Great 'Sat Nav' Hunt (merged)

bob_a_builder

re Garmin i3

How about that screen 1.7" x 1.5" sounds very small ?
but I suppose apart from the initial route setting, you only really need to listen !
anyone using a gps in a peugeot 307 ( or any other car) with one of those metallised windscreens - does it work or is an external aerial reqd

overide

bob_a_builder wrote:

re Garmin i3

How about that screen 1.7" x 1.5" sounds very small ?
but I suppose apart from the initial route setting, you only really need to listen !
anyone using a gps in a peugeot 307 ( or any other car) with one of those metallised windscreens - does it work or is an external aerial reqd

The screen is bright and clear and is easy to see even when connected to my windscreen. I just glance at it every now and again while drive with no problems.

It's just out of arms length when I sit back in my chair but you shouldn't be playing with it when you're driving anyway!

I have a heated front screen and that doesn't cause any problems.

drahcir_2

mercman wrote:

Have already submitted a post on here but still with no answer as yet!

Is there an alternitive to the TomTom Go 5? I am after a sat nav unit but i MUST be able to use my mobile through either the sat nav or possible another piece of kit?

Look forward to reviewing my options

Regards

Pete

what about using a a phone with sat nav like 6600 and tomtom mobile
or a pda with built in phone like xda2 and tomtom5

gaahmad

mercman wrote:

Have already submitted a post on here but still with no answer as yet!

Is there an alternitive to the TomTom Go 5? I am after a sat nav unit but i MUST be able to use my mobile through either the sat nav or possible another piece of kit?

Look forward to reviewing my options

Regards

Pete

Hi Pete

Not sure what you mean by "TomTom Go 5" but the TomTom Go 500 and TomTom Go 700 both allow you to use your mobile phone through them, via bluetooth. So as long as you got a bluetooth compatible phone and TomTom support it (I believe there's a list of compatible phones on their website) you should be OK.

David_Balme

We go top France often on holiday. Can anyone tell me are the maps for europe any good as I note they are not street level as they are in the UK.

kabadi

Does anyone know of any specific Lidl stores in the south west that have the Myguide 6500XL in stock? (Yeovil do not)

Mugwump_2

I bought one of these shiny new toys from Maplin, following the recommendation on this site. Whilst I'm impressed by its size (tiny!) and user interface, I'm having real trouble getting it to navigate.

Despite living in central London, the device seems unable to find a satellite signal and therefore has no clue where we are. The instructions that came with it are sparse, as is my understanding of how the technology works. Does it need to be hooked up to the windscreen (where the suction cup WON'T stay) in order to work, or should it work fine just wandering round the streets as a handheld device?

Anyone else come across this? Any possible solutions / blonde moments I might be having?

Thanks
!!!!!!

SamC_4

GPS devices can take a long time to work out where they are in the world the first time they're switched on. This is called "cold Time To First Fix". They need to have a clear view of the sky to get good signals from multiple satellites. This can take up to five minutes from a cold start, or much more if you're moving around. If you're in a narrow London street with multi-story buildings on each side it may not be able to do this at all.

The best way to get it to fix is to go to a place with a clear view of the sky and park for five minutes or so. Once the first fix has been achieved it should be much faster when it's next turned on.

In the car it doesn't need to be in contact with the windscreen but it does need a clear view of the sky so try the middle of the dashboard as far forward as you can get it.

If you're walking around with it, it may or may not work when it's covered up in a pocket or bag. It probably won't get a cold fix like that.

mirpur786

i drove to central london about 3 months ago from birmingham and the sat nav i had worked fine until i got into central london where it just totally lost the signal and i was lost for 60 mins until it finally picked the signal up again, so it could be the area u live in is causing it not to pick up a signal.i would recommend u drive away from central london and see if it picks up a signal easier.

Blister69

Hello,

I also need some help. Although the Garmin looks like a good buy, I'm not sure it will be user friendly enough for the person I'm buying it for, and not sure if the signal will be good enough throught the UV screen?. I have been looking at the Mio 268, which comes with everything I need as standard. This also includes in the box an external Receiver, in case the internal one isn't up to the job (I have experience using sat nav stuff and this does vary between cars).

Please, please if someone has any feedback on this model, it will be most appreciated. I know that the "plus" version is out soon but his B'day is only next week. Novatech look to be the best price here.

But I know you web ferrets will sniff out a better one