InfoMap Navigator 4 UK/European PC Review
InfoMap Navigator 3 has always been a popular choice for many PC users. InfoMap Navigator 4 isn't just a mapping program like AutoRoute, it's a fully fledge GPS Navigation program for the PC, Laptop and Tablet PC which gives you full navigation on-screen and by voice all the way across GB and Europe.

Directions Ltd have now brought out the successor called InfoMap Navigator 4. One thing has changed since the previous version:-

  • The Great Britain version no longer includes Ireland! This is now incorporated within the European edition.

InfoMap Navigator has always been a good PC Navigation package at an extremely good price, but version 4 has been enhanced. Look at these new features:-

  • Maps are dated 2004 from TeleAtlas which enhances the coverage.
  • An enhanced and more detail navigation screen
  • Full UK Postcode search
  • European Version on 5 CD's!
  • Much more!

Map Coverage
The European version of InfoMap Navigator 4 contains detailed mapping support for 20 countries. Scotland is covered under the Great Britain version, but Ireland has been split away into a separate country.

Below is the full coverage taken from the European version:-

  • Andorra (2 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Austria (192 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Belgium (132 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Czech Republic (109 mb) - 72.9% Coverage
  • Denmark (109 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Finland (127 mb) - 79.41% Coverage
  • France (1259 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Germany (1334 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Great Britain (660 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Northern Ireland (14 mb) - 16.46% Coverage
  • Italy (1066 mb) - 91.74% Coverage
  • Luxembourg (11 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Netherlands (205 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Norway (235 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Poland (31 mb) - 4.23% Coverage
  • Portugal (52 mb) - 41.28% Coverage
  • San Marino (1 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Spain (527 mb) - 79.54% Coverage
  • Sweden (373 mb) - 100% Coverage
  • Switzerland (121 mb) - 100% Coverage

Points Of Interest
The Great Britain version contains over 95,000 POI (Points Of Interest) where as the European version contains over 1.8 Million POI's across Western Europe.

Mapping
InfoMap Navigator has a modular design and contains multiple windows that can be opened, closed and hidden depending on your preference. The first window on the left hand side gives you an overview map, search and postcode facility and also a routing/navigation screen. The window on the right is the close up map screen.

You can zoom in or zoom out to any level of detail that you require using the zoom feature at the bottom right of the map window.

Searching and Postcode Support
The Great Britain and European versions cover UK postcode support for 1.75 million postcodes. One important and heavily used road that has been opened in the past year is the M6 toll road and InfoMap Navigator 4 GB and Europe fully support the M6 toll road.

Navigation Mode
The Navigation screen still shows the full map on the right hand side of the main screen, but the left hand window shows the Navigation panel. The new Navigation screen has been enhanced to give you detailed information on the next turn on your journey.

PDA Support
The current version of InfoMap Navigator also provides PDA Support. If you have a Pocket PC, then you can install the maps from the CD's onto your Pocket PC and watch where you are driving.

Although there are no navigation features available on the PDA version as of yet, it acts as a good system if you just want to take a walk and know where you are in relation to where you left the car.

Once you have received a satellite lock, you will see your position on-screen in the form of the arrow, you should then be able to detect which way you are heading, and you can then use the zoom in and zoom out functions to see either more detail on the map, or less detail over a greater distance.

The PDA version comes bundled as a free add-on with both the Great Britain and European edition and is available for install directly from the CD after you have installed the main program.

Great Britain - Technical Requirements

  • Any PC running Win 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP or RPM-based distribution with Qt 3.2 or higher (Fedora2, SUSE 9.1, Mandrake 10)
  • Recommended HW: 800MHz processor, 256MB RAM
  • reduced version on Pocket PC 2002/2003
  • 800MB hard disk space for full installation

Europe - Technical Specification Requirements

  • Any PC running Win 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP or RPM-based distribution with Qt 3.2 or higher (Fedora2, SUSE 9.1, Mandrake 10)
  • Recommended HW: 800MHz processor, 256MB RAM
  • reduced version on Pocket PC 2002/2003
  • 7GB hard disk space for full installation (countries can be installed individually or in groups)

Accessories
Are you looking to use the SysOnChip CF Plus GPS Receiver in a Laptop, or a PCMCIA socket on your PDA ? If so, then make sure you also purchase a CF to PCMCIA Adapter. If you have a UV coated windscreen which blocks radio signals (including GPS Signals), then you may also want to purchase a Re-Radiating Antenna