Advice/Opinions on best GPS to buy...

Dazzler · **July 04, 2010, 22:17:49**

I have a 2¹/₂ Y/O Mio 520C GPS which I will be "throwing in" with my i30 if I sell her privately... It has a great 4.3 widescreen and is fairly user friendly..I like the split screen display which gives me a good size speed readout amongst other things...
I don't like the limited choice of voices for the text to speech and the battery life is poor (although better.. nearly an hour since battery replaced under warranty)

I am thinking about replacing the Mio when I get my new car later this year and want to go for a 4.3" again with similar features but more choice of voices and better battery life BUT i don't want to spend much more than A$250 as there seems to be a number of reasonable models around that figure.. I'm thinking Garmin or Tom Tom any comments welcomed (please clarify your reasoning) I found RYDA.com a good place to buy from last time..

i30mania · **Reply #1: July 04, 2010, 22:37:31**

Garmin 3790T

Myowni30 · **Reply #2: July 04, 2010, 22:53:23**

Quote from: Dazzler on July 04, 2010, 22:17:49

I'm thinking Garmin or Tom Tom any comments welcomed (please clarify your reasoning) I found RYDA.com a good place to buy from last time..

If you use safety camera or other warnings for poi's then the latest TomTom's will not support them. TomTom have changed their policy in the last few months. It's the warning sounds they have stopped, not the display of poi's.

TomTom do have more map updates here in the UK than Garmin, but not sure how often maps are updated in AU.

Dazzler · **Reply #3: July 04, 2010, 22:55:11**

Quote from: i30mania on July 04, 2010, 22:37:31

Garmin 3790T

Looks great but almost A$500 over here.. I have found models here www.ryda.com.au for around A$200 that will do everything I want (although may go to A$300 if necessary) I mainly use my GPS as a speed check (no cruise control) and don't even need bluetooth as I have a separate bluetooth module...

Dazzler · **Reply #4: July 04, 2010, 22:58:39**

Quote from: Myowni30 on July 04, 2010, 22:53:23

If you use safety camera or other warnings for poi's then the latest TomTom's will not support them. TomTom have changed their policy in the last few months. It's the warning sounds they have stopped, not the display of poi's.

TomTom do have more map updates here in the UK than Garmin, but not sure how often maps are updated in AU.

Haven't had that feature before.. More interested in accurate maps, ease of use and a clear speed readout. Plus a "pleasant" voice on text to speech.. my best choice on the Mio is a fairly curt female with an american accent...

(no offence to our USA members)

I was looking at Tom Tom and it says 3 hours battery life

That would be very handy if walking around a mainland capital city (which we do from time to time)

Myowni30 · **Reply #5: July 04, 2010, 23:13:47**

I think that both TT and Garmin are good units. I would ask for a demo to see which menus you like the best. Both makes are well supported.

I use a web site and forum(member since 2004) here in the UK called pocketgpsworld(dot)com

You will find lots of info there if you are interested.

LuciferDarklord · **Reply #6: July 05, 2010, 02:02:04**

What about this ?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BRAND-NEW-MIO-MOOV-360-in-car-GPS-Free-2009-Mapping-/320521261524?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item4aa08e51d4

If you dont like the mio maps, you can install Miopocket on a SD card and install any WindowsCE based software you like. If I was financial I'd buy one to see if I could hook up to the bluetooth dongle that hasnt arrived yet that Shambles seems to be having problems with. Hope its not a dud product

Waja · **Reply #7: July 05, 2010, 07:15:54**

Best comparison site I found was at http://gps.toptenreviews.com/navigation/ and then just search up the GPS using shopbot, staticice or ebay afterwards!

Dazzler · **Reply #8: July 05, 2010, 10:33:20**

Thanks for all the suggestions so far (some great food for thought there) I was thinking at one stage about getting one that incorporates a wireless reversing camera

but don't know if any of the better brands do one (and would probably be dearer than I want to spend)

Dazzler · **Reply #9: July 05, 2010, 11:39:57**

This looks cheap

anyone know what these are like??

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/7%22-CAR-GPS-HD-NAVIGATION-SYSTEM-REVERSING-CAMERA-%20-4GB_W0QQitemZ120585546534QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&query=%7Bquery%7D&fitem=120585546534&linkin_id=8024509&mt_id=641&kw=%7Bquery%7D

Actually.....I'm very tempted by this one

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/5-GPS-Navigation-System-WIRELESS-REVERSING-Camera-/260626926208?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item3cae934a80

babis_xo · **Reply #10: July 05, 2010, 12:35:37**

Seems like a cheapy RPC made thing. It doesn't say what operating system and what kind of maps it has.

