GPS verified speed By silverfox96 (Read 1,633 times)

[silverfox96]

I'm not at all familiar with the operation of any GPS unit, and have some questions for those that use this device for verifying their speed.

1. What make and model gps do you use?

2. What was the cost for it?

3. Does it provide a constant readout of your speed?

4. How difficult is the learning curve for it?

I'm looking for something that will give me accurate readings on my speed at all times. Something that will function as an actual speedometer, to be mounted on the dash and that will act as an additional speedometer.

[trancebear]

1. Sprint HTC Evo-3D smartphone
2. $200 with upgrade discount
3. Yes and much more
4. To the average smartphone user it is quite easy.

Here it is mounted on my scooter dash with 2-sided tape and a holder from Sprint.





Here is the free app for my phone

[royldoc]

Here is my gps
1) Garmin Nuvi 1300
2) about $150. There is cheaper models and more expensive models with more features. I got this one for the screen size.
3) It is close to constant. It uses time/ distance to calculate speed but is updated about every sec. I use it in all my vehicles and rarely look at the stock speedometer. I have owned this one for a little over a year.
4) It is fairly simple. If I can use it anybody could.

Roy

[silverfox96]

Thanks trancebear, for the info, although I'm really not into the purchase of a phone. The $200.00 is a definite deterrent, since I'm on a limited income. Unless there is something available for considerably less, I guess I'll just have to put up with the erroneous chin-o-meter.

[trancebear]

Any android smartphone will do this, even the ones you can get for free. Regular GPS units can be has new for as little as $65

[royldoc]

I have a sprint htc evo 4G Phone that has good gps and dash aps. But I don't use it much.

Roy

[runningslow]

I use a Sigma 509 Bicycle Speedometer. ~$15 off Amazon. Once calibrated, works great and accurate. I don't think I have too many details on how I installed it, but if you have any questions, I can try to help.

Basic steps (I think I make it sound more complicated than it really was):
-Epoxy a rare earth magnet from Radio Shack to edge of rim.
-Mount Sensor to fork. (I had to fab a small bracket to get the sensor close enough to the magnet.)
-Lengthen sensor wire to reach handlebars.
-Mount computer to handlebars as intended, or velcro to panel.





Sigma Computers are the best. You can find alot of information on the web about people using them on motorcycles. The cheapo Schwinn's/Bell's/etc.. from Walmart are crap. They'll get to about 45mph then die. You've also got to use the wired models as wireless ones can't keep up.

[trancebear]

Are those battery powered?

[runningslow]

Oct 17, 2011 11:22:59 GMT -6 trancebear said:

Are those battery powered?

The bike speedo? Yep. Just takes a single watch style battery. They last forever, too. The display shuts itself off after a few minutes and turns back on by itself when it detects the magnet pass the sensor.

The only problem that I've had is that its not backlit, so you can't see it in the dark. I've thought about trying to rig up a light for it, like a battery operated booklight. However, if you have it installed in tandem with the Chinometer, you'll get a feel for the real speed and then can gauge it by the backlit chinometer in the dark.

[silverfox96]

I went to the sigma site to look at the manual. It shows set-up for 16" wheel and up, however my scoot has 13" wheels. Too bad, cause I was ready to order one!

[runningslow]

That manual is going to be for setting up on a bicycle.

My scooter has 13", wheels too. You calibrate them based on the wheel circumference, down to the millimeter. It took a few attempts to fine tune the setting, up/down a few millemeters, but I eventually got it set perfectly for me.

I know for a fact that the Sigma 509 (the model I have) can be calibrated for 13" wheels.

[trancebear]

Oct 17, 2011 8:54:40 GMT -6 royldoc said:

I have a sprint htc evo 4G Phone that has good gps and dash aps. But I don't use it much.

Roy

I have a sprint car kit for this phone I can sell ya cheap. it charges it also.

[jct842]

silverfox96, your 13" wheels are not going to be far off from a 16" bicycle tire OD. the way those things work is rev's times outside circumference. you have a fat tire, a bike has a skinny one. some of the speedo"s are set up by how many inches around tire is.

One thing I noticed with my hand held garmin is that it is not always truthful, one night on my old bandit I was doing some twistys on a 10 mile run and when I got home I noticed the max speed was around 100, I would have liked to claim I was that fast but doubt if I got over 75 that time. several other times speed was exaggerated too and mostly when I was not going straight. for scooters it has always came to a very reasonable speed easy to believe and showed no errors. 35-65 mph/

I bought a car type gps over a year ago for my majesty and never installed it or even tried it on that scooter. tested in car and found with it out in bright sun light it was impossible to see the screen. it was a factory refurbished and cheap but the same screens are also on expensive ones. it was a tomtom. the ones designed for outside use as in a boat or bike have a much brighter screen and cost a whole lot more.

john

[runningslow]

Oct 18, 2011 23:25:49 GMT -6 jct842 said:

silverfox96, your 13" wheels are not going to be far off from a 16" bicycle tire OD. the way those things work is rev's times outside circumference. you have a fat tire, a bike has a skinny one. some of the speedo"s are set up by how many inches around tire is.

As I said, all the Sigma computers are programmable to the millimeter. Makes fine tuning easy.

[silverfox96]

You have convinced me, runningslow. That is the next on the list to acquire, for my 150.