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MG MGF Technical - Installing Sat Nav

Has anyone installed a Sat Nav in their F/TF? I'm thinking of buying a Blaupunkt, and it requires a speed signal (from the speedo?).

It needs this as there is an inertial navigation system built in to keep the nav working accurately when in built up areas and tunnels etc, where the equipment cannot see more than one satellite.



Graham
GrahamH

>and it requires a speed signal (from the speedo?).

The signal appearence depends on the type of instrument pack installed and at later mgtf it depends on the type of fuse panel installed.
With digital or analogue instrument options:
Check http://www.mgfcar.de/navi/

HTH
Dieter
Dieter

Ooops, I forgot to say that some SatNav systems ask for a reverse gear signal also.
From own experience with the Becker Equipment I can say... forget it. Not required.
Dieter

Thanks Dieter. I should have known to check out your site!
Have you an experience with the Blaupunkt? Which is the better model, the Blaupunkt or the Becker?
In the UK the Becker is 800 pounds and the Blaupunkt is from 275 to 399 pounds, depending on the model.

Regards
Graham
GrahamH

Just got TomTom for my iPaq PDA. 160 quid plus car fitting kit - only got it last weekend, but so far experience indicates that it is a terrific add on. Plus it means that I can fit it to any car - including my old Triumph etc :o)
Rob Bell

TomTom Go is brilliant. Bit dear but portable.

Fiona ;-d
Fiona

TomTom et al only use GPS signals without the inertia navigation (built in gyroscope and speed signals). I wonder if this matters in practice?
What is the concensus? Rob, have you ever lost sight of the satellite on your TomTom? The display will show you driving off road when you are on it!

Graham
GrahamH

I have the HP INS 2 for my iPaq - this is rebadged CoPilot and as Rob says they're fantastic! Mine only uses GPS for location as well - it sometimes gets a weak signal but has never lost track whilst on the move (at least, not in the (T)F where there's not tin roof in the way...less good in my BGT.

Tim.
Tim Jenner

Graham, I have to confess that my experience with the TomTom is very limited so far, but in that time, no evidence of loss of GPS signal :o)

Will feed back more as experience builds, but I know that NeilS has exactly the same kit, and he and Jenny have been using it for quite some time: to my knowledge they're happy with it! (Certainly pursuaded me to go for it!)
Rob Bell

I have been using Tom Tom on my PDA for 2 1/2 years and I don't think its ever lost a GPS fix.

A truly excellent bit of kit.

A new version of Tom Tom, an upgrade from 3 to 5 (what happened to v4? - don't ask, its a long story) is due out 20th May. However previous first releases of upgrades have been a bit shakey and I tend to wait for the second attempt at a release before upgrading.

For the low down on GPS sat nav - take a look at http://pocketgpsworld.com.

BTW GrahamH, I'm in Pershore, so if you want a demo of TomTom let me know.

Paul
P9VLS
Paul

RE: Blaupunkt or Becker

I think Patrick is your man for the Blaupunkt advantages :)

Our both experiance (Patrick forgive me, if I say _our_ without having asked you)

Don't buy any before you tried yourself.
Don't buy with just economic sight on the options.
But ask yourself what you need. Then verify both systems and take your own decision.

However, I took the Becker, cause
- I don't need a big screen (no need to have road options visible on a big screen)
- I am aware of most main target names I wanted to reach.
- The CD's (currently two of only for whole Europe south/north) and annual updates are availible cheap from ebay etc.
- Use a 6 CD changer in any way and the mainly used Navi-CD is always installed
- the Road maps of the Becker where better than the Blaupunkt (four years ago)
- TMS was availiable with Becker only when I bought it
- I bought when I lived in the Rhine area *Ruhrgebiet* and urgently required best assistance to get quick along the most confusing Autobahn system
- .. payed 350 quid due to a special offer :)

Systems like TomTom, Garmin etc have different advantages.

I think the Garmin is the very best to plan long trips in advance. Ask Ted.

HTH
Dieter
Dieter

My wife and I both have TomTom on Dell PDAs. They WILL lose fixes in between tall buildings and under flyovers - Glasgow's a problem (including sending you the wrong way up a one way streets), and I thoroughly confused the system in Genoa docks (Don't ask !!) However, the time to re-fix once satellites are back in view is only a matter of a few seconds.

TomTom maps can be a problem. Apparently, there's currently no M6 toll or Silverstone bypass, although some newer road changes are incorporated. Also, the address finder has a few major problems: see the TomTom forums for more details.

As the missus needs to make visits all around the midlands, and beyond, she relies on it more than I do, and now wouldn't be without it. Being portable, we took ours to Italy to use in our hire car, and as a result took some routes we wouldn't have normally, and saw some really nice places that we would otherwise have missed.

David Dewick

The TomTom with a PDA is a great bit of kit that can easily be swopped between cars. It rarely has trouble finding a signal and I don't always even put it on the dashboard and I leave it between the seats. The only time I had trouble was with low cloud and snow.

