Help with sat nav (type /costs/easy?)

[rich]

Hi need help on buying a sat nav.

Please will you all advise me quick

£300 to spend .

of the companys money :rolleyes:

Regards rich

[fatbloke]

Hi need help on buying a sat nav.

Please will you all advise me quick

£300 to spend .

of the companys money :rolleyes:

Regards rich

I've got the navman 520 its the nuts

[rich]

I've got the navman 520 its the nuts

Thanks who does them £?

ta rich

Any more?

[rockbob]

Hi ihave a tom tom 300 for the car there is a version for bikes called tom tom ride, which i think is about £450 if its as good as the 300 it will be the dogs whats its! very easy to use.

[fatbloke]

Thanks who does them £?

ta rich

Any more?

they have them in halfords about £250 ish

[rich]

they have them in halfords about £250 ish

Thanks sir
i will go look tomorrow

its not for the bike, btw. ta

rich

[rich]

Hey , whats the voice like on these?

thanks

rich

[clockworkorange]

I have an older Navman which is pretty good. You have a choice of a sultry female and a sexy male voice usually.

[rich]

Thanks mate

any more options?

rich

[fatbloke]

Thanks mate

any more options?

rich

all the normal options km's miles. 3d mapping and you can download
the speed camara locations .

[bod]

I perservere with girlfriend MK2(holding an AA map)

Nice sultry tones while giving directions, but sometimes goes a bit haywire if I make the wrong turn, and seems to shout a bit in a raised voice.

Works ok again after a reboot though.....:rolleyes:

Cost wise I think they are a long term subscription

[Fosse Foxfight]

I've got the navman 520 its the nuts
Terry? Is that on the bike or in the car?

Sean

[fatbloke]

Terry? Is that on the bike or in the car?

Sean

car only its not weather proof
I've been using mine a year now and its never let
me down

[rich]

What about this ?:

Garmin i3 Sat Nav

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/attachment.php?attachmentid=8599&stc=1&d=1136404555

Looks small and a low price

any thoughts ?

[Boon]

Try this on made for bikes a Medion MDPNA175 and the 200 You can get them for under £300

[spacemonkey]

Is that the one you brought to the photoshoot? If so it is ace from what I saw.

[rich]

Try this on made for bikes a Medion MDPNA175 and the 200 You can get them for under £300

I'm bad enough in a van .

if i put it on the monster it will be curtains:eek:

but thanks for the mail

rich

[Boon]

it can speek to you

[rich]

One to be avoided !!:D

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GARMIN-NUVI-350-PORTABLE-GPS-SAT-NAV-NUVI350_W0QQitemZ5850473617QQcategoryZ14946QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem

Rich:)

[rich]

it can speek to you


Aah by wire? ok i'll think about it..ta

rich

[Zimbo]

TomTom. I had a Navman for a bit last year, it was OK but the TomTom's postcode search option is way way better than the Navman, or the Garmin, and that swings it for me. The interface is logical and easy to use and the spec is good. I've seen them at around £250, they're certainly under £300 everywhere now, being discounted because there's a new model on the way, same features and software but slimmer head unit, likely to be priced around £275 and I think called TomTom 1.

[rich]

ok tom tom , to look at as well

thanks
rich

[br1an]

Get yourself a tomtom one.

They were £220 in carphonewarehouse.

Bry...

[rich]

Yes looked at tom tom one (good)

& navman

Going for a Tom tom 500?:banana: because of bluetooth (Bit bulky)

Thanks all

rich

[Zimbo]

Good choice. The other advantage over the others is the touch screen, turns into a proper keyboard for input of adress etc, so much quicker than scrolling through to select letter by letter!
Now go to www.pocketgps.co.uk and download the free speed camera database for it.

[rich]

Thanks mate

i will do just that

rich

[fatbloke]

Good choice. The other advantage over the others is the touch screen, turns into a proper keyboard for input of adress etc, so much quicker than scrolling through to select letter by letter!
Now go to www.pocketgps.co.uk and download the free speed camera database for it.

just as a footnote the navman is touch screen and has the proper keyboard as well,
(incase you needed to know)

[br1an]

Check out this link to Currys for the tomtom one. If you enter nhs192 in the promotion box at checkout you should be able to get it for £238 delivered.

http://www.currys.co.uk:80/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0117756982.113663090 6@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchaddgjjdfldgcflgceggdhhmdfhn.0

Bry...

