Garmin Nuvi 1300 Price, Free Maps, Tips and Tricks

At last, I finally got my hands on a shiny new Garmin Nuvi 1300 courtesy of a kababayan who i met online and bought the unit (along with an OBD II code reader) and hand-carried here (even if I've really yet to meet him)

Garmin Nuvi 1300 Review:

Car-mount GPS unit with 4.3 inches display, speaks street names but is kinda slow to respond to touch commands. JPEG viewer.

comes with dash-mount kit and car charger (no Garmin mapsource CD installer), 1s track log recording (diagnostic logging mode) but I still can't find the data storage folder for the hidden tracklog.

I got it installed with OpenStreetMap (a free GPS map of the Philippines) accurate in Quezon City, Makati where I initially tested it.

Garmin Nuvi Price in Philippines is about P7000.00 but local support/service centers not that many so you should know where to take your Garmin products for repairs.

This would be the initial post about the Garmin Nuvi 1300, watch out for more!

Google Maps API Key Error Problem on OpenStreetMap

Weeks or months ago I encountered an error while accessing Open Street Map Philippines (url: http://www.openstreetmap.com.ph

the error pop up says:

"This web site needs a different Google Maps API key. A new key can be generated at http://code.google.com/apis/maps/."

I tried to access the same website using Firefox, Safari and IE all with same results. I asked freinds to access same but with successful results, they can see the map of the Philippines.

What could be the problem on my side? Is it my laptop running Windows Vista? I don't think it's really Google Maps API key problem but just another "user error."

I'll try to access the map using my other OS (Ubuntu) on my laptop later. If you guys know of any solution to this Google Maps API, just let me know. I'm too busy to try to find the solution myself.

Fujitsu Ten Car Stereo Repair (Head Unit Toyota Vios)

With the final push of car restoration, I needed to replace my Toyota Vios' head unit (car stereo) for i wasn't able to repair it due to power problems so unlike the more expensive digital intrument panel.

I thought i found the problem with a continuity check but after soldering and testing with my AC power adapter, still no power. Note that car head units have two power supplies, one's the main power and the standby power supply voltage regulator connected to the ACC of the vehicle and responsible for the settings and CPU/computer of the car stereo (actually quad since it's four channel) and for powering up the digital LCD display.

If only I can find a fujitsu ten car stereo schematic diagram for download but all I can find online is the toyota vios witing diagram for the car stereo/head unit.

Perhaps I just stop attempting to repair it for wasted time and effort and just head to Banaue (bawawe), Quezon City, Cubao Autocentro, Raon, Quiapo, Manila or even Evagelista St. in Makati for surplus car stereo even brand new ones like Pioneer, JVC, Alpine, Sony head units with auxiliary input, USB and iPod Control preferable 2 DIN for 1 DIN HUs need spacers and additional installation hardware that can cost me around P500 more (even with free installation that comes with the brand new unit price).

Cellphone Jammers to Cheat Elections 2010?

A recent reports by the Commision on Elections (COMELEC) on the threat of the reported entry of 5000 mobile phone signal jamming equipment in the country hoged the news recently.

Cellphone jammers operate like "wild mobile phone" transmitters to block legitimate cellphone signals thereby disbaling them. This is so because the equipment for the May 2010 elections will be using cellular phone lines to transmit precinct count to the tallying center computers.

WOuld the cellphone jammers be able to cheat? I don't think so. They will merely delay the tallying but not the count since the real election count is stored in the individual units at each precinct. Cellphone jamming will only delay but traditional dagdag-bawas cheating tactics won't succeed.

I will look for equipment to trace/track/detect cellphone jammers and procedures how to mitigate the threat.