How Effective are the little GPS units

[graceysdad]

I have been offered a new unused navman type GPS that hangs of your windscreen, We negotitate the traffic in Sydney once a month for my visits to the RPA, I hate driving in Sydney one wrong turn and your a goner so we thought we would get a GPS to help, my questions are being only a 4,5 in screen just how visible is this if you are driving head on into the sun, even minus the head on sun are they still clear, we have to go to Woolloomooloo soon and thats going to be a real test for me, the guy wants $165 for it I guess its an ok buy, the little screen causes me concern but you see them everywhere now, am sure you mob will dish out the good oil or the dirt on them, is it an ok buy for the bux? the name Samsung was kicked around

[dirtdawg]

i never look at the screen as it is loud enough to hear

[101RRS]

The main benefit is the young lady who talks to you out of the GPS and tells where to go.

In most cases you do not need to look at the screen.

Anyway you should be watching the road not the GPS

Garry

[graceysdad]

My wife tells me where to go all the time!, so I can assume it talks? that will be a good thing hope its a sexy voice gotta be better then our current street directory the mother in law, its a bit hard to keep up with her on her broom!

[Rovernaut]

I just purchased a little Navman unit, but it tends to take me on wild goose chases.
When I set it for the fastest route it tried to take me to a gate locked fire trail!.
Set it for fastest and include toll roads, it tried to take me to a toll road that was Kms away, yet my original route was quicker.
Then set it on another setting and it will try to go on back streets only to do a loop back where I was before, but one street further down!.

I think they are ok for unfamiliar territory as the idea is to get there eventually.

[Tango51]

Size doesn't matter, it's all in the technique.;)

[Ricey]

They're great! 2 things I can think of, 1) make sure you find out whether it's got the latest maps (they can be a couple of hundred I believe) 2) remove it from the car when you park in Sydney & give the windscreen a wipe so the marks of the suction cap are gone - apparently those marks are the cause of smash & grabs in sydney at the moment.

I got one for dad for xmas, on his 70th b/day some mongrel flogged it from his car during dinner :mad:

[Xavie]

Never used a navman but have a totom I think it is an awesome piece of technology. My friend has a navman and speaks very highly of them. It's the smallest unit too so it is probably the one your considering.

With the whole miss a turn in Sydney- Most GPS are quick at re-calculating a route so it usually fixes you up within 10 -15 seconds if you miss a turn and re-routes you with no problem.

Once you get the hang of them they are great. If your only using it once a month I'd be reluctant but still would consider it as an option.

[Xavie]

They're great! 2 things I can think of, 1) make sure you find out whether it's got the latest maps (they can be a couple of hundred I believe) 2) remove it from the car when you park in Sydney & give the windscreen a wipe so the marks of the suction cap are gone - apparently those marks are the cause of smash & grabs in sydney at the moment.

I got one for dad for xmas, on his 70th b/day some mongrel flogged it from his car during dinner :mad:

What awful luck. But yes regarding maps I totally agree...make sure they are current. Mine are only a year out and on at least 6 occassions it has tried to turn me in to a wall or water.

AND when asking someone at dick smith if it has the current maps-please don't just take their word for it they often have no clue and just say anything.

Xavier

[andrew e]

I got a tomtom 3 weeks ago, and i'm kicking i didn't get it sooner. I did 2800kms of unknown (to me) roads around victoria, and it got me to every hotel/camping ground etc without any trouble what so ever. You use the voice 90 percent of the time, and i double check the screen sometimes too make sure. If you make a wrong turn, it re-calculates the fastest way to legally to get you to your destination. if there is a roadblock, you hit 2 buttons, and it does the same. Want to avoid tolls? thats another button. Its the best 295 i have EVER spent.

It also has handy landmarks on there such as lookouts and tourist places of interest, which if you are traveling interstate, make it easier to enjoy the scenery, and not worry about signs.

I'm not so sure about the cheaper brands, or the more popular NAVMAN, as i have never used one, however i've been told to avoid the ALDI ones due to less features.

Andy

[Blknight.aus]

Ive noticed that some of the ones at JB come with a voucher for the latest sensis maps which you can send off, you still get whatever the hell the gps was loaded with and then you can grab a free update.

