We're going to want to see New Zealand when we get there and I can vouch that an in-car GPS system takes some of the stress out of driving in unfamiliar places. Although I prefer and currently use TomTom in the UK, they don't offer NZ maps. Navman have discontinued SmartST for Palm and New Zealand maps for this software appear to be out-of-stock. However, I wondered if SmartST 2005 for Pocket PC with New Zealand map data would install onto my Axim x50v and then communicate with my "Palm-specific" Navman 4470 hardware.
Navman have no idea
I asked Navman-store.com Support (Europe) if I bought the NZ maps would they run on my Dell Axim x50v. They said:
Unfortunately we do not have those maps available at present only the European maps.
Which is odd, because I added the maps to my basket and bought them; they arrived two days later!
I also asked if SmartST 2005 would recognise my Navman 4470 Bluetooth GPS receiver. The Store responded:
The compatibility for the maps is attached, this does not unfortunately include the 4470.
Actually nothing was attached, but the product page does not list compatibility with the 4470 nor the Dell Axim x50v.
There were two things that made me suspicious I was being misled. Firstly they sell the software for generic Pocket PCs—not explicitly for Navman brand devices; somewhere else I'd seen the system requirements as "Windows Mobile 2003" (as on my Axim). Secondly, if TomTom was happily running with my Navman hardware, surely Navman software would play with Navman hardware?
Maybe Navman's aim was to sell more hardware? ;-)
Does SmartST 2005 run on the x50v?
Yes, given enough memory. The installation was slightly more streamlined than SmartST for Palm, but nevertheless not as straightforward as TomTom due to Navman's complex activation routine. At this stage I haven't tested it throughly—after all, the "nearest road" is currently some 12,000 miles away! However, it had no problem finding Te Papa as a POI in Wellington.
Does SmartST 2005 recognize the Navman 4470?
Yes. The clue was in the manual:
By trial-and-error, the correct COM port for the 4470 turns out to be 7:
Note: The Axim x50v won't charge in-use via an ordinary USB car charger; you can charge it or use it—not do both. You need a "high power" charger. I got mine on eBay for under £10 including P&P.
Update 16.11.06: Garmin's StreetPilot c320 is on sale in NZ with street-level mapping for $700. This may be a good option if you don't yet have a system. I'll never buy a 2-piece system again; it is very difficult to convince the Navman hardware to talk via Bluetooth to the Navman software! So difficult, in fact, we've been using a spiral-bound map! You're wasting your time (and money) with Navman; look elsewhere.
Update 04.03.07: I've given up completely on Navman's SmartST on Pocket PC. Windows Mobile 2003 doesn't have persistent memory, which means if your PDA is unused in the car for long SmartST (and everything else) is erased. The software isn't compatible with Windows Mobile 5 (which does feature persistent memory).
Update 18.08.07: I wrote to TomTom after seeing a "New Zealand" map option listed in the manual for the TomTom 910, asking if they could indicate whether or not NZ maps would be available in the near future. They said "We do not have any maps available for the region you have specified. As yet there are no plans to release the maps in question. We wish to offer our customers as many options as possible as a company. It is, therefore, very likely that we will be offering such maps in the future."
Update 05.12.07: Finally, TomTom devices with NZ maps pre-installed are available, but alas not for installation on Pocket PCs.
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Dear ...,
Is there an SD-card New Zealand for my Nokia N80 mobile with TomTom 5.1 or 5.2 ?
Thanks for answering
E. de Jonge
TomTom don't currently offer NZ maps. If you must have TomTom, visit Australia ;-)
Is there any mapping software (tomtom, destinator, navigon, etc) available for new zealand?
Cheers,
Paul
As discussed in this post Paul, Navman (with SmartST) and Garmin offer street-level NZ mapping.
Just to let you know I use or have used Smart ST V3 on a Windows 5 Device (Mio 201) and works fine even after unit running flat and rebooting from persistent memory. Old maps are better than no maps, Also if anyone wants some NZ NMEA files All from the South Island drop me a line.