I use a Garmin Nuvi 205 3,5" for two years now.

Pros.: Cheap, navigation algorithm & features, maps (for Greece), free lifetime maps update (for Greece), map updates every 3 months (again for Greece), autonomy, good reception, you can record your own voice (i recorded my 8 yrs old son's voice

, lots of fun), plenty of customized vehicles on web (but no i30 yet

).

Cons.: crappy graphics, slow processor, Garmin OS (doesn't accept maps other than these dedicated for Garmin PNAs)

Dazzler · **Reply #11: July 05, 2010, 12:44:52**

I would rather not go smaller than 4.3 but Garmin are a nice unit (I have had a play with one a m8 had)

I very nearly bought the 5" one on ebay with the reversing camera but you are probably right (you get what you pay for...)

LuciferDarklord · **Reply #12: July 05, 2010, 14:52:00**

If its a WinCE device with the sirf gps chip you should in theory be able to load igo8 onto it with the latest maps - all of which you purchase of course

Thats why the Mio is good because of the SD card and the ability to run MioPocket on it - good quality hardware plus configurable software.

http://netfresco.com/MioPocket/default.aspx

Note that it does not come with any commercial nav software, it just has the icons for when you install it after you buy it

Downfall is it takes about 1 minute to boot up to windows desktop if you let it go flat or push the switch too far and shut it down totally, otherwise it wakes up straight into the nav software where you left off.

Myowni30 · **Reply #13: July 05, 2010, 18:23:34**

Reading between the lines, the eBay ones use a demo of iGO that has been fixed so as it does not stop working after the demo period. As you have said, you get what you pay for.

I see the same unit on eBay for the UK with no camera for about £65. Not sure how that relates to AU$.

Take a risk

Then we can ALL buy one if they work okay

Only joking...

eye30 · **Reply #14: July 05, 2010, 18:45:49**

Quote from: Dazzler on July 04, 2010, 22:17:49

I have a 2¹/₂ Y/O Mio 520C GPS

Given the size of Tasie do you need one as you must have been down every road, nook and crany on the Island?

Lakes · **Reply #15: July 05, 2010, 21:10:21**

Hey Dazz, i've had a Garmin for a few years and never had the battery loose power yet.
it uses Jenifer Hawkin's to give dirrections

my maps need updating but they charge about $100 so not worth updating, the trip data and speedo read out are good easy to see & as far as i can tell it's accurate. it's a Nuvi 250W
cheers

Dazzler · **Reply #16: July 05, 2010, 21:51:59**

Quote from: Lakes on July 05, 2010, 21:10:21

Hey Dazz, i've had a Garmin for a few years and never had the battery loose power yet.
it uses Jenifer Hawkin's to give dirrections
my maps need updating but they charge about $100 so not worth updating, the trip data and speedo read out are good easy to see & as far as i can tell it's accurate. it's a Nuvi 250W
cheers

Jenifer Hawkin's eh... now your talkin' (does a picture of her come up on the screen when she says something?

)

I am familiar with that model (it is a lot like my Mio)

Dazzler · **Reply #17: July 05, 2010, 22:07:01**

Quote from: eye30 on July 05, 2010, 18:45:49

Quote from: Dazzler on July 04, 2010, 22:17:49
I have a 2¹/₂ Y/O Mio 520C GPS
Given the size of Tasie do you need one as you must have been down every road, nook and crany on the Island?

You are right Lester.. because I have lived or worked in almost every part of Tassie (and "investigated" the other parts) I very seldom need the search function here so mainly for speed function... But I do take it with me when I travel to the mainland and have used my MIO in Darwin, Perth Western Australia, Northern New South Wales and Melbourne (was a real life saver)

Myown i30 ...I am still tempted to buy the 5" one with the reversing camera but don't really want to have to pay someone to install that part (I wonder how hard it is to install the wiring that detects when reverse is selected)

Ben, thanks for the info on Miopocket.. One of the reasons I was tempted by the Mio in the first place was the fact that it played MP3's and had other non GPS functions (Picture Viewer etc) but due to the poor battery life not so good in practice...

