Nokia LD-1W GPS: Review
We tested the Nokia LD-1W GPS module with the Wayfinder Navigator software running on a Symbian OS smartphone.
The Wayfinder Navigator software turns your smartphone into a GPS navigator with color maps, automatic routing, and voice guidance. All you need to do is to connect a GPS module to the phone and tell the software where you want to go. You don't have to store maps on the phone, because Wayfinder downloads them during the trip. Consequently, the phone needs a continuous access to an online map storage database while it is navigating.
Key features:
- Use your smartphone as a GPS navigator. Smartphones powered by Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, and a number of individual phone models are compatible with the software.
- Color maps on the phone screen show roads, service stations, points of interest, and the proposed route. Maps are available for Western Europe and the US.
- Clearly-spoken instructions guide you through the route.
- A fast re-routing feature directs you back on the right track if you happen to take a wrong turn.
- A separate GPS receiver module must be connected to the phone via Bluetooth.
- Maps are downloaded to the phone "on the fly" as your trip progresses.
The navigation system consists of a smartphone, the Wayfinder software, a GPS module and maps that are downloaded through the phone's data connection.
First, download and install the Wayfinder Navigator software on your smartphone. Then, register the product so you can access the maps. You must have a compatible Bluetooth GPS module (you can buy it as a bundle with the software) that delivers the positioning information from GPS satellites to the navigation software. We used the Nokia LD-1W GPS module and the Nokia N90 smartphone for this review.
Once the GPS module receives a signal from at least four satellites, it can calculate your position on the ground and feed it to the Wayfinder application. We had some problems with the Nokia LD-1W GPS module when we switched it on to get the signal from satellites. The product seems to take a long time to find GPS satellites. When this happened to us, we had to switch the unit on and off several times until it was able to receive GPS signals. Once, we drove ten minutes along an open highway before the unit could receive GPS signals. Eventually, when the module could find GPS satellites, it didn't let go of them, but kept the contact through "hell and high water."
While the GPS module is trying to receive a signal, double-check that you have a data communication plan activated for your phone. Also check that the plan allows you to download lots of information with minimal cost. Wayfinder maps are downloaded from the company's map storage when needed. They are not stored on the phone at all. The benefit of this approach is that you don't have to worry about finding and storing maps on your phone. The disadvantage is that you always must have a data connection available on the phone – if you are out of phone network coverage, mapping won't work at all.
If you are traveling overseas and your data connection doesn't happen to work in the area of the destination (for example, because of missing roaming agreements), tough luck for you. If you are overseas and the GPS navigation works, prepare to pay a hefty phone bill because of the roaming costs. If you are overseas in a country where Wayfinder doesn't provide maps, that’s too bad. We assumed that, because the maps are provided as an online service, we wouldn't have to worry about their availability. We happened to visit Estonia (you know, the country where Skype programmers work) during the test period, but couldn't get any maps to the application, although the data connection worked. Back home, we checked the user guide and sure enough, maps cover only Western Europe and the US. This lack of maps actually conflicts with the whole idea of providing online maps.
When the GPS signals and data communication are working on your phone, simply specify where you want to go and the Wayfinder will calculate a route for you. The location database is pretty extensive, and even has minor roads, communities, and points of interest marked. The routing is fast and accurate. The software recognized the difference between highways and back roads, and in most cases, proposed the fastest route. When we tried to fool the software by disregarding its instructions, it quickly calculated a new route and instructed us to follow it. Voice instructions were loud and clear.
We happened to have the Nokia N90 at hand for the test, but a flip phone is not really the optimal device for navigational use. A classic phone model is better because the screen and keypad are always visible, which is what you want when you quickly glance at a map or a route on the phone screen.
Value for the money:
Once the Nokia LD-1W gets the GPS signal, it works extremely reliably. We don't know the reason for the problems for accessing GPS signal when the unit is switched on, but it is not normal behavior for other GPS units we have tested.
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