Garmin v Navman

Bernie

...the wife and I started using a small Garmin unit to guide our long-distance cycle rides through windy, leafy lanes in Norfolk. We picked Garmin as that was what the Royal Air Force (for whom I worked at the time) provided to aircrew on combat missions during Gulf War 1. Garmin also made a neat, hand-held device that could be attached to the handlebars and was waterproof.

Since then, nearly some 20 years ago, we've owned various units for using when walking/cycling/car driving. Each type have pro's and con's but we've ended up with mainly Garmin kit. In driving, we prefer the Garmin's zoomed-out display that shows current position at the bottom with next manoeuvre at the top of the screen whether it is 5 or 50 miles. As you get nearer, the view zooms in and increases detail accordingly. We prefer this to Tomtom's constant "few miles ahead" view.

Garmin also tend to re-calculate a new route from scratch when you choose to deviate, TT busts a gut to get you back onto it's original choice of route. We found this unhelpful when we'd deliberately turned off the M25 on hearing of massive delays ahead.

All 3 of our Garmin's (two car, I handheld) lock on swiftly to satellites, even when we've changed location - as recently when we took the handheld on a ski-break to Austria. (We mark the hotel on arrival)!

Like cars, the choice of features is endless...

:beer:

totalsolutions

Sorry smartie you are wrong my Garmin has a headphone socket. (and mp3 player and a SSD card slot, and picture viewer and security PIN)

Bernie, good review there.

4743hudsonj

Garmin are by far the most advanced and accurate systems.

All personal preferences aside, they have had double the satellite navigation experience than tomtom and navman combined(well over 20 yrs).

And their units are renowned for their application in naval navigation. So in my opinion you cant lose. Every sat nav has its down fall but Garmin will never lead you far astray and you can be safe in the knowledge you have the best company in the market telling you where to go.

The_White_Horse

fwor wrote: »

I've owned both and - more critically for me - have had to use the Customer Services of both. Garmin were excellent, TomTom customer services were completely useless.

I prefer Garmin, particularly for the non-techie, as the user interface is simpler in general. They may be slightly less sensitive as they seem to have trouble in (mainly French) cars with metallised windscreens, but even then, once they lock onto the satellites they have no trouble maintaining lock. The trick there is to give it a minute or so to acquire before putting it in the car if you have that type of screen.

interesting you say this as my car is french. maybe that is the problem.

although in the USA I had a hyundai 4x4 and the tom tom was still much quicker to find signal. I put them both on in manhatten and was in NJ before the garmin found signal. TomTom was almost instant.

Marty_J

The_White_Horse wrote: »

interesting you say this as my car is french. maybe that is the problem.

although in the USA I had a hyundai 4x4 and the tom tom was still much quicker to find signal. I put them both on in manhatten and was in NJ before the garmin found signal. TomTom was almost instant.

I've not once experienced that problem here in the US with a Garmin. We have a Hyundai Santa Fe, and the Garmin works just fine in it. In fact, I was in Walmart last night playing with the sat-navs, and none of the TomToms could find a signal inside the store, and all of the Garmins could.

Perhaps you had a duff unit?

Taffybiker

I vote for Garmin - but it's a biased vote since I have never owned a Navman.

fwor

The_White_Horse wrote: »

I put them both on in manhatten and was in NJ before the garmin found signal. TomTom was almost instant.

That's only really a fair test if both have been switched off for the same length of time, and both have moved the same distance since last turned on.

The longer they are switched off (and the further you move them while they are switched off) the more out-of-date the internally stored location tables (known as the almanac) become, and the longer it takes to re-acquire the satellites.

jack_spratt_2

One thing to consider is how often you receive software updates to the GPS software !!
One thing about Tomtom is that they do update the software free of charge on a regular basis .
My choice between the two would be Garmin

Have a look to compare prices

http://www.best-satnav-deals.co.uk/

http://www.comparesatnav.co.uk

BillScarab

smartie1976 wrote: »

I need one with a headphone jack (for my motorbike) and neither of these provide a unit with that. Some I'm plumping for the Binatone X430 or D430 (just incase you'd not considered other brands).

Smartie, Garmin make sat navs specifically for motorcycle users. There are two in the zumo range and both have headphoen sockets.

They're not cheap mind you.

BillScarab

jack_spratt wrote: »

One thing to consider is how often you receive software updates to the GPS software !!
One thing about Tomtom is that they do update the software free of charge on a regular basis .
My choice between the two would be Garmin

Have a look to compare prices

http://www.best-satnav-deals.co.uk/

http://www.comparesatnav.co.uk

Garmin software updates are also free. It's just the maps you have to pay for.