Motorcyclist

Car navigation is no longer a novelty in our country. The PDA with the map can also be used while traveling on a motorcycle or scooter.

To build a navigation system, you will need 3 elements - a GPS signal receiver and an appropriate pocket computer (also called a PDA - Personal Digital Assistant - pocket computer) with installed software that plots the position on the displayed map. These devices are relatively easy to mount in a car without worrying too much about their strength and size (you can even take a laptop instead of a PDA). However, there is not much space on the handlebars of a motorcycle, so it is best to buy a PDA with a built-in GPS receiver or, in extreme cases, use a GPS card in the form of a card. plugged into the appropriate connector on the device.

armored corps

The computer installed on the motorcycle must be highly resistant to water, dirt and shock. This resistance is defined by the IPx standard. The highest - IPx7 proves the equipment's resistance to shock, water, moisture and dust. The IPx7 class receiver is really suitable even for a survival course. However, IPx2 class GPS devices can be taken on trips with an appropriate case or even a regular plastic bag. So when buying, pay attention to the strength parameters of the equipment or purchase a suitable case that allows you to take your PDA on a motorcycle trip even during drizzling or unexpected rain.

As a "helmet" for a PDA, you can use a special case, such as Otter Armor. This guarantees the safe use of the device in almost any environment. Cases are available in versions designed for handheld computers from different manufacturers. For example, the Armor 1910 case for the iPAQ computer meets the IP67 water and dirt resistance standard, which means it is fully dust-proof and watertight when submerged to a depth of 1m for a short time. The Amor 1910 meets the specifications of the very stringent MIL SPEC 810F standard, whose documentation detailed descriptions of falls (number, type of surface, height, etc.) that the device must withstand, and spans several hundred pages.

The case is made of a special type of plastic and contains elements that ensure safe and comfortable use of the iPAQ. When the computer is placed inside the case, two clamps are tightened to ensure stability and tightness.

Otterbox Armor cases can be equipped with a special holder for attaching to a motorcycle handlebar. It is also possible to purchase a PDA designed to work in difficult conditions.

Software

There are several electronic maps available on our market that can be downloaded to a pocket computer. The most popular are AutoMapa, TomTom Navigator, Navigo Professional, you can also find MapaMap, cMap and other solutions. Their functionality is similar - they offer a display of the current position on the map and allow you to search for the shortest / fastest roads (according to the specified parameters). In some programs (for example, AutoMapa) it is possible to search for objects (for example, housing and communal services, gas stations, etc.). When buying, you should pay attention to which system the card works with, because the most popular of them - Poczet PC and its successor - Windows Mobile - are available in several versions. In addition, depending on the manufacturer of the electronic card, the buyer receives a different set of maps, so there may be a different number of maps of Polish cities, and in the case of TomTom, maps not only of Poland, but of the whole of Europe.

PDA

Almost every PDA is suitable for a navigation system (there are several manufacturers, including Acer, Asus, Dell, Eten, HP / Compaq, Fujitsu-Siemens, i-Mate, Mio, Palmax, Optimus, Qtek), but due to noise immunity requirements, either the design itself must be very strong, or the PDA must be able to close into a suitable case (in the case of a PDA with a GPS module inserted into the appropriate slot, there is no problem - you can choose an Otterbox case for such a set). Therefore, the best solution would be to purchase a device with a built-in GPS module. These include, for example, OPTIpad 300 GPS, Palmax, Qtek G100. An intermediate solution is also possible - buying a pocket computer equipped with a Bluetooth wireless radio module and a GPS receiver with the same module, which can then be placed in a sealed housing almost anywhere.

Another solution is to buy a ready-made navigation kit. This is a GPS receiver equipped with a display and a digital map. The most popular receivers are Garmin, which can be successfully used in motorcycle tourism. Maps called GPMapa can be downloaded to GPSMap and Quest series devices. The advantage of this solution is that the devices are inherently waterproof and dustproof, and additionally equipped with an on-board computer useful for travel (for example, the number of kilometers traveled, the average speed of movement, the average speed of movement, the maximum speed on the route, driving time, time stops), etc.).

Approximate prices for navigation devices and software (net retail prices):

PDA

Acer n35 - 1099

Asus A636-1599

Dell Aksim X51v - 2099

Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox N560 – 2099

HP iPAQ hw6515 — 2299

HP iPaq hx2490 - 1730

PDA + card set

Acer n35 AutoMapa XL-1599

Asus A636 AutoMapa XL – 2099

HP iPAQ hw6515 AutoMapa XL - 2999

Palmax + Automapa Poland – 2666

Waterproof and dustproof PDA cases

OtterBox armor 1910–592

OtterBox armor 2600–279

OtterBox armor 3600–499

PDA with GPS (no map)

Acer N35 SE + GPS - 1134

i-MATE PDA-N - 1399

My 180 - 999

QTEK G100 - 1399

Satellite navigation kits (PDA with GPS and map)

My 180 AutoMapa XL-1515

RoyalTek RTW-1000 GPS + Automapa Poland XL – 999

GPS with display

GPSMap 60 - 1640

GPS with display and map

GPSMap 60CSx + GPMapa – 3049

Quest Europe - 2489

TomTom GO 700-2990

Digital maps

TomTom Navigator 5 – 799

AutoMapa Polska XL – 495

Navigo Professional Plus - 149

MapaMap Professional – 599

MapMap – 399

GPMapa 4.0 – 499