I used to use one of these (or rather an earlier version of this)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Socket-Bluetooth-GPS-Receiver/dp/B00008W5X5

with my Ipaq. Never had any problems. Unfortunately now discontinued but this looks similar

http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=115544

With prices of stand alone systems now rapidly falling in price you could get a Tom Tom with european maps from Halfords for £110.

Peter S




________________________________
From: "derek_sims@lineone.net" <derek_sims@lineone.net>
To: motorhome-list@yahoogroups.co.uk
Sent: Monday, 29 December, 2008 10:33:12 AM
Subject: [MH-list] Tom Tom GPS - Help!

Hi All

Just experienced a strange problem with our GPS (TT5 running on a HP IPAQ 4700 with a Haicom CF slot-in receiver) and wondered if anyone else has had similar and/or knows the solution:

Travelling between North and South Devon on 24th and 27th December, both clear days, the GPS would start and lock-on OK but after a period of running it would apparently lose all the satellite signals. Removing the unit from its cradle and resetting the receiver interface appeared to immediately bring back about five or six satellites, but after a variable period of time, from a few minutes to half an hour, the signals would disappear again.  The set-up is the same as has worked in the 'van for three or four years, although I've added some more POIs since last using it.

I suspect a dirty contact on the CF connecter, so have sprayed it with IPA and slotted it in an out a few times, but it will be difficult to find out if I've cured it before setting off for the continent on January 16th.  I don't want to find out then that the problem isn't solved.

I'm wondering if it would be best to buy a new GPS receiver and was thinking about a Bluetooth one this time.  There appear to be a number available on Ebay but I'm not sure of the significant differences between them or how much the technology has improved in the last four years.  I don't want to go away from the IPAQ because it is useful for a number of other things.

Any recommendations/suggestions very gratefully received.

TIA

Derek

--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
We are a community of 5.8 million users fighting spam.
SPAMfighter has removed 3657 of my spam emails to date.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

The Professional version does not have this message


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


------------------------------------

Contact the List Owner: motorhome-list-owner@yahoogroups.com
Motorhome List Website: http://www.motorhome-list.org.uk
Files area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/motorhome-list/files/
For long term travelling/living in a motorhome: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/motorhome-living/Yahoo! Groups Links



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I think that the problem is not the electric but more likely the insulation in the van. If you do not keep the fabric of the van warm all the time condensation will form on any cold surface from cooking washing and breathing etc. I am surmising that the very fact of you sleeping in the luton compounds the problem as the moisture in your breath is trapped rather than dissipating through the van.

I think the only way of minimising the problem is keeping the heating on all the time and ensuring that there is adequate ventilation.

See

http://www.aber.ac.uk/residential/en/accommodation/condensation-eng.pdf


You can also get condensation forming under your mattress if you have a solid base, that is why the use of slats is now more prevalent. We used to put cardboard under the bed matresses in our caravan to stop this.

I can't remember what van you have but if it is British it is most likely to be a three season van rather than one that is built to standards to be camped in below freezing conditions.

Peter S




Can anyone assist or if they have a similar van have they found the
same problem??

Hi All

Just experienced a strange problem with our GPS (TT5 running on a HP IPAQ 4700 with a Haicom CF slot-in receiver) and wondered if anyone else has had similar and/or knows the solution:

Travelling between North and South Devon on 24th and 27th December, both clear days, the GPS would start and lock-on OK but after a period of running it would apparently lose all the satellite signals. Removing the unit from its cradle and resetting the receiver interface appeared to immediately bring back about five or six satellites, but after a variable period of time, from a few minutes to half an hour, the signals would disappear again. The set-up is the same as has worked in the 'van for three or four years, although I've added some more POIs since last using it.

I suspect a dirty contact on the CF connecter, so have sprayed it with IPA and slotted it in an out a few times, but it will be difficult to find out if I've cured it before setting off for the continent on January 16th. I don't want to find out then that the problem isn't solved.

I'm wondering if it would be best to buy a new GPS receiver and was thinking about a Bluetooth one this time. There appear to be a number available on Ebay but I'm not sure of the significant differences between them or how much the technology has improved in the last four years. I don't want to go away from the IPAQ because it is useful for a number of other things.

