why pay loads for a Satnav!

[mattSV]

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

I've got Route 66 on my phone, its OK, but does sometimes 'go to sleep' on me...

I'm thinking of investing in a TomTom or Garmin etc...

I've just got a Garmin Nuvi 670. Quality bit of kit, even works in the tankbag - haven't looked at a bike mount for it as it is not waterproof.

I paid £210 BNIB for it from a friend of a friend who works for Garmin - rrp is around £500 I think

Speed camera detector is very handy - saved me a dead cert 3 points last week on the way back from Leicester

use garmin at work.. in the vans..

and I have seen garmin win top reports in Bike and Ride mags recently

[Viney]

Originally Posted by SVeeedy Gonzales

Was that when she chucked it out the window for leading her on a merry dance?!

The big problem with Sat Navs is that it's easy to trust them too much - how many of us have blindly followed our sat nav when we're sure it's quicker/easier to stay on until the next junction, or we're sure there's another way, or wasn't that a sign back there that we didn't pay attention to because the sat nav is doing the work.

They're good guides, and going somewhere unknown they'll always beat a map. They'll never be faster than someone with local knowledge though - they can't take into account roadworks, how busy roads get at certain times of day, etc. (they can't yet, anyway - just a matter of time) but the point of a gps isn't to replace your knowledge it's to supplement it.

Sadly not. After i got her to reset it, then not follow it for 10 mins and me guiding her out of croydon by memory and her giving me POI's it then got her to where she needed to go. I just think that the mapping on the thing is very out of date. The unit is 18 months old, and the mappings probably a year older than that, so lots of one ways, no right turns etc are abundance. I have 2007 mapping, but just need to get a larger SD card, as it wont fit on the one supplied!! To do that, i need my Debit card to be replced as im not paying £20 for something i can get online for £8!

I am tempted to buy a Tom Tom rider for the Mrs so she can get around easier. She is hopeless with maps.

I quite enjoy the discovery and experience of looking at maps and trying to work out the best routes. If I needed it for getting to places on time it maybe worth it - but I dont usually so not necessary.

I didnt like the Garmin as it didnt give voice instructions and the screen was small - i prefer the Tom Tom because of this. I've also seen the Navman is getting some great reviews - but not sure if there is a biker version available. If anyone has tried this I would be interested in knowing more...

Originally Posted by Gmonsta

I didnt like the Garmin as it didnt give voice instructions and the screen was small - i prefer the Tom Tom because of this. I've also seen the Navman is getting some great reviews - but not sure if there is a biker version available. If anyone has tried this I would be interested in knowing more...

I think you should consider the Garmin Zumo 550 in about 6 months time when the price comes down......corking bit of kit and it's aimed at bikers. The Quest I've got at the moment is a bit limiting in terms of screen size.....not really bothered about the voice prompts as I wouldn't be able to hear them above the engine noise.

I'll be going for the Zumo once I can afford it

Originally Posted by SVeeedy Gonzales

They're good guides, and going somewhere unknown they'll always beat a map. They'll never be faster than someone with local knowledge though - they can't take into account roadworks, how busy roads get at certain times of day, etc. (they can't yet, anyway - just a matter of time) but the point of a gps isn't to replace your knowledge it's to supplement it.

My TomTom copes perfectly well with traffic jams due to accidents, roadworks, times of the day etc etc etc. There's about a 30min delay, so sometimes you can come across a traffic jam before it's re-routed you, but it's not that often.

(Updates done via WAP on my phone BTW).

Re: text, the Zumo has a text-to-speak function (or some other gay slogan) which actually reads out street names as well as directions. The Tom Tom only speaks the directions.

[mattSV]

Originally Posted by Gmonsta

I am tempted to buy a Tom Tom rider for the Mrs so she can get around easier. She is hopeless with maps.

I quite enjoy the discovery and experience of looking at maps and trying to work out the best routes. If I needed it for getting to places on time it maybe worth it - but I dont usually so not necessary.

I didnt like the Garmin as it didnt give voice instructions and the screen was small - i prefer the Tom Tom because of this. I've also seen the Navman is getting some great reviews - but not sure if there is a biker version available. If anyone has tried this I would be interested in knowing more...

The Nuvi 600 series has:-

• Widescreen
• Voice to text
• Bluetooth to access full phone capabilities - even reads out your text messages to you if you want
• Small enough to easily fit into a jacket pocket

I alos enjoy map reading, however I have found some cracking roads just by setting the satnav to 'avoid motorways'

However, it is not bike specific so the Tomtom rider might be a better option.

From what I've heard the TomTom Rider ain't all it's cracked up to be and isn't worht the money.

A cheap way into a SatNav ownership is to buy a second hand PDA like an Ipaq and put on it a downloaded copy of TomTom. Note: You might need a GPS reciever unit depending on the PDA. I don't think you'll find a cheaper way to do it though.

Personally I just beg someone to show me the way or wing it as best I can

What do you guys use for the voice instructions......wired headset? bluetooth helmet speakers?