Hi, I like memory map and run it on a laptop fixed to roof with screen inversion software to turn the screen image upside down. 12" screen is large enough to give a good view and small enough not to obscure vision

all the best urbandekay
 
Benjy the offer stands... call me and arrange to call over with some dvds the maps take a ****load of space... though I could make them available for ftp download if you are familiar with tht sort of thing!

Not gonna get chance to call over before sat night now what with work.... maybe looking into ftp download is the way forward....
 
Glenn... Memory Map is the way to go in my opinion. You can go to the trouble of installing a full blown PC if you want to go that route but it really is not necessary. Go on ebay and buy yourself an old O2 XDA IIs. Make sure you get the "s" version though... This little beauty costs about £30 and runs Windows CE. Memory Map runs quite happily on windows CE - having the maps installed on an SD card. I run mine in the vehicle all the time!

Oh yeah... the reason for using the IIs version is that you can turn the unit around so you are viewing in Landscape...rather than portrait orientation... more natural for map reading.

If you want to extend your mapping to plot your current position on the map while you are driving you will need a gps antenna for the xda. I use a bluetooth antenna from Maplins (about £50 when I last checked but they might be cheaper by now). Llinking the XDA and the antenna is simple bluetooth pairing just like you were using one of them posh headset things.

Memory Map is available from my house if you come over here with about 10 DVDs.

Think that covers everything!

Hello Ryder

Good to hear from you, hope you and the family are well.

I have looked into using my laptop in the vehicle with an extended desktop to enable me to utilise a smaller dash mounted screen roughly 12inch, and stow my laptop under middle seat. Would this work? I’m hoping this will allow me to also make use of a 3G card when stationary. I’m looking to do a euro trip so I think internet would be very handy. I have looked into the buying the USB GPS antenna to allow tracking (satnav type) on the memory map program. Again hoping this will allow me to plan the route at my desk at work then be able to plug the laptop into the car and let it do the rest of the navigation work.

What’s your thoughts Ryder?

Cheers,
Glenn321
 
Hello Ryder

Good to hear from you, hope you and the family are well.

I have looked into using my laptop in the vehicle with an extended desktop to enable me to utilise a smaller dash mounted screen roughly 12inch, and stow my laptop under middle seat. Would this work? I’m hoping this will allow me to also make use of a 3G card when stationary. I’m looking to do a euro trip so I think internet would be very handy. I have looked into the buying the USB GPS antenna to allow tracking (satnav type) on the memory map program. Again hoping this will allow me to plan the route at my desk at work then be able to plug the laptop into the car and let it do the rest of the navigation work.

What’s your thoughts Ryder?

Cheers,
Glenn321
Hi Glenn... yeah we are all good... would be good to see you guys though... maybe we should arrange a Herts Laners cookout over the summer break!

I do have a couple of concerns... but they are based more on personal opinion than hard and fast fact.

Firstly a traditional laptop has a number of moving parts... not least the hard drive. It also has lots of bits and pieces plugged into the main board. This means that unless you are very careful when choosing somewhere to mount the machine itself you could risk damaging it when offroading (especially if it is YOU offroading... remember we have all seen you drive... suspended in the air and everything!)

Any damage to the unit would be costly and difficult to rectify if you are out and about. Secondly considering that the unit will need to be heavily protected against shocks... you must also take care not to restrict the airflow around the base of the laptop where ventilation holes allow fresh air to enter the unit to cool the processor. If the processor does not get enough cooling then you will end up with no computer. On the cooling theme remember that there is a fan inside the laptop whose function is to draw fresh air in from the outside. If you are travelling in a dusty environment then it would make sense to protect the laptop from the risks of dust or sand ingress since this can also be a killer for a laptop.

The beauty of a CE device is in its simplicity. No moving parts, completely portable - set up the routes and data on your computer and plug the XDA into it's charger... instantly transferred data. Additionally if the XDA gets stolen you have lost £30 worth of kit rather than £500 upwards.

I seem to remember that Griffdawg runs a pc and he would have more experience of any issues in dusty terrain than I would.

If your longer term plans include Algeria then the bluetooth antenna is definitely the way to go since you will need to hide it when crossing the border. I Don't know what the Algerian attitude is to the laptop type hardware is though.

The screen on the XDA is roughly 4 x 3 and can be used in the same orientation that you are used to seeing your PC screen - It does have internet and email capabilities and also has a lot of availabel software downloads from the net.

