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by ockevin, Dec 18, 2005

husker1

Discussion Starter · Dec 9, 2005

My '05 LE is not equiped with the tech package. Don't really want to spend the resources in installing one in dash for this vehicle. Portables such as the Garmin nuvi 350, Garmin c340 or TomTom 700 are becoming popular and are transportable between vehicles. I believe the nuvi also has a built in mp3 player. Does anyone have experience in using and mounting one like these in the Armada? Rather than using a windshield mount somehow attaching it, when in use for trips, to the flat holder area on the non-nav housing.

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ggeorgie

· #2 · Dec 9, 2005

husker1 said:
My '05 LE is not equiped with the tech package. Don't really want to spend the resources in installing one in dash for this vehicle. Portables such as the Garmin nuvi 350, Garmin c340 or TomTom 700 are becoming popular and are transportable between vehicles. I believe the nuvi also has a built in mp3 player. Does anyone have experience in using and mounting one like these in the Armada? Rather than using a windshield mount somehow attaching it, when in use for trips, to the flat holder area on the non-nav housing.

check out the Clarion N.I.C.E Navigation, it is portable.

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The Beast

· #3 · Dec 9, 2005

Clarion N.I.C.E. unit

husker1 said:
My '05 LE is not equiped with the tech package. Don't really want to spend the resources in installing one in dash for this vehicle. Portables such as the Garmin nuvi 350, Garmin c340 or TomTom 700 are becoming popular and are transportable between vehicles. I believe the nuvi also has a built in mp3 player. Does anyone have experience in using and mounting one like these in the Armada? Rather than using a windshield mount somehow attaching it, when in use for trips, to the flat holder area on the non-nav housing.

Read this post you may want to consider this option. It's worked awesome for quite a few of us.

http://clubarmada.com/showthread.php?t=2540

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baseballfanz

· #4 · Dec 9, 2005

The Clarion N.I.C.E.is very NICE, I want one.

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llajumpvid

· #5 · Dec 9, 2005

The N.I.C.E. is probably the most turnkey system. If you want something with a little more kick you might look into a computer and a nice video/vga screen. Either one will cost about the same. Check out the car-mada-puter link in my signature for some ideas. mine was a little easier as I have NAV so I already have the screen.

Oh and I like the screen name. I'm going to the bowl game as its just up the road and my boss is a Michigan alum. Were sitting on the Mich. side as all the good seat are gone on the Husker side plus he's paying

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husker1

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 10, 2005

llajnmpvid, be sure to where red to the bowl game. Wish I were going.

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llajumpvid

· #7 · Dec 10, 2005

husker1 said:
llajnmpvid, be sure to where red to the bowl game. Wish I were going.

You can bet on that!

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mich05

· #8 · Dec 12, 2005

husker1 said:
My '05 LE is not equiped with the tech package. Don't really want to spend the resources in installing one in dash for this vehicle. Portables such as the Garmin nuvi 350, Garmin c340 or TomTom 700 are becoming popular and are transportable between vehicles. I believe the nuvi also has a built in mp3 player. Does anyone have experience in using and mounting one like these in the Armada? Rather than using a windshield mount somehow attaching it, when in use for trips, to the flat holder area on the non-nav housing.

We use our sony 15" note book computer with Microsoft GPS plugs into the usb port and sticks on the windshield. Also fits nicely in the center console when not in use.

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inqui-Z-tor

· #9 · Dec 12, 2005

I use the Garmin 2620 ... and use the dash-pillow mount .. just rest the unit in the area where the Nav Screen would fit ...

Then when I stop .. I just pull it down, tuck it under the front seat ..

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05LE4x4

· #10 · Dec 15, 2005

I use the Garmin Ique M5. It comes with a windshield mount. Works great...
http://www.garmin.com/products/iQueM5/

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mich05

· #11 · Dec 15, 2005

05LE4x4 said:
I use the Garmin Ique M5. It comes with a windshield mount. Works great...
http://www.garmin.com/products/iQueM5/

Well I already had the note book so for only $100.00 for a GPS on a 15" screen is a pretty good price. I always have my wife with me when we are traveling so that works out great.

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schneid

· #12 · Dec 18, 2005

Don't buy an iWay

Don't buy an iWay. I had three. Very unreliable and software is shoddy. For now, I think TomTom has the richest user interface on the market. Very intuitive and easy to use.

I find using a PDA to be very flexible. If you don't like the interface you just pitch the software not the hardware. A lot of the stand alone units are going to a WinCE platform. Hopefully sometime next year WinCE devices with VGA screens will hit the market and be capable of running a suite of applications.

Be careful what you buy. They are all pigs in pokes. Look for:

Ease of data entry.

Data import/export between formats.

Cross-street display. The iWay does this randomly.

Outlook integration.

PC based interface.

SirfIII GPS receiver.

Touch screen.

NavTeq maps. Seem to support the US better.

Large user support network.

See less See more

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mich05

· #13 · Dec 18, 2005

All that matters is what works best for you. I find it much easier to see the route on a 15.4 screen. I installed the whole program on my usb 1gig flash drive.

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ockevin

· #14 · Dec 18, 2005

ANother vote for the clarion NICE unit.

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