Just get something with a Sirf III chipset.

I have a BT-338 (bluetooth) but I find it kind of a pain in the ass to carry around 2 pieces of hardware. But back in the early sirf3 days, bluetooth was the only option. Now you can get a compact flash GPS - if you're not using the CF slot, that would be the most convienent IMO.

As far as software, in my experience mapopolis is the best when it comes to routing, but the address entry interface SUCKS (needs stylus). I use mapopolis everytime I need to get somplace. Tomtom and iGuidance are probably one of the easiest to use...

www.gpspassion.com has TONS of good info.

 

I'll post a pic of my set-up later when i get home.. you'll be suprised to see where I put mine and it really stays there too!!

 

i have a ipaq5000 with pocket pc 3 and an older version of mapopolis. this configuration is full of bugs, odd windows lockups. the bluetooth is hard to pair. get a self contained unit for your wife.

once you get it running its ok.

 

I've got a CF GPS receiver... The antenna on the CF receiver sticks out and makes the PDA bigger.

I definitely prefer the BT receiver. Most versatile setup I've come across. Keeps the original form-factor of the PDA... The Royaltek BT GPS reciever is tiny...TomTom automatically starts the BT and looks for the GPS receiver...

The BT-338 w/ SIRFIII chipset would be my recommendation also.

 

at this point i think i'm going to head the direction of a bluetooth GPS solution, that way it would also allow me to also use my bluetooth enabled laptop...


i've been looking around some at aximsite - and need to do some more exploring... good stuff there.


thanks for the other great links as well William, Dave, LateOtt, Ken and others.


Ken -- what processor does your phone have? i think Audra's Axim is a 624 Mhz. how does that compare to yours?


Lateott, right now, she doesn't store too much on the actual memory card (as she mostly uses it as a daytimer), so i'm hoping the current 1GB card will hold a good number of maps? i don't mind upgrading - just wanting to get a feel for the size i need.


how is battery life for the BT GPS units? or is that something i can hardwire an adapter for?

 

My Deluo BT GPS receiver goes about 2-3 hours on a charge. But it uses the same 5V PS that the Dell Axim uses - I just use a splitter on my Axim car charger for longer trips and leave the BT GPS and Axim always powered.

 

my garmin unit goes for about 10hrs of use between charges.

 

http://www.garmin.com/products/gps10/

At last

 

Yup, should be fine if she is driving primarily in one state. I just tend to get map-itis. I wanted my metropolitan area, then my state, then my state plus all the adjoining states, then the states that I visit, etc., etc. But that's just me!

I think 1 GB should be fine to start out with. Media prices are constantly coming down and if she felt she needed more storage you could just pick up another card when needed.

Great decision to go with Bluetooth. My BT battery lasts for a couple of hours, but it's older technology. The newer devices have slightly better batteries and the new GPS chipsets consume less power. Mine also has a power splitter so I can power/charge both the Axim and the GPS at the same time. Hardwiring and mounting should be a snap for someone like you.

 

the bt-338 is _the_ standard as far as BT gps only devices go... or at least it used to be It has 18 hours of battery life and a sirf III chipset. It's what I use and can vouch for how much it kicks ass (www.gpspassion.com for tons more info)

I also bought a seidio powered pda mount because it has a powered speaker so you can actually hear it with the top down. And it also has the option to power the GPS as well via a cable from the mount.

Good luck!

edit: fixed name of pda mount