[graceysdad]

Well they sound like the go, I can navigate to the RPA ok but there is always somewhere they want to go, I want to go here and there and the ma in law hasnt lived in sydney in 20 years and the roads are different so we easily end up somewhere we dont want to be, some good advice there thanks.

[JamesH]

Hi All

Interssting information.

What are they like out bush? Do they do country roads and major tracks OK?

[Anya45]

I have a Voxson GPS400 and whilst it was a lot cheaper than the more popular brands I have no complaints whatsoever. Not long after purchase the sexy female voice stopped talking (think my hubby upset her :D) and we call the customer service line and within 2 days we were sent a replacement RAM card. Can't complain about that...

It only has a 3.5" screen, but it is crystal clear and easy to read when needed.

Hope this helps a little.

P.S Doesn't much like being off road out here, but it is funny to see where it thinks I am...lol

[Grizzly_Adams]

I have used a TomTom for the past 4 years and love it, works a treat.

Found this great site the other day for updated Points of Interest and Voices for TomTom's (but the PoI's can be converted to suit Navman, Garman, Mitac Mio or Destinator).

TomTom GPS Australian Points to Interest, POI, Navman, Garmin, Mitac Mio, Destinator Australia. (http://www.ozpoi.com/)

[loanrangie]

Hi All

Interssting information.

What are they like out bush? Do they do country roads and major tracks OK?

Really only good for street navigation, i use tomtom for street nav and ozi explorer on a pda with maps for offroad.

[JDNSW]

Hi All

Interssting information.

What are they like out bush? Do they do country roads and major tracks OK?

I can't give an overall idea, just an example;

Anyone using the Sensis data to find my local village is going to find themselves about forty kilometres away on a very indifferent forest track - with no mobile coverage, and about a ten kilometres walk to the nearest house or trafficked road after they get stuck - assuming they head in the right direction to start with. Sensis appears to be uninterested in my advice of the error.

John

[Xavie]

I can't give an overall idea, just an example;

Anyone using the Sensis data to find my local village is going to find themselves about forty kilometres away on a very indifferent forest track - with no mobile coverage, and about a ten kilometres walk to the nearest house or trafficked road after they get stuck - assuming they head in the right direction to start with. Sensis appears to be uninterested in my advice of the error.

John

Yes, interesting point. I was coming back from northern NSW recently and it was lucky I was driving the Defender after the GPS unit decided to take me on a tour of some pretty hardcore spots. It got me home still but the winch was needed.

As for another comment I have often found it finds places okay in the country BUT it always takes longer as they seem to like using main roads and never takes back roads so I figure it can take up to 10% longer using a GPS but if you don't know where you are going you may be better off anyway.

Xavier

[Forest]

I had an older style unit which worked ok in Melbourne (wider streets) but in the CBD of Sydney, due to the height of the buildings, it kept losing the sats. Newer units have overcome this I believe, but just thought I would mention.

[Phoenix]

Tomtom and garmin are the best IMHO.

I've used a garmin 310W (I think that was the model). Very good. touch screen is much easier, as are a talking unit.

But beware, if it's old, the maps will be also, and not all units will talk to you, some just display it on the screen and bing at you.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

I can't give an overall idea, just an example;

Anyone using the Sensis data to find my local village is going to find themselves about forty kilometres away on a very indifferent forest track - with no mobile coverage, and about a ten kilometres walk to the nearest house or trafficked road after they get stuck - assuming they head in the right direction to start with. Sensis appears to be uninterested in my advice of the error.

John




maybe your village is in the wrong spot..........? :eek:

[JDNSW]

maybe your village is in the wrong spot..........? :eek:

Nope. Just sloppy data compilation. Google maps for example, I have yet to find this sort of error. Problem appears to be that once you get below the level published street directories, location indices relative to the road data is pretty hit and miss.

John

[Bushie]

I can't give an overall idea, just an example;

Anyone using the Sensis data to find my local village is going to find themselves about forty kilometres away on a very indifferent forest track - with no mobile coverage, and about a ten kilometres walk to the nearest house or trafficked road after they get stuck - assuming they head in the right direction to start with. Sensis appears to be uninterested in my advice of the error.

