Total New to GPS. Nextar q4-q4 unit.

I've bought a Nextar Q4-q4 unit from a local retailer, brand new in the box. I thought it was a good price. $49.00

However, after opening up the box, and getting it all setup, I found my maps all outdated. 2008 is the date on them.

After some searching, I found that Nextar has gone under, or was bought out by TomTom. However, They do not sell
map updates for this device.

I've so far, found this device runs WinCE 5.

This Unit uses maps from Odyssey.

Any suggestions?

Being a total newbie, is there a package I can just download to my 2GB SD card, and run without having to copy/configure/edit/register/crack that will just plan work outta the gate?

Thanks

Possibly, but usually you need to do a little editing...

What happens when you boot the device, is there a menu, or does it go straight to the GPS app?

Can you plug it into the PC and browse it's contents?

When I turn the device on, it gives me a menu of options.. GPS, Music, Pictures.
When I plug it into the computer, via a USB connection, I get ActiveSync up and going, and can see the folders of the device.

I've been playing around a bit, and the maps are all stored on the SD card. (2gig is the limit it would seem).

I've tried putting TomTom on it, from here, but, I always got the message 'no maps'. Never could get around that.
I put the TomTom all on the SD card, along with maps that I downloaded from here. Still couldn't get past the 'no maps' messages.

If I pressed Done, after I got the 'no maps' msg. It would crash, saying it couldn't find iexplorer.exe. I'm assuming, its trying to load IE to goto TomTom's map website to download a free map.

newsguy99 wrote:Being a total newbie

TomTom can be a bit tricky at first. That you got it to START is very good, so you figured some stuff out!
Try iGo8.3x or Primo and I think you will find it much easier to get going.
Both or either from here:
iGo-Primo Programs
And then maps from here:
Maps-buildings-dem-POI

I'm assuming, its trying to load IE to goto TomTom's map website to download a free map.

LOL...no, no free maps (or even a free lunch) on the TomTom site.

You can get a free city map from Tomtom if you install on a windows mobile and have no usable maps, however they seem to omit larger cities, like where I live, which makes it pointless!

Follow yt's advice and install igo, it's better than the wince version of Tomtom

I actually got Primo 2.0 working. maps, and all.
I didn't even have to edit anything for it to find the right com port that the GPS was using.
So far, so good.
Taking it with me to work today, to see how tracking is on it.

Thanks a bunch guys..

Told ya!;)

Only thing I didn't like about it, on the way to work, and from work back home, was it, goes into this weird, overhead view thing, and the arrow/car changes positions its facing, instead of staying north, and having the road follow. Instead, it shows the road, from where I'm at, to the next interaction spot. Guess I'm just not used to it. Is there a way to get that changed?

newsguy99 wrote:goes into this weird, overhead view

If you are talking about the automatic zoom into details as you approach an intersection, roundabout, or maneuver, yes that can be disabled in settings.
If you are on the standard skin, from the Navigation Menu, click More->Settings->Map Settings-> See Automatic Overview..tap to toggle off. Then back out until you are back where you started.

Enjoying the updated Primo 2.0 maps and stuff on my really old, outdated, Nextar Q4 gps.

I'm wondering, does anyone ever just zip up or RAR the files, and say.. Here, this is for device XXXX..
Instead of having to do all the editing, and adding maps and so on?

I mean, sure, it takes the learning curve out of the picture, but, it would also solve quite a few problems
with folks not knowing where to put things (me).

So far, I've been very pleased with the way this thing works.. And having the maps updated to q4 2011 helps a bunch.

For all the people out there, that has a Nextar, don't let the editing get in the way... The device has locked editing directly on the device.. However, if you move the autorun file to a folder on your computer, you can edit it there, and then copy and replace that one, with the one on the GPS.

I started out by just changing it to start WinCE explorer.. And that worked great!
I then, changed it to go ahead and load primo directly.
That worked too..

newsguy99

Thanks for giving the info. What do you think about uploading your internal and whatever is necessary in case someone else has your device and questions?

newsguy99 wrote:Here, this is for device XXXX..
Instead of having to do all the editing, and adding maps and so on?