For me there have been two problems:
1. No M6 Toll so it thinks you're attempting off roading. Hopefully this will be corrected later this month.

2. It was so good that Jennie went out and bought another one because she thought it was so good.

Major benefits:

I don't have to wake Jennie up on long journeys just to check if I'm going the right way.
So I'd go for TomTom, it's cheaper than divorce.

Neil
Neil Stothert

Will the maps be 'fixed' in the next software update?
Rob Bell

When asked the question TomTom say wait for the next update so hopefully. It's not a big problem because it's when you come off the M6 Toll that you need the help to find an address and those roads are the same.

Neil

To answer the original question, Yes you can get a speed signal if you have EPAS.
Will Munns

Just looked on the TomTom site, and it seems they will soon offer a map update service, for a fee. They're also offering a "safety" camera database, again for a fee, but it's not clear if his will give the advance warnings that, say, GPSAssist or POIWarner, gives.
David Dewick

I use Tom Tom on an IPAQ. I've never lost a fix in town (London) nor when amongst tall trees. Only problems have been the Dartford and Blackwall Tunnels. Only to be expected I guess.

I wouldn't be without it and I wouldn't drive anywhere without taking it with me.
Kelvin Fay

I have a Garmin Streetpilot which took me through Germany last year and France this year and hundreds of journeys in the UK. I can swap it between the old MGB, the TF and the Mercedes as I obtained a couple of extra mounting plates. I like it because it is very easily portable and can be taken with you when you leave the car.

I saw it on a friend's car on the Treffen and they spoke very highly of it.

uploads are easy from the Garmin website both of maps and cities

David
David stonehouse

GPS only systems such as Garmin and TomTom can lose satellite connection especially in the Blackwall Tunnel - but you can not get lost there - and 'she' quickly lets you know when you are reconnected. I have been using a Garmin Street-Pilot for about six years and it has never been a problem MIND YOU you have to be careful where they send you, I have just come back from a week in Devon/Cornwall and Betsy (our Garmin Unit) never put a foot wrong except some of the roads were a tad narrow - Max width 6'6" occurred quite often, no problem with the *F* but I had an Estate car pulling a 7'4" wide caravan:-)
Ted Newman

I have a 'female gestapo officer' voice theme for TomTom. Works for me, although the girlfriend is not quite as convinced.

Did 3 weeks in Europe and it was absolutely faultless. Didn't even take a paper map. Yes it does tell you you're in a field from time to time when you take a new road, but it's more amusing than anything else as it soon picks you back up again when you get to a road it knows..
Alex T

Thanks everyone!
After much deliberation and ebay bidding I've settled on a Blaupunkt E2.
Advantages to me are:-
MP3 player (no need for CD auto changer?)
Remote control on steering wheel (infra red)
Speed dependent loudness control
Generally better quality radio
Nav directions are spoken on the front speakers
Fully integrated

Disdavantage
Not portable between vehicles

BTW on ebay prices were 3/4 of new, so I thought that for the extra I will get a 2 year warranty and an theft insurance.

The cheapest I found was
www.bluespot.co.uk
Prices start at 274.99 pounds

Now all I have to do is fit it!

GrahamH

I should have added that the cheapest stand alone system I found was a Navigon PNA 150 on
www.ebuyer.com

Price 299.97 inc Vat + p&p
GrahamH

Good luck Graham - and let us know your opinions of the system once you've had some experience with it :o)
Rob Bell

One of the first jobs is to remove the existing ICE/radio. I thought that it would be removed with the normal two prong devices, but Oh No. The factory fitted unit (a CD80) does not have any holes for this. It is the sort of unit that the front flips down to insert the CD or cassette. There are 4 screws that are arrowed - I removed these but still no joy.
The Rave disc I have only has instructions for the Kenwood, so I'm a bit stuck at the moment.
Can anyone help on how to remove the radio?
GrahamH

Are you allowed to answer your own posting?!
Talking it through in the office, it may be that the 'U' shaped tool will go into the holes left by the screws........
Doh, I never thought of that!
GrahamH

There may be a thin plactic surround. Which when removed should expose the holes for the ISO removal tool (The U shape device).
Steve Ratledge

Completed the installation at the weekend. The hardest job was the removal of the existing MGR radio. It requires two single removal tools that look like a long strip of metal. These are inserted through a the slots on either side of the radio when the front is flipped down.
I had to visit the local audio specialist who did this for me.
The installation took me 3 hours (looking at the stopped clock when I reconnected the battery). It was very straight forward with positioning the GPS antenna on the dashboard and picking up a speed signal using a scotchlok. The reverse signal I earthed to the earth point by the drivers door (RHD model).
I think that if I did it again I could do it in an hour.
So far so good, I'm still finding out how to use it!
GrahamH

This thread was discussed between 11/05/2005 and 23/05/2005

MG MGF Technical index

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