CoPilot Truck 11

I'm thinking XP netbook running CoPilot, where I can also get E-mail and so forth talking on Wi-Fi to a 3G hotspot in the truck.  Need a decent sized screen, my iPhone is just too small for navigation.  Don't want an iPad as we will be wandering back and forth between the US and Canada and data roaming charges dictate separate air-cards for each country.  Integrated 3G in the iPad would be a no no because of the roaming problem.

Anyone have alternative ideas for this situation?

Then you *could* still just get a non-3G iPad.  That's what I do, though I admit I don't use it for navigation.  You don't have the built in GPS that way, but I'd think you'd want a better GPS for actual navigation anyway (well, better in the sense that you can get an antenna more "out there").

I don't know, I just hate XP.  My ideal solution would probably be to just use a dedicated GPS unit for Nav.  But to get a bigger screen Nav and have a usable device for other tasks, I suppose an XP netbook might be best.
Donnie

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Now we use a commercial truck routing software, that I can't remember the name of, it is by Microsoft.

That would be interesting because after lots of research, Microsoft's only product we have found is Streets & Trips.  So the name would be appreciated.  When it comes to height knowledgeable GPS software, ALK CoPilot is pretty much of an exclusive market within the price range of an RVer.  The only other software I have seen is from Europe and I am not sure how reliable the road database with heights would be.  XP works fine for this application.  Never been lost by CoPilot, but we always plan our trips and maybe we eliminate operator error because of the planning.

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Now we use a commercial truck routing software, that I can't remember the name of, it is by Microsoft.

It is an add on to streets and trips. Truckstop Plus

Donnie Barnes, on Jun 6 2010, 08:21 PM, said:
I use a mobile router that can handle different USB data dongles

I'm using a CRT 500 with a Cyfre CA-819 wired amp.  Will likely stay with MikroTik for the internal hotspot as it gives me lots of choice in radio cards and I'm familiar with it.  For an external Wi-Fi receiver, its pretty hard to look past Ubiquiti these days, likely a NanoStation M2 on an extendable pipe.

The CRT500 is nice because I already have one, and it will take USB and PCI Express air cards.

I can live with XP, I use it on my stuff at home and office computers still.

A new version of CoPilot is on the way that addresses some of the issues with the current release.

eagleno49, on Jun 6 2010, 11:42 PM, said:
It is an add on to streets and trips.

That's interesting and looks worth a try.  Low cost of entry is nice.

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Wow.  Where to begin.  You sprang to life a 17-month old thread and did a review of a 2 and a half year old software release that is slated to be replaced very soon.  It's been beaten to death in many threads, but I'll try to comment on several of these new posts because they all merit it.

- Version 11 was born from primarily 3 reasons.  One, the CPT9 maps were getting out of date.  Two, it did not play Nicely with the "new" Microsoft Vista that had come out.  And three, many drivers complained that version 9 was "too complicated."  NOW, in our review at release time we (and many other drivers also) stated that we DIS-agreed with the "dumbing down" philosophy that they took in version 11.  Their attempt to make it more "universally accepted" took away some key features that we loved.  However, that was the marketing decision made at the time.

Now, where did version 11 go right and wrong?

First, ALK underestimated the coming push by Microsoft to get 64-bit operating systems pushed out on the OEM's.  At the time that version 11 was written, 64-bit machines were only about 10% of the market and used primarily by the "techie" faction of us.  BUT, during Vista's evolution, Microsoft increased the OEM installations to about 50% of new computers.  And NOW about 90% of new computers come with the 64-bit version of Windows 7.  Alk did not write version 11 to be compliant with 64-bit operating systems which eventually alienated a large segment of the "now" generation of computers being purchased out there.

Next, they did not foresee the ever-expanding array of screen sizes (especially this trend toward "widescreen" now) and there are about 5 resolutions that the program won't run on.  It is a simple configuration file fix that you have to do manually, but many copies have been returned over the years for this oversight.

Then, they removed some extremely useful features that were in 9 (that some users ironically reported as never even realizing they were there.)  There were LOTS of bells and whistles in 9 that didn't make it into the "simpler, easier" version 11.  My (and many other drivers here have posted) "big" ones that didn't make it were: the ability to "Avoid/Favor" any road.  The "POI" manager that allowed us to create our own custom POI's and to import/export easily those POI's.  The ability to display ONLY the precise POI icons on the screen that I wanted to.  The ability to show more or less "map detail" at any zoom level.  The ability to set POI alerts for ONLY the specific trucking items that I wanted to be alerted for.  In version 11, as you pointed out, it displays a POI alert "icon" that you must click to see details, and then lumps together every exit, truck, stop, scale, and weigh station into that alert.  Those two facts make the trucking POI alerts basically useless.  (note: by the way, it DOES say the name of the truck stop in the version 11 alert box.  I think you were talking about all of the exits lumped in there.)

