Which Sat Nav?
Discussion
I need some help please ...
I need a Sat Nav system but have no clue which one to get. I'm very much a non-techy and the only experience I have of a sat nav system was the in-built unit in my Toyota Avensis (company car from years ago).
I drive a TVR Griffith (this is my only car and so is therefore my daily run-about and the car I will need to use my new sat nav in) so space is at a premium. Because of the wonderful engine note
, it would helpful if I could play the instructions through the radio or my bluetooth mobile phone headset (and that's as techy as I get 
).
Went on a run out to North Wales last weekend and some folk had TomToms. But there were problems when you didn't go directly through the way point on a downloaded route. Great when the road you'd intended to go along is closed so you have to go around and don't actually go through the way point. I'd like to be able to download detailed routes for hooning but I'd like to be able to over-ride it if there's a road closure or other problem.
I've had a quick look through this forum to see if I can get an answer without posting a new thread as I imagine this question has been asked a lot! But, the ones I've found end up being a bit too technical for me in terms of connectivity to mobiles etc! Sorry!
Any help and advice - gratefully received
I need a Sat Nav system but have no clue which one to get. I'm very much a non-techy and the only experience I have of a sat nav system was the in-built unit in my Toyota Avensis (company car from years ago).
I drive a TVR Griffith (this is my only car and so is therefore my daily run-about and the car I will need to use my new sat nav in) so space is at a premium. Because of the wonderful engine note
, it would helpful if I could play the instructions through the radio or my bluetooth mobile phone headset (and that's as techy as I get ).Went on a run out to North Wales last weekend and some folk had TomToms. But there were problems when you didn't go directly through the way point on a downloaded route. Great when the road you'd intended to go along is closed so you have to go around and don't actually go through the way point. I'd like to be able to download detailed routes for hooning but I'd like to be able to over-ride it if there's a road closure or other problem.
I've had a quick look through this forum to see if I can get an answer without posting a new thread as I imagine this question has been asked a lot! But, the ones I've found end up being a bit too technical for me in terms of connectivity to mobiles etc! Sorry!
Any help and advice - gratefully received
Hi,
I would definitely recommend Becker. I use a Cascade in my car, and I have found it invaluable. It is a single-DIN ( standard size - it will just slot in) unit, and has Bluetooth with SIM card reader so you can d/l your phone book to the unit. Also, it uses a 2GB flash card (CF type) with *all* of Europe on it (34 countries) - you never need to download into say memory units like some of the portable ones (although I am sure they are improved now).
There is no big 3D type screen, it's basically arrows and symbols. I prefer this as it's a lot more low-key and subtle, and looks inconspicuous to thieves. It uses Navteq maps, which I have found are better than TeleAtlas for me anyway.
There is nothing flashy at all about it, but I prefer that style. There are two RDS receivers, and it has all the usual TMC stuff for dynamic routing, etc., . The rest of the stuff are pretty standard I think - it will play MP3 CDs, will function off of the gyroscope, GPS and Speedpulse and it has voice control as well. The voice control is spot on, and you can store your own destinations and then have it on voice control and you can add phone numbers, etc., to it. The selection of interest sights and petrol stations, etc., seems quite good, although quite a few times the brand of the station in the real world is not that on the satnav, but that's understandable as premises change hands.
Other ones I looked at were the Pioneer AVIC ones but TBH they are just too bling bling IMHO. Becker's are also dirt cheap if you get them from Germany (it comes with a system CD and comes with around 12 or 14 languages, each with around 4-6 voice types).
There are the usual subwoofer/crossover and surround sound stuff as well, depending on how much audio equipment you are adding.
Downsides:
1. You can't download any speed/camera check point areas to it, and Becker said they would be highly unlikely to ever support such a feature. I don't miss this in Ireland as our traffic police set up random mobile check points, so a database of known stationary ones is redundant (there are only 3 in the country I think).
2. You might not be able to get it to integrate with steering wheels controls and whatever fibre-optics are in your car. There are many many many adaptors available, mostly from Germany, but again, it depends on the model (no problems with German cars).
