Recommend me a sat nav?
Discussion
Afternoon all,
Never bought one before, as the ZT has built in sat nav, but I wouldn't now want to be without it, and the Shogun I'm getting doesn't have it, so what portable sat nav should I look at?
I don't want to spend more than £200 unless someone can give me an exceptional reason why, as there seem to be plenty under that. Europe (or French at least) maps would be a nice to have, as would camera warning.
I've seen some with traffic detection. I've got TMC in the ZT which is a worthless heap of steaming camel dung. Are there any traffic detection systems which actually do anything worth having?
Given the number of routes for hoons that people seem to put out on Tomtom, I am leaning in that direction, but which one? Alternatively, are there any other makes which are significantly better?
Never bought one before, as the ZT has built in sat nav, but I wouldn't now want to be without it, and the Shogun I'm getting doesn't have it, so what portable sat nav should I look at?
I don't want to spend more than £200 unless someone can give me an exceptional reason why, as there seem to be plenty under that. Europe (or French at least) maps would be a nice to have, as would camera warning.
I've seen some with traffic detection. I've got TMC in the ZT which is a worthless heap of steaming camel dung. Are there any traffic detection systems which actually do anything worth having?
Given the number of routes for hoons that people seem to put out on Tomtom, I am leaning in that direction, but which one? Alternatively, are there any other makes which are significantly better?
I'm not a fan of the Garmin units - the software doesn't seem as intuitive as TomTom units.
Probably the best option for you would be a TomTom One v3 - Western Europe, then stick the PocketGPSWorld cameras on it.
Another option is to buy a PDA, and a copy of TomTom Navigator V6 - probably work out the same price as above, and you will have a lot more features. Check eBay for cheap deals - or PHer E36GUY is selling his: http://whiterabbitracing.co.uk/hutch/viewtopic.php...
Probably the best option for you would be a TomTom One v3 - Western Europe, then stick the PocketGPSWorld cameras on it.
Another option is to buy a PDA, and a copy of TomTom Navigator V6 - probably work out the same price as above, and you will have a lot more features. Check eBay for cheap deals - or PHer E36GUY is selling his: http://whiterabbitracing.co.uk/hutch/viewtopic.php...
TomTom all the way.
Go for a cheap one, I had an early one, when it died I got a Top of the range one, and all the extra functions over the basic Tomtom one are pretty much useless.
Every time I have used a different model, it has got lost at least once.
My tomtom has been 98% without fault.
Chris Harris has written about portable satnavs in last weeks autocar.
Go for a cheap one, I had an early one, when it died I got a Top of the range one, and all the extra functions over the basic Tomtom one are pretty much useless.
Every time I have used a different model, it has got lost at least once.
My tomtom has been 98% without fault.
Chris Harris has written about portable satnavs in last weeks autocar.
Kermit power said:
Nobody?? 
Are we being a tad impatient? 
I use tom tom on an iPAQ pda, road level maps to Western Europe.
Works very well.
Looked at Garmin & Tom Tom at the Autosport show, both have lots of silly options you will never use.
OH is needing a basic system, I would go for a Tom Tom One, with traffic info C£138.
But when she makes a decision, I'll buy it
I can recommend the Road Angel Navigator 9000.
I went from a seperate RA and a Pioneer Sat Nav, and have to say this unit is better than both. It is smaller than I thought and therefore not as obtrusive as some units I have seen. It seems to work very well and can be easily moved between vehicles. The main unit has a handy stylus to operate the touch screen, rather than just having to use your fingers, and the cradle it sits in has a built in speaker for better sound quality, as well as a connection for the power lead. The directions are clear and much more descriptive than the Pioneer, and it seems to do a much better job of getting around traffic delays, route refreshes (if a road is closed etc).
We will be using it in Europe this summer, but so far the unit has worked very well here in the UK since it was delivered two weeks ago.
The only thing I would change is it should have free European mapping (like the Pioneer did) rather than it being a £99 option. Plus I do not bother with the optional tracking facility.
