Portable nav options

[Sport-Tech]

Looking at my nav options for the FR-S and don't want to use the Bespoke as it requires a data service. I am a total nav noob, so these questions should be easy to answer (tried Wikipedia, was not helpful):

1. Can a portable unit work just resting on the passenger seat or in the between-seat cubby, or does it have to be stuck to the windshield to get the GPS signal? Don't want a window/dash mount really.

2. Are the speakers in say a 300$ 5" screen Garmin unit good enough to hear while you are driving? Do they have a USB connector to plug them into the FRS audio system? Or can they communicate via bluetooth with the standard bluetooth-enabled FRS HU?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

Looking at my nav options for the FR-S and don't want to use the Bespoke as it requires a data service. I am a total nav noob, so these questions should be easy to answer (tried Wikipedia, was not helpful):

1. Can a portable unit work just resting on the passenger seat or in the between-seat cubby, or does it have to be stuck to the windshield to get the GPS signal? Don't want a window/dash mount really.

2. Are the speakers in say a 300$ 5" screen Garmin unit good enough to hear while you are driving? Do they have a USB connector to plug them into the FRS audio system? Or can they communicate via bluetooth with the standard bluetooth-enabled FRS HU?

Most modern GPS/smartphones running GPS will work sitting on the seat or in the cup holder, I've never had any issue with that and I do it all the time. I rarely put mine up on the dash. In some states, by the way, window cups are illegal.

In a quiet car, the built-in speaker is more than sufficient, you'll probably end up turning the volume down to about half.

If the GPS/Smartphone has GPS the standard headunit does Bluetooth so you may be able to connect them. The HU also has an aux in and most GPSs have an AUX out.

[Sport-Tech]

Thanks, sounds good, looks like I have my low-cost solution (it would be about 1K for a good nav'ed HU from Pioneer). Now to find the right Garmin to buy (their service in Canada is better than TomTom's apparently).

One last question - how long do the nav batteries last, and can they be recharged off the FR-S USB connector?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

...One last question - how long do the nav batteries last, and can they be recharged off the FR-S USB connector?

Both of those questions vary by unit, there is no typical answer. If you want that specifically you'll need to focus on it. More than not any more will charge with USB, but some still don't. Battery life is going to vary greatly by unit.

[Sport-Tech]

Yeah, found that the high-end Garmins have no audio output, but they do have USB, not clear if they charge off it, but battery life is incredibly low- 4 hours - so they must.

[GenkiElite]

I always just use my smart phone. (Galaxy Nexus on VZW)

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

Yeah, found that the high-end Garmins have no audio output, but they do have USB, not clear if they charge off it, but battery life is incredibly low- 4 hours - so they must.

Want to be sure that's the only plug. I have a Magellan that has USB but doesn't charge off of it, uses a seperate plug for that and USB for updates/connecting to a computer.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by GenkiElite

I always just use my smart phone. (Galaxy Nexus on VZW)

I use my Droid X in "known areas of coverage" but never use it in areas I've not been before. There are still pockets of no coverage for cell phones, and it always seems to be just as you really need to know where you're going. I hear if you have an Android and it has ICS on it, they now cache the entire route, but that did not happen in earlier versions. If you stay in primarily populated areas you'll be OK but if you venture off track it can be an issue.

Example, I drove from Atlanta to Dallas last year. I had cell phone coverage all the way, but there was a stretch of about 100 miles where I could not get data coverage.

[Want.FR-S]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

Yeah, found that the high-end Garmins have no audio output, but they do have USB, not clear if they charge off it, but battery life is incredibly low- 4 hours - so they must.

I had my gps from last year (magellan 9020) and it use the USB to charge the unit. The battery life? 30 minutes with a 7" screen. So to use it in real life you need to connect the USB cable to the 12v outlet all the time. I got it mounted on the air vent so that it does not block my view on the window, and it's voice is loud and clear so no need to Bluetooth it to my car audio. Well, I don't even have Bluetooth on my old car anyways.

Just to further the idea about coverage area. With a dedicated gps you don't need to worry about it. And it makes cross border shopping a breeze because of different countries.