Carpe Iter Caretta

[Martin Wilcke]

I have been using Thork Racing / DMD hardware for several years; first a T865, currently a T665 on my Triumph Tiger 900 (mostly road with MRA) and a T865X on my Africa Single (mix of road and off-road with MRA and DMD2).
In principle, I am very satisfied with both devices and share @Bart-De-Medts positive experiences

But I have also encountered problems: after a while, the contacts on my T665 wore out, and it stopped charging properly. Thork Racing quickly repaired the problem free of charge, and now it works again. The contacts on my T865x are also starting to look worn, so perhaps the next problem is on its way.

Unfortunately, pogo pins are not the best choice for a power supply, and it is no coincidence that the new No7e from Thork only has a screw connection on the back of the device, not on the side, which is really impractical to use.

I have therefore decided to order the new Carpe Iter Caretta. The whole device, including the power supply and holder, makes an extremely good impression. I already liked the old devices, but there were a few teething problems, especially with GPS stability when using DMD2 as software. But hopefully that won't be the case with the Caretta.

I have also read that there is a partnership with MRA and that purchasing the Caretta includes a one-year license for MRA NN. I already have a lifetime license, but if you use more than three devices, an additional license is useful

I am very excited and can hardly wait to get the device. Is there anyone else here who has ordered a Caretta or is considering doing so?

[Hans van de Ven MR.MRA]

I recently bought the C4, if I like it I will order the Caretta

[Hans van de Ven MR.MRA]

This is also a nice device: https://www.dmdnavigation.com/news/6967716521efccdb00059e93/

[Martin Wilcke]

@Hans-van-de-Ven-MR.MRA said in Carpe Iter Caretta:

This is also a nice device

For sure - however, as mentioned, the Nor7e only has a screw connection on the back as a power supply. That's too inconvenient for me.

[Makro]

I too was looking at the Caretta, as it's cheaper than DMD, and I don't need all the DMD software. Hey, I have MRA
I quickly dropped the idea. Note how big the cradle is, 3,6 cm wider than the device. Maybe not an issue for others, but a deal braker for me.

From their web site:
Caretta Device: ~194x129x33mm (LxWxH).
Holder (Approx): 203x165x56mm (LxWxH),

[Martin Wilcke]

@Makro said in Carpe Iter Caretta:

Note how big the cradle is, 3,6 cm wider than the device. Maybe not an issue for others, but a deal braker for me.

Yeah - that's something to consider, and the same goes for the weight.

The CI Pads have always been bulkier and heavier than the Thork / DMD devices. My CI V4B had the same outer dimensions as my T865, with an inch less in display size. But honestly, I love the massive, bombproof design of CI's devices and holders!

I intend to replace the T865 with the Caretta, and as the Honda has a rock-solid mounting point and plenty of space above the dashboard, I don't care about size or weight.

What's coming up to replace the T665 on my Triumph is still to be discovered. The Evotech mount can't handle a ~1kg device without too much vibration, I guess. So I may go for a smartphone solution, even though I swore never to use a smartphone as a nav device again...

[Con Hennekens]

@Martin-Wilcke said in Carpe Iter Caretta:

even though I swore never to use a smartphone as a nav device again...

I have been using rugged phones for years now, and I do not consider them phones...
Phone is in my pocket, navigation device (which happens to be called a phone) on my handlebar...

[Martin Wilcke]

@Con-Hennekens

I'm calling a phone a "navigation device" only if it was designed and built explicitly for this purpose - and there are just a few. There are some key differences, which set them apart from other devices, where THIS is probably the most important one (taken from Caretta specs, but Thork devices have the same feature):

There are many users out there who have been using different phone/tablet types for navigation for years without encountering any overheating problems, or at least getting used to dealing with them. That's absolutely fine, and I don't want to start a debate on this.

I can only tell from my own experiences. I used several phones for navigation, from an iPhone and a Samsung to a Blackview. They ALL struggled with overheating at some point. That's why I switched to Thork devices.

However, things change over time, and maybe there are some "regular" phones available now that will work flawlessly even in real hot conditions with a blistering sun all day and a temperature close to 40 °C ( which can easily happen when riding in Southeast Europe) while always on with maximum display brightness and permanently charged. But honestly, I doubt it.