I would definitely recommend Becker. I use a Cascade in my car, and I have found it invaluable. It is a single-DIN ( standard size - it will just slot in) unit, and has Bluetooth with SIM card reader so you can d/l your phone book to the unit. Also, it uses a 2GB flash card (CF type) with *all* of Europe on it (34 countries) - you never need to download into say memory units like some of the portable ones (although I am sure they are improved now).
There is no big 3D type screen, it's basically arrows and symbols. I prefer this as it's a lot more low-key and subtle, and looks inconspicuous to thieves. It uses Navteq maps, which I have found are better than TeleAtlas for me anyway.
There is nothing flashy at all about it, but I prefer that style. There are two RDS receivers, and it has all the usual TMC stuff for dynamic routing, etc., . The rest of the stuff are pretty standard I think - it will play MP3 CDs, will function off of the gyroscope, GPS and Speedpulse and it has voice control as well. The voice control is spot on, and you can store your own destinations and then have it on voice control and you can add phone numbers, etc., to it. The selection of interest sights and petrol stations, etc., seems quite good, although quite a few times the brand of the station in the real world is not that on the satnav, but that's understandable as premises change hands.
Other ones I looked at were the Pioneer AVIC ones but TBH they are just too bling bling IMHO. Becker's are also dirt cheap if you get them from Germany (it comes with a system CD and comes with around 12 or 14 languages, each with around 4-6 voice types).
There are the usual subwoofer/crossover and surround sound stuff as well, depending on how much audio equipment you are adding.
Downsides:
1. You can't download any speed/camera check point areas to it, and Becker said they would be highly unlikely to ever support such a feature. I don't miss this in Ireland as our traffic police set up random mobile check points, so a database of known stationary ones is redundant (there are only 3 in the country I think).
2. You might not be able to get it to integrate with steering wheels controls and whatever fibre-optics are in your car. There are many many many adaptors available, mostly from Germany, but again, it depends on the model (no problems with German cars).
Edited by Pete 55 on Monday 3rd September 23:01
Edited by Pete 55 on Monday 3rd September 23:06
Hi Andrea,
I bought a Garmin Nuvi 250 (£199 Halfords) fror the Tamora. Fits neatly in my pocket and has 5 hours battery life so do not really need to have power on it, although plugs easily into lighter. Also can be dash or windscreen mounted. Full post code UK and Europe. Also speed cameras, free for 3 months.
Downside is can only put in 1 waypoint per trip, but this doesn't bother me. For hooning may be a problem. On N Wales trips I just follow whoever's in front!! Good luck.
I bought a Garmin Nuvi 250 (£199 Halfords) fror the Tamora. Fits neatly in my pocket and has 5 hours battery life so do not really need to have power on it, although plugs easily into lighter. Also can be dash or windscreen mounted. Full post code UK and Europe. Also speed cameras, free for 3 months.
Downside is can only put in 1 waypoint per trip, but this doesn't bother me. For hooning may be a problem. On N Wales trips I just follow whoever's in front!! Good luck.
icb said:
Hi Andrea,
I bought a Garmin Nuvi 250 (£199 Halfords) fror the Tamora. Fits neatly in my pocket and has 5 hours battery life so do not really need to have power on it, although plugs easily into lighter. Also can be dash or windscreen mounted. Full post code UK and Europe. Also speed cameras, free for 3 months.
Downside is can only put in 1 waypoint per trip, but this doesn't bother me. For hooning may be a problem. On N Wales trips I just follow whoever's in front!! Good luck.
I bought a Garmin Nuvi 250 (£199 Halfords) fror the Tamora. Fits neatly in my pocket and has 5 hours battery life so do not really need to have power on it, although plugs easily into lighter. Also can be dash or windscreen mounted. Full post code UK and Europe. Also speed cameras, free for 3 months.