Any recommendations/suggestions very gratefully received.

TIA

Derek

--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
We are a community of 5.8 million users fighting spam.
SPAMfighter has removed 3657 of my spam emails to date.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

The Professional version does not have this message

Here is a problem closer to home than those warmer climates. I went to
Devizes for Christmas and as I was on a Camping and Caravan site,
purchased a fan heater and used it to conserve my gas bottle. I moved
to a rally in Shepton Mallet and although in the grounds of a school
there, there are no facilities whatsoever so its back onto gas for
fridge, heating and cooking. OK here is my problem, I noticed that the
bottom of my duvet felt quite damp and on checking noticed the edge of
the mattress at head and feet where it meets the side wall of the
motorhome felt actually wet to touch. On lifting the mattress this
morning also found a fair bit of moisture in the channels running
under the mattress. I have never camped in such cold conditions before
and wonder if this has been caused by heating with the electric heater
which made the van quite snug and warm and most importantly how to
sort the problem out?? I sleep in the Luton area as I not only find it
comfortable but also I dont have two Westies and a Yorkie sleeping on
top of me.
Can anyone assist or if they have a similar van have they found the
same problem??

having spent the last 2 years on a narrowboat I must confess to finding
things a little strange on 'real'roads Graham

Hi Graham

I know what you mean. After just a week on a narrowboat 30mph felt like flying to us. Welcome to the list. I'm sure, like us, you'll find it a tremendous source of information, support and humour on all things motorhoming and a few others besides.

Happy travels

Derek


--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
We are a community of 5.8 million users fighting spam.
SPAMfighter has removed 3657 of my spam emails to date.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

The Professional version does not have this message

Hi Don,

Hope your trip goes well and the money lasts !

Heaven knows where the UK economy will be by the time you get back.

We are thinking of scaling back our plans for 2009 staying mostly in France and maybe a few days in Switzerland.

All the best to everyone for 2009 and enjoy your travels.

Steve
==========================
Steve and Sheila Pyke
visit www.motorhomeandaway.com
Now! read about our 2008 trip to Eastern Europe

In message <gj87ka+ep26@eGroups.com>, skchandler4 <SKCHANDLER4@HOTMAIL.COM> writes

Hi
Usually wild camp but have decided to plump for an actual campsite
this
year. Can anyone recommend somewhere NEAR Benidorm (all the
sites I
have looked at seem to be extortionate). We have a motorcycle to
commute and sightsee the area but would like somewhere secure to
leave
the van and return on a night.
Happy New Year to all.

About 20 years ago we stayed at Villajoyosa just south of Benidorm. There were 2 sites just north one was Camping Hercules - we stayed at the one alongside - can't remember the name - both had access to the beach, were in walking distance of the Villajoyosa and were only a short drive from Benidorm if you wanted the "bright lights".

Martin
--
Bennett House

As the new boy on the block I would like to say thanks to you all for
the info gleaned on this site... which I am sure which will be
invaluable once I get the courage to venture out of the drive....
having spent the last 2 years on a narrowboat I must confess to finding
things a little strange on 'real'roads Graham

Hi
Usually wild camp but have decided to plump for an actual campsite this
year. Can anyone recommend somewhere NEAR Benidorm (all the sites I
have looked at seem to be extortionate). We have a motorcycle to
commute and sightsee the area but would like somewhere secure to leave
the van and return on a night.
Happy New Year to all.
Thanks in advance.

The exchange rate in Turkey is also poor a litre of diesel is about 1.18

Off on Monday if all goes to plan.

Hope you all have a peaceful New Year.

Don


Have a good trip Don.

We're now booked on the tunnel for 17th January, if all our outstanding matters go to plan.

Happy New Year to you and to all the list members and Good Travelling!

Derek


--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
We are a community of 5.8 million users fighting spam.
SPAMfighter has removed 3639 of my spam emails to date.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

The Professional version does not have this message

I have often traveled alone I would be wiling to go on a convoy trip
either in UK or Europe
I enjoy winter travel as well as summer
please get in touch with some dates

yours Ian F
--- In motorhome-list@yahoogroups.co.uk, "Brian" <simply.closer@...>
wrote:

'The will to travel further into Europe evaporates while crossing

France.'