Just re-read your post and noticed that you are sticking to the Euro Zone so my comments about Africa are pretty obsolete really :eek:
 
Hi Glenn... yeah we are all good... would be good to see you guys though... maybe we should arrange a Herts Laners cookout over the summer break!

I do have a couple of concerns... but they are based more on personal opinion than hard and fast fact.

Firstly a traditional laptop has a number of moving parts... not least the hard drive. It also has lots of bits and pieces plugged into the main board. This means that unless you are very careful when choosing somewhere to mount the machine itself you could risk damaging it when offroading (especially if it is YOU offroading... remember we have all seen you drive... suspended in the air and everything!)

Any damage to the unit would be costly and difficult to rectify if you are out and about. Secondly considering that the unit will need to be heavily protected against shocks... you must also take care not to restrict the airflow around the base of the laptop where ventilation holes allow fresh air to enter the unit to cool the processor. If the processor does not get enough cooling then you will end up with no computer. On the cooling theme remember that there is a fan inside the laptop whose function is to draw fresh air in from the outside. If you are travelling in a dusty environment then it would make sense to protect the laptop from the risks of dust or sand ingress since this can also be a killer for a laptop.

The beauty of a CE device is in its simplicity. No moving parts, completely portable - set up the routes and data on your computer and plug the XDA into it's charger... instantly transferred data. Additionally if the XDA gets stolen you have lost £30 worth of kit rather than £500 upwards.

I seem to remember that Griffdawg runs a pc and he would have more experience of any issues in dusty terrain than I would.

If your longer term plans include Algeria then the bluetooth antenna is definitely the way to go since you will need to hide it when crossing the border. I Don't know what the Algerian attitude is to the laptop type hardware is though.

The screen on the XDA is roughly 4 x 3 and can be used in the same orientation that you are used to seeing your PC screen - It does have internet and email capabilities and also has a lot of availabel software downloads from the net.

Just re-read your post and noticed that you are sticking to the Euro Zone so my comments about Africa are pretty obsolete really :eek:

Morning Ryder,

Definitely up for a BBQ or something. I’m also thinking of camping up at Billing this year if you or anyone is interested. Thanks for the detailed post mate massive help.

With regards to the laptop it is of the company laptop variety so stolen broken etc all covered. As for cooling I had thought of this however the hard drive is something that concerns me as I have broken a few in my time.

I think the XDA is well worth looking into as I haven’t done much in the way of researching other routes, only that of memory maps own system circa £600.00.

The CD’s you need to copy the maps, I have CD-R80’s will they be ok?

As for Africa would love to do it however heard many different stories about driving out there and trouble etc, thinking I may stay clear lol.

All seems quiet on here of late, I can’t wait to get the truck all done and start coming back out for the local lanes.

Doing Cumbria, North Yorkshire Moors if anyone is interested. Original destination was Wales but I have done fair bit up there lately so fancied a change.

Cheers,

Glenn321
 
Ryder/Glen,

Vodafone gave away a Dell Inspiron with a 3G bundle a while ago, it's got a 10" screen and a solid state HDD (no moving parts, so will take the bumps better). It's only about 7Gb but enough to run memory map and I bet theres plenty on flebay.
 
Ryder/Glen,

Vodafone gave away a Dell Inspiron with a 3G bundle a while ago, it's got a 10" screen and a solid state HDD (no moving parts, so will take the bumps better). It's only about 7Gb but enough to run memory map and I bet theres plenty on flebay.


Cheers Diesel I will check it out.
 
It would be enough to run memory map but you would have the disadvantage of having to swap media all the time to keep the maps.

The CDs are no good fella - you need a minimum of 30 Gb - so you are looking at 10 DVDs (to account for one or two being fubarred before ya start!). Writing time will be a while too! Just send me across a pack of dvds and I will write the disks for ya!
 
I have a set of wolf rims for sale.
3 with xzl tyres fitted in White- could do with a paint and 1 brand new green rim- never had a tyre fitted.

Main ad is in the for sale section.

Cheers , Dave.
 
I took a trip to Ferneaux Pellham yesterday, one last lane before heading West... Was mainly bone dry, one small section of water, still deep in the middle though with water over the bonnet.

All good fun!!

Catch you guys soon, somewhere pub/wales/shropshire related!! ;)
 
Sounds like a good idea, will I get around on my AT's? (not been before)

You'll be fine! Just follow Spydie :rolleyes:

A/T's are ok at Whaddon, I went over there alot on mine and didn't do too badly, Learnt what my limitations were rater quickly.
 

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