GPS speedo

[500AMM]

Not so relevant for our cars, but it's at least about speed...but for a boat in my case...

GPS speedos has been around for some time and Auto Meter appears to be one of the better;
https://www.google.com/search?site=...19j0i10i19j0i8i30i19j0i8i10i30i19.IXFsH_mX7co

Livorsi has also GPS speedos, but I've read that it's not possible to replace the battery in the antenna;
https://www.google.com/search?site=...1.64.img..0.18.1524...0j0i30j0i19.QSzH0Q2GvL0


Any experience here on this?

 

[r44raven]

My only experience is a Digital Speedo I bought for my E500 (as the speedo was calibrated in kilometres/hour - not much use here in the UK!).

Here's the link:

http://www.digital-speedos.co.uk/ds50-gps-speedometer-for-in-car-use-621-p.asp

It has an in-built battery, plus also a cable for connection to an in-car cigarette lighter. Price is around £70.00.

Not sure if this info is any use, or indeed if it would be suitable for a boat!

My criticism of the unit is that the readout is not "dampened", i.e. the readout is constantly flickering between (say) 29, 30, 31 and 32, when you are travelling at a constant 30 mph.

I have now bought a SatNav, which not only tells me my road speed (dampened!), but obviously also lots of other info - and for only a fraction more cost that the Digital Speedo.

Why not go for a dedicated Garmin unit? I can't remember the model number, but I had one when I used to do some flying. It had an Aviation mode, plus also a Marine mode. Not only did it give you speed, but also lots of other relevant information be it for flying, or for boating. This would be a bit more expensive, but the additional features were well worth the extra money.

Just looked up Garmin - they offer the Garmin GPS 72H in marine mode. Lots of navigational features - and all for less than £80.00.

Worth looking at?

Good sailing!

 

[500AMM]

I've forgot to respond to this thread, but many thanks for the comment, Stephen.

I have checked a bit more on GPS speedos and the option varies. In my case it will sit in open air so it has to be waterproof, but another thing is the illumination. The speedo is exposed to daylight and sunshine, which requires a pretty strong LED/neon gauge to ever be readable.

One or both of the two factors above close out most of the cool color digit GPS gauges, and so did the low cost option. Another option is a motorbike LCD speedo, but it requires custom install and will be a bit costly. I guess I sit back with analog gauges like AutoMeter to get a proper result, so in mean time the mobile phone has to do the job.

 

[vatc5637]

As an inexpensive alternative, I use an old smartphone (assuming of course that you have one laying around unused, with 4 kids, I have many) onto which I downloaded a dedicated app such as Speedview (one can also use a multi-function app such as Waze that incorporates a GPS speedometer). Pop it onto a dash mounted holder and viola, temporary GPS speedometer.



(p.s. apologies, didn't pickup on prior mention of smartphone option)

 

[500AMM]

As an inexpensive alternative, I use an old smartphone (assuming of course that you have one laying around unused, with 4 kids, I have many) onto which I downloaded a dedicated app such as Speedview (one can also use a multi-function app such as Waze that incorporates a GPS speedometer). Pop it onto a dash mounted holder and viola, temporary GPS speedometer.

(p.s. apologies, didn't pickup on prior mention of smartphone option)

Thanks for the tip!

I have a new in box surplus/discontinued company phone laying around, it looks like the one on your image. I could put it in a motorbike cluster to protect against water spray and make a nice pedestal for mounting. But I need a phone subscription to get it up running, so I'm not sure about the final cost. Would be nice if an additional copy of the SIM-card on my phone subscription was available.

 

[vatc5637]

I'm in the US so I can't comment from experience how things work in EMEA, but the GPS chip in my phone appears to work independently & a subscription does not seem to be required.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[500AMM]

I'm in the US so I can't comment from experience how things work in EMEA, but the GPS chip in my phone appears to work independently & a subscription does not seem to be required.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ahh, yes of course they do (...proves my knowledge about mobile phones ...)

I better put my sons on this.