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gpspassion
93400 Posts |
 Posted - 18 mai 2006 : 22:39:58
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UPGRADE YOUR GPS-400 to v5.5
The Packard Bell GPS400 AIO was launched at the end of 2005 and was well received overall, but many users complained about the sometimes counter-intuivive Destinator ND (v5) navigation software. Both PB and Destinator must have been listening because v5.5
To upgrade the firmware of your GPS-400 please follow the steps below:
Download the upgrade here (22Mb - password : GPS21e7)
1. Transfer the firmware files to an SD or MMC card which is in FAT format.
2. Put the SD or MMC card into the GPS-400.
3. Press the power button, the arrow down button and the reset button at the same time.
4. Release the reset button. One second later, release the other buttons.
5. The Packard Bell screen will appear. After a few seconds information about the process will be displayed. Do NOT interrupt the process.
6. When firmware flashing has finished, the GPS-400 will ask to remove the SD or MMC card.
7. Remove the SD or MMC card.
8. The unit will restart.
9. All setting are lost as a result of the firmware flash. Please follow the on-screen instructions to set up the GPS-400.
Note : this v5.5 update has been tested by forum members successfully and there is a file to go back to v5.1 if need be, but you are performing it under your sole responsibility and before going ahead with it you must understand that a firmware upgrade is NEVER risk free and should it fail GpsPasSion or any of the forum members cannot be held responsible.
This is a www.GpsPasSion.com exclusive, DO NOT redistribute or link directly to the file. Instead link to this thread
Enjoy !
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Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
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PsiDOC
United Kingdom
139 Posts |
Posted - 18 mai 2006 : 23:12:36
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I have been testing this for a couple of days now and here are my personal findings.
Reflashing:
Reflash was easy apart from the "Vulcan death grip" of holding the down button, power button and resetting at the same time to flip the unit into bootloader mode. That said it's a knack that I can get used to. ;)
The reflash took approx 20 seconds with it's status reported on the screen every step of the way. This is very refreshing to see as some units I have seen say nothing to you and to the uninformed that can cause you to power the unit off during reflashing and render the unit useless without pulling the flash rom and externally reflashing in a programmer.
Post Flash Setup:
Identical to the initial setup of the PB Ver: 1.01 / Destinator 5.1. Quick, easy, intuitive and painless
Destinator 5.5:
My word what a difference! It seems Destinator dev team have taken a step back and had a look the user's wishlist.
Gone is the clunky Map screen with the controls scattered all over the place in a random fashion. It is replaced with a tom tom like map above / info bar below style system that has (reading from left --> right) Home navigation button (very handy for the tired road warrior on the run for home) Speaker mute, info panel that includes Speed, directions etc and a Menu button.
The Menus:
Finally some logical order. No more head scratching trying to fathom things out.
The 1st menu called Destinations is your navigation panel to get you where you need to be. With address input, recent locations, favourites and POI's makes getting there easy. 5 digit postcode funtionality is now included!
a huge improvement.
The 2nd Menu called options has Avoid Roads to get around notorious traffic jam spots a multistop planner (Ideal for deliveries) 3D/2Dmode, Night mode and some interesting functions like Pedestrian Mode and Route Playback I have not had chance to play with yet.
The 3rd Menu is settings.
It contains map settings whic allows you to set forward to up or in OziExplorerCE style have north as up, as well as automatic speed related zoom and large labels for street names etc. Next up is the Quick Nav Button use this to set you home address for the Home Nav button on the main screenThen the GPS Signal Button for checking your signal - Oddly enough I am getting 3 satellites and signal lock inside the house - never seen that before!
The Prompts button has speed warnings (untested) and various annoying features like it telling you to drive carefully that you can thankfully turn off!
The rest: Units of Measure, Look and Feel, Tutorials, About and Help are pretty much self explanitory.
Modified with WinCE:
The usual files to wake up Windows CE work fine. What you will notice though is that the unit is noticeably slower launching programs and navigating through the windows folder.
This I think is because the destinator system seems to have taken over and it's flooded with Destinator's files. Whilst an annoyance, TomTom loads in about 6 seconds as opposed to 4 and OziCE seems about 1 second slower, so it's liveable just to have a greatly updated and now useable Destinator ND as another choice of Sat Navigation.
Mplayer works ok as does everything else.
Other observations:
As stated before I am able to get a GPS lock after about 5 mins inside the house from a cold start using the Destinator ND software. TomTom doesn't want to know, so it must be software as opposed to SirfStar drivers. So
chalk one up for Destinator. Besides how about that for showing off your GPS... It works indoors - not bad for £200 eh?
Conclusion:
This test was done by an ardent Destinator hater. I had it on My Acer N35 and promptly ditched it in favour of TomTom. I did the same with the PB400 Destinatior ND 5.1.
