Suggested navigation device

[stephen low]

Folks

The Goodwood thread talks about navigation around the UK using electronic devices and I wasn't going to bother but I have the opportunity to buy something using up old Qantas FF points.

I don't have such a device though I think I've used Navman in Avis cars in SA last year.

Beyond the UK trip I can use one for work generally and in the cobra when it gets going. And with he eyes going it does make it easier than having to stop and look at maps with the reading glasses on.

I am after brand suggestions first as to what you think is good and crap equipment and then refined by suggested models for the good gear.

Hopefully the FF store might have something you guys suggest as reasonable and I can upgrade the maps once I get the gear.

Await your feedback.

Cheers

Slo

[leroy17]

4 Years ago we purchase a tom tom 720 from the US. It has pre loaded US maps, Europe maps, UK maps including Ireland. We jut had to load Australia maps on.

Anyway, we spent about 12 months traveling through Europe, UK, Ireland and USA and this was a life saver. Directions in all countries were easy and all very accurate.

I would recommend to anyone considering self guided travel in another counrty.

Hope this helps.

[Rebel1]

Slo, Do you own some sort of tablet, like an apple Ipad or one of the android tablets with GPS capabilities?.

[boxhead]

I have a Garmin Nuvi, I bought a UK SD card.
Makes life so much easier.

[stuartt]

I haved used Navman, Tom Tom and Garmin and its Garmin for me every time.
Stuart

[Hotfingrs]

I've used several different makes and I like Garmin Nuvi the best. Get the 5 inch screen and a model with LMT afer the name. LMT= Lifetime Maps and Traffic

[Ralphy]

We have two Garmins, which seem very user friendly. I recently went on a trip to Tuscon and a friend brought his Tom Tom. The stupid thing had us get off a freeway five miles before our exit and drive the marginal road following the freeway. Then another time it had us exit another freeway and get right back on. POS that one was! Not saying all Tom Tom units are bad however?

[dwathencars]

My iPad does well for navigation, but any of the recent Garmin devices are better in a car. On vacation, my wife and I like to stay in one city for a week and make day trips in a car, we downloaded maps and data for St Petersburg, Prague, Rio, etc in the last couple years and the routing worked well, but most useful is the data on fuel stops, Restuarants, historical sites, etc.

[Krait]

Been using Garmin for years, see no reason to change. Current unit is a Nuvi 3490.

Garmin offer their Base Camp software for PC free of charge. Once you have the correct maps in your Nuvi you can connect to your PC and see the maps, waypoints etc. Previously you had to have a separate mapset on PC.

Just back from the USA, did 1500 miles without a navigation error though SWMBO had the edge through New York City

LMT is great but it only applies to the map that came with your unit. If you buy a Garmin GPS in the USA for instance then the LMT applies only to the US maps that came with it. If you install Oz maps later on then LMT will not apply to them.

Cheers

[tcrist]

A few years ago, my ex bought a TOM TOM for her mother. She tried it out before giving it to her and it did not work well at all. It did not even have my sons street on it and it had been built for over a year. She did all of the updates and it still did not have the street on it.

She took it back and got a Garmin. Worked perfect right out of the box. When it said that you were at the address that you typed in, you were right in front of the door.

Again that was a few years ago but if I were to buy one it would be a Garmin.

BTW, her mom still uses it and it still works perfect.

[SunDude]

On the recommendation of others, I just bought the Garmin Nuvi 50LM with lifetime maps, literally 20 mins ago. Haven't had the chance to use it yet, but everyone seems to swear by them. Hope they're right.

[letsboogie351]

Slowy
I have a TomTom and have also used a Garmin device. Had no problems from either. Generally the Tomtom gave slightly earlier warnings for turns. Took the Tomtom to England last visit after downloading the UK & Ireland maps before leaving Aus. Made life much simpler getting around Pomgolia

Doug

[stephen low]

Thanks for all the comments guys.

Seems Garmin is the pick and I do know the FF program doesn't have these but it has dawned on me this can be a legitamite tax deduction for this business use of my car so what the heck.

A quick look at the Garmin site and there are some very flash models out there.

Is lifetime maps up grade a valuable extra?

Not sure what I need to do to get UK-EU maps but that's a side issue as far as I am concerned.

So now it is really how expensive do I get with one of these?