Downside is can only put in 1 waypoint per trip, but this doesn't bother me. For hooning may be a problem. On N Wales trips I just follow whoever's in front!! Good luck.
garmins are very easy to use. the garmin nuvi 760 is out soon, which can have lots of waypoints to create a trip (200? 500? not sure which) and also records where you've been which can be interesting on a driving holiday - my £30 inforad camera detector does that, but my £350 garmin 660 doesn't! Also the 760 automatically records where you are when you remove it from the mount, handy for when you can't remember where you parked - it tells you where your car is. To protect from abuse (like if you lost your satnav and car keys together) it has a pin code lock to turn the thing on. looks quite good to me, may try to return my 660 to the shop for a 760..https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10624&...
i've used the garmin before and would never again! instead i've found the RAC 200 to be more than i need. it's maps are as good as any and its a really small unit that can fit into your pocket. i paid £129.99 but i think they've come down to £105 or thereabouts. i think the RAC also do a bluetooth model but you'd have to check to make sure. have a look at http://www.rac.co.uk/web/racshop/in_car_navigation...
best of luck
best of luck
There is quite a good one solution fits all here. The O2 Xda orbit.
Its a mobile, an MP3 player, A radio, a windows based PDA and it has Sat Nav - with speed camera alerts.
wCheck out the O2 website, I've got myself one and have to say its brilliant. Essentially putting 3 gadgets into one.
www.02.co.uk
The sat nav is obviously not quite up to scratch against a dedicated unit - my gf has a Garmin something or other, whihc is a bit quicker to locate satellites and slightly clearer on the screen. However I have used the Xda for about 4 months now and never ended up in the worng place, or taken a wrong turn. (queue a mishap this evening!)
Its a mobile, an MP3 player, A radio, a windows based PDA and it has Sat Nav - with speed camera alerts.
wCheck out the O2 website, I've got myself one and have to say its brilliant. Essentially putting 3 gadgets into one.
www.02.co.uk
The sat nav is obviously not quite up to scratch against a dedicated unit - my gf has a Garmin something or other, whihc is a bit quicker to locate satellites and slightly clearer on the screen. However I have used the Xda for about 4 months now and never ended up in the worng place, or taken a wrong turn. (queue a mishap this evening!)
munky said:
[ garmins are very easy to use. the garmin nuvi 760 is out soon, which can have lots of waypoints to create a trip (200? 500? not sure which) and also records where you've been which can be interesting on a driving holiday - my £30 inforad camera detector does that, but my £350 garmin 660 doesn't! Also the 760 automatically records where you are when you remove it from the mount, handy for when you can't remember where you parked - it tells you where your car is. To protect from abuse (like if you lost your satnav and car keys together) it has a pin code lock to turn the thing on. looks quite good to me, may try to return my 660 to the shop for a 760..
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10624&...
Thanks for that. The 760 looks great and really is pocket sized! It's probably more than I want to pay though which is the only downside. And I guess that's based on the fact that I've not bought one before. It's probably easier to justify the spend if you've had one and have come to rely on it. Might have to talk to Father Christmas for donations to the satnav fund! garmins are very easy to use. the garmin nuvi 760 is out soon, which can have lots of waypoints to create a trip (200? 500? not sure which) and also records where you've been which can be interesting on a driving holiday - my £30 inforad camera detector does that, but my £350 garmin 660 doesn't! Also the 760 automatically records where you are when you remove it from the mount, handy for when you can't remember where you parked - it tells you where your car is. To protect from abuse (like if you lost your satnav and car keys together) it has a pin code lock to turn the thing on. looks quite good to me, may try to return my 660 to the shop for a 760..https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10624&...
There seem to be various additional memory cards and devices with maps - do they come with UK maps as standard?
Mrs FFG
icb said:
Hi Andrea,
I bought a Garmin Nuvi 250 (£199 Halfords) fror the Tamora. Fits neatly in my pocket and has 5 hours battery life so do not really need to have power on it, although plugs easily into lighter. Also can be dash or windscreen mounted. Full post code UK and Europe. Also speed cameras, free for 3 months.
