Cheap Garmin i3

trl002

THought ill let ppl know i ordered 2 and got 2 on Tuesday, works great i had to update it but works really well i really tested them out and they are not really refub models as mine was perfect condition and had everything inside the box, if anyone wants images of the how it looked when it came out ill be happy to send them to you (PM me), i know there is lots of ppl wanting the Medion in tesco but i reackon this is better and plus i didnt have to wait and Q-up to get one! 5stars from me

simate

cmorgan wrote: »

After reading some reviews the pros and cons seem to be as follows;

Pros - Handy size (ie easy to carry around), accurate, full postcode entry, easy to use
cons - Maps may not be up to date (but can you download updated ones?), screen a bit small for easy viewing, poor reception in some cars (would an additional aerial remedy this), Does not have rechargeable batteries, unit resets when car turned off (ie journey details need to be reentered)

Not so, you can continue, assuming you have batteries in it so it can 'remember', this would apply to any unit if it had no batteries in it, what a silly review lol. Also, once you've entered a destination you can immediately access it in the recent finds section of the menu.

questions - Is there a way of getting warnings of speed cameras on it? Does the machine always reset itself when the engine is turned off even if you have batteries in it? How bad is the reception? Can you update the software / maps?

Yes you can put camera warnings on it. No it doesn't reset itself, it asks asks if you want the unit to remain on, push the scroll wheel to remain on, if not it will turn off after 30 seconds. Reception is 100% in my Celica. If you have a heated windscreen then you may well need an external aerial but I think that applies to all Sat Nav units anyway.

greyster

Purchased mine @ £99.99 in Q1 2007, sold for £105 in Q4 2007 on ebay. It's a fantastic piece of kit and I would still be using it now if a certain phone company didn't post me a Tom Tom One for no reason.

After owning both of these I would say the Garmin is by far the best value for money but if you can splash out just a little bit more for a Tom Tom One, I would have done.

The screen is excellent and the interface is fine. Touch screen is over rated. I just think a slightly larger screen on the tom tom one is worth the extra 30%.

If you go around very large unknown roundabouts often, you may opt for the tom tom too as the screen refreshes a lot faster. With Garmin I3 I often had to go around a roundabout twice to make sure I ended up on the right exit :P

Summary, if you drive a lot, buy the best you can afford. Both units are exceptional. PS Garmin have exception support through cheap phone rates and updated my mapping for free.

simate

greyster wrote: »

Purchased mine @ £99.99 in Q1 2007, sold for £105 in Q4 2007 on ebay.

How did you manage that, do you have a time machine? :rotfl: :rotfl:

cmorgan

simate wrote: »

what a silly review lol. Also, once you've entered a destination you can immediately access it in the recent finds section of the menu.



Yes you can put camera warnings on it. No it doesn't reset itself, it asks asks if you want the unit to remain on, push the scroll wheel to remain on, if not it will turn off after 30 seconds. Reception is 100% in my Celica. If you have a heated windscreen then you may well need an external aerial but I think that applies to all Sat Nav units anyway.

I was simply relaying what was written on an online review I read. Having now received my Garmin I3 I agree with Simate that most of the reported deficiencies, reported on this review, are not the case. So far I think the I3 is a great bit of kit and the small screen to me is a definite plus point from a portability point of view. I loaded speed camera warnings on it, which I think will now need to come off as it is picking up a lot of spurious speed cameras from surrounding roads but I think this is a problem with speed camera databases generally rather than the kit. Reception on mine is fine on both my cars including 1 with a heated front screen. Only problem I have identified is that sometimes it doesn't give enough warning of an impending turn but this maybe me getting used to the kit. Am going to give a real road test this bank holiday weekend as we will be travelling circa 500miles to at least 2 destinations that we have never been to before.

timbouk

barmonkey wrote: »

got one of these for the wife about 12 months ago, very pleased.
updated with the latest POI files.
not let her down yet

is that from www.garminpoi.co.uk?

timbouk

cmorgan wrote: »

I was simply relaying what was written on an online review I read. Having now received my Garmin I3 I agree with Simate that most of the reported deficiencies, reported on this review, are not the case. So far I think the I3 is a great bit of kit and the small screen to me is a definite plus point from a portability point of view. I loaded speed camera warnings on it, which I think will now need to come off as it is picking up a lot of spurious speed cameras from surrounding roads but I think this is a problem with speed camera databases generally rather than the kit. Reception on mine is fine on both my cars including 1 with a heated front screen. Only problem I have identified is that sometimes it doesn't give enough warning of an impending turn but this maybe me getting used to the kit. Am going to give a real road test this bank holiday weekend as we will be travelling circa 500miles to at least 2 destinations that we have never been to before.

Have you updated to the latest firmware from Garmin. Some of the newer versions altered the notification distances dependant on speed/type of road. This improved it a lot

cmorgan

timbouk wrote: »

Have you updated to the latest firmware from Garmin. Some of the newer versions altered the notification distances dependant on speed/type of road. This improved it a lot

Thanks for that timbouk. My software version is 3.20 and my audio version is 2.60.

I did register with Garmin but I haven't worked out how to get software updates. I loaded the drivers onto my pc but it doesn't seem to recognise the i3 when I connect it via the usb port.

Any tips welcome.

thanks
Colin

beerbellybill999

cmorgan wrote: »

Thanks for that timbouk. My software version is 3.20 and my audio version is 2.60.

I did register with Garmin but I haven't worked out how to get software updates. I loaded the drivers onto my pc but it doesn't seem to recognise the i3 when I connect it via the usb port.

Any tips welcome.

thanks
Colin

I have come across this problem before. Try using another usb port but if that doesn't work you will have to uninstal the usb ports in device manager and windows will automatically reinstall them and will dedect the i3.

I have had the i3 for 15 months and it is great. It will shortly be replaced only because my new car comes with sat nav as standard. I will probably still keep it though for the speed camera's.

Try here for a great forum with loads of tips and programs for the i3.

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=96

and here for POI

http://www.maft.co.uk/garmin/download.htm

johnydeath

How does this compare with the el cheapo Medion GoPal PNA205 special offer Arfur Daley price from Tesco at the mo?

Or the Medion 210 at the same price as the i3 currently on special at PCRobber.co.uk?

Are either worth the extra 20 sovs?