Mio 269

[guitarman]

I know the last post about this got no response but a year has passed so ......

Has anybody got a Mio 269 ? It looks like a good piece of kit and even comes with maps loaded but as someone who knows bgrall about GPS I am probably missing something. It reckons it can be used on motorbike although I think I'd rather put it in the map pocket of a tank bag to reduce vibration as it's a hard disk model.

Comments?

Cheers

Dick

 

[Kropotkin]

If it's got a hard disk, the hard disk will break (same is true of Garmin's 2620s), as the disks cannot tolerate the vibration created by a motorcycle.

It also won't be weather proof (as in wet and heat). The tank bag pocket will protect it from the rain, but it will get VERY hot in there, as it's in direct sunshine, with no means of cooling it (specs say temp range is 0-40 deg, tank bag in summer in full sunshine is well above that). Plus having the nav in your tank bag pocket means having to look DOWN at the tank bag to look at the map (which you will still want to do, even if you have the voice guidance in your helmet*). Which is little better than having a map in there.

I've had exactly these problems with my PDA (which is now nicely waterproof and handlebar mounted, but still conks out if it gets too hot, necessitating a reset).

And for the money (nearly 400 quid), you could get a fully mounted Quest, which suffers none of these problems.

Looks like an expensive waste of money, unless you only drive a car.





*Note to self: stop listening to the voices in my helmet.

 

[RAM-man]

.. I just walk across to GPSW (it was also feeding time), The Mio 268 and 269 are the same size, so armed with cradles we did somequick tests, while they munched.

RAM-HOL-PD2 .. body smaller than the pda.

RAM-HOL-PD1 .. cradle has sides and sprung loaded end so it eats the Mio 268/269 easily. The connector points on the Mio were accessible. it may not be water/weatherproofed, so its a plastic bag or the new AquaBox2 when it arrives.

So, I suggest if you want to put on the bike, use a RAM-HOL-PD1 with the normal handlebar mount, such as RAM-B-149Z for 1" bars. Turn the PD1 cradle on its side so appears normal viewing, the RAM ball joint will help you do this.

I guess its worth an honourary CD copy of this wandering minstral's repatoire.

RAM-man

 

[Fanum]

What Kropotkin said......I've had two HD's fail in Zen MP3 players, the second was ina bag inside pyramid foam and STILL got shagged by the vibration.....I wouoldn't even think about anything with a HD system in it TBH.

Unless you have the offer of one for half price or less, save yourself a load of grief and get the tried and tested Quest IMHO

 

[guitarman]

I must say I was concerned about the hard drive but I've seen some posts from people using the 262? with a hard drive and not having any problems.

I'm not surprised that the mp3 players gave up as they weren't designed to suffer extreme levels of vibration but surely a GPS system that says it can be used on a pushbike or a motorbike would be able to withstand the vibration and shocks?

I'm not sure I want to be the one to test it out though

Cheers

Dick

 

[Kropotkin]

Dick, do a search on Advrider for 2620. See how many times these things get sent back.

On the other hand, it's your money, you are free to do with it as you wish. But if you do go for one of these, get in touch, I have a few investment ideas ...

 

[guitarman]

Dick, do a search on Advrider for 2620. See how many times these things get sent back.

On the other hand, it's your money, you are free to do with it as you wish. But if you do go for one of these, get in touch, I have a few investment ideas ...

OK point taken. You must be a man on a mission. In my searches for 2620 on this site you turn up in every one with a similar post. I guess you just have our best interests at heart

Thanks for the advice though.

Looks like a 2610 or a Quest then.

Cheers

Dick

 

[Kropotkin]

I just love you all, and don't want any harm to come to any of you

Just out of interest, why did you want the Mio anyway?

 

[guitarman]

I just love you all, and don't want any harm to come to any of you

Just out of interest, why did you want the Mio anyway?

It wasn't that I particularly wanted it but it seemed like a good price as it had all the maps pre-loaded, brackets, earphones etc. and enough space for expansion. It looked like it would do all the 6210 does but cheaper. Although I knew about hard drives and vibration I didn't realise that it really had affected GPS units so badly.

Cheers

Dick

 

[Kropotkin]

A much better option would be to look for a PDA bundle (preferably with a Navman GPS unit), and get the biggest CF card you can find. Careful shopping would get you in the same sort of region, though you may have to add an Otterbox for complete weatherproofness.

I use a PDA with TomTom, and to be frank, I shall be ditching it at the first possible (financial) opportunity in favour of a Quest, even though the Quest has a much smaller memory. Mostly because the Garmin units are the only (?) units which are well suited to use on a bike.

If I only drove a car, I would probably not bother with a Garmin unit, and stick with a PDA, as the car provides the weather protection. But I don't own or operate a car, so I need something for the bike.

Your Mileage, in this as in everything in life, May Vary.

Good luck making a decision, though!

 

[RAM-man]

Mio 268/269

My 'pm' box is getting busy with the same question, I guess Halfords was busy at the weekend.

I am being ask again if there is cradle & mount to put a 268 onto a bike ?.

The RAM-HOL-PD1 cradle has sides with a sprung loaded end so the Mio 268/269 fits easily. The connector points on the Mio are accessible. I suggest the cradle is mounted 'side-on'; so it appears as a normal view to the rider. It will need the mount to complete.

It may not be water/weatherproofed, but it works.

RAM-man

 

[Pukmeister]

My mate has the earlier Mio 168 on his Adv fitted in a Ram mount. During our trip of Ireland, the plastic hinge part of the GPS Antenna wore away due to vibration whilst riding. So much for being bike-mountable.

If you are using a GPS with a flip-up antenna made of plastic, I would advise you to use the remote plug-in magnetic antenna instead so you can prevent this happening to yours (this may need you to modify your Ram mount PDA holder to hold the PDA with the antenna in the closed position).

 

[RAM-man]

Mio 168

To mount a Mio168, try the RAM-HOL-CO3 it fits well.

RAM-man

 

[mikeh501]

My brother has just bought a Mio 269 against my advice for his camper van. I had a good play with it last night over a barbie.

Well...... Its terrible TBH, It is very slow to load, to navigate.... actually whatever you want to do it slow as treacle.

Its definately not waterproof, or even splashproof. No attempt at any kind of water proofing at all. A SD card slot sits at the top of the unit, which is just a hole - no spring loaded cover at all.

Its light years behind the garmin 2610/quest.....

 

[guitarman]

My brother has just bought a Mio 269 against my advice for his camper van. I had a good play with it last night over a barbie.

Well...... Its terrible TBH, It is very slow to load, to navigate.... actually whatever you want to do it slow as treacle.

Its definately not waterproof, or even splashproof. No attempt at any kind of water proofing at all. A SD card slot sits at the top of the unit, which is just a hole - no spring loaded cover at all.

Its light years behind the garmin 2610/quest.....

Bloody good job I didn't buy one then

Cheers

Dick