Both were clunky, and in my opinion simply rated at zero in the ease of use stakes.
However Version 5.5 has set this to rights. It has a nice feel and is easy to get around. Granted only 5 digit postcodes, but that is a vast improvement on no postcodes and besides, let's see what the future brings to us.
I finally feel that Destinator has a system that I will warrant keeping on my SD Card.
Regards,
PSi
Packard Bell GPS 400 running on TomTom 5 / OziExplorer and Destinator ND (Not used!)
Currently working on yet another hack for the PB 400. 
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Paul80
United Kingdom
192 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 09:55:42
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Hi Si
Have you had a chance to try out 5.5 on the road yet?
I have done a couple of side by side comparisons between 5.1 and 5.5 on local routs that I know well and found that 5.5 gives some vary strange routes, I have never been down so many un-lit, un-made roads in my life and yes I did select quickest route, also had one occasion when travelling along a straight road the map clearly showed that the route was going to take me off the road I was on, then go around in a big circle, only to bring me back on the road I was already on at the same junction it took me off.
Also in relation to your comments on Post Codes what version of 5.1 do you have as on mine 5.1.128 I have 5 digit post code support.
PS it is possible to have both systems still on your unit at the same time which makes it easy to do comparisons.
Just copy the destinator folder to the SD Card before you up-grade, then use winCE to start the application from the card.
Thanks for the write up though.
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Edited by - Paul80 on 20 mai 2006 01:48:21 |
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PsiDOC
United Kingdom
139 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 11:27:18
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Paul, Good to see you matey.
Have been using 5.5 on the road for a couple of days and yes, one of the routes was interesting enough for me to use 4 wheel drive. Perhaps there's a setting I am missing out on somewhere to keep on major routes only.
The version of destinator I had on originally was 5.1.00 with PB firmware 1.00. Most have the same as you 5.1.128 Firmware 1.01 maybe I was unlucky and bought an early one.
Comparing 5.1 to 5.5 sounds like a good Idea. Any chance you can do that and give us your opinions on the new compared to the old? As I don't have 5.1 on my system any more.
Regards,
Si
Simon
Packard Bell GPS 400 running on TomTom 5 / OziExplorer and Destinator ND (Not used!)
Currently working on yet another hack for the PB 400.
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Vimes
193 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 11:59:23
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First of all many thanks for sharing this version of Detonator with us, much appreciated 
However is it really a firmware upgrade or is it a map upgrade for Detonator from version 5.x to 5.5....? I ask because the firmware of my unit is PB 1.01 and I have noted that others write that their firmware can be either 1.02 or 1.05 or 1.06 (there may be other version as well).
So does this upgrade also upgrade the Windows version PB1.01 that I see when I look at the system information under the settings menu of the PB menu...?
@PsiDOC - When you have written that you can have both 5.1 and 5.5 on your system at the same time do you mean copy \Destinatorapps\Destinator folder from your PB unit to the SD card and, like you mention, then navigate to that folder (or create a shortcut on your desktop) so then you can launch either 5.1 or 5.5..? I imagine that the 5.5 update does not update the map on the SD card (or its contents) but the Detonator software that is used to access the map...?
Also when you have mention, in your excellent overview of the upgrade, that the launching of other programs is a little slower is that because you are launching them with the PB shell running or are you lauching them as I would through the Windows CE desktop - I do not use the shell that the unit comes with but the CE desktop with shortcuts.
Thanks in advance for any help and many thanks again for sharing this
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Edited by - Vimes on 19 mai 2006 12:11:15 |
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Paul80
United Kingdom
192 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 12:48:27
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One other thing I have just noticed, I don't know if it just me or if others will come across this but my version of Destinator Console supplied with version 5.1 will not install favourites on version 5.5, it throws up an error about languages not being installed.
Can anyone else confirm this for me.
Thanks
Up-Date
Hi have sussed out what the problem with Console is.
The Directory structure is different between 5.1 and 5.5 so when console tries to import the file it cannot find the location.
The work around is
In your GPS400's destinatorapps/destinator directory you create a new directory called common, within that directory you create another directory called Favorites
So you will have
DestinatorApps\Destinator\Common\Favorites
And
DestinatorApps\Destinator\UserData\Favorites
You then use console to convert and install to the first directory then use explorer to move all the files into the second
It’s a bit long winded but it does work.
Good luck
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Edited by - Paul80 on 20 mai 2006 01:46:56 |
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Paul80
United Kingdom
192 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 12:57:21
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Hi Si
Just a quick comparison as a starter
5.5 has a cleaner looking GUI as you say more like TomTom
Most of the quick access button are now missing from the main map page so you now have to go through the menus to change from for example day to night maps.
