Where Do You Want To Go Today? Let OnCourse Guide You!

The GPS Unit

Of course I looked at what was in the package but the first item I picked up from the box was the GPS receiver. A nice black plastic device that looked rich. On top were three LEDs indicating battery status, satellite reception and Bluetooth status. The bottom cover, which was firmly attached, will slide off easily to replace the battery (3.7 V, 1700mAh LI-ION battery). What is absolutely amazing is when you remove the battery and see how little space is there for the GPS part of the device. To be so good and yet be so small…this is technology at its best!

So it’s connected, why not try it with my old GPS software that was still installed on my iPAQ. Starting my software, I went to settings and selected NMEA compliant and com 8. I enabled the GPS and BAM, it connected with a 3D connection in maybe 3 seconds. It was so fast that it blew me away! I checked the number of satellites, there were nine. Very nice!

Well, I think I’ll compare it with old reliable. So I changed the settings back on my software, connected with my old GPS device and after many seconds, it finally had a 3D connection and it had only 4 satellites. OK, I’m convinced, more satellites and significantly faster acquisition time---I have a winner of a device!

With my initial usage of this device, I found that after running 25 test connections from my office that has a window, a hallway, my garage and in my car on the road in a variety of areas, virtually each time the connection took less than 15 seconds. There were a couple of times that it took 40-45 seconds but that certainly was not the rule. First impressions are lasting impressions and this unit has given me great expectations!

The Software: OnCourse Navigator 5

I have tried several mapping applications over the years but I always go back to my old standby. It was and still is a good mapping application but it definitely has its flaws. The biggest flaw is its ability to map a route on the fly easily (and quickly). With practice, it worked well, but it really was not intuitive enough and it took too much time to calculate some routes.

I suppose that different folks have a variety of expectations for a GPS software package. For me, because of the large amount of travel that I do, I want something that will be accurate and fast in calculating while I am on the road. I want the ability to find a variety of POI’s if wanted and I don’t want to have to play around any more creating maps.
I just want to do it!

What I wanted was an application that was going to let me do and/or have the following capabilities:

The decision making process on what to get can be an arduous task because you don't want to make a mistake…it's too expensive. Informed decisions for the most part work out pretty well. Advice from friends that have used different Navigation packages, the recommendations from "experts" and making sure that the package has what you are looking for is very important in this process. After spending time looking at was available, it was clear to me that not only was the OnCourse BT GPS the best but the software had everything I wanted (and more). Because OnCourse Navigator 5 had all these abilities, the final decision was easy and I have been ecstatic with its function since the first trip I have taken.

The Install

It is important to note that OnCourse Navigator 5 needs to run in main memory for fast and efficient operation. So if you keep your device "maxed out" then you will have to make some decisions on what programs are not necessities. For programs that do not need to be installed in main memory, I urge you to use BIS (DELL AXIM) or iPAQ File Storage to preserve main memory for program operation. I have very few programs loaded in main memory so all of my devices would work but using the 2755 gives me added flexibility and the potential for growth.

The installation of the software that comes with the "Christmas package" was incredibly easy. The package came with a 1 gig card preloaded with a map of the entire US and OnCourse Navigator 5. I had already given my device a hard reset because I wanted to have a fresh start and then add what I wanted for additional software. So I took the 1 gig card and inserted it in the iPAQ with the full intention of having to take the CD and load the program. I really thought that the SD card only had the maps...was I wrong!

Within a second, an install began on the iPAQ and I was absolutely floored! I have never experienced this type of install so to see it for the first time was an eye opening experience...I was really impressed. It was fast, easy and with in seconds I was beginning the initial process of getting setup.

Now this process, which is basically a pretty simple, is truly a PIA. I really didn’t care for it because it is time consuming and I wanted to get navigating! But security of the program is important to OnCourse and if you want to use their software, this is what you have to go through.