Looking for GPS advice - Garmin vs Navman??

[LavisLane]

Hey all,

I'm looking to get a GPS for my P38. I've narrowed it down to;

Navman S300st

S300T (http://www.navman.com/in-car/3294/Australia/Navman-Australia/Our-Products/Current-Products/S300T/)

or the Garmin Nuvi 5000

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=11547

I really want something that i can plug a reverse camera and use my iphone hands free that also has the ability for me to access 4WD maps.

I've looked at Ozi maps and it looks like i might be able to upload these onto standard GPS devices..not sure, more research required.

I'm happy to spend the $ and really just want the best i can get. Any ideas or direction appreciated!

Thanks all!

Dave

[Phoenix]

We have 2 garmin GPS units which are both fantastic. one turn by turn unit which is a nuvi something (very very good) and the other a hiking gps (gpsmap60).

I don't think you can load other maps onto the nuvi series of gps units, but I think you can put both on some of the larger garmin units. I'll grab some model no's in a moment.

However if you want to plug in a reversing camera as well, a pda based unit or carputer may be the only way to do it.

[Phoenix]

my 'off road' one is a map60 with 2 sets of freely available maps (shonkymaps and tracks4austraalia + contours)
GPS 60 series by Garmin (http://www.gpsoz.com.au/garmin/garmin_60.htm)

Ok, we have a nuvi 255, very good unit.

if you want both sets of maps you have to go to something like the gpsmap276C
GPSmap 276C by Garmin (http://www.gpsoz.com.au/garmin/garmin_276c.htm)

oh, and the above shop has great service and prices ;)

that said, the new gpsmap620 seems to do both types of maps as well, might be worth considering
GPSmap 620 (http://www.gpsoz.com.au/garmin/garmin_gpsmap_620.htm)

[streaky]

Beware of the new top of the range Garmin 620.
I bought one a few weeks ago and was told by my local dealer that I can download routes, tracks ways etc by way of the Garmin communicator pluggin.....but as I found out afterwards this is not yet available for the 620 unit and won't be for another two or three months according to Garmin USA.

It's great fot street navigation but you have to buy additional SD card for the road maps and also a auto navigation mount for the speaker.

After two weeks of back & forth emails I took it back and got a full refund.

As for installing a revesing camera etc....talk to your local Garmin people for the best advice or from someone who's actually done this.

Regards.

[DaveF]

Hi LavisLane,

I have a Nuvi760, great GPS for on and off road. I have loaded via SD Card Shonky and Tracks4Australia free maps and thay work a treat. You can now purchase Garmin Topo maps which is routable eg, onroad guidance offroad. GPS Australia GPS Australia - powered by vBulletin (http://www.gpsaustralia.net/forums/) is a good site to visit.
Cheers
David

[bruiser69]

I have a Logicgear XL488 Logic Gear - GPS (http://www.logicgear.com.au) that runs Oziexplorer or any other WinCE application, has Bluetooth handsfree & reversing camera option ($54 )
I have seen XL488 on special at Officeworks for $249 as it is a runout model.

Cheers --Bruiser