Scott
I went from a seperate RA and a Pioneer Sat Nav, and have to say this unit is better than both. It is smaller than I thought and therefore not as obtrusive as some units I have seen. It seems to work very well and can be easily moved between vehicles. The main unit has a handy stylus to operate the touch screen, rather than just having to use your fingers, and the cradle it sits in has a built in speaker for better sound quality, as well as a connection for the power lead. The directions are clear and much more descriptive than the Pioneer, and it seems to do a much better job of getting around traffic delays, route refreshes (if a road is closed etc).
We will be using it in Europe this summer, but so far the unit has worked very well here in the UK since it was delivered two weeks ago.
The only thing I would change is it should have free European mapping (like the Pioneer did) rather than it being a £99 option. Plus I do not bother with the optional tracking facility.
Scott
Edited by Scottman on Wednesday 23 January 12:12
Interesting question. I've actually got three sat-navs.
The first one I bought was a TomTom 700, which was top of the range at the time, but about to be superseded, so it was a friendly price. It's bulkier than the others, but the thing I really like about it is that it has a radar remote control, which you can operate by hand from your lap. That's much safer, in my opinion, than fiddling with touch screens. I'm sure that's more dangerous than using a mobile phone and that you could be done for it. The TomTom probably has more more navigation features and I do like it very much, but if you have a problem the method of contacting TomTom via their website is very cumbersome. I have a problem with mine at the moment, having just downloaded the latest maps of the UK & Western Europe, and it's taken some pretty serious comments to get them to give me a phone number where I can contact them. Hopefully that will be resolved tomorrow when I phone them.
Not long afterwards someone gave me a Garmin nuvi 360 for Christmas, which is much smaller with a better mounting bracket, although the screen size (3.5in diagonal) is the same as the TomTom. It is a touch screen, so I try to set up everything before I start the journey. The main drawback is that the voice giving instructions is rather feeble, but the instructions are also displayed at the top of the screen, so it's not much of a problem. Otherwise I think I prefer it to the TomTom. I took it to Italy last year, plugged it into the hire car and it guided me faultlessly to a hotel in Milan. Also, if you do need after after-sales service, it is immediate, friendly and helpful.
My latest acquisistion is a ViaMichelin X-960, which was less than £100 from Maplins. It's about the same size as the Garmin. I have found it less than simple to use on an intuitive basis, but have got the hang of it now. The base maps are probably the best of the lot, althouh UK only. The differences between the three are surprising.
Overall, I'd recommend a Garmin of whatever type suits your pocket. A friend of mine has just bought an all-singing, all-dancing one, because he knew I liked mine and he can't stop raving about it. Actually, it's quite handy that he has one because he's already taught me a couple of tricks that work with mine as well.
The first one I bought was a TomTom 700, which was top of the range at the time, but about to be superseded, so it was a friendly price. It's bulkier than the others, but the thing I really like about it is that it has a radar remote control, which you can operate by hand from your lap. That's much safer, in my opinion, than fiddling with touch screens. I'm sure that's more dangerous than using a mobile phone and that you could be done for it. The TomTom probably has more more navigation features and I do like it very much, but if you have a problem the method of contacting TomTom via their website is very cumbersome. I have a problem with mine at the moment, having just downloaded the latest maps of the UK & Western Europe, and it's taken some pretty serious comments to get them to give me a phone number where I can contact them. Hopefully that will be resolved tomorrow when I phone them.
Not long afterwards someone gave me a Garmin nuvi 360 for Christmas, which is much smaller with a better mounting bracket, although the screen size (3.5in diagonal) is the same as the TomTom. It is a touch screen, so I try to set up everything before I start the journey. The main drawback is that the voice giving instructions is rather feeble, but the instructions are also displayed at the top of the screen, so it's not much of a problem. Otherwise I think I prefer it to the TomTom. I took it to Italy last year, plugged it into the hire car and it guided me faultlessly to a hotel in Milan. Also, if you do need after after-sales service, it is immediate, friendly and helpful.
