TomTom & Co - Do you use navigation systems for tracking?

[BaliBennie]

A few weeks ago I bought myself a PDA with the navigationsoftware TomTom Navigator 6.

It helps me find banks and ATMs. And it is of course very helpfull when you go to EBT-meetings in unknown cities.

At the moment I am rewriting a file for TomTom with all Belgian Fortis Banks. I downloaded a file of POI from the internet but it was incomplete and without the names of the banks. So at the moment I am checking the coordinates and adding banks to this file. There is still alot of work to do on this file. When I am ready it will be available for others to download.

The reason for all this work is that at the moment I have set my TomTom to ATMs with sound alert. But there are so many banks that he does not know. I want to navigate to the nearest Fortis Bank when I like. It is especially handy when it is near closing time.

Do you use navigation software in a similar way?
I am curious how many of you do and how you exactly use it.
Do you have some handy tips for other Eurobilltrackers?

[Phaseolus]

Very interesting topic, Balibennie.

I am interested too in the tools people use for tracking dots or cities.

I have heard of a GPS-system usable via its cell-phone ; the data for the roads are updated immediately via a telephone call.

I am curious of what other users have to tell about this.

[debemaks]

That's nice and I work on it a lot. I've a TomTom into my Mio 168 pocket pc. I've all the maps of western europe+USA+Australia.
Usually I just keep activated as POI only radar, red alert and SICVE Tutor systems, but I've also my bank ATM and when I need it I switch it on.
Usually I download all these data from www.poigps.it , it's a really well done website with all this info. It's in italian and in english and has a lots of things specially for tomtom at european level (listed by country). Once youy register you can download and upload files!!!
I use my pocket pc also for storing .xls files with notes recorded on it, but unfortunately it's quite old and don't have any bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, so I can not logon internet.
About TomTom on mobile, there is a special software for some special model of nokia, just needing an outside antenna, working via bluetooth. The same outside antenna work as well as with the laptop always through bluetooth.
A lots of programs and POI con be easily downloaded from eMule.
Last but not least there are a loads of different voices to be add on for Tomtom really nice. And even a procedure to build our own if we like!

[bhoeyb]

Since begin this year, I use a Garmin GPSmap 60CSxfor navigation, to walk as in my car. It includes detailed maps from all of Europe (at house number level). This way, it's so easy to see if you've entered a new dot.
Afterwards, it saves a lot of time during entering the collected notes. Postal codes are also included in the GPS .

My GPS was tested on my France-Switserland trip and on the way to EBTM at the ECB in Germany.
We've never got lost, not even in the dark or in the city centre . Those are the realy hard times to drive AND look for notes .
I've saved a lot of time by driving around using my GPS.

Using a GPS for dothunting is a huge leap forward!

[haemoglobin]

yep. i`ve now travelled 20-30.000 km with navigation (falk navigator) and i ALWAYS got the dots that i wanted without any problems. never without again !!!!
i`m using fuelstation POI`s to get my dots. never failed (well, almost- sometimes they`ve closed a fuelstation )

[Nomen Nescio]

I've been using for several years Navicore's navigating software in my Nokia 9300 together with a Bluetooth GPS unit. Works like a dream and is a sweet aide when being on the move ( and when dot hunting, too )

I wouldn't any longer want to be without a GPS solution. It's very practical to have the GPS solution in your handy, since it is allways with you whenever you need it.

Currently I'm looking forward to recieve the new Nokia E90, which has got an integrated GPS chip.

When using Navicore, you get all the needed maps on a DVD and load the needed countries onto your cellphone's memory card.

With Nokia's new map service you apparently either download the maps to your PC and then to the phone ( free ) or download them directly to the phone ( somewhat expensive when using data abroad ).

[Euroblaster]

NO

[packbell]

Yes I use a Navman Europa

[BaliBennie]

Is there a dotmap overlay that can be handled by my TomTom?

If yes can someone send it to me or give me instructions?

Thanks in advance.

P.S.
For my planned crazy trip towards Berlin I have purchased a map of Western and Central Europe. It also includes countries like Czech Republic and Poland.

On my journey I plan to visit Germany (of course), Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic and Poland.
I will start from Belgium and most probably will come through a bit of Netherlands too on the way home. That makes 11 countries.

It will also include Yach as well as the missing German top 20 Cities Stuttgart, München, Leipzig and Dresden. The missing bundesländer Brandenburg, Sachsen and Thüringen will also be visited.

[coach vahid]

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?Group=1

[BaliBennie]

Recently I finished writing a POI file for all supermarkets in the Netherlands including those small townshops that are so hard to find.

I also made a file for all Rabobank Stortautomaten in Holland too. Very handy to get rid of my bills and get new ones in locations furher away from home. All ATM's are already provided by Tomtom. No need to add those to my personal poi's

Nowadays I own a Tomtom G0 910 with maps of Western_and_Central_Europe, Turkey and North America.
My Tomtom has a 20gb harddisk so I don't have to bother about the size of poi-files. I am always busy with enhancing my poi-files.

[Luumi]

I used a few years my "old" Garmin for dothunting purposes, but then I bought customizable GPS-device, which has now iGo as a software. I have also POI's of ATM's, banks, shops and gas stations etc. I like iGo because it gives me the postal code too from the current area and then I can check from mobile internet using this site if I'm in the correct dot!