Not LostLost

(Note: This was originally posted to my blog here.)

In my last blog post, I spoke of going out around the North side of Lake Wenatchee trying to make my way back to the Stevens Pass Highway and pretty much ended up getting lost. I like to explore; I don't like to back track; I don't like to get lost. I've been thinking about getting one of those GPS mapping devices—like a TomTom or Garmin—to aide me in my travels. Well, I finally took the plunge.

While combat shopping at Wally World this last weekend, I wandered over to the electronics section to see what they had for GPS's. :shock: Wow, some of those things are frickin' expensive. Sure, it'd be nice to know where you're at, but do you really need to spend over $250 for that information?!?

I had a general idea of what I wanted, but wanted to get some insight from one of their sales staff. I looked around the electronics department and found an associate (that's what they call 'em, I think), that had a huge zit on his nose—geek fer sure! This guy should know his stuff. I hauled him over to the locked display case and started my Gitmo-style interrogation on the pros and cons of each model. After much beating and some sexually explicit and degrading acts, he finally caved. I had him narrowed down to a Garmin and a TomTom. With a few more degrading questions, I finally broke him and we decided I needed to leave with the TomTom One v.3.



As soon as we got back into the car, I had my wife wrench it from it's plastic clamshell packaging. We plugged it in and waited. After a few seconds, it booted up, found a half dozen satellites, and showed our position with a bitchin' bird's eye display. I was euphoric... damned near orgasmic. Technology was here to save the day! But, it was not to last... (<-- I think they call that foreshadowing. )

When we got home and I was able to really get into the bits and bytes of this thing, I discovered my pimply prisoner hadn't been totally truthful with me. I had asked him if it would let me upload maps and set waypoints and what have you. I discovered that it, in fact, did not. And I wasn't very happy about that. See, torture doesn't work. The little bastard told me what I wanted to hear just so I'd leave him alone. :x

But, all was not lost. After much searching on the interweb, I discovered that TomTom simply turned off these features in Version 3. If one reverts to an earlier software package, you can create a custom menu and gain access to the Itinerary Menu which will allow you to load, delete, and create maps with waypoints, etc. The feeling of ecstatic euphoria was returning! Here, I hadn't even owned the thing 24 hours and I was all set to hack it. I love it!

After some software downloads and menu uploading, I had this little gem working the way I wanted, almost. I found, just this morning, another program that lets you build custom menus for it. I've got to download Windows .Net Framework to make it work, but will have that done soon enough.

So, if you're looking for an inexpensive GPS that you can throw into the pistol pocket of your riding jacket for those times when you want to know where that really windy road leads to, I highly recommend the TomTom One. And the price ain't bad at about $150.

As for the hacks, here's what I've learned:

1. Do not upgrade your version number when you get it. TomTom discovered we figured out the work-around and disabled it in Ver. 8.
2. Go here and read up on how to create a custom menu. It's super easy.
3. You can download a program to create custom menus here.
4. If you're one that likes to get into the technical stuff, go to this wiki page on menus for the TomTom and what all the code means.
5. If you need Version 7.166.8497 because you've already upgraded to Ver. 8 like this author did, you can download it here.

Keep in mind, this unit is not meant for motorcycle use and will get ruined if it gets wet. Those types of units cost much, much more. However, if you're interested in an inexpensive unit that you can reference when you're in a jam and are willing to keep it in a Ziplock baggy—just in case it rains—then this unit is for you.

Happy riding! 8)

 

Another option you can do is if you have a map pouch on your tank bag they fit great there. The only thing you want to do is install a power outlet on the bike to plug the gps into as my tomtom is a 2 - 3 hour battery limit.

 

Have one too It's a great tool. There is a handlebar mount but does not solve the getting wet issue.

 

I have the same unit as that I have yet to take it on the bike tho. I was thinking the windshield suction device would work fine on the Tach face and a zip bag over it would do. I have thought about a power setup for it if needed and have thought of a few things. A quick connect like on a battery tender that you can just pop off the seat and plug it in on the bike side and a auto 12v lighter type hookup for the device to plug into. This way I could bring the cell charger as well if needed. I haven't implemented this yet as time, and really not having a trip planned is holding me back.

 

you guys ride in the rain???????

 

Yea ride in the rain??????? Have gotten wet on the way home from work 7 of the last 8 days. You see I live in FLORIDA better known as the Sunshine state. Or as late the Tropical Storm state. Soon to be known as the Hurricane state.

 

ride every day, rain or shine, and i love it. also, an electric cigaretter lighter fits great mounted just below the speedo with 2 screws and 2 wires. If you are a smoker its a must have, and it comes in handy in a pinch to charge that celly, run a power inverter, even power up a laptop. best 3 dollar investment you can make!

 

I was looking in royal distributing for those of you that live in canada. They offer a quick connect cigarette adaptor with a quick connect that clicks into the battery tender quick connect. So mounting it to the display and running the cables together when you need em sounds really good.

 

THREAD BUMP !!

I'm in the market, the low end of the market. Waited 'till after Xmas for a deal. Already have a waterproof Garmin E-Trek, so this would be for the car. Have even looked at E-Bay for a good price, but they are mostly re-conditioned.

