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Advice on buying a sat nav?
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Grand Dizzy
16-12-2006
I need to buy a satellite navigation system asap (primarily to get around this Xmas).

There are many on the market, I've noticed some are £80 and some are more like £400!

Could anyone give me any advice? I don't really see what you get if you pay hundreds of pounds more. I just want to use one to get from A to B.

Could anyone with a bit of experience offer me any advice please?
snowey
17-12-2006
Originally Posted by Grand Dizzy:
“I need to buy a satellite navigation system asap (primarily to get around this Xmas).

There are many on the market, I've noticed some are £80 and some are more like £400!

Could anyone give me any advice? I don't really see what you get if you pay hundreds of pounds more. I just want to use one to get from A to B.

Could anyone with a bit of experience offer me any advice please?”

Have a look at the Navman F20 its around £130, it gets good reviews.
SonyJunkie
17-12-2006
Everyone is doing Sat Nav these days so there's so many to choose from!!

The most important thing is mapping accuracy and ability of the unit to give you the right instructions.

I've used units that give you incorrect verbal instructions (i.e. take first exit at round-about) but show the correct route on the map on screen. The best test of any system is to use to go to places you're very familiar with and see which route it takes you, obviously you'd have bought one at this point!!

More expensive units are going to have faster processors and more detailed maps and added features, i.e. the Road Angel Navigator series included speed camera locations and warnings.

You also need to check how easliy the maps can be updated, it's no point buying a cheap unit that will need replacing in a couple of years because you can't load new maps. (you'd be amazed how many roads change!) Most units have the maps stored on a memory card which can be swapped with new maps, at a cost of course, Road Angel ones are about £80-£100. Also check if you can buy European maps if you want to drive abroad.

Personally I wouldn't pay more than £250, there are enough good ones within this range.

*My mention of the Road Angel is because I sell them!!
blueboy
20-12-2006
I own the Naman N40i.

http://www.thenavigationcompany.com/...CFR2AMAodtQ-EN

This unit really is impressive and apart from winning many awards, the price is really good too.

This model comes with all UK maps on a memory card and the European ones on a CD. It has a built in 1.3 mega pixel camera which allows you to take a picture of a landmark, place of interest and it automatically works out the route to that place for future reference. It uses a programme called Navpix and you can share your photos and download others including route from this site. You then just click on the image, press go and it takes you there! Amazing unit, very stylish, very accurate and very affordable.

My advice, buy one, you will not be dissapointed.
Last edited by blueboy : 20-12-2006 at 22:12
TheBigM
20-12-2006
The Tomtom series comes very highly rated, on certain types of smartphones you can install mapping software and have a bluetooth GPS receiver and have your phone act as the satnav.

The most expensive generally include things like europe-wide street level mapping and sometimes live traffic updates.

Have you considered buying an A to Z book? They really are under-rated these days especially after considering all the mapping errors satnavs are reported to make.
maplejar
21-12-2006
I have the Navman ICN 330.

Got it from Tescos for £99 (and got clubcard points too )

Its great and has always got me where I want to go with no problems. I think they sell them at Halfords to for about £100.

xx
sprenger
21-12-2006
I got the TomTom Navigator 5 to turn my PDA into a Sat Nav.
If you have a PDA with bluetooth then this is a brilliant bit of kit. Maps are on a SD card.

Doesn't have Full Postcode search unfortuneately, but it is quite accurate.
CM
21-12-2006
Originally Posted by snowey:
“Have a look at the Navman F20 its around £130, it gets good reviews.”


Cheap is ok if you like rivers.

oh and speeding fines.
maplejar
21-12-2006
Well... My cheap SatNav hasn't got me in any rivers yet And as for the speeding thing... that is what those big, round road signs with the big numbers are for

xx
blueboy
21-12-2006
People are generally naive about the whole sat nav thing.

A cheap navman[f20] or one at £400.00 will still work the same way. The navigation software is actually the same.

What differs are the many extras you either choose or choose not to have. If you just want to get from A to B then cheap will do. If you want speed alerts,traffic management and safety camera information, plus euoropean maps, a remote and ipod compatibility,then expect to pay a premium rate.
snowey
21-12-2006
Well said Blueboy,
Captain Pugwash
21-12-2006
Originally Posted by maplejar:
“I have the Navman ICN 330.

Got it from Tescos for £99 (and got clubcard points too )

Its great and has always got me where I want to go with no problems. I think they sell them at Halfords to for about £100.

xx”

I got mine from Comet at £99.99, but Argos are selling the ICN 330 at £89.99 even cheaper.
easterhoose
21-12-2006
Buy an A toZ £4.99...........
dsnik
21-12-2006
Sun on your right at noon your going east, £0.00
blueboy
21-12-2006
Originally Posted by dsnik:
“Sun on your right at noon your going east, £0.00”


Is it me or does that just not make any sense whatsoever?
gomezz
22-12-2006
Originally Posted by dsnik:
“Sun on your right at noon your going east, £0.00”

Not in a row-boat you ain't
solitaire1
22-12-2006
Get a Tom Tom!!
Helbrown
24-12-2006
Originally Posted by easterhoose:
“Buy an A toZ £4.99...........”

That's my method. Don't need anything else.
Fatwaz
24-12-2006
can only speak as i find.wife has a tom tom one and its great for her shes a courier so gives it a good test but weve been to some back street in glasgow from essex and a holiday home in deepest devon and no problems.she wont go anywhere without it now.
easterhoose
24-12-2006
A few years ago I worked for an office furniture firm in Glasgow,and when I was given an address to deliver to that I was'nt sure of I asked my boss.....he said, I don't know either but you've got a good scots tounge in your heid!...meaning ask someone!........bought an a to z and claimed it on expenses!
mediafriendly
24-12-2006
i have got an original tom tom and it's superb. if I had to buy one now, I would go for the Tom Tom One Europe, which has full European street mapping and a very sensitive chip.

Personally, i would leave alone all the Tom Tom 510, 710, 910 series, as they have stuff I don't need (widescreen, bluetooth, MP3 capability etc)
Stunty
27-12-2006
Originally Posted by dsnik:
“Sun on your right at noon your going east, £0.00”

.... an what do you suggest for night-time driving??
ThePerfectOne
27-12-2006
Currys are currently selling the TOMTOM ONE GB for £159.99

Edit : And so are Halfords
Last edited by ThePerfectOne : 27-12-2006 at 17:51
SteUK
27-12-2006
Originally Posted by ThePerfectOne:
“Currys are currently selling the TOMTOM ONE GB for £159.99

Edit : And so are Halfords”

I'm tempted to buy a Tom Tom One, don't know much about sat navs myself, do you know if once you buy the card with the maps on, you can download updates with newer maps once you've bought it?
swellybro
27-12-2006
I just bought the Tom Tom One UK + Republic of Ireland yesterday from PC World, fantasic piece of kit.

You can register at http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/subscription.php and install speed camera warnings too which is an added bonus.

I am really impressed with the unit, its small and very useful.
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