Thread: navigator which brand

I haven't really seen an upgrade cost unless it's in a promotion (ie. they just brought out the new maps for this year etc.).

Normally with TomTom it's a complete re-purchase, just like buying a new UBD / Refedex.

Unfortunately though the maps are expensive - unlike the Refedex. Looking on the TomTom site they want to charge 199 Euro for the latest complete map of Australia... having said that I believe the prices are pretty much just passed on from the map supplier (in this case Whereis / UBD).

Flamin' heck!

I won't buy one.

Ron

Originally Posted by p38arover

What does it cost to upgrade maps?

I ask 'cos last week I used Destinator on my PDA to drive from Tusker's office to home (just as a trial). I use the M7 which wasn't on the maps so the woman in my PDA went berserk telling me to turn left, turn right, recalculating routes, etc. trying to get me onto other roads.

It was worse than my wife! At least I could turn the navigation system off.

Ron

The last upgrade I bought for the Navman I have was two years ago. A new one is due soon. From memory it was around $300.00.
Whether this is value or not depends on the use you have for the unit. For me, where I might need to visit 10 or so houses a day in areas I dont know it is value, as the time saved, as well as ease of driving by instructions especially at night makes it worthwhile. I would not buy one if I did not use it for work. A street directory is more than adequate for that.
I much prefer paper maps for 4wding as well.

Ian

Yes, in your application, Ian, it makes sense. It is particularly useful in area where there are lots of one-way streets, etc.

My iPAQ with Destinator is a pain.

On the day I went to see Tusker, I switched it on 30 minutes before I left. Tusker is in north Sydney - about 60km away.

It got satellite lock and started giving instructions just before I got to Tusker's office. When I left there to go to the my financial planner, the unit was giving turn instructions too late to be able to make the turn, e.g., I'd be in the wrong lane and couldn't change, etc.

I was ready to throw it out the window.

Once I got out of the confines of the area where Max works, and the streets opened up, it was OK.

I also note that it calculates routes which are not optimal. I often have to ignore its turn instructions as I know a more direct route to the general area to which I'm going - with fewer traffic lights and turns, e.g., straight down the freeway (which is on the maps) whereas Destinator will want me to travel by suburban streets.


Ron

I'm assuming that 'a navigator for work' will only need street mapping and autorouting, do you need to be able to plan a route via point 1,2,3,4 etc (via the most efficient route) or only to get to places one at a time.

I am currently using a Garmin C320 for work it uses the Sensis (UBD) mapping and is sufficient for most tasks, although the base maps sometimes leave a bit to be desired (address' missing the odd country road not there etc).

I believe any unit that uses the same base maps will have the same problem and I think most are supplied in one form or another from Sensis.

Update for the unit would have been $165 (or thereabouts) but by registering at the right time you can get the free upgrade.

For work in the bush its basically useless.



Martyn

thanks for help guys but gee my mrs is giving it to she says use the ubd but im a rep i like to relax between calls not muck around getting lost thanks and happy LR driving.

I currently use a Garmin Nuvi 660, mainly because I end up in lots of different capital cities as well as a lot of rural areas and find it pretty good especially for most of the rural areas as paper maps arent always readily available.

The other good thing is the screen size and bluetooth, as it hooks up to the phone and gives me hands free in the hire cars.

I agree with Grizzly about the mapping but it does always get you there.

About my only whinge would be the useless at times windscreen suction mount that continuosly comes of the screen letting the unit drop on the floor or your lap

it is a pain in the rear as sometimes it will stay on for days and then it will fall off every hour or so, will have to look into a different fixing somehow as the cradle is also the 12v connection to the unit.

I have a TomTom 910, and they are bloody excellent for door to door directions/routes etc., around town and on main roads

..............however they are not friendly when even slightly off a track/road that it hasn't got in it's map/memory.

I previously had a garmin quest 2, and that was completely opposite, to a degree - it was okay for door to door, but only just. however on remote tracks it was superb, with even some of the most obscure/tiny little track up by the Golburn or murray rivers

Both are easy to mount and use suction cups off the windscreen or there are other fixing options - both are easy to use.