Factory navagation system

[PTSleeper]

I was wondering if anyone out there has the factory nav system in thier Cruisers. If so, how do you like it? Ease of use?
I am going to start selling real estate in the near future and this might come on handy.

[SuGamer]

I have the nav system in my Cruiser, and I love it. It's pretty easy to use. I find myself inputting addresses and intersections just to show it off to friends. Only complaint I have is that you can't play cd's while using the nav because the special DVD has to be in it, unless you get the factory cd changer or an after market cd changer with FM modulator. [xx(]

[PTSleeper]

Thanks SuGamer
I'm sold! [8]

[SuGamer]

I forgot to mention the coolest part; it talks! It gives you turn by turn nav and distance nav with a female voice. The volume is independant from the radio's and comes out the driver's side speaker. It says things like, "In a quarter mile, exit is on the right", or "Travel straight 9.6 miles." It's expensive, but it's better than after market nav system, especially the ones you have to download the info from a PC.[:0] I love mine, so if you plan to travel a bit, it's worth the price. [?]

[quicksilverdon]

quote:Originally posted by SuGamer

I forgot to mention the coolest part; it talks! It gives you turn by turn nav and distance nav with a female voice.

Does it yell at you if you get lost and tell you to ask for directions?

[SuGamer]

LOL, my friends and I always joke about that! "A**hole! You missed the turn!" LOL. [] But thank god it doesn't tell you to stop anywhere to ask for directions! Actually, it automatically recalculates another route for you.

[gonzomania]

go to this site: and read about it:https://www.1stchryslerparts.com/pro...d831c0fe0badd1 You can order it from here also, click on oem parts and follow instructions. Hope this helps

[robinjoe]

If you are reasonably computer savy, you may want to consider getting a Pocket PC ($300) and Navigation system ($200) instead. I think it does everything the factory system does, including talking directions, detours, waypoints, recalculation when you go of-course, points of interests (restaurants, gas stations, hotels, shopping, parks, etc.)

With the Pocket PC you can bring the system from car to car, or even when you're walking. And it's independant of your stereo, so you can still play CDs.

You can synchronize with your Outlook contacts list (including house addresses you are selling), then just select the addresses from that same list to navigate to your destination. You can enter your contacts/addresses on your PC (with a keyboard) rather than having to deal with the touch screen on the dash in the car. Then when you're on the road, just pull up the contact name and it will navigate you to that rather than having to enter the addresses every time.

You can upgrade the software later on as improved technology comes out.

You can hold it in your hand which makes entering data easier than trying to type on something on your dash-board.

Pocket PC has built-in Excel, so you can produce amortization tables right on the spot when visiting a house. You can also manage your contacts on the road, including notes about buyers, like "doesn't like ranch homes", budget, kids names, etc.

You can then share that contact information with co-workers.

I have demonstrated the Pocket PC and navigation system to people who have used factory navigation systems in rental cars, and they love the way the Pocket PC version integrates with your PC, and the many other functions the PPC has.

Does anyone else have experience with factory navigation systems and Pocket PC versions? BTW, I think there are Palm Pilot versions too, but I prefer the Pocket PC.

If you want more information, just ask, and I'd be glad to give more details.

Joe

[PTSleeper]

Joe
Thanks for all the info. Since you can carry it from car to car, the antenna (sp) must be in the unit itself, right? Does it come w/all the software needed for the unit and my PC? You said that you have demonstrated these, do you sell them? Now all I have to do is figure out how to mount a holder w/o tearing up or drilling. I think I'm sold [again], I like the idea of being able to use it for more than directions. Since I will remember a face for life, but forget a name in seconds, being able to input names and personal info about clients is a deffinate (sp) plus. I get my Real Estate license next week, I need a test subject. Anyone want to sell their house. [8] This thing has got to have a spel checker.

[robinjoe]

I don't sell them, but I use my Pocket PC a lot.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna is a seperate device that communicates with the Pocket PC wirelessly. The GPS antenna is very small, and can sit up on your dashboard and your Pocket PC can be in your hand as you enter information or use the navigation software. No wires! Although when I'm in the car, I often plug it in to the car lighter to charge the battery.

The GPS antennas usually come with software, but you can get whatever GPS compatible software you want.

There is even software designed specifically for Real Estate agents.
http://www.pocketrealestate.com/
It transfers MLS data(whatever that is) from your PC to your PPC.

You can also attach a camera to the PPC and take photos of houses and clients. Or you can transfer photos from your PC to the PPC and then show the houses in the PPC to the clients.

If you find houses on the internet, you can save the web pages or Adobe Acrobat files to your Pocket PC with all the pertinent information.

You can write e-mails and letters in Word (included with the PPC) and it includes a spell checker too.

If you get the Pocket PC Phone edition, you can use it as a cell phone, and even surf the web from just about anywhere. You can also surf the web, send e-mails, and us Microsoft Messenger. PPC Phone Editions tend to cost more than the regular editions.

Here is a good place to start:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobi...c/default.mspx

If you use it professionally and store maps and photos on it, you'll probably want to get a high capacity, 1 gigabyte storage card. I bought one for $55 (after rebate) at Tiger Direct.

You should probably talk to colleagues woh may be using them. Some may be using Palm devises because Palm came out first. I think you get more with the PPC though, and the integration with Outlook is smoother.