I am not to sure about the routing they must have changed the algorithms as I am sure there is not a hidden option.
One thing I didn't like was that in 3D mode the view is from a much longer distance. The view on 5.1 was much closer and more like the view with TomTom.
The console software supplied with 5.1 doesn’t AFAIK work with 5.5.
This is just a couple of points and I am sure I and others will find many more both good and bad so keep posting.
Now all I have got to do is find the link to downloading Console for v5.5.
Up-Date
I think I have sorted the odd routing problem that I had. To get a route in 5.5 that comes close to the same route in 5.1 and TomTom I have to select the shortest route option instead of quickest as in 5.1 and tomtom, perhaps the buttons are round the wrong way.
Odd
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Edited by - Paul80 on 20 mai 2006 01:44:53 |
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PsiDOC
United Kingdom
139 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 13:42:00
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My word... Lots of questions! Ok let's see if we can clarify a bit.
@ Vimes
This is a firmware upgrade that brings you up to firmware version PB 1.07 That has Destinator V5.5 bundled with it.
Actually it was Paul that mentioned about backing up the destinator folder to the SD card before flashing his instructions were to simply copy the destinator folder to the card. I'm sure he'll be back in later to clarify.
You are 100% correct the firmware does not upgrade the maps in any way. Just the front end to use them.
Re: It being slower This was running through the CE desktop without the DShell running. To be honest I have noticed having the DShell running in the background makes no difference to the speed whatsoever.
@ Paul, Thanks for your comparisons so far. Very nice work. Keep it coming mate. As you know I didn't really use 5.1 as I simply didn't like it, hence the TomTom mod the same day as buying mine. So you are pioneering this part I'm afraid, however between us all I am sure we can suss it all out.
I have noticed a couple of things though..
1: Loading up the DShell resets all the init registry entries to factory so Soft resetting the unit blocks you from running Windows CE. It seems the firmware developers are on to us unlocking the unit. - Beware of that!
As a work around edit the Dshell.ini run section to this:
[Run]
HardButtonDriver=\DestinatorApps\DShell\HardButtonDriver.exe
Explorer=\Windows\Explorer.exe
;Destinator=\DestinatorApps\Destinator\Destinator.exe
This works as the DShell itself is calling WindowsCE instead of the registry. Granted DShell is runing on the taskbar, but just tap where it is on the taskbar to minimise it.
2: The extra buttons mod that commsman worked out I am having fun with. Destinator seems to be in it's usual place in the destinator folder and all of it is in the windows folder as well... Very sloppy on the point of the developer to do this, unlesx there's some hidden reason for it that we don't know about..
Anyways,
More later.
Regards,
Si
Packard Bell GPS 400 running on TomTom 5 / OziExplorer and Destinator ND (Not used!)
Currently working on yet another hack for the PB 400.
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Edited by - PsiDOC on 19 mai 2006 18:11:23 |
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kenwood
United Kingdom
109 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 15:31:42
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Hi all
Have been using the upgrade for a few days now so here is my tupence worth
1 Locks onto the sats faster less than 45 sec indoors 10-15 outside ???
2 better reception (how? I am a radio ham and the only way I know to improve reception is to improve your antenna) when using indoors the unit is usually in my shack (a very small room/cupboard not enough room to swing the cat)before the upgrade the unit locked on to 2/4 sats now 6/8 sats still scratching head!! (if only this would work for my radios)
3 faster rerouting no sign of the spurious routes that Paul mentioned. Here in Northern Ireland Destinator maps are the best TOMTOM is useless very poor maps.
4 layout is easy to use (idiot proof) read DOC's post.
Another point about reflashing as DOC says the Vulcan death grip is needed but if you hold the buttons too long the unit goes into a test setup screen useful if anyone is having probs with their unit.
So in conclusion I am very happy with the upgrade and If anyone here in N.Ireland (scotsid you also) is having probs with it give me a email and I will do my best to help.
All the best Geordie ("MI0CEO" ham radio callsign) |
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Vimes
193 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 15:32:39
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Hello
Ok I give up (almost). Apart from having to have another four or five fingers grafted to my cumbersome hands, as well as practicing the vulcan death grip position on the three buttons, is there any other help that anyone can offer me as I now have the two files....
EBOOT.nb0
NK.nb0
..in the root of my SD card and when I try to use the three fingered routine all I get is the PB400 starting up as normal with the calibration screen and then it complains that it can't find any maps on the SD card.
Am I really that cludgy with my fingers, I know the probable answer..... 
I do hope that I am pressing the three right buttons...
The top power button on the side. The reset button - with a paper clip. The front panel arrow down button (The five way scroll button labelled as number 6 in the manual on page 5)
Prepares to hang head in shame if pressing the wrong buttons.