It maybe just the season of goodwill, but I have to say how much I

value this forum and all, yes, all, the postings.

Whilst I'm pondering on my next trip, Ern's comment and other's

experiences and plans are such an inspiration.

Whilst there are many benefits to travelling solo, I would be keen

to meet up with like minded people sometimes.

I've asked before along time ago, and I'll try again, are there any

solo MHers out there who might like to travel in convoy?

I've travelled a lot alone and it's good but it may also be good to

share experiences and explore together?

Brian



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Sat 27 December 2008 12:18 Brian wrote

Hi Don,

Best wishes for your trip and the New Year.
I would be really interested to know the key places on your route to Turkey,
if you have time before you go.
I travelled around Greece a couple of years ago and would like to tour
Turkey one day.
Regards
----------------------------------------------------
Hi Brian,

We have only travelled out to Turkey in the winter time (Dec/Jan), up to now
we have used the short Italy - Greece ferry route.

We usually use North Sea Ferries from Hull to Rotterdam, then Luxembourg
(cheap fags/fuel), Strasbourg, Basle, St Gothard Tunnel, Milan, Bologna and
Brindisi then the ferry to Igoumenitsa.

From Igoumenitsa we take the Northern Greek motorway via Ioanina, Konitsa,
Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli then cross the border into Turkey at Ipsala.

This is a list (and a couple of reserves) of our planned night stops you
might find them useful.

TRIER N49º 44’18.55 E6º 37’27.89

CHALAMPE N47º48’49.93 E7º32’27.14

SOMAGLIA N45º08’33.3 E9º38’00.8

TORTORETO N42º48’22.4 E13º55’36.9

VOMANO N42º40’19.0 E13º56’22.6

BRINDISI PORT N40º38’36.90 E17º57’46.11

IGOUMENITSA PORT N39º29’16.76 E20º15’35.80

KOZANI N40º20’38.01 E21º47’50.10

VERGINA N40º29’1.464 E22º18’58.536

ALEXANDROUPOLI N40º50’42.81 E25º51’18.35

IPSALA N40º56’03.57 E26º19’41.43

Safe travelling.

Don

'The will to travel further into Europe evaporates while crossing France.'

It maybe just the season of goodwill, but I have to say how much I value this forum and all, yes, all, the postings.
Whilst I'm pondering on my next trip, Ern's comment and other's experiences and plans are such an inspiration.
Whilst there are many benefits to travelling solo, I would be keen to meet up with like minded people sometimes.

I've asked before along time ago, and I'll try again, are there any solo MHers out there who might like to travel in convoy?
I've travelled a lot alone and it's good but it may also be good to share experiences and explore together?

Brian

On 27/12/08 10:57, "Don Madge" <don.madge@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

I've just bought 100 Euros from our local post office at a cost of £99.73.

It will be about 96.somethingP from NationWide this morning. I guess the
tourist rates will be well below parity and still sliding badly.

So it looks like our costs will go up by about 30% this trip whilst in
Europe.

I used to feel good about living at 33% discount on everything. I can only
repeat that the quality and the service will be the last remaining fillip
available to us now.

Diesel in Luxembourg is about 80 Euro cents a litre and it's well under a
Euro in most other places.

French brand forecourts seem to be about 1€00 with supermarchés running
about 0€08 less. Not much difference at the moment. Not worth filling up to
come home. The extra weight will wipe out any savings.

The exchange rate in Turkey is also poor a litre of diesel is about £1.18

The will to travel further into Europe evaporates while crossing France.

Off on Monday if all goes to plan.

You have a good one, Don. Keep in touch if you can.

