A cheaper rugged GPS

talonboy

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Springtown Texas
I mentioned this on another thread, so I thought I would post separately here to not hijack the other thread. This is a GPS I recently purchased. ChinaVision Rage. There are a number of threads on other forums, so I am far from the first to use this. Costs about $139 or less, plus shipping. It ships direct from China, took about 3 weeks to arrive. The unit is fairly rugged and apparently waterproof. It has a rubberized case, with all the ports protected by pretty good seals. It comes with a mount for the GPS, this connects to either a suction cup or handlebar bracket(included). It comes with a cigarette lighter adapter and hard wire cable.

It runs Windows CE OS. It does not come with any mapping software or maps. It is not like most other GPS units that are 5 times the price, it is a work in progress. Support is non-existent from the mfg, but there are forums with knowledgeable users. Mostly you would be looking for support with WINCE, or whatever mapping software you get.

It does play music and movies. The battery life isn't great, maybe an 1-1/2 - 2 hours. I have not played with Bluetooth at all. It has 4gb of built in memory, and can also use a micro SD card up to 16gb.

I obtained IGO 8 and IGO Primo software and maps. I have one loaded on internal memory, and the other on the SD card. You have one icon on the screen that can be reconfigured fairly quickly to choose which mapping software to run. I prefer the Primo, mainly because I have played with it more.

The unit seems to work like most every other street GPS I have used. It does not have off-road trails or topo maps. Yet.

I have not figured out how to load routes or waypoints yet. Honestly I never did that stuff with other GPS's either. I only use a GPS to find an address or the way home from a ride.



http://www.chinavasion.com/china/wholesale/GPS-Sat_Nav_Devices/Portable_GPS/All_Terrain_4.3_Inch_Motorcycle_GPS_Navigation_System_-_Waterproof_4GB_Bluetooth/
 

RidingUpandDown

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tb, WoW, At first glance That is very impressive, both for price and for feature/function! I use a Garmin Zumo 220(no longer avail but less $ when bought 3-4 yrs ago($399)), but specifically mc ruggedized waterproof unit w/ Bluetooth talk/n/turn into my Scala headset and then use Garmin Mapsource/Basecamp Mapping sw to create and download detailed standard and off-road routes from the PC to the gps unit.. but the price of this is really reasonable if the feat/fx is really good.

I'd be Very interested to hear how this works for you, how easy to learn and how well you can navigate w/ it, especially how the Mapping sw works and how it is for creating and downloading routes,,, Bluetooth, audio/talk/n/turn...

Where did you hear abt the unit, other forums?(drop a name?) How are the reviews on those venues?

How much $ for the IGO mapping sw? why did u buy two mapping sw packages, do they do the same thing or have very diff features...? Are there other Mapping sw products?

if I were a skeptic I may wonder if some guy in china is monitoring u w/ this thing too, but hey w/ so much of our lives being watched and tracked, that guy would at least get to see some great relaxing routes and adventures being run on a versatile ds machine, good for him right. ::025::

Thanks for the info. Pls let us know how it goes... ::017::

dean ::001::
 

Checkswrecks

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There are all sorts of Chinese GPS units for sale and they are typically "buyer beware." I know nothing about this unit and am looking forward to your experience, because this unit has some pretty bad reviews on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Motorcycle-Navigator-Internal-Bluetooth/dp/B00E7O8E8U


Many of the Chinese GPS units have upgraded their operating systems. For years they almost universally used Windows CE (WinCE) and many have moved to Android. The ADV thread on this unit makes it look like it is still WinCE: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=906910&page=3
 

Ramseybella

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Checkswrecks said:
There are all sorts of Chinese GPS units for sale and they are typically "buyer beware." I know nothing about this unit and am looking forward to your experience, because this unit has some pretty bad reviews on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Motorcycle-Navigator-Internal-Bluetooth/dp/B00E7O8E8U


Many of the Chinese GPS units have upgraded their operating systems. For years they almost universally used Windows CE (WinCE) and many have moved to Android. The ADV thread on this unit makes it look like it is still WinCE: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=906910&page=3
Poo Poo review on Amazingozon..
 

talonboy

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Nov 18, 2012
Messages
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Springtown Texas
RidingUpandDown said:
tb, WoW, At first glance That is very impressive, both for price and for feature/function! I use a Garmin Zumo 220(no longer avail but less $ when bought 3-4 yrs ago($399)), but specifically mc ruggedized waterproof unit w/ Bluetooth talk/n/turn into my Scala headset and then use Garmin Mapsource/Basecamp Mapping sw to create and download detailed standard and off-road routes from the PC to the gps unit.. but the price of this is really reasonable if the feat/fx is really good.

I'd be Very interested to hear how this works for you, how easy to learn and how well you can navigate w/ it, especially how the Mapping sw works and how it is for creating and downloading routes,,, Bluetooth, audio/talk/n/turn...

Where did you hear abt the unit, other forums?(drop a name?) How are the reviews on those venues?

How much $ for the IGO mapping sw? why did u buy two mapping sw packages, do they do the same thing or have very diff features...? Are there other Mapping sw products?

if I were a skeptic I may wonder if some guy in china is monitoring u w/ this thing too, but hey w/ so much of our lives being watched and tracked, that guy would at least get to see some great relaxing routes and adventures being run on a versatile ds machine, good for him right. ::025::

Thanks for the info. Pls let us know how it goes... ::017::

dean ::001::
I read a review from Uncle Phil on the st-owners forum. I met, and rode with the guy during a group ride, so I trust him. I read a couple other reviews on ADV rider forum, from people I don't know.

I have only had the thing a couple weeks, and haven't done much with it yet. I have never used speech on any GPS, I don't like it, I look at the screen. So I can not comment on the unit talking to me. There is a small speaker in the back, as well as a headset plug under a cover. I have used both of those work to listen to music or a movie.

As far as the software, some have purchased a SD memory card with the mapping software and maps loaded. Just pop the card into the unit, point the software to the executable file, and you are done. One reviewer commented that there was nothing indicating this was legally purchased software. Just some guy buying cards, loading the software on them, and selling them for profit. There are ways to get free software over the internet, I can send a PM for details, if you like. It is posted on ADV rider.
 

talonboy

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Springtown Texas
Checkswrecks said:
There are all sorts of Chinese GPS units for sale and they are typically "buyer beware." I know nothing about this unit and am looking forward to your experience, because this unit has some pretty bad reviews on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Motorcycle-Navigator-Internal-Bluetooth/dp/B00E7O8E8U


Many of the Chinese GPS units have upgraded their operating systems. For years they almost universally used Windows CE (WinCE) and many have moved to Android. The ADV thread on this unit makes it look like it is still WinCE: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=906910&page=3
I read the Amazon reviews. Those writers either they never received the unit at all, or were disappointed it didn't come with map software. The latter users clearly didn't do their research ahead of time. This is not a Garmin, but you are not paying Garmin prices. It's like buying a desktop computer without Windows installed. For some people, no problem. For others, an unsolvable nightmare. Maybe a poor comparison, this unit does have an operating system, I believe WinCE 6.
 

saltcreep

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Feb 27, 2014
Messages
22
Location
Bay Minette, Alabama
Had one of these. Mine came pre-installed with some pretty decent maps. You cannot play music/audiobooks & use the GPS functions at the same time.. so that's useless.
Its a bit flaky at times. Had a good many point of interests pre-loaded for looking for restaurants, etc. Mine died after a couple of months and would never turn back on.
 
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