Does it match that more expensive gets a better unit?

Cheers

Slo

[Zedn]

There are actually some pretty cool features available with these if you look around.

You can get some that come with wireless reverse cameras that use the GPS as the monitor, blue tooth handsfree, ability to play video files (which is good if you have small children).

I have Navman and also used a tomtom for a few years. My next one will be a chinese one off ebay that has much more features than the brand name models for half the price. Ebay has hundreds of them.

[sambo]

Slowy, I use my Android mobile phone with a car cradle/charger and any one of 3 or 4 navigation apps - haven't settled on a winner yet. The phone also takes calls (funny that), I can read eBooks, watch vids, take photos, web browser, GPS tracker, mp3 player, etc. Fits in the pocket when I get out of the car, no need to remove or hide a dedicated GPS device. Seriously have a look at the latest Samsung offering (Galaxy S3), you could read that screen from the back seat.

[Krait]

Originally Posted by stephen low

Thanks for all the comments guys.

Seems Garmin is the pick and I do know the FF program doesn't have these but it has dawned on me this can be a legitamite tax deduction for this business use of my car so what the heck.

A quick look at the Garmin site and there are some very flash models out there.

Is lifetime maps up grade a valuable extra?

Not sure what I need to do to get UK-EU maps but that's a side issue as far as I am concerned.

So now it is really how expensive do I get with one of these?

Does it match that more expensive gets a better unit?

Cheers

Slo

Slowy,

Screen quality & size and overall bulk of the unit seem to relate to price. The Nuvi 3490 I use is very slim and has a great screen....very Android/Applesque. My missus inherited my 2 year old Nuvi 3790 which is externally is identical but has slightly different software....hers also has Spongebob Square Pants handing out directions

If you buy the unit in Australia to primarily use in Australia life time maps is great. Don't buy a LMT unit overseas as the LMT doesn't apply to Australia.

If you choose Garmin I suggest you access MyGarmin and register. It will advise you of map and software upgrades. Easiest way to get UK maps is to simply buy them through MyGarmin and they'll download straight to the GPS.

Cheers

[Krait]

Originally Posted by Zedn

There are actually some pretty cool features available with these if you look around.

You can get some that come with wireless reverse cameras that use the GPS as the monitor, blue tooth handsfree, ability to play video files (which is good if you have small children).

I have Navman and also used a tomtom for a few years. My next one will be a chinese one off ebay that has much more features than the brand name models for half the price. Ebay has hundreds of them.

Zedn,

It's the map database that makes the GPS. Doesn't matter how fancy the hardware if it can't find where you want to go.

I recently went with my boss in his big flash American truck with all the bells and whistles. His in built GPS couldn't tell him where the petrol stations were or even where our destination was. Lucky I took mine with me. Surprisingly UAE petrol stations can be few and far between.

Cheers

[Aussie Mike]

I've had a couple of different Garmin nuvi units. They were user friendly and easy to use. Unfortunately I lost the windscreen bracket for my last one (left it in a rental car). Garmin wanted silly money to replace it so I bought a new unit from TomTom. The Garmin also needed a map update and that was a bit to pricey in my opinion.

The TomTom has been good so far. I'm in the US at the moment and I downloaded the US maps before I left and they were reasonably priced (about $46).

Most of the newer units are pretty good these days. It really comes down to cost for the unit and updates and which interface style you like.

Cheers

[Aussie Mike]

Originally Posted by Krait

Surprisingly UAE petrol stations can be few and far between.

Cheers

What? I thought you would just pull over an hammer a length of pipe into the ground.

[Rebel1]

Originally Posted by sambo

Slowy, I use my Android mobile phone with a car cradle/charger and any one of 3 or 4 navigation apps.

Which is why I asked if Slowy owned a some form of tablet.
In the past I've traveled with a lap top for work but recently was given a 7" tablet (Nexus 7 )which I now find is much better than lugging a lap top around. Much smaller and more secure from theft.

I installed the Sygic app and I find it very useful, both in a car and just as important, walking around cities as it has a walking mode to guide you around. Maps are a bit expensive ( $A30.00)but you get life time upgrades.

Has all the fuel stop info and just as important, it locates WiFi hot spots.

Same tablet also does all my work stuff, emails, reports etc so it saves on carrying around all different devices.