what sat nav for my 996?

[mojorider]

I wanted to opinions on what after market sat nav to use in the 996. I was hoping to find out which ones have the best mounting kits and integration options for power.

I dont want to be left with wires everywhere, things stuck all over the wind screen and plugs in the lighter socket. The cleaner install the better

[mikeg996]

mojorider said:

I wanted to opinions on what after market sat nav to use in the 996. I was hoping to find out which ones have the best mounting kits and integration options for power. I dont want to be left with wires everywhere, things stuck all over the wind screen and plugs in the lighter socket. The cleaner install the better

I bought my parents a TomTom GO 300 for Christmas, and they love it. I opened a thread on this a couple of months back, the search function should find it.

[mbutchers]

I think Autoexpress did an article on Sat Navs recently......take your pick...The Road Angel seems tops for me, as it incorporates the Speed Camera database....
AS for the wires... nearly all of them expect you to use the cigarette lighter socket. It's fairly straight forward to take a spur from the fuse box tho' - any resonably confident tech could do it. Be careful tho, as some of the units require the lighter socket module, as they have a transformer to take the power to the required voltage....Usually 5v I think.....

[petes1]

why not go for a Becker nav unit if you want a clean install. if your 996 has most then things are tricky, but otherwise it just replaces the stock headunit. ok no pretty maps, but they work really well and the new 7950 Supports Bluetooth phones and has an ipod connection option!

[BobM]

petes1 said:

why not go for a Becker nav unit if you want a clean install. if your 996 has most then things are tricky, but otherwise it just replaces the stock headunit. ok no pretty maps, but they work really well and the new 7950 Supports Bluetooth phones and has an ipod connection option!

I've got the Becker TrafficPro in my GT3 - Radio/CD, satnav, bluetooth handsfree, MP3 player (takes Compactflash card) and voice control. Managed to sort out the MOST/CanBus issues - details here. No big fancy screen but neat and no dangly bits

[mojorider]

I have a 03 996 so will the Becker unit work? Also, does anyone know a good place to have this or another unit fitted in the Reading area?

[mikeg996]

A custom unit is more expensive than buying a separate unit, less flexible and offers fewer features. You don't have to plug an external in to the cigarette lighter, just charge it up at home and then take it out with you. Saves a lot of arsing around.

[rumplestiltskin]

The Road Angel 2 has just been launched with an internal battery (Road Angel Plus) meaning that its wire free.
It might be worth checking if the RA Navigator is going to go this way too in the near future ? You would then have a Sat Nav & radar detector in one unit with no power wires at all.

R.

[mojorider]

Looking at the tom tom 700, any thoughts on this one. Also, does anyone know where I can get one installed since they have a fixed mount kit for power (Reading area).

[DucatiGary]

I use my PDA with tomtom navigator 5, looked into changing the head unit but found the OEM sat nav to be a little bit crap, so I got the software for my xda instead.

works fine and doesent miss entire cities like the OEM unit does.. .. .. .

[964rog]

Hi, I use a TomTom 700 in my company car. Its v good, I personally like the remote control,as you avoid getting finger prints all over the screen.

Means you can take it from car to car too.

[mikeg996]

I've just bought a TomTom ONE. We'll see how it goes. Will probably upgrade to a GO 700 later in the year when the European jaunts start getting planned.

[Pickled Piper]

rumplestiltskin said:

The Road Angel 2 has just been launched with an internal battery (Road Angel Plus) meaning that its wire free. It might be worth checking if the RA Navigator is going to go this way too in the near future ? You would then have a Sat Nav & radar detector in one unit with no power wires at all. R.

I believe the Road Angel navigator already has an internal battery.

pp

[ianmcg]

For those that don't know it's worth bearing in mind that you can download a speed camera database free from pocketgps into the TOM-TOMs that works nearly as well as a dedicated camera device.

[singh911]

Becker traffic pro works fine in my '99 GT3. No mods needed, straight install, looks like original equipment.

Added bonus of bluetooth connection with my phone and takes a big flash media card so you can go around with 1000+ songs on tap.

cheers

Ajit.

[hughjayteens]

The becker units are superb. I used a Traffic Pro Bluetooth in my car, and we have fitted dozens in 996s.

What year is your 996? Post 03 cars with the CDR23 system are rather a pain to upgarde but earlier ones are v simple.

Cheers

Chris

www.prestigeaudio.co.uk

[DanH]

hughjayteens said:

The becker units are superb. I used a Traffic Pro Bluetooth in my car, and we have fitted dozens in 996s. What year is your 996? Post 03 cars with the CDR23 system are rather a pain to upgarde but earlier ones are v simple. Cheers Chris www.prestigeaudio.co.uk

Chris, how do you reprogram the onboard computer when upgrading MOST bus cars? I know you can hack around at the wiring to not lose the aircon but it's hardly ideal.

Have you any experience of the becker ipod compatibility? Is it any good as I can't find a review.

[mikeg996]

Well the TomTom ONE got me through two very difficult trips at the weekend, and then around some rather awkward A12 traffic this morning on the way to the OPC. It gets three thumbs up from me.

>> Edited by mikeg996 on Monday 6th February 19:34

[hughjayteens]

DanH - the 'hack' for the AC isn't really a hack - if my memory serves me correctly you literally just leave the plug from the HU unconnected and all works fine. The main problem with the MOST (CDR23/PCM2) cars is that they generally had an amplifier which connected optically to the HU and changer, so you need to change the lot to change any individual component.
Some CDR23 cars didn't have an amp so can easily be upgraded with the aforementioned 'hack'.

'tis always preferable to rip it all and start again though!!!