I'm really not one to fiddle with loading extra software to customise.. It is a shame I can't get a Mio or Garmin 4.3 to 5.0 inch with the reversing camera function (that is not more than say A$300 to A$350)

babis_xo · **Reply #18: July 06, 2010, 11:49:15**

Quote from: Dazzler on July 05, 2010, 12:44:52

I would rather not go smaller than 4.3 but Garmin are a nice unit (I have had a play with one a m8 had)

I very nearly bought the 5" one on ebay with the reversing camera but you are probably right (you get what you pay for...)

Nuvi 205W is 4,5". Same pros. and cons. as nuvi 205 and i think is fairly cheap.

(Without taking into account the main features)
I dislike:
Graphics, slow proccessing.

I like (having some fun):
http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/ontheroad/voicestudio#fragment-3
http://www8.garmin.com/vehicles/bundles/allvehicles.html
http://www.vehiclesforgarminnuvi.com/

EDIT: Nuvi 205 & 205W isn't available at AUS.

Wheelchair · **Reply #19: July 06, 2010, 14:29:45**

I have a Garmin nuvi 205W and it's superb. Never makes a mistake and re-routing is almost instant.

Myowni30 · **Reply #20: July 06, 2010, 14:44:14**

Personally I would stick with a Garmin or TT

Dazzler · **Reply #21: July 06, 2010, 22:07:14**

Sounds like I better get a Garmin or TT OR if I get anything else and have problems I better keep my mouth shut

Thanks for the links babis... If I get a garmin they will be handy..

reecho · **Reply #22: July 07, 2010, 02:25:15**

Get either TomTom or Garmin......they are easy to get map updates at the right price...

babis_xo · **Reply #23: July 07, 2010, 08:07:45**

If you have plenty of time to loose with zero-sum as return, try googling for "Car Pc" or "Carputer". I did and finally thought that mounting a netbook or even a laptop on the dashboard would be easier, cheaper and mostly neat

Found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-2-4G-Wireless-Rearview-Backup-Waterproof-IR-Camera-/320558237227?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa2c2862b
Looks good (if it really works with a single GPS unit)

Dazzler · **Reply #24: July 07, 2010, 11:09:12**

Another good find Babis... My options are growing

babis_xo · **Reply #25: July 07, 2010, 21:57:24**

A real Eaby(ss)...

clackerz · **Reply #26: July 08, 2010, 00:25:31**

Personally I'm usually a map man.
Never really used a GPS at all.
Only one I have is on my push bike (Garmin), and that is a data logger anyhoo not really used as a guidance tool - the newer version is a mapping/guidance device though.

I've have been toying with the idea of getting one though recently......

Will be watching this thread with interest though.

Dazzler · **Reply #27: July 08, 2010, 11:27:01**

Hi Clackerz .. The ones with an instant speed readout are a handy heads up display tool to keep an eye on your speed.

The "text to speech feature" where a voice calls out directions is terrific when in you are in a strange city.. My Mio was GR8 in Melbourne late last year it got me around all over Melbourne in a rent-a-car avoiding all the toll ways

2i30s · **Reply #28: July 10, 2010, 22:41:13**

Quote from: clackerz on July 08, 2010, 00:25:31

Personally I'm usually a map man.
Never really used a GPS at all.
Only one I have is on my push bike (Garmin), and that is a data logger anyhoo not really used as a guidance tool - the newer version is a mapping/guidance device though.

I've have been toying with the idea of getting one though recently......

Will be watching this thread with interest though.

im in the same boat,my satnav is my passenger holding a street directory.

but sometimes the wife will use the satnav in her mobile phone.it does the job for now.

Dazzler · **Reply #29: July 10, 2010, 22:42:02**

O/K thanks for the help everyone...

I decided on this Garmin one ...for about A$306 delivered with free pouch and screen saver..

http://www.ryda.com.au/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=NUVI1390T&Show=TechSpecs

Then saw this one for only about $27 more...(with voice control which is a great safety feature)

http://www.ryda.com.au/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GO750

Problem is I like the fact Garmin has lots of free down loads to customise and it is about a centimetre thinner and might just have a bit better battery life by the look of it..

I am thinking the Garmin will be better if I want to use it when walking around...

Thoughts please...before I order one or the other

P.S. I don't want to go any bigger or won't fit in my pocket...