GPS Chinese 4.3" Review

[Bill]

Shouldn't be a problem as the charge controller is built into the unit.  The 3 Amp rating is just the maximum the charger can provide, not the rate the battery needs.

[Martin]

Thanks Bill for the quick reply I know I can get another transformer for $5 -$10 on the net. But it will be interesting to see what their back up service is like. I did a bit of rearranging on my dash due to the new unit obscuring the light on my running light/air horn switch. I swapped the fan override switch for the running light switch. I have just spent 1-1/2 hours replacing the alternator on the Honorable Minister for Finance and Recreations car. What a pain, this is my second attempt the nuts and bolts on it are a combination of hex head & Torx head. I already owned Torx sockets and Torx keys, but when I tried to do it a bit over a week ago I found that I required a couple of Torx ring spanners as well. I rang about eight different tool supply places and only one new what I was talking about a few tried to sell me a torque wrench. I ended up ordering of the internet. The main bolt that holds the alternator on is a Torx bolt but the nut is Hex. I was one spanner short but managed to find a metric inch spanner that fitted. I think they do it to discourage you from doing it yourself.
Thanks Martin.

[Bill]

Sadly the auto makers are refining that trend.... A friends new Ford pickup oil change was 350 $CDN and could not be done in the driveway !  Somehow this has become acceptable to the motoring public.  I drive a 22 year old chevy  for that kind of reason - I can see the engine when I lift the hood and recognize all the parts !

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Back in the 80's I was part of a seminar with the VP for quality at Ford.  He spent about an hour talking about how much poor quality can cost.  Then he described how Ford was implementing a program to make their vehicles last for a minimum of 200,000 miles.  Of his presentation the one thing that stood out above everything else was how after spending so much time and money on making a reliable product the biggest challenge was in preventing owners and unqualified mechanics from screwing it up. 

[Martin]

I can see their point, but I have seen heaps of jobs mechanical and others stuffed up by supposedly qualified tradesmen. Some of the best mechanics I have seen have been self taught. I suppose it goes both ways.
Regards Martin.

[Bill]

Engineering 'foolproof' is impossible as their experience will beat you everytime !

[Martin]

Update I have received no answer from the supplier so I just sent a second Email to the supplier about the inline transformer failure. Unless there is an answer soon I believe that you may be on your own as far as warranty is concerned. I will update if anything changes. However Beside the lack of backup I am happy with the unit.
Regards Martin.

[Martin]

Having lived with it for a while I am still happy with it. I like the music feature, the games are pretty lame, you can also put in multiple way points.
It has lived up to & probably exceeded my expectations. The only warnings I can give is don't expect any technical backup or any warranty from the buyer that I used. If anyone goes down the same route, please post I would like to hear others opinions.
Regards Martin.

[Bill]

Good to hear that it is working out for you.  Do you have to use the stylus or will it respond to touch [gloved , ungloved] ?  Considering a purchase myself but it is down the list a bit in the 'would be nice to have' category .

[Martin]

Bill stylus is too hard to get at and requires that you remove a glove. Addresses can be inputted with a summer glove but better with your finger, once address has been inputted I revert to gloves. Access to all other features are done with a glove. The one good thing about the stylus is it is great to set your clock. As I have encountered with all other GPS's it can be hard to see in full sunlight but spoken directions are fine. And I need to ask you do Canadians spell the same as OZ or do you use American spelling. If you do get one, try another vendor I went for the cheapest, you might get better backup with another vendor.
Regards Martin.

[Bill]

Our spelling is mostly British ie colour, labour etc...  Have you thought  about glueing a bead to the tip of a glove finger ?  In practical use I guess one would put in your address before you are riding .  Safer that way.

[Martin]

+1 Bill it is more practical to put in the address before you take off, I don't find it a problem. Good suggestion with the glue but I don't think I will need it in summer, maybe on my winter gloves. It is easy to switch music tracks on the go, but I am still having a problem trying to play the games and read an E book while riding.  :dunno I tend to hit things especially with the games, and if the book is boring I tend to nod off.
Regards Martin.

[Martin]

Just thought I would update. Love my GPS still working great no glitches or problems. Music feature still appreciated, I run the GPS instructions and the music through a $5.00 AM FM transistor purchased from Target on special. My previous multi featured AM FM $40.00 transistor died. It even covered a new road update before it was actually built. I ended up fitting and rewiring a spare variable voltage power supply that I had purchased from Jay Car (Tandy equivalent) which has not missed a beat. I sent another Email to the supplier surprise surprise  no answer. So definitely no backup. I would buy another one different supplier, it is probably cheaper to replace this with a new one, than to buy map updates.
Regards Martin.

[Martin]

Chinese GPS has reached it's first birthday. It is still functioning flawlessly with no further problems encountered  after replacing the power supply with a Jay Car one that I had lying around. This one has survived some pretty serious tropical down pours, heavy enough for me to seek shelter due to visibility problems.When the maps get to a point where they are out of date in the areas I ride, I will definitely buy another Chinese GPS probably worth replacing every 2-3 years just to update the maps. Although next time I might try a different one with different features just for the hell of it. Would I recommend buying one the answer is yes as long as you want a basic GPS and can do without some of the new GPS high-tech features like traffic, speed camera, red light camera  traffic diversion and tyre monitoring. Has anyone else bought one? Fodsport have an updated 5" one with a larger visor could be my next one.
Regards Martin.

[Bill]

I bought the 5" one and have mixed feelings about it.... mostly negative.
    1. Runs on Microsoft;s Windows CE and crashes periodically.  Fault window comes up with impossibly small text and won;t respond to touch.
    2. Maps and navigation are okay but not Garmin Zumo grade.
    3. remarkably water and impact resistant even through a coin-op car wash !
    4. Good visibility except when sun is right over my shoulder.
    5. Music app is poor.
    6. Accessing files on the SD card is awkward at best but then I am used to Linux based systems and hate the one sized Microsloth solutions. 
    7. GPS speed indications are far more accurate than the stock K100 speedo.  Spot on with the radar cop.....
Overall an Android tablet with open source nav software would work better, I took my 7" tablet from my truck into a clear pocket of my tank bag and didn't get lost either.

[Martin]

What brand is it Bill, sorry to hear about your problems, maybe the 4.5 is better. Although looking at the pictures of the screen shots they both look the same. Looking on EBay OZ sellers are now pushing the Fodsport ones but at a premium price.
Regards Martin.

[Martin]

El cheapo Chinese GPS still running 3 months short of 4 years. No problems encountered at all since replacing the power supply that failed straight off the bat. However after nearly 4 years the maps are getting to be a problem, now well and truly out of date. I tried trying to find out how to update the maps without success apparently windows CE 6.0 no longer supported. But the upgraded version of mine is showing 2018 maps. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4-3-Motorcycle-GPS-Bluetooth-Navigator-SAT-NAV-Touch-Screen-Waterproof-8GB-Maps/183914432160? Where can I get the upgraded maps or do I have to buy a new GPS.
Regards Martin.