[rich]

thanks for the nhs197 code just got £22 off tomtom 500:)
thanks u all
rich

[Zimbo]

just as a footnote the navman is touch screen and has the proper keyboard as well,
(incase you needed to know)

Didn't know that, the Navman 610 I had six months ago wasn't. Touch screen is so much better!!!

[Mat]

Hi need help on buying a sat nav.

Please will you all advise me quick

£300 to spend .

of the companys money :rolleyes:

Regards rich


You could take a look at the Tom Tom 500 which has all FULL UK postcodes and main roads around Europe it costs around £340-£350 i liked the good touch screen ,quick search and fast start up.You may get it abit cheaper after looking at the price compare web site !.
You might even opt for the Tom Tom bike nav looks useful as it is designed for all weather outdoor use.

[rich]

You could take a look at the Tom Tom 500 which has all FULL UK postcodes and main roads around Europe it costs around £340-£350 i liked the good touch screen ,quick search and fast start up.You may get it abit cheaper after looking at the price compare web site !.
You might even opt for the Tom Tom bike nav looks useful as it is designed for all weather outdoor use.


Thanks mate .have gone for this one tomtom 500

£350 inc del

rich

[Julie]

Thanks mate .have gone for this one tomtom 500

£350 inc del

rich


Hi Rich

have you got it? how is it?

Julie

[Gilps]

I bought a Mio 268+ and its excellent. Paid £245 online. not widely available as its not one of the usual 4 makes, but comes highly recommeded in the few reviews I read.

If you want to get bored stiff with my findings read on. otherwise please feel free to ignore me. Its not meant to be a definitive guide and is only my findings. This is not an endorsement of any one system and is not me taking a pop at other systems, but is an explanation of how I arrived at my purchasing choice.

I was looking for a system about a month ao and couldn't make my mind up so I did what I usually do, spend hours trawling around the internet and speaking to loads of people. I took on board this thread too and found it most useful.

there are four main elements to any satnav system. first is the hardware. you either go for the Palm pilot/PDA/ type which tend to have smaller screens and are upright/portrait. then there are the horizontal/landscape type which tend to have larger screens. decide whether you want dual satnav and pda functionality or just satnav. the majority seem to be running Windows CE so in effect they are a PC of sorts. Like most PC's the speed of the processor is important. The majority seem to run at 300mhz. The Mio is 400. Processor speed is important when calulating a route, and more importantly when recalulating when you choose to take a different route.

The second element is the chipset. This is what locks onto the satellites. The later stuff is more sensitive and better at getting a signal. The latest chipset is Surfstar III and all the big players use it. With my Mio I can get a lock on 5 satellites within 30 seconds while sitting in my dining room. The Navman i tried took 2 minutes while sitting in my car, and then only when close to the windscreen. This may seem insignificant but it allows you to set up and plan routes before you even get inside the car. It also means you can set off on your journey quicker.

Third is the software. The later the software the more sophisticated it is. i played with a Navman 510 and didn't like the software. It was not intuitive and seemed limited in its functionality. The later version - 520 - has newer software which is supposed to be much better. I found the software upgrade for £30 so it does seem that you can keep your system updated as long as the hardware is compatible.

fourth is the maps. The later the maps, the more up-to-date they are. It seems to be the maps that cost the money too. The Navman 510 only came with UK maps, and European ones were another £99. My Mio came with full UK maps loaded and full European maps on CD ready to download via PC.

One of the reasons that I chose the Mio is that when choosing a route you can specifiy whether you are travelling by car (fast, medium, or slow), lorry (which will stick to main roads), by foot (a compass appears and footpath routes are chosen), or, best of all, motorbike. In bike mode, according to the manual, it will select "the windiest roads". I have yet to try this mode, but I hope it selects the roads with more bends and not the ones with the strongest gales. Obviuosly you also select whether you want fastest or shortest route.

most of the systems allow you to download additional files containg Points of Interest. soem systems like the Mio come with certain POI already loaded, airports, schools, post offices etc, but you can also download Speed Camera POI too. i haven't tried this yet as I always stick to speed limits. The Mio also has programmed in the speed imits of most of the roads on the map so will alert you if you are over the speed limit. you can turn this off or tune it to how much over you are before the warning apears.

[Gilps]

... cont
There is a waterproof cover available which i have not botherred with, but I have bought the bike mount. Haven't fitted it yet. It looks like it just clips onto the bars.

i am impressed with the Mio 268+ (be aware that the older 268 is still being touted around by some unscrupulous dealers trying to shift old stock). It is a little bigger than the Navamn range but as it is flat it will still fit in a pocket or handbag. I tend to keep mine in the glove box and it fits real easy. don't leave these things on display as they are easier to nick than car stereos and easier to flog on too. I found the TOMTOM a little bulky. If you are leaving it permanently wired up in the car then great, but too bulky take out and put in your pocket. I think the Garmin is overpriced for what you get.