Downside is can only put in 1 waypoint per trip, but this doesn't bother me. For hooning may be a problem. On N Wales trips I just follow whoever's in front!! Good luck.
IanI bought a Garmin Nuvi 250 (£199 Halfords) fror the Tamora. Fits neatly in my pocket and has 5 hours battery life so do not really need to have power on it, although plugs easily into lighter. Also can be dash or windscreen mounted. Full post code UK and Europe. Also speed cameras, free for 3 months.
Downside is can only put in 1 waypoint per trip, but this doesn't bother me. For hooning may be a problem. On N Wales trips I just follow whoever's in front!! Good luck.
Thanks for that - it's probably more around the mark in terms of budget but I'd like to see if I can stretch that a bit. I'd like a few more way points I think. Don't think I need as many as the 760 model though!
On N Wales trips, it's more a case of hanging on to the car in front for all your worth!! Fantastic!
MrsFFG
Pete 55 said:
... Becker Cascade ...
Pete,I've just had a look on the web at teh Becker Cascade. I see what you mean about the look and feel. Having made the comments about budget (see threads above) this one goes way over
. The only other downside for me is that it would be just for my car as you install it in place of your normal stereo. If we go out in Paul's TVR or I use his Skoda for a long work run then I can't take it with me... and I guess having looked at the Becker Cascade, I realise that would be important to me.Cheers.
MrsFFG
I recently purchased a Fujitsu Siemens Pocket Loox. Just used it for 2 weeks hooning abroad and it was a neat little unit. It had loads of good reviews and got it from Ebuyer.com for about £130 which included all the European maps. You have to update the memory card to add a few more countries on but its well worth it. It might be discontinued now so not sure about updates ,etc but might be worth a look if you're on a budget. Sure I saw an advert today about some Tom Toms down to 150 quid as well somewhere 
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/123570
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/123570
Edited by SimonV8ster on Wednesday 19th September 22:05
MrsFlipFlopGriff said:
munky said:
[ garmins are very easy to use. the garmin nuvi 760 is out soon, which can have lots of waypoints to create a trip (200? 500? not sure which) and also records where you've been which can be interesting on a driving holiday - my £30 inforad camera detector does that, but my £350 garmin 660 doesn't! Also the 760 automatically records where you are when you remove it from the mount, handy for when you can't remember where you parked - it tells you where your car is. To protect from abuse (like if you lost your satnav and car keys together) it has a pin code lock to turn the thing on. looks quite good to me, may try to return my 660 to the shop for a 760..
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10624&...
Thanks for that. The 760 looks great and really is pocket sized! It's probably more than I want to pay though which is the only downside. And I guess that's based on the fact that I've not bought one before. It's probably easier to justify the spend if you've had one and have come to rely on it. Might have to talk to Father Christmas for donations to the satnav fund! garmins are very easy to use. the garmin nuvi 760 is out soon, which can have lots of waypoints to create a trip (200? 500? not sure which) and also records where you've been which can be interesting on a driving holiday - my £30 inforad camera detector does that, but my £350 garmin 660 doesn't! Also the 760 automatically records where you are when you remove it from the mount, handy for when you can't remember where you parked - it tells you where your car is. To protect from abuse (like if you lost your satnav and car keys together) it has a pin code lock to turn the thing on. looks quite good to me, may try to return my 660 to the shop for a 760..https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10624&...
There seem to be various additional memory cards and devices with maps - do they come with UK maps as standard?
Mrs FFG
Only 2 criticisms - it doesn't show petrol stations on the map while you are moving (although you can quickly use it to find one either near current location, destination, or en route) and secondly it's not loud enough to hear in a TVR with the roof off! Has a headphone socket though which can connect to any stereo with an input socket, or as mentioned you can use the car radio as a receiver.
Uses the same map software as google maps (navteq) which, I have read in quite a few reviews, is better than tomtom's teleatlas maps. Other makes also use navteq of course, not just garmin. Hope that helps.
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