Navigation with mobile phones

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I have just had a new mobile phone - the Nokia N95 - it has GPS built in so you can use it for satnav - it also has GPRS so you can connect to the net - once connected you can use Google Earth and it overlays your GPS position so you can SEE exactly where you are!!!

I've got one of those .......... and a spare battery!

How do I get Google and the GPS working together then codders?

[davetpk]

http://www.google.com/gmm/index.html

INstall the Google Maps app to your Windows Mobile device (not sure if the N95 runs WM but my ETen X500 does and they seem similar specs).

You'll run up a few quid in GPRS data charges though as it downloads the maps although you can cache frequently visited areas I think if you set the cache setting high enough.

I used it to go around Poole Harbour last month and was amazed at the accuracy (still didn't stop me turning left instead of right in to the River Frome to Wareham and ploughing straight up a mud banks though !!!) Guess even GPS can't correct stupidity..... :-)

Another useful bit of software for GPS enabled windows mobiles is GPS2Dash (one of the few I've actually shelled out dosh for after the trial) - lets you configure lots of dials on the phone display to represent speed in knots / kn / miles etc and similar for various trip counters etc and bearings etc - was handy for me to check the 4 knot / 6 knot / 10 knt speed limits around the harbour as my boat speedo doesn't seem to resgister anything below 10/12 mph !

Dave

[9D280]

I also carry OS maps if I'm going somewhere new...... Mostly so I can see what's worth going ashore for, but also 'coz they have good "above low water" info as discussed above.

I've seen locals take short cuts I wouldn't consider at the speed they did, but then I also reckon people have probably commented about my "reckless driving over those rocks" where I had the local knowledge......

No matter how good your technology is, if you are in any doubt, back off the throttle & get your crew up front looking over the bow! Not rocket sience, but it works!

[Arjen]

Originally Posted by davetpk

http://www.google.com/gmm/index.html

INstall the Google Maps app to your Windows Mobile device (not sure if the N95 runs WM but my ETen X500 does and they seem similar specs).

Dave

Luckily the N95 does not run M$Windoze crap, but Symbian. Still, google maps runs fine on it, as well as many freely available Java Midlets that have nice GPS/GRPS features that support e.g. locating position of your (GPS)phone on the internet.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Arjen

Luckily the N95 does not run M$Windoze crap, but Symbian. Still, google maps runs fine on it, as well as many freely available Java Midlets that have nice GPS/GRPS features that support e.g. locating position of your (GPS)phone on the internet.

Could you give us a few examples?/links
Thanks Tony

[Arjen]

You could check this for example:

http://www.geotracing.com/

Of course you need a blue tooth GPS device or a built in GPS.

[mark-f]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Yes aerial/sat images are the way to go - no doubt they will come in. As the penguin points out though there are many areas not covered yet!!!

Have a look at the navionics platinum charts and the Raymarine E series plotters, it allows you to overlay sat pictures over the chart, apart from the video input it has to to be the best reason for selecting an E series over the c series plotters.

Mark