They made the receiver that come with version 11 ONLY work with version 11.  It can not be used on any other previous version or on any other program (like MS Streets or Delorme.)

Their technical support ability degraded dramatically as a result of the increased volume during months following the release of 11.  And it has never fully recovered to where it was during the version 9 days.  For all of those units purchased from somewhere other than my site, they had no other alternative for support and short support hours, so this was a nightmare for most when they needed it.

IN spite of these things, it was an extremely successful product because (once you have created a proper truck profile) it is very accurate in its truck route decisions for those who want the GPS on a laptop.  Nothing is 100% of course, but there was no more accurate truck routing laptop GPS program - and still isn't.  There are a lot of "techie tricks" you can do with MS Streets and add-ons and POI downloads that make that system more truck "customized" but there is no other with as complete of truck attribute database for North America as PC Miler's for laptops.  Many, MANY, drivers never had version 9 and have only used 11, so they never got used to the aforementioned features and are happy with it as-is.  I can definitely testify though that those MOST disappointed are like you and did use a previous more full-featured version.

BUT, it's soon to be an academic argument because version 8 (yes, the numbering is wacky) is soon to hit the shelves now.  When I get our test copy, I'll certainly run it through its paces here and out on the road and post up the results.  And yes, it will most certainly be 64-bit compatible.

www.dieselboss.com

Looks like waiting for Version 8 may be a good idea.  In the short term Streets & Trips with the add-on looks worth a try.

A review of the new version 8 for the iPhone is here and sounds pretty encouraging if the PC version runs as well.

iPhone Navigation Shootout

If I was buying a Cradlepoint now, I would likely get a 900 or above.  I like the LAN ports.

We use a bunch of NanoStations and have been having very good luck with them.  Fairly broad antenna pattern so aiming is not too critical.

We use Picos for in-building hotspots and I travel with one to use as a client in a hotel room with dodgy Wi-Fi (happens more often than it should).  I need as good a connection as possible for my VoIP extension that ties back to the business Asterisk PBX.

Our results with Bullets are not quite so good.

There have been problems with water leaks around the LED lights, and I tend to stay clear of them as a result.  Its also kind of nice to have a MIMO N compatible client.  Granted, almost no access points are using N yet, but I expect its coming one day.

And if I get lost that's all part of the fun!  (Well, sometimes--I do wish my Tom-Tom had a external Antenna jack - it has some problems picking up satellites inside the HDT.)

I think the trade-off is not too bad, I don't get bugged too frequently by the office and really enjoy this tekkie stuff anyway.

I'm going to start testing a NanoStation as well.  I've been committed to Deliberant gear for almost 5 years, but now that I'm looking to upgrade some sites, I'm looking at Ubiquity as well.  Although I have little experience with them.

Not even close to automatic routing based upon truck/height restriction.  Doing a route and them manually checking the route (and you have to be online) is not what CoPilot does.

Relying on Streets & Trips can have its problems.  The 2008 version was upwards of 50 miles off from where a POI was displayed and were it physically was.

Finally, by their own admission, Truck Stop Plus is a small company.  Where do they get their height data?  ALK gets theirs from multiple professional services and trucker feedback from their PC-Miler commercial software systems.

I guess if you are really interested in lots of commercial truck POIs, then Truck Stop Plus might be worth it.

It you want a GPS application that is watching for clearances for your RV when it does a auto-reroute when you decide to take a different turn, then you need CoPilot.

This is just a half-baked test until version 8 Truck is out for the PC.  I think I will give ALK a call and see if there is any upgrade deal available if you buy 11 now and want to upgrade to 8 later...

Learned a couple of valuable lessons.  Announced product is not equal to available product, sometimes by six months or more.  New firmware is not ready for prime time, sometimes by six months or more.  If you work within those constraints, the new M series stuff rocks.  You can deliver 40 or more Megabits to a lot of customers off a single access point, and the price is stunning considering the capability.

Perhaps I may get to run my Wi-Fi using a Nano M2 client off one of your upgraded APs one day?

BTW, the Nanos make very nice low cost AP sectors too!  One of the guys on the forum is making some cool RF shields to bring the F/B up in this and other applications.

If it crashes and burns I will post that on the forum.  So far I really like the big screen, easy to see and touch.
Mike