Sat Nav ?

[J4CKO]

Been using my phone (Android HTC Desire HD) but I think with going to the USA in August for a couple of weeks driving I could do with one, usually when I go with work I just rent one as the company is paying but its five or six quid a day, so potentially I am in for £80 or so to rent a rather crappy 2005 Garmin like I used to have at home until I punched it in frustatrion (touch screen on way out) so was thinking I may as well bit the bullet and buy one, using my phone might bankrupt me due to data roaming charges as I think Google maps downloads the maps as it goes.

So, had a look in Halfords/Comet the other day and the array is mind boggling, just want a decent model with no fancy gizmos that doesnt cost £300, any suggestions, obviously it needs to come with or be upgradeable to full US mapping.

[aizvara]

J4CKO said:

Been using my phone (Android HTC Desire HD) but I think with going to the USA in August for a couple of weeks driving I could do with one, usually when I go with work I just rent one as the company is paying but its five or six quid a day, so potentially I am in for £80 or so to rent a rather crappy 2005 Garmin like I used to have at home until I punched it in frustatrion (touch screen on way out) so was thinking I may as well bit the bullet and buy one, using my phone might bankrupt me due to data roaming charges as I think Google maps downloads the maps as it goes.

So, had a look in Halfords/Comet the other day and the array is mind boggling, just want a decent model with no fancy gizmos that doesnt cost £300, any suggestions, obviously it needs to come with or be upgradeable to full US mapping.

Another option is: you can get google maps to cache areas which you will visit. There's a Google labs option, turn it on, then select some areas to cache. I did this when I went to Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago.

Having said that, didn't use it at all as the city was very easy to navigate.


You could also purchase a satnav app for the phone which downloads the full maps before going; CoPilot is pretty good.

[Fas1975]

I go to the USA and Canada about 6 times a year. Best thing I ever did was buy my own GPS. Don't bother with anything here. When you get to the US, make your way to a Best Buy. I bought a Garmin Nuvi, full 50 states and entire Canada for $60 + tax. I went for the Nuvi purely because of size. Thin, compact and very very easy to use.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13431

[sjg]

I bought Copilot USA for iPhone for my last trip and it worked great - think there's an Android version. Maps all cached locally, no need for mobile data. Much cheaper than a standalone unit.

[BertieWooster]

My recommendation would be to buy a pre-pay sim card when you get to the USA, put it in your UK phone and carry on using Google Maps. When I was in the US in November I bought a T-Mobile sim on their $3-a-day unlimited data tariff and used it with no problems at all.

Link here to T-Mobile's pay by the day plans: http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-by-the-day-...

Bertie W

[lombardo8]

Like Sjg said buy CoPilot for your Android phone. It costs about £25 and it turns you phone into a full Satnav system. I have never bought a standalone Satnav device before, CoPilot is just as good.

[SVX]

I've used a Navman device in both the US and Southern Africa. Both times I just bought the appropriate maps, and away I went. Battery, screen and directions were all very good, including putting co-ordinates to a remote farm which it found with no problems.

[varsas]

I have driven in Canada.

I had a TomTom (910 I think it was) and it was great.

My HTC Desire HD is OK but a dedicated unit is much better. Bigger screen, clearer sound, better software, faster finding of the satellites, and you can plan routes.

I guess it depends what you are used to, if you've only ever used your phone then it'll be fine but I'm used to a dedicated unit so using my phone seems like a backwards step.

[E38Ross]

aizvara said:

J4CKO said:

Been using my phone (Android HTC Desire HD) but I think with going to the USA in August for a couple of weeks driving I could do with one, usually when I go with work I just rent one as the company is paying but its five or six quid a day, so potentially I am in for £80 or so to rent a rather crappy 2005 Garmin like I used to have at home until I punched it in frustatrion (touch screen on way out) so was thinking I may as well bit the bullet and buy one, using my phone might bankrupt me due to data roaming charges as I think Google maps downloads the maps as it goes.

So, had a look in Halfords/Comet the other day and the array is mind boggling, just want a decent model with no fancy gizmos that doesnt cost £300, any suggestions, obviously it needs to come with or be upgradeable to full US mapping.

Another option is: you can get google maps to cache areas which you will visit. There's a Google labs option, turn it on, then select some areas to cache. I did this when I went to Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago.

Having said that, didn't use it at all as the city was very easy to navigate.


You could also purchase a satnav app for the phone which downloads the full maps before going; CoPilot is pretty good.

this.

[Roo]

Fas1975 said:

I go to the USA and Canada about 6 times a year. Best thing I ever did was buy my own GPS. Don't bother with anything here. When you get to the US, make your way to a Best Buy. I bought a Garmin Nuvi, full 50 states and entire Canada for $60 + tax. I went for the Nuvi purely because of size. Thin, compact and very very easy to use.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13431

This. ^^^^^

And don't forget, in some states it's illegal to have a sat nav stuck to the windscreen so you may need something like a Nav Mat as well.