EDIT: The card is formatted with FAT and not FAT32
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Edited by - Vimes on 19 mai 2006 16:13:18 |
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kenwood
United Kingdom
109 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 15:55:55
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ok Vimes have you formated the sd card for FAT only NOT FAT32 the only other thing is the timing of the button release that gave me probs it has to be 1sec no more possibly even shorter if that is possible LoL
keep trying
Best Geordie
ps
you will have to reload the maps with destinator console if you removed them from your sd card
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Edited by - kenwood on 19 mai 2006 15:58:53 |
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Vimes
193 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2006 : 16:33:53
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Ok here is what I did.....
Get a cup of tea and then watch the Star Trek TOS episode called "The Arena" - where Kirk and Spock fight each other.
Then I tried again having given myself the confidence that I have learnt as much as I can about the Vulcan death grip.
Applied the said knowledge with conviction......
Success.......!!!!!!!!!!
I was a little shocked when I saw scrolling writing on my unit (sideways) but assured when it told me to remove the card as the process has been completed. I now have revision 1.07 firmware, with an updated Detonator.
Now, with a new invigorated feeling of confidence, off I go to get CE applied and TomTom.....
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kenwood
United Kingdom
109 Posts |
Posted - 20 mai 2006 : 00:47:13
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ok vimes
Did your wig move when you applied the death grip if not then we can assume that you have a full head of hair so all is well on the planet Risea.
Now tell us what you think about the update.
If you have probs loading the update drink more Guinness wait until the morning, the shaking hands will help with the timing.
Keep her between the hedges white line down the middle
the best Geordie |
Edited by - kenwood on 20 mai 2006 01:01:05 |
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Vimes
193 Posts |
Posted - 21 mai 2006 : 17:34:38
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The update...
First of all I am impressed that everything that I had installed previous to the update still works. I did remove the TCPM player and installed the latest one (ver 0.72RC1) and encode all my vids to DivX through DR.DivX at 320x240. I then used VirtualDubMod to increase the sound by 100%, in batch mode, and so all my divx files play with great sound.
I had got Pocket Streets, by Microsoft, to work on it, but that is not a routing software but more of just a map and GPS.
I must admit to being dragged kicking and screaming to use the Destinator over TomTom, more because of being familiar and assuming that TT would be the 'better' option for me. I do find the interface on Destinator less cluttered now and easier to 'navigate' through the menus. I also find, early days yet though, that the routing seems more 'sensible' in its choice over that of TT. Even though I'm using version 605 of the GB map in TT I find some roads more up to date on the older Destinator maps, which amazed me.
I am not sure if I could get the speed camera warnings to work with Destinator and there does seem to be restrictions in the distance warnings to the POI's that you setup that were not there in the previous version. The need to convert wav files to spx is no big deal once you have the software to do it. Being picky I have noticed that you can't set an alert for an individual favourite but only for a group and I can't seem to find lower case characters to name them instead of upper case only, still no doubt after having waaay to much to drink the night before I'm not focussing as well as I should.
It would be interesting to see when the next version of Destinator is launched the newer map would work on this unit...?
All in all a great upgrade and I do find that I am tempted more to launch Destinator than TT. For some reason it does seem to pick up the sats better indoors then it did before, not sure how it manages that though.
Most crucial point is..... to remember to watch the road in front of me a little more than the map scrolling on the GPS....
EDIT: I now seem to have the speed camera warnings and markings on the maps sorted, I needed to convert my sound files from ogg to wav and then to spx. |
Edited by - Vimes on 21 mai 2006 20:52:32 |
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PsiDOC
United Kingdom
139 Posts |
Posted - 23 mai 2006 : 21:06:39
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Sadly, the sluggishness of the system with the PB 1.07 / Destinator 5.5 finally got the better of me. I have reflashed back to 1.02 / Destinator 5.1. I did however backup the Destinator folder to the SD Card before reflashing so I can now run 5.5 straight off the card.
For information Destinator 5.5 does work on the firmwares that had 5.1 installed from the factory.
Regards,
Si
Packard Bell GPS 400 running with TomTom 5 / OziExplorer and Destinator ND 5.5 - Best £160 I have ever spent.
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Vimes
193 Posts |
Posted - 23 mai 2006 : 21:24:14
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Shame that you had to go back to the older version, as such. I can't say that I have noticed a difference in the speed of the unit from the 5.1 / 1.01 to the 5.5 / 1.07, apart from browsing the units Windows folder, which matters very little.
I remember reading somewhere (forgot where exactly) that someone was trying to get Route 66 working with this unit. As I can't remember who that was or where I read it I'm not sure if they had success with this, I would be interested to know the outcome.
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** Exclusive - Upgrade your GPS 400 to v5.5 **
