Thread: Garmin GPS

These reviews might tell you what you want to know.

Garmin nuvi 1490T Review (GPSmagazine.com)

Garmin Nuvi 1490T Review - GPS

I don't have one. I paid about 1/3 the price for a "Ranga Special" the same size.

i have the Nuvi 3790T
very nice bit of gear indeed
always been a Garmin man myself, tried a few other brands but always come back to Garmin

also take a look at this neat little gadget that you can add
http://www.cnet.com.au/garmin-ecorou...9300288.htmnot sure on compatability with LR OBDII but i am looking at it with interest

Yep, I've got one.

Can compare to a Tom Tom 730, that's what I had before until I lent it to my wife and never got it back...

The options on the Garmin are far more intuitive than the Tom Tom, making it easier to set up.

The Car Icon is better on the Tom Tom, in fact I've changed it to a picture of a D3, can't do that easily on a Garmin.

Both use the same base maps, although the Tom Tom seems slightly better. The Garmin Auto zoom sometimes zooms out so the road you're on 'disappears'.

The Garmin allows you to add topo maps (proprietary). I've added them and they are alright, although I would not to rely on them if my life depended on it. The contuours are too wide etc.

I love the fact the 1490 turns itself on and off automatically when the power supply comes on/ off.

The mounting system of the Garmin is far superior to the 730, but I don't know if newer Tom Toms are better.

The traffic alert is OK, not sure who is responsible for the information it uses.

I had an issue with 2 lines appearing on the screen but Garmin issued a repalcement unit very quickly. I also had some issues with connectivity and uploading the topo maps under W7 64bit, but Garmin support was very helpful.

I bought the Garmin because it has a lifetime map update and I have used Garmin 'proper' GPS units (as opposed to those I refer to as Sat Nav units) in the past. And, yes, I'm very happy with it.

Originally Posted by Rosscoe68

also take a look at this neat little gadget that you can add
http://www.cnet.com.au/garmin-ecorou...9300288.htmnot sure on compatability with LR OBDII but i am looking at it with interest

Thats cool! I'll be interested to find out if it works with the TD5. I have an old 265WT so may have to upgrade to a newer model that supports it, but that's ok.

BTW - the fixed link is Garmin ecoRoute HD wireless dongle Preview - GPS

Go get one from Dick smith, beat them down with the price you can get it from a Ryda car radios.
Try it for a week if you like it keep it.
I didnt like it based on the cost of it so i took it back for a full refund.
My 7 yr old Meo Digiwalker had all the same maps on it so im happy with that till it dies.

I have a 1490T and for the most part I have been very happy with it. On recent trip it did play up big time failing to start dropping routes during navigation shutting down by its self.

All this was caused by a bad software update from Garmin. I had spent a lot of time planning my trip on the Garmin Mapsource program and uploading it to the 1490T. When the thing failed I did have my D4's pain in bum GPS to fall back to plus paper maps.

I have since updated the 1490T software and all is working fine again.

Hello RecMec,
I have a 1490T and a Nuvi 265. Both work well for me. I run both when I'm away and I bought the 1490T (mainly) for the larger screen.
I've had no problems with it on either the Garmin Citi maps, ShonkyMaps or International maps. The best feature I like (apart form the the large screen), is being able to run different maps and swap with ease.

The interface is pretty good, so it's realtivly easy to find you way around the device.

I've had no problems with the Garmin "Map Source" software when planning / transferring etc...

My two cents worth.

George.

I didn't have problems with Mapsource.

The problem was a bad update for the 1490T from Garmin. This caused the 1490T to drop routes during navigation and made slow to start and caused at times a constant reboot.

If you missed the software update that caused the problems then of course you wont have had the issues. There is an article in the Garmin support area.