Portable Satellite Navigation Units
in [Aussie Drivers]
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From: Dingo on 2 Apr 2010 05:33 On Fri, 2 Apr 2010 19:20:08 +1000, " Scotty" <scoter1(a)warmmail.com> wrote: >: Sorry, just a basic one for a vehicle for general use. >: > >How much do you want to spend? Whatever one with the above characteristics cost. I don't need one that contacts aliens in sixteen languages or wipes my bum with fourteen choices in toilet paper.....
From: Scotty on 2 Apr 2010 05:48 "Dingo" <dingo963(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message news:saebr55h5138uv15t9dk51o2li1149nu67(a)4ax.com... : On Fri, 2 Apr 2010 19:20:08 +1000, " Scotty" <scoter1(a)warmmail.com> : wrote: : : >: Sorry, just a basic one for a vehicle for general use. : >: : > : >How much do you want to spend? : : Whatever one with the above characteristics cost. I don't need one : that contacts aliens in sixteen languages or wipes my bum with : fourteen choices in toilet paper..... : Well theres Garmins, Tomtoms and many other units available. Pop into JB HiFi and get a deal. Ive two Garmins and they have been great, can recommend them.
From: Doug Jewell on 2 Apr 2010 05:50 Dingo wrote: > I know nothing about them. What basic features should I look for, how > much should I expect to pay, Since you asked in a cars forum, I assume that you mean the in-car street navigators, rather than the handheld navigators. From what I can tell, all the current models run basically the same maps, so the main difference between them is the user interface and other value-add functions. Some of the differences you may find include: * Screen Size - 3.5" and 4.3" are the most common. Personally I'm happy with 3.5". IMO 4.3" isn't any better to look at while driving, but the bigger screen does make it easier to type in addresses. * Speaker volume - for me, this is a big one. You want to be able to hear the voice commands over the racket that the kids and/or wife makes. I've seen some that are barely audible * Map update availability and price. Most ship with current maps, and in many cases you get your first map update free. Some have options where you can buy a lifetime map upgrade, while others require you to buy any mup upgrades you want, and the price can be nearly as much as you spent on the actual unit. * Bluetooth handsfree kit - many units can double as a handsfree speakerphone for your mobile phone. * MP3 player - some units can be have MP3 files copied to them and use them as an MP3 player. * FM Transmitter - some of the MP3 capable units also have inbuilt FM transmitter - you can tune your car stereo into the GPS and listen to your music. When it has to give a voice command it automatically mutes the music to give the command. * Traffic Channel - some units have this built in, or have optional addon kits. I think it only works in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. It gives your GPS live updates of traffic conditions that the GPS can use to recalculate the most efficient route. * Voice Command - while all units will give spoken instructions, some allow you to program them by voice - ie, you can set your destination by speech rather than by typing into the unit. I haven't personally used it, but in theory it will allow changing your destination while driving - theoretically you should stop before typing a destination in. I ended up getting the entry level Tomtom One XL 140 - I couldn't see the value in spending more money on more features because I normally wouldn't use them. Tomtom's have a very easy to use interface, and there are 3rd party add-ons available to give things like topographical mapping for off-road use. The speaker is loud and clear. Although map updates are one of the most expensive (if not THE most expensive), if you know where to look you can get them for nix ;-) Full map updates are released quarterly, but there is also a free "map-share" service that is community supported. If you encounter a map error, you can flag it, and then these corrections are shared around the community. As a result, you tend to get corrections for things like blocked streets, changed turning rules etc. Finally tomtom are well documented so it is quite easy to add things like custom Points of Interest, and there are numerous databases available on the web. >and where is a good place to buy? Thanks. A shop. I'm sure you'll have some in your local area that sell the things. I'd recommend buying it from a shop that allows you to have a hands-on, so you can get a bit of a feel over how easy the things are to use, see and hear. You might pay a bit more compared to the interwebs, but at least you'll be able to be familiar with the unit and hence more likely to be happy with your purchase. -- What is the difference between a duck?
From: Noddy on 2 Apr 2010 06:36 "Dingo" <dingo963(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message news:saebr55h5138uv15t9dk51o2li1149nu67(a)4ax.com... > Whatever one with the above characteristics cost. I don't need one > that contacts aliens in sixteen languages or wipes my bum with > fourteen choices in toilet paper..... Then you want to be looking at the sub 300 buck "poverty pack" models. Most of them seem to be much of a muchness as far as navigators go, with the only real difference being the user interface. Go down to your local store, look at the choices and buy whatever floats your boat. -- Regards, Noddy.
From: D Walford on 2 Apr 2010 06:57
On 2/04/2010 8:24 PM, Noddy wrote: > "Dingo"<dingo963(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:a58br5p6bsof3r0e7e0dt5s5eh9jl59ncr(a)4ax.com... > >> I know nothing about them. What basic features should I look for, how >> much should I expect to pay, and where is a good place to buy? Thanks. > > What's your budget? There's a host of units out there ranging from a little > over a hundred bucks for Aldi cheapies to 7 or 800 bucks for top of the line > jobs from all the big names. > > I've got a TomTom Go730 which can be had these days for under 400 bucks, and > it's an *excellent* unit. Very good bluetooth for hands free phone use, the > map software is generally pretty good and it's rock solid and reliable. > TomTom is also the brand to get if you want a continued supply of free maps, > as there is a plethora of map upgrades and other useful (and useless) > utilities out there in the GPS underground scene. > > Personally I'd avoid anything made by Garmin. The software is shithouse, > they seem to have very low battery life and the hardware doesn't appear to > be all that durable. I've got a Garmin nuvi 250 which cost me about $250 a couple of years ago, apart from costing about $100.00 for a next to useless map upgrade 6mths ago I've been very happy with it. The blokes I work with have a variety of GPS makes and models, its odd that when we are going to some jobs mine will find the address ok but theirs won't but going to next job it may be the other way around. Over time I've found a few tricks to find address's when initially it can't find it, leaving out the house number will often find the correct street, the software is different from other GPS's I've used (wife has a MIO) but I find it very easy to use now that I'm very used to it. I've lost count of the number of times I've dropped it but so far I've never done any damage so I don't know why you think they aren't durable, battery will last at least a full day but 99% of the time its plugged in. Same unit is under $200 now. Daryl |