Very very rarely. Fatboyfun has some setups specifically for some Binatone devices (which are quite popular in the UK), but other than that, considering the hundreds of different devices with many dozens of manufacturers, it would be an impossible task just to keep up with...let alone HAVING the devices to test. We are not gazillionaires.
Let alone maps..somebody is in the UK, somebody is in the US, somebody else is in any of 50 other countries, etc. Not really too hard for most just to download the maps that they need.
So the best that is typically available are 'generic' versions of software that typically runs on most devices, but for those specific devices that require 'tweaking', that's what the forums are for....questions and concerns are usually answered by the people who know what to look for, what diagnostic software or unlocks to use, etc.

yeap, I understand that. and thats the answer I was really wanting to hear.

I'm just glad that this old GPS with OLD maps was brought back up to speed. And works!

I took it on a little trip, and while, it had a hiccup or 2.. it worked.
My advice to anyone... Make sure you check the route before following the route your GPS gives you.
Sometime, this thing had me going down back roads, and small towns, instead of being on a main road.
I've traveled this section before, and knew my way around a bit.. So, I really didn't get lost.. But, before
you go on a long trip.. zoom in, and check your route. These things get crazy at times.

One other note.. I kept getting a message saying, I was low on memory, and needed to turn swap on, or something
like that.. Once I answered OK, it went on along, like nothing happened..
Just thought I'd share.

newsguy99 wrote:yeap, I understand that. and thats the answer I was really wanting to hear.

I'm just glad that this old GPS with OLD maps was brought back up to speed. And works!

I took it on a little trip, and while, it had a hiccup or 2.. it worked.
My advice to anyone... Make sure you check the route before following the route your GPS gives you.
Sometime, this thing had me going down back roads, and small towns, instead of being on a main road.
I've traveled this section before, and knew my way around a bit.. So, I really didn't get lost.. But, before
you go on a long trip.. zoom in, and check your route. These things get crazy at times.

One other note.. I kept getting a message saying, I was low on memory, and needed to turn swap on, or something
like that.. Once I answered OK, it went on along, like nothing happened..
Just thought I'd share.

You know, I'm very glad that you're posting this because I've sorta experienced the same problem with Primo 1.0, 1.2 and 2.0. They kept taking me out-of-the-way when I knew the route to begin with -no matter what I set it at. FWIW, Xtyler92 experienced the same problem[s]. Both he and I live in the US so we thought that it might be a problem just in our geographical area. But now you're saying that it happened to you in Europe. Primo 1.1 seems to work much better. Why, I don't know. Perhaps the program was created by a different set of people. Actually, I found the iGO8 and Amigo programs to be even better with navigation. BUT, Garmin XT was even better overall however there is no TTS.

chas521 wrote:You know, I'm very glad that you're posting this because I've sorta experienced the same problem with Primo 1.0, 1.2 and 2.0. They kept taking me out-of-the-way when I knew the route to begin with -no matter what I set it at. FWIW, Xtyler92 experienced the same problem[s]. Both he and I live in the US so we thought that it might be a problem just in our geographical area. But now you're saying that it happened to you in Europe. Primo 1.1 seems to work much better. Why, I don't know. Perhaps the program was created by a different set of people. Actually, I found the iGO8 and Amigo programs to be even better with navigation. BUT, Garmin XT was even better overall however there is no TTS.

Not sure where you got Europe from.. I'm from the U.S. as well.. (Nashville). Went to Haleyville, AL. (look it up, its a tiny town in the middle of the state).

Next trip, I'll take my other GPS unit with me.. See, I bought a Magellan Roadmate, after I found the Nextar so outdated, and see how that works.

Does the Garmin XT program still run under WinCE5? Maybe I'll give that a go.. Its kinda nice, that the Nextar has a SD card slot. However, it'll only see the old cards.. Nothing above 2GB can be used.