My latest acquisistion is a ViaMichelin X-960, which was less than £100 from Maplins. It's about the same size as the Garmin. I have found it less than simple to use on an intuitive basis, but have got the hang of it now. The base maps are probably the best of the lot, althouh UK only. The differences between the three are surprising.
Overall, I'd recommend a Garmin of whatever type suits your pocket. A friend of mine has just bought an all-singing, all-dancing one, because he knew I liked mine and he can't stop raving about it. Actually, it's quite handy that he has one because he's already taught me a couple of tricks that work with mine as well.
'WHICH' magazine recommended TOMTOM GO 520, but you can get most of the funcions on the unit's cheaper brother, the TOMTOM 1 XL, or the slightly smaller screened TOMTOM 1 V3. See this live link for best prices.
http://www.find-satnav-deals.com/
Wyn.
http://www.find-satnav-deals.com/
Wyn.
I've got a Tom Tom One which, on the mapping side, I've found very good, and have used the European maps several times. However, I also like to have speed cam info, which I upload from pocket gps world, but find this quite a PITA, hence I rarely update.
Am considering getting a unit that is better set up for speed cams, trying to decide between units like:
Road Angel Navigator 9000
Snooper Indago
Snooper S2000 Syrius Proline
I like the idea of the RA keeping itself updated by it's own SIM, but think £100 for Euro maps is pricey.
Snooper S2000 sounds good, bluetooth function for answering mobile calls is useful, but fact it has golf course mapping almost puts me off!
Indago would be a cheaper option with Euro maps - does anyone know if it has bluetooth phone function?
Am considering getting a unit that is better set up for speed cams, trying to decide between units like:
Road Angel Navigator 9000
Snooper Indago
Snooper S2000 Syrius Proline
I like the idea of the RA keeping itself updated by it's own SIM, but think £100 for Euro maps is pricey.
Snooper S2000 sounds good, bluetooth function for answering mobile calls is useful, but fact it has golf course mapping almost puts me off!
Indago would be a cheaper option with Euro maps - does anyone know if it has bluetooth phone function?
I've got a Navman N20 and it's pretty good. Got me to the wilds of Scotland and back without a hitch.
I've tinkered with Tom Toms and they seem OK too.
Thing is, I keep doing searches and getting directed to www.reviewcentre.com/products2384.html. It looks good, they've got reviews of brands I've never heard of. Might be worth a look...?
Let us know how you get on.
I've tinkered with Tom Toms and they seem OK too.
Thing is, I keep doing searches and getting directed to www.reviewcentre.com/products2384.html. It looks good, they've got reviews of brands I've never heard of. Might be worth a look...?
Let us know how you get on.
I bought my dad a tomtom one 1.5 years ago an it broke so we took it back and got another, this one froze as well so we replaced it with a navman n20 (i think thats the model) and this has camera sites and european mapping which the tomtom didnt have and it was cheaper, My dad has still got the navman and uses it on a regular basis - very recommendable
I'm also thinking of a Sat Nav 
I've tried to narrow down the basics that I'd want with it..
Safety Camera locations
Traffic Alerts
European Maps
The Garmin and Michelin ones seem to come with most, if not all 3 of those and at no extra cost, which is good. Tom Tom seem to want you to subscribe, £30 pa is a bit much! IMO
I was tempted by the Garmin 510T but the Michelin ones seem as good value and it sounds like they have good maps.. Hmm...
I've tried to narrow down the basics that I'd want with it..
Safety Camera locations
Traffic Alerts
European Maps
The Garmin and Michelin ones seem to come with most, if not all 3 of those and at no extra cost, which is good. Tom Tom seem to want you to subscribe, £30 pa is a bit much! IMO
I was tempted by the Garmin 510T but the Michelin ones seem as good value and it sounds like they have good maps.. Hmm...
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