Cheapest Sat-Navs available

Greta

Guys - I would like to purchase a TomTom. Obvs would like it to cover the UK and at a bonus Europe. (However usually limited to northern France/Belgium).

Since I spend about 2 months visiting family in the States each year I would like software to cover there. Would it be cheaper for me to buy pre-installed software, or buy add ons after? My driving over there is usually New England, NYC, but I've driven Canada > Florida before now, plus California.

I assume the model I need is 920, is there a new model coming out shortly? Its slightly annoying, as I would never make use of the sound functions (bluetooth, radio, etc) thus seems like I'm paying for something I would not use. That said, my dad would use spoken navigation instructions, but that's as far as it would go.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

boatman

Greta have you looked at the Garmin Nuvi 270,370 or 670, the 270 comes with Europe and the States for £210.

Nuvi 270

Also have a look around your local halfords they still have some ex-display TT 910 for £129 which comes with Europe and the States.

Lara

We bought a Garmin Nuvi 670 and used it in France & Spain in the summer - it was brilliant. I think it also covers the US. It is also bluetooth compatible too :j . It isn't cheap but we did get it slightly cheaper via our local garage showroom .

We now want to get son a Sat Nav of his own for Xmas so I can have the Garmin back for my car! So I'm interested in whatever is good value hence reading this thread.

Maryam

I bought the Medion Gopal and I used it to go to Cambridge. It took ages to find my location when I started off and in Cambridge on my return it took another five minutes to find my location. I'm sitting next to it right now to find my location and I've had it on for about half an hour at least and it's still not found it. I've tried looking for an external antenna, but I can only find one on Maplan for 10pounds, which means I'm not really saving much when you add that to the original price. I reckon it's not that great after all and will be taking mine back.

[Deleted User]

I used my Medion 205 in Cambridge- a lot of the one way roads were wrong on the map, but it had no problem picking up a signal. It will typically pick our location up within a couple of minutes of it being turned on.

CashBash

Typical. Haven't been on the board for a little while and am already quids out. :sad:

Bought the Tom Tom One v3 last week for £137 from Halfords for the other half.

Bah.

seftonsun

Maryam wrote: »

I bought the Medion Gopal and I used it to go to Cambridge. It took ages to find my location when I started off and in Cambridge on my return it took another five minutes to find my location. I'm sitting next to it right now to find my location and I've had it on for about half an hour at least and it's still not found it. I've tried looking for an external antenna, but I can only find one on Maplan for 10pounds, which means I'm not really saving much when you add that to the original price. I reckon it's not that great after all and will be taking mine back.

The signal reception will depend upon the car you drive. Usually the integrated GPS antenna is not suitable for use in vehicles with antiglare windows (metalised thermo-glass or metal foil, indicated by the window label - SIGLA SOL, SIGLA CHROM, SIGLA, KOOL-OF, SUNGATE, etc.) and vehicles with fine-meshed heating wires in the windows (like the Ford Quickclear heated windscreen). If you have any of these or similar then you may well have trouble establishing and retaining a satellite connection. You will need an external aerial. Otherwise, if you have a “normal” windscreen and still do not get a signal within a couple of minutes turn the unit off and then on again. Often that will help locate the satellites and establish a signal.

With regards the maps, most SatNavs use either TeleAtlas or NavTeq and the imformation is only updated every 2/3 years. SatNav maps are a bit like buying a PC - they are out of date as soon as they are manufactured. And often the map updates are nearly as expensive as the price of the original SatNav you bought, especially at the cheaper end or you manage to bag a bargain. A SatNav should be seen as an aid to navigation not a replacement, even map books will never be 100% accurate. So do not expect a SatNav to be a panecea for getting from A-B but merely an indication. Every driver should still use their own common sense and be vigilent that the road conditions, layouts, etc are suitable and lawful for the journey they are taking.

Spikey_2

so what the most raesonable and best on the market at the moment? is ebay worth a look?

pingu

Spikey wrote: »

so what the most raesonable and best on the market at the moment? is ebay worth a look?

i am a nervous driver and don't like driving

1st time i used sat nav was a tomtom don't know which model i was driving someone to liverpool and there were two street of same name in different area (only 15 minutes apart) the person put in the wrong street so it took us there when we put in the right street it worked out quickly and took us to right one

i have just bought a sony nav-u U82 (see my post above)

i am happy with it

heavyriffs

Does anyone know if you're able to install the TomTom software onto the Medion, my satnav was pinched, but I still have the discs?