sat nav recommendations?

roddydogs

Dont forget that upgrading maps is expensive on Garmins.........buy a cheap one and you can just regard it as a "Two year" item.

totalsolutions

Nenen, Garmin. The basic models all do this. This is what they can do for you, basic simple stuff, really. You are on a road. The the satnav knows your location and direction. It also knows the max speed from the mapping infomation. Therefore it can warn you if you are overspeed. Once it knows where you are it also can work out your distance and time to your destination right down to the house being on the left or right. At any time on your road trip it "knows" where all the nearest shops / petrol (anything really) are to you. Once you have selected say "Boots" it can divert you there, supply the name and address and phone number for you and make the call too, via a bluetooth mobile. On the way it can play MP3 or Audio books and read out any text messages to you. Also are the police safety camera locations marked on the maps with audio warning in plenty of time. Telling you the time in most countries (World Time) from it's inbuilt atomic acurate clock and to displaying photos from your album. Included are thousands UK country wide attractions, with full details and opening hours and a calculator. I think it would be possible to track all your friends locations on the road too. Lost where you parked the car, save the cars location and work your way back later. Not enought for you, then added your own way map to the inbuilt one to work out the best routes for delivery drivers. These devices are remarkable, don't get a (cheap) simple one, get a Garmin.

Taffybiker

roddydogs wrote: »

Dont forget that upgrading maps is expensive on Garmins.........buy a cheap one and you can just regard it as a "Two year" item.

That depends on what you consider expensive. £99 buys you upgrades for life.

Taffybiker

totalsolutions wrote: »

Nenen, Garmin. The basic models all do this. This is what they can do for you, basic simple stuff, really. You are on a road. The the satnav knows your location and direction. It also knows the max speed from the mapping infomation. Therefore it can warn you if you are overspeed. Once it knows where you are it also can work out your distance and time to your destination right down to the house being on the left or right. At any time on your road trip it "knows" where all the nearest shops / petrol (anything really) are to you. Once you have selected say "Boots" it can divert you there, supply the name and address and phone number for you and make the call too, via a bluetooth mobile. On the way it can play MP3 or Audio books and read out any text messages to you. Also are the police safety camera locations marked on the maps with audio warning in plenty of time. Telling you the time in most countries (World Time) from it's inbuilt atomic acurate clock and to displaying photos from your album. Included are thousands UK country wide attractions, with full details and opening hours and a calculator. I think it would be possible to track all your friends locations on the road too. Lost where you parked the car, save the cars location and work your way back later. Not enought for you, then added your own way map to the inbuilt one to work out the best routes for delivery drivers. These devices are remarkable, don't get a (cheap) simple one, get a Garmin.

Well said, but you forgot the security feature. The unit can be locked with a pin number. If you forget the pin, you can take the unit to a "security destination" where you first set the security, and it will then unlock without the pin.

totalsolutions

Well said taffybiker, I'm not prefect...yet

roddydogs

Taffybiker wrote: »

Well said, but you forgot the security feature. The unit can be locked with a pin number. If you forget the pin, you can take the unit to a "security destination" where you first set the security, and it will then unlock without the pin.

Never set the Pin where you live/park, otherwise anyone can then re set it !

benny123

thanks for replies, another question which will make me sound a bit technophobic ( which i am ! ) is that if i buy a garmin sat nav on line will it be easy to set up without assistance , i know some of the stores, halfords, dixons, do a demo and set up in car for customers, wondered if it is worth going to a store that does this or if its not really necessary ?

rogerandroid

How about turning your phone into your satnav? Much more affordable than getting a standalone unit. U can try TeleNav SatNav software for 30 days free... visit their website in uk to see which mobiles and countries they support.

nomoneytoday

rogerandroid wrote: »

How about turning your phone into your satnav? Much more affordable than getting a standalone unit. U can try TeleNav SatNav software for 30 days free... visit their website in uk to see which mobiles and countries they support.

Because many phones have small screens, and not all processors are up to the job IMHO. Also AFAIK it is illegal to drive and use a phone.

I had Tom Tom on my previous Nokia, and now have a "real" Tom Tom unit instead. The real one is dedicated to the task, doesn't get interupted by calls or screensavers, has a touch screen, finds sats quicker and is easier to use "on the move"

nomoneytoday

totalsolutions wrote: »

Nenen, Garmin. The basic models all do this. This is what they can do for you, basic simple stuff, really. You are on a road. The the satnav knows your location and direction. It also knows the max speed from the mapping infomation. Therefore it can warn you if you are overspeed. Once it knows where you are it also can work out your distance and time to your destination right down to the house being on the left or right. At any time on your road trip it "knows" where all the nearest shops / petrol (anything really) are to you. Once you have selected say "Boots" it can divert you there, supply the name and address and phone number for you and make the call too, via a bluetooth mobile. On the way it can play MP3 or Audio books and read out any text messages to you. Also are the police safety camera locations marked on the maps with audio warning in plenty of time. Telling you the time in most countries (World Time) from it's inbuilt atomic acurate clock and to displaying photos from your album. Included are thousands UK country wide attractions, with full details and opening hours and a calculator. I think it would be possible to track all your friends locations on the road too. Lost where you parked the car, save the cars location and work your way back later. Not enought for you, then added your own way map to the inbuilt one to work out the best routes for delivery drivers. These devices are remarkable, don't get a (cheap) simple one, get a Garmin.

Sounds like overkill IMHO. Maps and directions are ideal, as is finding the nearest Boots, BP or other attraction / destination. Speed cam warnings are also a nice bonus
However Photoalbums, mp3 players, atomic clocks and a calculator would never be used in our car