Cheapy Sat Navs ?

[J4CKO]

After breaking my trusty Garmin I have been using my phone but to be honest it is a bit of a faff, it works but not as easy as a dedicated unit, so was thinking I would just get a couple of cheap ones to leave in the cars.


Are the unbranded ones like this rubbish ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-5-CAR-GPS-SAT-NAV-FR...

Is it better just getting a pair of second hand Tom Toms ?

Doesnt have to be fancy, just a basic unit with reasonbly up to date maps.

[devnull]

Generally speaking, you get what you pay for - that one you posted is little more than a repurposed 5" tablet that doesn't do anything very well. Ebay is littered with them, and you can find video reviews of most of them on youtube ( i couldn't for yours ).

Caveat emptor, really. The update mechanism for the nav software will either be non existent or difficult, or possibly only possible through pirating maps.

Edited by devnull on Monday 12th August 14:31

[CallorFold]

If the phone SatNav is a "bit of a faff" I don't think you'd get on much better with a cheap SatNav?

Is it the app that's a faff? Or just generally having to use your phone as the SatNav?

I paid for Co-Pilot live for my iPhone and have been using it hassle free for the last 3 years or so both on my 3GS and now iPhone 5.

[no effort]

What app are you using on your phone?

I also use Co-Pilot and for the price think it's great. I've used Waze in the past but this requires a constant internet connection.

Edited by no effort on Monday 12th August 14:29

[Fubar1977]

I stumped up for the TomTom app on iPhone and it`s loads better than my standalone TomTom, which now gathers dust in a drawer.
The phone can find the satellites just fine, unlike the standalone unit, which is ste.
Updates are free (for me) and fast/painless.

I honestly wouldn`t spend the money on a seperate Satnav these days.

[Mr2Mike]

The usefulness of the SatNav depends almost entirely on the quality of the software, accuracy of the maps and availability of updates which is why TomTom and Garmin are market leaders. Cheap satnavs using clunky Chinese software and out of date maps etc. are junk.

One picture in the advert suggests it may use the iGo Primo software, which is pretty decent and the Navteq maps are good. However, there is nothing within the actual description that actually confirms this. I would get this confirmed by the seller before parting with any money.

[J4CKO]

Just using Google maps at the moment on my Galaxy S3, want one that doesnt require data connections for the map download.

[tannedstamina]

I used to have standalone unit, but it was terrible. Now I just use iPhone and Apple Maps - I find it brilliant and gives you different routing options and you can see traffic. Have also got Navfree app which you can download speedcameras and pay to remove ads. It's quite good, but not as easy to use as Apple Maps.

Just get a good charger, screenmount and you're done. Unless you don't have a modern smartphone of course...

Standalone units are dying a death!

[gizlaroc]

Mr2Mike said:

The usefulness of the SatNav depends almost entirely on the quality of the software, accuracy of the maps and availability of updates which is why TomTom and Garmin are market leaders. Cheap satnavs using clunky Chinese software and out of date maps etc. are junk.

One picture in the advert suggests it may use the iGo Primo software, which is pretty decent and the Navteq maps are good. However, there is nothing within the actual description that actually confirms this. I would get this confirmed by the seller before parting with any money.

I hate Garmin, the routing is terrible in the UK I think, either main roads or short route, but never sensible, when you know a route it shows it up.

For me Navigon was always best, then TomTom. Garmin bought Navigon and when I last updated all my routes changed, on trips I knew and had done before they started taking me crap routes, the sort of routes you would take if looking at a map. So need a new one.

The TomTom is pretty good, the new Go series look brilliant, but some serious issues on it, can't zoom out without it zooming back in, no way of turning auto zoom off. Plus a few other issues regarding customising it.

So been using nav free for the last few week on my phone, ok for free but not ideal.

Waiting to see if TomTom sort out the issues on their new range.

[Kentish]

I have in-built satnav in the BMW but I keep a Garmin in the car too.

I swap it into the MINI when I use that.

It was pretty cheap tbh (about £130) and it's a good spec one with lane assist and bluetooth for the phone.

You can get cheaper ones like NavMan for £80 or even cheaper makes like Bush for about £60 now.

I did try a 7" tablet type off ebay and it was rubbish; took ages to lock onto satellites and eventually stopped working after less then a year.

I also have the Co-Pilot App on my i-Phone which is excellent (about £27).

[Mr2Mike]

Kentish said:

I have in-built satnav in the BMW but I keep a Garmin in the car too.

I swap it into the MINI when I use that.

It was pretty cheap tbh (about £130) and it's a good spec one with lane assist and bluetooth for the phone.

You can get cheaper ones like NavMan for £80 or even cheaper makes like Bush for about £60 now.

You can get a TomTom Start 25M with UK maps and lifetime map updates for £100, which covers the ongoing expense of these things.

[andrewboom]

I have a dirt cheap Binatone one from Argos. I use it for finding cricket grounds I have not been to before, and when picking stuff up off ebay. If I was using it everyday I might want a better one, but for what i need it for it more than does the job.

[GC8]

I seem to be in the minority of people who use their mind to plot a route to a city and then use a satnav to find a particular address when there...

[LuS1fer]

I bought a Route 66 one from Halfords some years ago but after so many times being dumped in a dead end in a council estate and being led on unexplained diversions, I just wanted to put a hammer through it and instead stopped using it. My wife's Tom-Tom takes me where i want to go every time.

[Mr2Mike]

GC8 said:

I seem to be in the minority of people who use their mind to plot a route to a city and then use a satnav to find a particular address when there...

You hold the map of the UK in your head? I look at a map to get an idea of which way I need to head.

[GC8]

No Michael, I keep it in my car, along with a cheap satnav.

I bought TomTom for my PDA years ago and I bought a cheap satnav (Navigon maps) a while later with the intention of installing the PDA version of TomTom onto it. Thinking back I actually bought two as they were extremely cheap in a Sainsbury clearance offer in 2007, and one is in a drawer somewhere unused.

Im still using the first one now because it was accurate and bug free enough to do what I needed and because of this I havent ever attempted the TT upgrade.

[Mr2Mike]

GC8 said:

No Michael, I keep it in my car, along with a cheap satnav.

Your mind, or a map?

[GC8]

[no effort]

J4CKO said:

Just using Google maps at the moment on my Galaxy S3, want one that doesnt require data connections for the map download.

Co-pilot downloads the maps onto your phone during the installation process so no data connection is require when driving and it costs about £20.

Edited by no effort on Tuesday 13th August 07:27

[Kentish]

no effort said:

J4CKO said:

Just using Google maps at the moment on my Galaxy S3, want one that doesnt require data connections for the map download.

Co-pilot downloads the maps onto your phone and is about £20.

It's excellent to use too; very intuitive and works really well.