Nokia GPS LAM-1 Module now available !!

Anyone know of any "bricks & Mortar" shopd selling these so I can have a look at it before buying one?

Does this mean you get a copy of TOMTOM city maps, or is thi some new peice of software that actually routeplans WITH the GPS module?

The Nokia GPS Module comes with city map and route planner applications for your Nokia communicator. Looking for the hotel in London? With the city map application you can see every road and street and find the quickest ways to get there. See also the shortest route to take and even the fastest way to get there on foot. Zoom in to see map details, such as street names and landmarks.

I don't know any shops that stock it. Expansys are the 1st people I have found who claim to have it in stock and they only got the 1st batch on Thursday. I think my order was the 1st to ship. My local Orange shop had never heard of it yesterday. I received my unit this morning (ordered yesterday). So far I've only opened the box and looked inside. In the box u get:

1) The GPS unit which simply clips into the bottom port on the 9210 as shown on the Nokia site, etc
2) A little carry case for (1) with belt loop
3) An external extension antenna that plugs into a pin socket on the GPS unit
4) Multilingual installation guide, but its only 2 pages for each language
5) TomTom 2 CD software package, 1 CD each for Route Planner and City Maps.

The idea seems to be that u install the TomTom software off each CD onto the 9210 and then load the maps u want from the CDs onto the 9210. Then u insert the GPS unit, open the application and away u go. The intent seems to be that the GPS shows your positioon on the appropriate map.

I'll post an update when I get it all installed and working.

N9210 - anything else u want to know ??

Review now posted in the reviews section, or link:

http://www.allabouter6.com/software/reviews/9210/details/gpsmodule.php

Excellent review - well done...

one question, the GPS just shows location & direction on the map as in an overlay and not pat of the route/map, is this correct?

If that's so then it seems to me that 1 small enhancement could be added. If you plan a route and the GPS location falters from the route (ie you take a wrong turn or miss a turn) then the route planning software should (after aking maybe), recalculate the route based on GPS position.

Also another question - can you get the routeplanner/city maps to use the GPS location as the start point of a route to be calculated?

Regards

It's pretty, no doubt handy, and rather expensive.... *counts pennies* gonna be a while till I get one to play with.

[quote="N9210"]Excellent review - well done...

one question, the GPS just shows location & direction on the map as in an overlay and not pat of the route/map, is this correct?

If that's so then it seems to me that 1 small enhancement could be added. If you plan a route and the GPS location falters from the route (ie you take a wrong turn or miss a turn) then the route planning software should (after aking maybe), recalculate the route based on GPS position.

Also another question - can you get the routeplanner/city maps to use the GPS location as the start point of a route to be calculated?

Regards[/quote]

Several questions...

1) I believe that you are correct - the GPS position is superimposed on the map.

2) I fully agree with your suggestions for upgrades, I would also like an audible warning if I go off route - can't look at the screen all the time. I would also like the list of directions to scroll down as u pass each turn point.

Unfortunately, I suspect that these mods are not so simple. I think the Nokia GPS simply feeds position info into the mapping software. Thus, the changes would need to be made in the TomTom programmes rather than the GPS module. The TomTom software is a fully developed commercial package and it may need a significant upgrade to deliver the functionality to make full use of the GPS. The package would then be delivering functionality getting close to a �2,000 in-car sat nav system.

Here's hoping that TomTom go for it in the next major upgrade. Since the GPS Module comes bundled with TomTom, the only alternative is to buy mapping sw for the 9210 from another source if one could be found that has the functionality u describe.

3) U can't use the GPS position to start a route plan. Having said that, selecting the start point is very easy - u can simply start typing in the location and the selection menu automatically adjusts to the location u are typing. It's pretty quick and easy. If you pick a road name, u are then asked to choose the precise location along that road - intersections with other roads, etc.

I think the same limitations apply on this point as for (2). Having said it may be difficult, the map does move to keep your curent location in view, so it may not be so hard after all.

I got this from exportech (who were selling the non-Nokia option):- looks like they're a little upset....

[quote="Exportech"]
Dear Nokia 9210 GPS customer

We are sending you this email because you have recently ordered or enquired about the new clip-on GPS for the Nokia 9210.

We were originally promised this unit in May of this year, but unfortunately it would appear that the manufacturer has been totally incompetent at bringing this product to market.

Consequently, we have dropped this product, and will instead be supplying the 9210 GPS manufactured by Nokia themselves.

Full details are now on our website since yesterday(Monday 12th August 2002), at the same price of �205.00 + VAT and carriage.

It will also be supplied with Tomtom software (Route Planner and Street Planner) for Europe only.

We expect the first deliveries to take place around the end of August, and are told that supply will be reasonably tight.

If you have already placed an order for the previous unit, please could you re-confirm your desire to stay on back-order for the new Nokia unit (NB - at the same price).

If you have previously only enquired about the previous unit, and would like to order the new Nokia unit, please do so using our online order form.

Lastly, if you are also ordering the suction mount in-car bracket, please note that this will need some minor "plastic surgery" at one end in order to accommodate the Communicator and GPS.

Thank you for your patience in this matter, and we hope to hear from you soon.[/quote]

Looks like my earlier postings were pretty spot on then - although this is one occasion I'd rather have been talking the usual journalistic bollox.

Oh, and apologies to anyone finding that Expansys are now showing a 4 day expected delivery time on the GPS. I ordered mine this morning whilst stock levels were showing 1-10 units, and it switched to the 4 days back order once mine had been confirmed.

>😉

Email this arvo tells me to expect a package in the post on Wednesday morning...