Never did get to buy Smart ST 2005 as not compatible with Win 5 (as mentioned above) Navman have really gone backwards and will soon Lose massive market share to Tomtom I fear , Once TT have NZ maps which they said is soon, Navman has had it
STEVE
That's interesting Steve; it's possible SmartST 2005 will install on a WM5 device (I would test it as I have the upgrade for my Axim but it insists on an AC charger which I have 12,000 miles away!). I've said it before but I'll say it again; Navman have no idea. Their exit from the GPS business is timely.
That is good to hear. I have a Imate K-Jam and am looking at running my ST V3 program on it, using an iblue pS 737 receiver. I rang Navman here and they have told me several times that ST V3 will not run on Mobile 5 and that there may be software out by end of this year! to fix the problem. They also told me that Navman is moving away from personal handhelds. I will try and run the program as you have done and see what happens. Any suggestions at all ?
Cheers.
Corny
This is a general post to let you know that I have successfully installed Navman Smart St 2005 software with New Zealand maps on my imate JAMin running windows mobile 5!
It is paired with a Global Sat BT-328 bluetooth Gps unit.
The only problem I encountered ,was that the com port (6) that the Bt-328 talks to the jamin through, was not listed in the gps com port options in the Navman gps settings!
This problem was successfully overcome using franson's GPS GATE software!
GPS GATE will set up a 'virtual' com port paired with the active bluetooth com port which is listed in the navman gps settings i.e Com port 8 was listed in the navman settings , so i made com port 8 the virtual port in GPS GATE and it works perfectly! No drop outs whatsoever and very accurate!
Thanks Ants for confirming that SmartST 2005 for Pocket PC will install (and work) under Windows Mobile 5. I'm not sure I understand why you needed to create a virtual Com port, however. By COM6 not being listed, did you mean you couldn't choose it from the drop-down menu as in the screen capture above?
Gudday Bruce,
Sorry for the looonnng time in responding to you comment, but the answer to your question was yes, com port 6 was not listed in the dropdown box as a possible option. I had to use com port 8.
But after all this, I recently "hard reset" my JAMin using the same rom upgrade that I originally had Navman smartst 2005 running on. I tried to reinstall Navman, and guess what it won't install!! The application installer comes up with a message:
"Access violation at address 00405533 in module 'SmartST_Desktop.exe'. Read of address 00133014."
Soooo annoying considering it once worked fine (not to mention having paid for the software!)
Anyone else have this problem?
Anthony I did intend on upgrading my Axim x50v to Windows Mobile 5, but said upgrade insists on having the mains charger present (I only have a USB charger with me in NZ). It would be great to hear if someone else has managed to duplicate your earlier success with SmartST under WM5.
Hello All,
Does anybody know what Navman is up to? I contacted them back in May, asking if we could discuss maps of NZ to download to devices we want to purchase from either Navman or elsewhere, then give to our sales staff. We want a GPS / smart-phone (not reliant on Bluetooth) / PDA with accessible POIs and fairly large screen, good for driving and walking. At one point, the Navman rep. said they had maps, devices and software that they could adapt for our purposes and they were looking forward to meeting me. Then they mysteriously stopped replying to my messages.
I'm really frustrated, looking for NZ street level maps and about 80 devices that will run with them without a major reconfiguration.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Sanford DeWitt
Perhaps the whole company are on a customer service course Sanford? Unfortunately if you want a (Windows Mobile) smartphone with built-in GPS and NZ maps they are your only choice at present. If they're not replying to your messages, try phoning them direct.
hmm... interesting.. I was looking to get rid of my Ipaq and CF Card GPS solution and go to an all in one solution here in Canada. Tom Tom ONE can be got for $200 (Refurbished) and There options on a Garmin unit. I wonder if you can replace the maps on a US/Canada Garmin unit with NZ Maps?
I asked TomTom about NZ maps - they said "We are due to release map coverage for New Zealand very soon, however we do not have a release date as yet, we would recommend signing up for a newsletter, once the maps are available for purchase, you will be informed by email."
Can't see why it's so hard, myself. It's just software. I should have bought my Tomtom in NZ, then added the Aussie map. Would have been much easier
I have just spoken to a guy at Ingram Micro, the New Zealand TomTom distributers and he has confirmed that the NZ maps for TomTom are due to be released very soon (beginning of Dec but don't hold your breath!!).
I can't believe that they are not available for purchase yet as the TomTom devices are available here in NZ and are loaded with NZ Maps - weird!!