And a Happy New Year to all you others on the list.
--
ErnB
Bristol

I feel quite smug at the moment, decided to get out Euro's a couple
of months ago when the £ started to slide, managed to get
the "wonderful" rate of €1.16 but still a lot better than todays
rates but when i was trudging from place to place trying to get a
better rate the Post Office was by far the worst, offering less than
€1.09 at the time.

have a good trip Don, we aren't off until Jan 8th for the annual
pilgrimage to Spain, the gaffer wants to pop into Lourdes on the way
home in March but i told her it is far too early then for the cricket
season, hope my black eye has gone soon

bertie

In motorhome-list@yahoogroups.co.uk, "Don Madge" <don.madge@...>
wrote:

I've just bought 100 Euros from our local post office at a cost of

£99.73.

So it looks like our costs will go up by about 30% this trip whilst

in

Europe.
Diesel in Luxembourg is about 80 Euro cents a litre and it's well

under a

Euro in most other places.

The exchange rate in Turkey is also poor a litre of diesel is about

£1.18

Off on Monday if all goes to plan.

Hope you all have a peaceful New Year.

Don

Hi Don,

Best wishes for your trip and the New Year.
I would be really interested to know the key places on your route to Turkey, if you have time before you go.
I travelled around Greece a couple of years ago and would like to tour Turkey one day.
regards
Brian

I've just bought 100 Euros from our local post office at a cost of £99.73.

So it looks like our costs will go up by about 30% this trip whilst in
Europe.
Diesel in Luxembourg is about 80 Euro cents a litre and it's well under a
Euro in most other places.

The exchange rate in Turkey is also poor a litre of diesel is about £1.18

Off on Monday if all goes to plan.

Hope you all have a peaceful New Year.

Don

In message <gj3uu5+8leg@eGroups.com>, Nick <nickoff2@hotmail.com> writes

Antoinette, the times that we have got to a site and then not been
able to find items that we were positive had been packed
I could count on 20 or 30 hands :-) Think it must be something to do
with the excitement of getting away.
Nick.

We once went for 4+ weeks to Turkey and left the front door of the house wide open!

Eventually the neighbours closed it - they said that at first they thought we were just driving around the block to check everything was stowed OK - after an hour or so it dawned on them that we weren't coming back - so they closed the door!

It was a good holiday.

Martin
--
Bennett House

In a message dated 27/12/2008 10:58:17 GMT Standard Time,
don.madge@tiscali.co.uk writes:

............ it's well under a Euro in most other places.

The exchange rate in Turkey is also poor a litre of diesel is about £1.18

Off on Monday if all goes to plan.

Hope you all have a peaceful New Year.

Don



=====================================================================
Don

Have a great trip - try to make up for missing last years jaunt :))

If you find wifi, don't forget to let us know how you're getting on.

To everyone - I echo Don's sentiments - have a peaceful and (hopefully)
prosperous New Year.

Keith


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In motorhome-list@yahoogroups.co.uk, "antoinette_upton"
<antoinette_upton@...> wrote:

I decided NOT to spend Christmas at home (alone) in my HSA flat with
the 20 year old single mother and child + half the relatives living in
and around (all ex travellers) up above me sounding like a heard of
elephants above me. I opted instead to drive my motorhome (with Smart
car on an A frame behind) down to the C & C site near Devizes. It was
difficult to concentrate on packing for various reasons far too
complicated to go into here + my excited Westie boys (2) and Yorkie
girl all excited and wanting to get going. I arrived at 4pm at the
site and was so thrilled to arrive just as dusk fell. The warden
kindly offered to help unhitch my car as a few weeks ago I burned the
inside of my right hand really badly and was concerned I wouldnt be
able to drive.
Imagine my horror when I couldn't find my car keys!!!
I turned the camper upside down both yesterday and this morning - my
handbag I checked at least a dozen times so eventually decided I must
drive home to get them as I am going on to Shepton Mallet for New Year.
2 hours home - no keys, after an hour searching decided I must check
the van again and lo and behold what was sitting in the pocket of my
handbag - THOSE PESKEY KEYS
So 5 hours later and less around 23 liters later I am back on site
having missed my Christmas dinner (will cook it tomorrow)

WHAT A WOMBAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Antoinette, the times that we have got to a site and then not been
able to find items that we were positive had been packed
I could count on 20 or 30 hands :-) Think it must be something to do
with the excitement of getting away.

Nick.