Zumo 500 v Iphone

[Rob J]

I have both a Garmin Zumo 500 (wired to my GS) and always carry my phone with me when out and about on the bike.

If I am being honest I have seldom, if ever, used the Zumo to anything like its full potential.

A few trips to Europe is just about the closest I have ever got, or am ever likely to get to an adventure, so my question is this :

is the Iphone, or any other smartphone for that matter, a viable SatNav device on the bike.

I would be genuinely interested to hear your views or better still listen to your personal experiences with the Smartphone option.

Cheers

Rob

 

[Wapping]

You seem to have decided that it is. That is all that matters.

The one definite plus, is that you can make a phone call from an iPhone but can't from a dumb GPS device. It may well cost you a bob or two to do it from outside the UK, but you say you don't go away that often, that will probably not be a problem.

 

[grizzly7]

The on-screen buttons on my Garmin'd Iphone are too small to easily use in the car, no gloves, and its mounted by the rear view mirror so no big stretch. It would be OK on a bike if I didn't need to do anything to it while riding.

I don't know if different software would present you with bigger buttons (like TonTom etc)?

Or would Garmin on a bigger smartphone keep the same size buttons or would everything grow equally???

 

[stu1969]

I have tomtom on my iPhone. It's as good as any tomtom I have used previously. I like the winding roads feature which has plotted some very interesting routs. It's a bit of fun.
Tomtom on my phone has one huge disadvantage and that is you can't use custom routes.
Obviously I can't use the touch screen with gloves on but solution to that problem is to have a little stylus.

 

[how much for a service!]

well if you are thinking of selling the zumo let me know
cheers

 

[stu1969]

This little case straps to the bar clamp next to my waterproof iPhone case/charger. The extendable reel thing came from a fishing tackle shop.

 

[Bobbin-Man]

I have my Zumo 550/Autocom linked to my iPhone 4 enabling me to make calls from my bike ..... and the phone is tucked away safe in my jacket pocket. Not sure you're phone will appreciate being caught in a downpoor .....

 

[Wapping]

The further this thread goes with waterproof cases, bags, rubber tipped styluses and bits from fishing tackle shops; the more convincing the argument for buying * a good quality simple GPS device becomes.


* Lots come up in the FSW section.

 

[sanqhar]

This little case straps to the bar clamp next to my waterproof iPhone case/charger. The extendable reel thing came from a fishing tackle shop. View attachment 252811View attachment 252812

That thing is called a "zinger".

tom