What's the latest deals on GPS ?? :?: 8O :!:

 

i picked up a low end MIO a while back and tried it on the bike a few times
but decided just to carry it in my pocket or bag, paranoid about it coming loose, the suction cup is going to make a mark on the tank sooner or later
the touch screen is imposable while riding and while i'am looking at it i'am not looking at the road, bad
i just stop to use it
remember the show "F TROUP" ? remember the name of the Indian tribe ?

 

Since writing this, I discovered a software package that works together with TomTom and Google Maps: TYRE—or Trace Your Route Everywhere. It's a stand alone program that will let you export custom routes into your TomTom. I've used it a couple of times and am pretty happy with it. Best of all, it's free!

One other thing—a negative—that I wanted to share. The TomTom One has a compass feature, which is great. However, it doesn't update unless you're moving. So, if you get off the bike with the TomTom and turn around to get the bearing of a landmark, it won't work. You'll need an actual compass for this. Kinda sucks, really. You'd think that something as hi-tech as this unit would have a compass that actually worked in real-time. :roll:

 

Yeah, the "Hakawi". They were lost and when someone asked them what tribe they were, they asked "Where the heck are we?" Translated to 'We're the Hakawi!"

Krazy Kat for President!!!

 

They don't have a compass at all. They just calculate their direction by their path. Walk backwards with one and the direction will swing 180 on you.

 

i have a casio cell phone with a compass in it, don't have any idea what for

 

$250.00 no where i work we sell TomTom and get 30% off of them.. so i was looking at there TomTom motorcycle model with blue tooth and what not so i can hear it in my helmet over $550.00 with my discount 8O ...for that price i would rather be LostLost and not HearHear about it sorry kinda off topic but not

 

I'm never lost someone is always telling me where to go.

 

I've got one in the truck & it's great, but on the bike, if you can't see the screen & hear the instructions, it will be of limited use.

 

I have a Delorme PN-40. I love it but I don't just use it on my bike. Together with a good mapping program they can be a great tool.

My riding style has a tendency to take to the road very little traveled and is easy to get yourself turned around or head in one direction for some time before you realize there is no way out.

When I'm duel sport riding a GPS that has dirt track and trail info is a must. To get these capabilities in a motorcycle specific GPS you have to spend well over a grand.

I have a compass that works in real time now but I have had other GPS units that did not and it never was an issue. I think I've only used mine once because I don't really trust them. I ALWAYS carry an old school high quality compass when I'm out in the bush.

I also have invested in a SPOT Finder device that will track my progress on Google maps and has the capability to call for help if needed and can let your loved ones know where you are and that you are oK when you are out of cell fone range which I do often. It utilizes low orbit telephone satalites such as the Irridium system. Will even notify the international Resue service nomatter where you are on the planet. Very cool

The Buff

 

I just won a Tom Tom One, 3 rd edition off E-Bay for $90.

It said there were 45,000 GPS auctions going !
Older, used GPS's are going in the $50 range. And they're "giving away" MP3 players, compared to Best Buy prices.

 

I just bought my self a "Binnatone Carrera A350" Sat nav for £60
Just put it in my jacket pocket attach ear piece and off I ride Sart nav talks to me :wink:

 

How can you get lost in Jockland?

 

What does my sig say? Actualy got it so I can go visit them on the bike (in Germany) Might even have a go on the "Nurumberg ring" whilst im there :wink:

 

Don't know, what does it say, I'm lost, in German?

 

WIZ tomtom has a motorcycle model that is bluetooth ready so with your bluetooth in your helmet you could hear it all day and has mp3 access also

 

Yeh, and I'll get a Goldwing to go with it.

 

yeah and they have ABS and air bags...lol

 

I took a bit of a different approach. I got one of the Verizon Motorola phones, the kind that open either vertically or horizontally, with Bluetooth and full GPS. It costs just a few dollars a month for the GPS and it has full 3D mapping, voice prompts, turn by turn instructions, can locate a business by name, restaraunts by type, etc., just like the expensive stand-alone units. It will even give you latitude and longitude coordinates for your location. It has worked out perfectly and I only have to carry one device - my cell phone.

 

I have TomTom v7 software on my phone... I also made a cradle for it out of Lexan that I can mount on top of the instrument cluster of my Seca. There's just enough room for it under the windshield... and as an additional bonus, I can record video with the phone cam when I ride. Quality is not the best, but it's still fun :-D

 

I have just test rode my TomTom on the bike but I don't really need the voice instructions. As long as I know where to turn I'm fine. I turn it way down most of the time in the truck.

The motorcycle version is cool but way too expensive.

 

i work for Nerds On call and we have a quarter contest on see who can bring in the most amount of money and and you get a choice of PS# XBOX trips to lake Tahoe or Vegas all expense payed stuff like that then you can get second place prizes like 150 bucks or a gps so far i have received a Harmon.kardon gps unit which has mp3 but it keeps freezing and now i won a Garmen nuvi230 and its awesome im about to wire it up on the radian for 6.99 at radio shack to get a car adapter for it and mount it under the seat and have it display up front

 

if you don't care where your going you can't get lost

 

I have this neat lightweight navigational aid (although admittedly it's not weatherproof) and it fits really nicely in the pouch on my tank bag too. It was quite reasonably priced as well, which makes it easy to replace if it does become weather-damaged. And, they're widely available.

I call it map-map.

 

BigFitz,
Did you get the upgrade?
They call it compasscompass.

:lol: