NEW!!!---cfQue 1620

[nparker13]

Hey everyone, wasnt sure if you've heard, but Garmin just added this to their products page:

http://www.garmin.com/products/cfQue/

-nate

[nparker13]

More info:
The cf Que™ 1620 is a CompactFlash® GPS module with street-level, turn-by-turn navigation applications for personal digital assistants (PDAs) that operate on the PocketPC platform. This module features Garmin’s new Que technology, which delivers high-performance GPS location, mapping, and navigation capabilities to handheld devices.


Suggested Retail Price:
$267.84 U.S.D. (for domestic US market only)


Expected Availability:
May 2004

Features:
Location awareness, address and points-of-interest look-up features, electronic mapping, automatic route generation, and off-route recalculation
Basemap with highways, major streets, rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and significant borders
64 MB of memory that can store detailed map data from Garmin’s exclusive line of MapSource cartography (MapSource CD-ROMs can give the user access to detailed backcountry contour maps, digital maps of fishing lakes, and electronic offshore navigation charts)
PC software provides trip planning plus waypoint and route storage
Voice guidance (on PocketPCs equipped with audio capabilities)
Sleek design doesn't add bulk to your handheld
Flip-up antenna can be adjusted to optimize GPS reception — whether the PocketPC is secured in a vehicle with a PDA mount (included) or carried by hand
Measures 1.7" W x 2.0" H x 0.5" D (4.3 x 5.1 x 1.3 cm) and weighs only 1.5 oz.
Installs securely in a standard Type I or Type II CompactFlash slot
Universal PDA mount (included) allows optimum positioning of PocketPCs on most dashboards and windshields
Comes with the MapSource City Select® (U.S./Canada or Europe)

Included:
cf Que™ 1620
MapSource® City Select CD-ROM
Universal PDA vehicle mount with automotive friction mount
Quick-start guide
Installation/Application CD with manual and basemaps
Basemaps included on CD:
Americas Autoroute
Atlantic Autoroute
Pacific Autoroute
Worldwide Autoroute

Pic:

[g0tr00t]

Ohhhh....this would be perfect for my Maestro. It has both CF and SD :eek:

That means I would have to get used to PPC again....

[g0tr00t]

.....then again. No external antenna. Nah, I'll keep the iQue. Thanks for that post though.

[ssaibal]

I will still be with iQue-3600 (I am biased as I have spent US$1500 or so on this baby so far:p ).....the 64MB RAM is too little unless there is space for another Flash card (SD or CF).

Instead I would love iQue to have Bluetooth+wifi+brighter display like 2620.

[g0tr00t]

Originally posted by ssaibal
I will still be with iQue-3600 (I am biased as I have spent US$1500 or so on this baby so far:p ).....the 64MB RAM is too little unless there is space for another Flash card (SD or CF).

Instead I would love iQue to have Bluetooth+wifi+brighter display like 2620.

$1500? How???:eek:

[Skata]

Originally posted by ssaibal
I will still be with iQue-3600 (I am biased as I have spent US$1500 or so on this baby so far:p ).....the 64MB RAM is too little unless there is space for another Flash card (SD or CF).

Instead I would love iQue to have Bluetooth+wifi+brighter display like 2620.

$1500.00 is about where I'm at also.

[JMckie]

The cf Que™ 1620 seems like a blast from the past, like it was released a year or two too late.

$1500? Easy!

Lets me count the ways, sorted (approximately) by cost:

The iQue itself
3rd party software
Additional garmin maps
SD card
external keyboard
automobile mounts
antennae
battery packs
carrying cases
extra charger
screen protector
stylii
RMA shipping costs

[g0tr00t]

Originally posted by JMckie

$1500? Easy!

Lets me count the ways, sorted (approximately) by cost:

RMA shipping costs

Thank you..

Just curious...what's your best guesstimate on this cost?

[nivram]

The CF Ique 1620 does look good if you are already using PPCs and don't want to go to Palm platform. I wished when the IQue came out it was PPC in the first place, but switch to the 1620, it is no where near the IQue 3600 level.

Garmin indicates it has 64 meq in the CF which is well below my general usage. Unless you have a more expensive PPC you don't have a spare card slot and you have only a SD slot. I can swap multiple SD cards for maps with the 3600. The external antenna allows me to put the 3600 in a bag and place the antenna where I want and gets great reception. The external jack is a major plus.

My pros are at the $260 price range you get City Select and a GPS at a reasonable price.

My last issue is, if Garmin gives you 64 meg of storage, do they let you store the maps in your internal memory or on a second card slot.

[Trode]

Originally posted by g0tr00t
Thank you..

Just curious...what's your best guesstimate on this cost?

us$16 2nd day air via UPS from upstate NY (includes box & packaging).

Cost of going without my iQue: Priceless.

I'm currently experiencing withdrawal symptoms. :(

Please, Mr Garmin, I want my iQue back! In working order, please. :)

Arthur

[ssaibal]

I am yet to do an RMA (touch wood), but the total cost is over US$ 1600......this is one toy on which one can keep spending.;) Perfect "male" jewelery though I consider Ann as an honorary member of the gang.:D

[IAUDI]

Originally posted by Trode
us$16 2nd day air via UPS from upstate NY (includes box & packaging).

Cost of going without my iQue: Priceless.

I'm currently experiencing withdrawal symptoms. :(

Please, Mr Garmin, I want my iQue back! In working order, please. :)

Arthur

Yesterday, I paid to overnight my ique. I too feel your pain of withdrawal symptoms.

[jmparsons]

Wow...I paid about $600 for my iQue, auto nav kit and 256 mb card. I already had blue charts for navigating on the water with my GPSMap76.

