SAT NAV -whats the vest value for money

inspector_monkfish

AdrianHi wrote: »

Yes I think that's what will suit you.
In the Garmin range that means the entry level Nuvi 250 (has Euro maps) £94 at Amazon right now
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000OV16MQ/ref=nosim?tag=econv-1-565-21
There is a Nuvi 200 but that does not have Euro maps and seems to come at the same price anyway.

My 65 year old Mum uses the equivalent UK maps only Tom Tom (no extra bells and whistles to confuse her) and manages to navigate her way from Hampshire to Glasgow with it, so this must be good too.

thanks

i take it that its just not possible to buy a uk map version only, and then download a french map as and when needed?

AdrianHi

inspector_monkfish wrote: »

thanks

i take it that its just not possible to buy a uk map version only, and then download a french map as and when needed?

The Nuvi 200 and 250 are the same hardware. When you hook up your sat. nav. to the computer with the PC software installed there is a process in which you set up a web site accout with Garmin.
You receive map updates (first 12 month subscription included with your purchase) and software updates this way.
You can buy the Europe map (they don't just "France"). I've just checked what it would cost me to get Europe maps on my 310D and they want £51 + VAT.
The point is, you could get a 200 and get the Euro maps later, but I think it might cost you more to do it that way.

inspector_monkfish

AdrianHi wrote: »

The Nuvi 200 and 250 are the same hardware. When you hook up your sat. nav. to the computer with the PC software installed there is a process in which you set up a web site accout with Garmin.
You receive map updates (first 12 month subscription included with your purchase) and software updates this way.
You can buy the Europe map (they don't just "France"). I've just checked what it would cost me to get Europe maps on my 310D and they want £51 + VAT.
The point is, you could get a 200 and get the Euro maps later, but I think it might cost you more to do it that way.

ok, understood thanks

gingerdad

I have a simple and cheap tomtom one 99,00 quid from amazon, just the uk and ireland version, and i have found it hard to beat, don't need or want the bluetooth as have a proper car kit for that.

great simple and easy to use.

Regards

GD

Melodyx

Need to buy a sat nav for my partner's birthday, he wants one that speaks the street names and suggested the Garmin 350 - does anyone know anything about this one or can suggest a different model with this feature as this is the feature he really wants. Thank you!

S0litaire

One thing to remember if you are getting a new mobile on Contract, Some Nokia's come with GPS built in. you can use Nokia's own Basic GPS software. But you can buy a 7 day subscription for Navigation + voice commands (Think you can get 7 day, 1 month 1 year & 3 year subscriptions).

You can also buy Garmin software (I use it), TomTom software (I think) as well as Navman software

goldspanners

ive got a garmin i3 street pilot,its small and they are very cheap,especially second hand,i got mine for £50 on ebay last year.well worth it.

AdrianHi

S0litaire wrote: »

One thing to remember if you are getting a new mobile on Contract, Some Nokia's come with GPS built in. you can use Nokia's own Basic GPS software. But you can buy a 7 day subscription for Navigation + voice commands (Think you can get 7 day, 1 month 1 year & 3 year subscriptions).

You can also buy Garmin software (I use it), TomTom software (I think) as well as Navman software

True but according to some user tests (Channel 4 gadget show comes to mind) the GPS antenna on these mobile phones is vastly inferior to what you find on a Garmin or TomTom and they take an age to lock onto satellite signals and they don't work through heat reflective windscreens the way the Garmin Nuvi 310/350 etc. does.

S0litaire

AdrianHi I've got a N95 and I use the Garmin Software as well as Nokia's own and i've never had a problem with the time to lock on to Satellites.

Also Mobiles with GPS can use "Agps" as well as Network location

A:GPS Helps to lock on to a fix quicker using a computer to do most of the number crunching..(uses some of you Data allowance)
Networked Based GPS takes the info from the nearest Towers to triangulate your position.

Both can provide fixes when not in direct line of sight of any satellites.

AdrianHi

S0litaire wrote: »

AdrianHi I've got a N95 and I use the Garmin Software as well as Nokia's own and i've never had a problem with the time to lock on to Satellites.

Usefull to know, they were really struggling with it on the Channel 4 gadget show. May be the latest ones have been improved. I'm quite interested in an N95 if it is a decent sat. nav. soltution too.