I got the idea of remote control S&T from another user in the forum. Why remote control:
1- I don't want to use a big rack to hold the laptop, because usually i am using it for gps only while travelling with the familly. And the rack would eat precious space most of the time.
2- I am using S&T mainly with another "co-pilote" near me.
3- I want to avoid as much as possible looking at laptop screen and rely on the voice guidance normally myself (and the co-pilote rely on laptop screen only in critical situation)
4- I want the laptop to be on the floor most of the time (cheap rack
).
5- I want to use voice guidance even when the kids are listening to loud music/movie.
Preparation:
a) I have already an old "x10 DVD anywhere" kit used at home
http://www.x10.com/products/x10_vk53a.htm
This product came with a nice rf remote control package with a small rs232c box that can connect to the laptop (using a rs232 to usb adapter)
b) I have prepared a S&T 2007 definition file with the most usefull functions to be used with the remote control. Actually, the two more precious functions for me i will use more are "repeat voice guidance info (aka <space>)" assigned to "play" key on the remote and "gives next voice guidance info (aka <space><space>)" assigned to "FF" key on the remote. I am using a custom software to control S&T and not boom 2000 provided with the remote which is not very good.
c) i will use a pair of headphone so i can understand the voice guidance, even when there are a lot of children activity inside the car. The headphone doesn't keeps me for hearing necessary driving activity sound...
d) i will use S&T 2007
e) i will use
S&T keys v3.43.01 for S&T 2007
So let's go for the experiment:
I am wearing the headphone all the time, connected directly to my laptop headphone output. The laptop volume is set at maximum. The laptop is mostly on the floor when the co-pilote (my wife) is sleeping
and while i am travelling, i have the remote control in the middle of my legs. I can say that probably another remote control which much bigger buttons could have been interesting, but i don't want to spend a lot of money for this first experiment ( and the one i am using is provided free!)...
While driving, i am using a lot the "play" remote button so i can hear where I am without asking to my co-pilote (and with the laptop on the floor out of reach). Actual S&T 2007 version is telling the next direction information and how many km needed to be there. I can plan ahead also by using the "FF" remote key to hear the next voice guidance instructions ahead of time (usefull when there are a lot of instructions on a short distance).
For me it is very interesting. Only drawback is that S&T 2007 is not telling streets names. This function would be very very usefull for remote control/voice guidance only, especially while driving in city with multiples turns. Sometimes S&T 2007 warns you a little bit late and you can miss the street turn if you are in a city with multiples direction changes. I have to rely on repeating the voice guidance often and also using the "turn beep" feature provided by "S&T keys" to help me identifying if i could have miss a turn.
The headphone is very usefull, because the voice guidance is not bothering the family at all and even not boring the co-pilote if one is used. I can repeat the voice guidance instruction every few km if needed and nobody hear this boring stuff. Best, family is watching dvd movies at the same time i can use voice guidance. Headphone is of light type, so it doesn't keeps me from hearing around while driving, which is very important for safety reasons.
Next step?
Plan a new experiment with S&T 2009 and new voice guidance telling streets name functions??? If the feature is working very well, it would definitly enhanced the remote/voice guidance only driving.
Maybe, we will see in the near future.
. But probably i may use a mono headphone instead, like the one used with wireless phone (with a microphone builtin). Thanks for the info.