My iQue has been back to Garmin once--to replace a cracked screen that was totally my own bonheaded mistake.

I have had essentially ZERO problems with mine.

Joe Parsons

Originally posted by JMckie
The cf Que™ 1620 seems like a blast from the past, like it was released a year or two too late.

$1500? Easy!

Lets me count the ways, sorted (approximately) by cost:

The iQue itself
3rd party software
Additional garmin maps
SD card
external keyboard
automobile mounts
antennae
battery packs
carrying cases
extra charger
screen protector
stylii
RMA shipping costs

[OWG]

Originally posted by IAUDI
Yesterday, I paid to overnight my ique. I too feel your pain of withdrawal symptoms.

I just did the same, just bought a new one, and they will credit when they get mine. I didn't want to go without, especially not with the nicer weather finally arriving (Canada).

[jonasolof]

Nothing like users' experience:

From: Robert Robinson

Newsgroups: sci.geo.satellite-nav
Date: 2004-05-25 12:44:34 PST


Strengths
The software seems to be generally well designed, the displays are fairly
easy to use, and the software installs and runs without any major problems.
The PC card GPS receiver is sensitive, lightweight, attractively packaged
and appears to be reasonably durable.

Weaknesses
The major deficiency for us is that, contrary to specific assurances from
Garmin prior to purchase, the Que 1620 software does not have the iQue
3600's capability of routing from Contacts stored Lat/Long coordinates in
addition to that of street addresses.
The antenna cannot be detached from the receiver nor is there any connection
for an external antenna. This is a very serious deficiency for automotive
usage.
The Que software installed, but would not execute properly from CF/SD memory
as opposed to main memory. Map data can be stored in CF/SD.
Storage area other than main memory is essential for many applications. The
GPS receiver takes up one CF slot. Depending on one's PDA you may or may not
have another CF slot or a SD slot. The potential loss of non main memory
storage area can thus be a significant problem.
The installation procedure is workable, but is quite cumbersome.
The combined GPS/PDA is obviously not watertight and therefore is not a good
choice for marine or other outdoor applications.
Robbie

[nivram]

I had a few questions about the cfQue 1620 testing done.

Do you have a second slot. Can you then try saving a map on the second card. Try replacing the maps on the cfQue by copying the maps from card to card then remove the card and restart you PDA or what ever works.

Since it doesn't connect waypoints to your address book, does it have a waypoint saver of any sort.

This question is up for grabs. Has anyone seen a cfQue with European Maps for anywhere near the US price. Garmin's sneek peak under features mentions City Select for (US/Canada or Europe)

[JMckie]

As several have pointed out before, the lack of external antenna would be the dealbreaker.

[Stymyx]

Garmin obviously designed this product in an effort to tap into the PPC market and you really can’t blame them for that. But is there more to it than that? We already know it doesn’t have the ability to create waypoints from the PPC’s address book, that it has no external antenna port, and that it can only hold 64MB worth of map data in its memory (for me and the maps I need to carry, 64MB isn't NEARLY big enough!). We iQue users, on the other hand, HAVE the ability to create waypoints from our address book, we HAVE an external antenna port, and OUR map storage area is only limited by the size of the SD card we’re using. Features we all take for granted with our iQues.

Do you think that Garmin purposely “crippled” the CF Que in this way, with the hope that if people actually compare the two, they would be steered towards purchasing a new iQue instead? In other words, is it just pure marketing?

Just a thought.

[nivram]

How many CF or SD GPS have external antennas???

Yes compared to the IQue the cfQue is very primative.

[IAUDI]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nivram
[B]How many CF or SD GPS have external antennas???


Just for the record, I have an old Pretec gps I used with an old ipaq and it had capability for ext ant. Don't know if they still do.
Just my half cent thought.

[JMckie]

Originally posted by Stymyx

Do you think that Garmin purposely “crippled” the CF Que in this way, with the hope that if people actually compare the two, they would be steered towards purchasing a new iQue instead? In other words, is it just pure marketing?



Nah, that would be way too Machiavellian not to mention horribly impractical. I would just attribute it to poor design.

I still think outfitting one of the eTrexes with bluetooth would be their best way to tap into the PocketPC market as well as the rest of the Palm world.

[OWG]

Originally posted by Stymyx
...and that it can only hold 64MB worth of map data in its memory (for me and the maps I need to carry, 64MB isn't NEARLY big enough!)...

Actually, as I read the review as you CAN store maps in CF/SD slot, it just won't run the application from there. If you have a device like the new Asus MyPal PPC, which has WiFi, BT, removable battery, CF and SD slots, you have quite a powerful PDA there.

However, as mentioned already, some people absolutely rely on the external antenna, and to not include would be a show-stopper. Also is whether you even want a PPC device to begin with.

The only reason I can think of that Garmin did not include the external antenna connector is if it pushes the current draw past the allowable amout spec'd for a CF slot on a PPC. Don't forget it is not passive.

TJ

[jonasolof]

As we have seen from the many RMA's due to the switching circuit breaking down, a design that allows going from an internal antenna to an external is more complex. Not only does the external antenna draw more power, the circuits in the device allowing for it do it too.

However, I'd guess that even if a poll in this forum did show that most here use an external antenna, that might not at all be the case of a majority of owners out there. People will understandably setlle for what appears good enough, not necessarily go for the best - which marketing knows. We'll see if they were right. Since it is a PPC device, it'll probably have its own forum.

[Curious Cat]

Jonas is probably right that, other then this forum, most iQue owners don’t use an external antenna. Even from a marketing perspective I would say that it would be a negative if prospective buyers thought they would need to have one.

In regards to the cfQue 1620 or similar products; you could still use a reradiating antenna. This would work well especially for vehicle use, maybe not as well for hiking.