John

John, You don't have to be far from the main metro areas for some serious errors to show up. I am 40km south of Sydney and there are streets that don't exist, it tries to go via firetrails in the national park (locked) and Sensis don't seem to give a rats. It also likes to instruct you to do U turns at traffic lights and refuses to accept that a RH turn is OK at one particular intersection.


Martyn

[tombraider]

I've got a Zumo 550 from Garmin.. :D

Awesome unit, comes with a car and bike cradle, its IP67 so doesnt matter if it gets wet...

And had a very decent processor... Its quick, efficient and has never led me astray yet.

I love it! And the dashboard feature on the bike is brilliant!

It also has dual channel bluetooth so plays MP3s to my helmet and routes the phone too! Allowing me to dial etc from the handlebars ;)

[Disco_owner]

I've Just Purchased a Garmin 60CSx with a Micro SD card Preloaded with Oztopo V2.

For the 10m contour layer, 1600 MB for all of Australia but partial areas, as small as 50km x 50km, can be loaded.
As a guide, Qld-350MB, NSW-270MB, Vic-110MB, Tas-48MB, SA-192MB, WA-432MB, NT-220MB

For the Road and Track layer, approx 200 MB for all of Australia but partial areas, as small as 50km x 50km, can be loaded. As a guide, Qld-350MB, NSW-270MB, Vic-110MB, Tas-48MB, SA-192MB, WA-432MB, NT-220MB

It's Ideal for bushwalking and outdoor activities which is Why I bought it , but I was told for Street Navigation the Nuvi range would probably be more suitable , Although 60csx will navigate if City Navigator is loaded.

I can also use it as a reciever and run Oztopo V2 on mapsource software on Laptop.

cheers khos

[leeds]

I use Tom Tom 910, Garmin 660 and Garmin276C in Europe including Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

TomTom have a poor reputation for reliability. Lets say I am on its 3 charger, get fed up with it hanging up, got to send it off for repair. It is also good at trying to get me to cross railway cuttings where no road bridge exists.


Garmins are very reliable, never had a hardware problem. The 276C has tracking facility which is good when you are in forest areas etc and you want to find your way back to start point.

Regards

Brendan

[tdiBrad]

As Tombraider mentioned, a lot of the GPS's ability comes down to the chipset used.
The Sirf Star 3 is considered to be possibly the leading chipset.
WAAS is handy, though Australia is not enabled for WAAS, so unless your planning a trip to USA (or Japan, i think) may not be that much of a selling point.

My Nuvi 360 is pretty good. Its reliable and small, touch screen operated with TTS.

TomTom is a good unit, though it's not as robust and seems (from reading forums) to be a little unreliable in build quality.

Tracks4Australia can be loaded (i have it on the Nuvi) and has some offroad maps.

TTS (text to speech) is the best feature, do NOT buy a GPS that does not have TTS. TTS will pronounce the street name for you, so you don't hear 'TURN LEFT IN 300 Metres', instead you hear 'IN 300 METRES, TURN LEFT INTO George Street' .. when you have lots of streets close together, TTS makes a huge different.

TTS can mispronounce some streets (aboriginal names challenge it) but its well worth the occasional raised eyebrow. :D

Brad

[tracker]

I got a tomtom 3 weeks ago, and i'm kicking i didn't get it sooner. I did 2800kms of unknown (to me) roads around victoria, and it got me to every hotel/camping ground etc without any trouble what so ever. You use the voice 90 percent of the time, and i double check the screen sometimes too make sure. If you make a wrong turn, it re-calculates the fastest way to legally to get you to your destination. if there is a roadblock, you hit 2 buttons, and it does the same. Want to avoid tolls? thats another button. Its the best 295 i have EVER spent.

It also has handy landmarks on there such as lookouts and tourist places of interest, which if you are traveling interstate, make it easier to enjoy the scenery, and not worry about signs.

I'm not so sure about the cheaper brands, or the more popular NAVMAN, as i have never used one, however i've been told to avoid the ALDI ones due to less features.

Andy
I have a aldi one,(for towns) Have run it next to tomtom and it seems to be the same.(maps etc).I use a c60 garmin off road .top unit.Did a run with 3 units in town,garmin/tomtom/aldi and all worked the same.all features seem the same (music vids etc)but dont use them. the aldi one seems to pickup sats quicker,but not much.I think there might be a bit of brand swapping with these units.