As I said at the beginning, I stand to be corrected and these are just my views. when i started typing I didn't ralise it was going to be so lengthy. hope it helps someone.

[rich]

Hi Rich

have you got it? how is it?

Julie

Yes it works well , It's all touch screen and so easy to use

If i had the cash i would go for the Bike one £550 i think.

But it was a gift from my company expenses ;)

see ya

rich (ps i am told that the low life look for the sucker marks on the screen
then break in and go for the glove box or boot,:worried:

[Gilps]

Here's pictures of my Mio on the bike and off.

[JR]

Good write up Gilps -

You didnt mention voice commands ?
How do you get the voice commands while on the bike - cable or blue tooth, as I need glasses to read close up, so a screen on the handlebars might just be out of clear reading range?

[Fred]

I've got the Tom Tom Go, bit neater than the other Tom Toms. Worth a look before you decide. Works very well.

[rich]

Hi Rich

have you got it? how is it?

Julie

Forgot to say that the Tomtom 500/700 also doubles up as a hands free kit for your mobile phone ,via blue tooth (Handy)

rich

[Will]

Hi need help on buying a sat nav.

Please will you all advise me quick

£300 to spend .

of the companys money :rolleyes:

Regards rich

For bike use the BMW GS crowd swear by the Garmin 2610 or its new equivalent.

[Gilps]

Good write up Gilps -

You didnt mention voice commands ?
How do you get the voice commands while on the bike - cable or blue tooth, as I need glasses to read close up, so a screen on the handlebars might just be out of clear reading range?
The voice commands obviously are not a problem in the car. The bike will be a different matter though. I haven't actually been out on my bike with the Mio yet. I only just fitted the mount last night so as to get some pictures. I don't expect to be able to hear the voice commands, and will just rely on the screen. Not ideal but I guess most systems will be the same. There is a headphone socket so you could jerry-rig something up, but you will end up with an earpiece inside your lid. The other option is to use an Autocom system. I think that these have a port for satnav, phones, mp3 palyers etc. A bit of an expensive option though if you don't already have one. I wont fit an Autocom as I already spent a packet on the Intaride bike to bike system, but in hindsight wish I had spent a little extra and gone for the Autocom with the Intaride radios. Ho hum, hindsight etc..
I have also been looking at the waterproof cover. It is a genereic one and not specific to Mio, so I am not sure how well the unit will fit inside the cradle when sitting in its plastic bag. They look quite neat though and there are different sizes depending on your system so might be an option for others too. I think that they are probably more use for ramblers etc. as it floats!
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/search.php?search=aquapac

[Julie]

Thanks for all your help and photos its been great to get everyones opinions.

i will let you know what i settle on in the next week or two....

watch this space..

[A Yerbury]

Thanks for all your help and photos its been great to get everyones opinions.

i will let you know what i settle on in the next week or two....

watch this space..

yeah, keep me posted please! -holds breath with fervent anticipation!-:banana:

[Zimbo]

Useful review Gilps, thank you. I use the TT300 at present, but worth bearing in mind when I change it next.
I'd be interested to know how good the Mio's postcode search is? That's what swung the Tom Tom for me, it knows all the postcodes and takes me to even rural addresses fairly reliably. I had to find a remote farm in darkest Cornwall yesterday, for instance, on a single lane unnamed road in the middle of nowhere, and the Tom Tom took me to within 100 yards of it by postcode search alone. The Navman 610 I had before only had about a quarter of UK postcodes in it's database, and you had to select the one that matched closest and hope for the best, not ideal!

[Julie]

Right then....this is what i have done.....

First of all thank you to everyone for help and advice.

Gilps thank you for all your help - photos and PM's . I looked into your Satnav but seems they were all sold out as they went on special around the country on jan 1st.

I have bought the Garmin Quest from the link that Bry put up from a nice chap on the GS site. I collected it last night - at first look its bloody brillant and will be a life saver in morocco when jen an i go this year on the dirt bikes. Tom tom wouldnt of been any good out there. Its waterproof as well which will be a great help when i'm in wales as i do tend to fall in rivers alot on the KTM.

So i'm a happy julie right now. Thank you to everyone for there help. Thanks to Bry for posting the link up as well and gilps for all your effort and photos.

Yeah! i'll never be lost again....tho i might just crash from looking down at the screen.

Julie