Pharos PFT22 Pocket GPS Portable Navigator for Toshiba, incl. CompactFlash GPS Receiver, SW & US Maps

by Pharos

Product Details

• Item Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007FH6W
• Item model number: PFT22
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Product Description

Compatible with most Pocket PCs with a CompactFlash slot, the Pocket GPS Portable Navigator combines the portability of a CompactFlash GPS receiver with Ostia, Pharos' award-winning street routing and navigation software. With the navigation software installed on your Pocket PC, you can drive or walk through any city in the US, and locate your current position or quickly find a destination or point of interest. Routes can be calculated and viewed. The automated voice prompts will instruct you when and where to turn. If by chance you go "off-route," the automated voice will give an off-route warning and the system will automatically reroute you to your destination from your current position. The inlcuded MobilePak includes a vent-mounted PDA holder, and universal car adaptor, and an auxilliary external antenna for the receiver.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for the Toshiba E755 PPC!!, November 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Pharos PFT22 Pocket GPS Portable Navigator for Toshiba, incl. CompactFlash GPS Receiver, SW & US Maps (Electronics)

I held off purchasing a GPS system for my PPC for about 2 years. Then I purchased the Toshiba E755 and finally did some serious research on the more popular GPS systems and software, e.g., Co-Pilot, Mapopolis, Destinator, and took the plunge. For the combination of features and price I decided on Pharos, and I'm glad I did (note: there is currently a $50 rebate on the already low price offered at Amazon, effectively dropping the price below $200). One of my unspoken concerns was that it would be a complex process to set it up on the PPC--nothing could have been further from the truth. I pulled out the quickstart card, downloaded the software to my laptop, synced the PPC and downloaded a local map for testing. (Note: as the GPS unit fits in the Compact Flash slot of the E755, you'll want to invest in a SD media card--the downloaded maps are resource hogs. For example, I initially used a 32MB SD card and used about 20MB for two maps; I've since purchased a 64MB card. Be advised Toshiba PPC owners: shop carefully for your SD cards. I was ready to purchase a Sandisk because I've had great luck w/ their CF cards. But having read other Toshiba owners' woes w/ Sandisk SD cards, I went to the company's website and checked for compatibility of their SD cards w/ Toshiba PPCs--they are not) Anyway, read quickly through the salient parts of the owner's manual to make sure I understood the basic functions and turned the system on--inside my house and not seated in front of a window.) About 90 seconds later I was connected to several satellites. I then got into the car and mapped several known routes, all of which were mapped accurately. One word of caution: make sure your "sounds and notifications" are turned on on your PPC otherwise the GPS voice prompts will not function. I did not, but it gave me the opportunity to test Pharos' customer service. I E-mailed customer service one evening about the problems I was having with the voice prompts and I received a reply the next morning outlining the steps I needed to take.

Some of the features I found particularly useful:

-the on-screen display is great; there are several different modes: text directions; maps w/ turn-by-turn indicators (two views); expanded map view.
-voice prompts and turn indicators are very useful.
-w/ automatic re-routing, you'll not be off course for long--I found this very helpful; quick and accurate.
-system provides both a daylight and night view.
-you can use your contacts info in MS to select destinations or points of origin.
-the system comes with the CF GPS, an antenna extension (which I have yet to use; the compact flash GPS has done a great job without it), cigarette lighter power cord for the PPC and a mounting kit.

Bottomline: probably not the flashiest GPS system out there w/ lots of bells and whistles, but for the price, functionality, and accuracy, you can't beat it. For the great PPC the E755 is, this makes it yet more indispensable. I would make this purchase again.