Happy New Year    

The old garmin nuvi in the car turned off last week and now won't turn back on. I gave it a solid bashing but it's definitely dead, probably more so now I've beaten it to death 

I had bought a waterproof case to mount it to the bike, never got around to it, so it's upgrade time. I'm getting a pair of scala Q3 devices, the boy will take one so we will get bike to bike comms but I'd like a cheap dedicated GPS that works with the headset on the bike and also in the car. I have come across these Chinese Peaklife units.

There is a 3.5" for about AU$140 and a 4.3" for about AU$190 on ebay, the nuvi was 4.3" so that seems to be the way to go. They look like a windows CE 6 device with GPS hardware and nothing else, no maps or GPS software just Windoze. I see several threads in google about loading maps and primo nav software into these devices so loading them shouldn't be an issue for me but I haven't looked at that bit very hard yet. There may be additional cost there.

Question is, has anyone else used one of these? Do they do what you want and do they stream music over Bluetooth to the headset as well as GPS directions?

Bluetooth works one-way, a device is either sending or receiving. The GPS generally works as a receiver, thus it will play music and allow you to listen to phone calls (when paired with a phone). A Bluetooth headset is also just a receiver. GPS cannot pair with headsets because they are both receivers. Possibly a special GPS made for motorcycles might do that, but none that are made for cars.  

This one only talks to a bluetooth headset. 
It is made for motorcycles.

Ah, I see. So, what kind of maps does it use?

It's the navigation software that dictates the required maps. It's just a windoze CE 6 device with a GPS chip. I have already found and downloaded iGo Primo with ozzie maps which should install. I've also asked the ebay guy exactly what is installed in the one he's selling here.

To stream music to the scala headset it needs to confirm to A2DP /AVRCP bluetooth protocol. My iPhone does that but this GPS will be on the bike battery so if it can do it, use it. That is just a standard for streaming stereo music.

They were getting sold under STRIKE brand and have a good name. I know 2 people with them and both are happy with them

I think you'll find Strike is another company. About twice the price. Gamin etc are 4 times the price.

They all come with LEGAL software and maps  

Strike GPS is exactly the same to look at even the orange bits and he doesnt have software installed you have to buy it as extra and it was around $350 + software
I reckon that is where strike is getting theirs made.

Now you're getting it. They have one big vat spitting out the same crap to lots of companies

Just a little update. The Peaklife GPS was a model running windows CE version 5. The model I'm looking at is an update, it has a faster CPU, runs windows CE version 6 and is called the Rage GPS. The seller tells me local maps are installed for testing purposes whatever that means, but did not answer my questions about software, audio streaming etc. I guess he's covering his own arse.

I have ordered one as well as a scala Q3 multiset and all should arrive next week. We shall see if it works as expected.

He appears to have put the price up and added postage. I paid $183 delivered.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=141036497563&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:AU:1123

OkyDoky, all this stuff has arrived and here's a first look.

Here's the GPS kit. It came with iGo 8 and maps for the planet pre installed. It works fine in the car and the maps aren't that old. Once I turned off the 'You are speeding' warning, it worked fine. That warning goes off if you are 1Km/Hr over the limit. The issue for me, moving it from car to bike, will be the mounting bracket. The unit needs to be clicked into the mount to be powered. The power cable from the bracket needs to be connected to either the lighter type plug in the car or the hardwired setup on the bike. Also it actually runs off the internal battery so you have to turn it off when not in use and the on/off switch is a little hard to get at, remember this thing is waterproof so all the holes appear to be well sealed.



The GPS itself is just a little wndows CE computer. It has a 4gig internal card and about half that is used by the nav software and maps. There is a mico SD card socket which can take an 8gig card. I got one and had to use a knife to insert it deep into the unit. A rubber cover seals that hole. Plug the unit into a PC via the supplied USB cable and you get acess to both cards. I dumped some MP3's straight onto the 8gig card and took a backup copy of the nav software.



The scala headsets also arrived and this GPS and my iPhone links to it without issue. It comes with all the bits to fit it to an open/flip or full face helmet.



I had no issues installing it to my Bell flip helmet. The ear speakers are quite flat and I don't even notice them inside the helmet. We'll try the 2nd unit on the boys BMW flip helmet tonight.



I can start music playing on the GPS and it comes out the headset. You can skip tracks forward/back by tapping the headset. Music goes quiet on an incoming call from the iPhone and when you call out to you intercom buddy. It takes a while for the music to come back, maybe 20-30 seconds, but it comes back without any action on my part.

Music appeared to pause as the GPS was calculating routes etc but I'll need to get it setup on a bike to test that further. I had it playing music in the car through the units loud speaker and didn't notice any pauses, so it may be a bluetooth issue. I was also able to get the iPhone to play music to the headset but this GPS will be on the bikes battery and would be the preferred player.

The headset also has an FM radio built in and it can hold 6 preset channels. You can also tap the headset and get it to scan for the 6 strongest channels and it will hold them until you power off so handy for travelling.

All up it looks like a worker

Keep us informed Robin.
I was seriously looking at that gps about a year ago.
Was sold in Aus with maps for 3 or 4 times the price of the bare bones version from Honkers.
If I have to travel in a direction that is not towards home (or away from home for that matter) I am done. Just ask Waz. So from Tottenham, do we go towards Parks or away from it?
that guy was at the rally, he turned left, but his mates went straight on. Maybe he lives in Sydney and they live in Melbourne. Should we have turned?

My brain is destined for bigger things than working out the best way home.

Seriously, keep us informed. Seems a good alternative to the +$600 options available.

It is 5.30pm and I am cooking. Chefs pleasure is a quick pint.


Of red wine.


Let me ramble.

That one does look very like the Strike brand that was being sold here for about $350 +maps

I seriously doubt this has licenced maps on it, I see maps from countries A to Z loaded onto it    It does show some of the newer roads around here but I noticed yesterday it still showed a roundabout that was replaced with traffic lights about 8 months ago. There is an option in route planning to avoid unpaved roads so maybe there's more info in there than I realise. This one came from Victoria via courier.

I still see the strike for sale on ebay Rick, almost $350, but no specs at all, not even a screen size. It does mention it has legit maps though.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Strike-Genius-Bluetooth-Motorcycle-GPS-Unit-for-motorbike-/161049191840?pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item257f47a5a0&_uhb=1

I'm sort of thinking of bolting this to the bike and getting a $50 tom tom for the car.