If they don't release the NZ Map soon I'm going to be wasting lots of time trying to find my way round when I go on holiday in a couple of weeks time.
A message from (currently) frozen Edinburgh: As a TomTom user, I've been watching this thread for a while as I will be going to NZ in February for a month-long tour (airport strikes permitting). I just logged-on to the TomTom site to find NZ now listed as a download. If it's anything like as good as the UK coverage, it'll be worth the purchase price.
I am going to new zealand in February, but I can't find any maps for download. Just tomtom device with these maps like tomtom one/XL.
I use Tomtom Navigator 6 on my Pocket PC. does anybody know a good autorouting car navigation software for that?
I have smartst V running on a HTC Touch WM6.
need to use GPS Gate to get the right com port and it now navigates ok. Few minor probs that I have yet to sort out
- HTC inactivity time (?) times out so the devices turns off
- screen brightness is turned off (inactivity again?)
Hi, great thread. Have just returned back to NZ with a Mio A701 with installed Mio EU maps on a SD card. Now, will travel around the North Island shortly and would love to use my Mio for navigation. Please, what software should I get for that? Navmans NZ map? Any idea where to download it or any other map? Is it hard to do it, I mean, can I download one packed file and just copy it to my card or is there any installation/ripping etc involved?
Since Im a newbie on the gps things, if my Mio has Windows Mobile 5, does it mean that it will support any map software that are working on this platform or is there anything else I need to know?
Thanks for all the help I can get guys. Cheers
I'm using goldfinger guider gf-001 for pocketPc on my pocket loox n560 (Win mobile 5): http://www.goldfinger.co.nz/gf001.htm
It works fine so far, but is behind tomtom, which I used before in Germany. I had a few map errors in Christchurch, and there are a couple of things I would improve, but it works on my mobile 5 device.
Cheers,
Frithjof
In terms of Pocket PC software buying Navman's NZ maps has been the de facto choice. Sadly TomTom NZ maps are currently available to buy only for TomTom devices. Although there are open source NZ maps for Garmin devices, Garmin's own NZ maps run only on their own hardware.
"Navman are not currently selling products online in New Zealand"; their site refers you to e.g. Dick Smith—who don't appear to be selling Navman software for Pocket PC either. You might try used via TradeMe. It looks like Navman have ended support for all but their own hardware, although I can't confirm this (except for Palm).
Assuming you do manage to purchase it, IMHO Navman's SmartST software, the installation and map activation process are the most convoluted and unnecessarily complex of any software I've yet experienced.
It should, if the software says it supports WM5. It must be said that driving in NZ is not the same as driving in the EU; for most of the country (except Auckland) a street atlas for planning and then reading road signs is really all you need. There's just not nearly as much road.
i have been looking to download a nz map for my tomtom one, and have been unable to find one available on any site i have found. can you please email me and let me know if is available and price and the correct site to go to..
before friday
regards steve
@Steven. Go here and choose your country. Now select your device and choose "New Zealand" from the map list. You can't get NZ maps for Navigator to install on Windows Mobile devices at this time.
hey ya!
Just got back from NZ.. didnt take any GPS with me other than a Datalogger for my GeoTagging.. anyway, just saw that TomTom was out in NZ so checked and saw maps were now available, so just got a TomTom One XL for $CA225 last night.. look forward to using it on my next NZ trip.
Oh, and because I use a Mac I was impressed with the TomTom HOME software.
cheers
Hi there,
Is there anyone who know if Tomtom is going to release New Zealands maps for Palm pda (Navigator 6) ever? It couldn't be that hard to convert the current maps to be used with PDA's? Or is therere a commercial obstruction? Selling software AND devices is more attractive of course.
Regards,
Renate
@Renate: I've not heard rumours that such a release is being contemplated and frankly would be surprised if they did. Navman discontinued Palm support completely, indicating the small value of that market. Palm is also on the verge of an OS shift, which may or may not slow its terminal decline as a platform.
I now use a TomTom ONE v3 which we picked up online for just £114 (Western Europe); TomTom sell NZ maps (no hardware) for this/ other own-brand devices for £70. The ONE with NZ maps pre-installed sells for $NZ400 (about £160), so buying it in Europe and adding NZ mapping seems the better deal.