Thread: Which GPS would you recomend?

Hi Tomtrish,

I really like the sound of what you have hey. What price am I looking at? Where can I get one (buying direct from the US seems to be the way to go). When ordering do I need any special instructions? (I just want to get it right the first time ay!) Also is it one the you suck on to the windscreen or will it have to be installed.

Thanks again.

Cal

Originally Posted by HangOver

Sounds good does it do turn by turn ?
How much is it?

If you mean voice direction, yes it does and the screen shows the countdown distance to the destination or next turn. The voice does not say the street name like some do but it says eg; "3km and turn right" and the screen counts down the distance and shows the street name. I have used it in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and it usually takes you right to the door. I have also used it on the Simpson Desert and the Birdsville trips where I have put in the gps coordinates before hand. You don't need those city directories any more. Magic!

http://www.gpsaustralia.net/

Be sure to check out the above site. By far the best GPS site in OZ. Dont miss the huge bonus of free Shonky Maps.

Originally Posted by Mudnut

Xavie,

Let us all know how the software works, and how good it is on Australian mapping. Just trying to convince my finance director we need a new one.

Cheers,
Ken

Everything seems to work without any issues. I did a 10 hour bushwalk with every thing uploaded on to the gps and I would go so far as to say I had not one issue with doing it even know it was from the US. I have to admit I am/was surprised but in saying that there is no reason there should be a problem as it is the same hardware and to my knowledge the same software.

The biggest thing is, as you probably realise is the ability to source the best maps for where you are going. I was in the Blue mountains and right in the heart of the park there so I had 2 other gps with me just in case the over seas one had issues but it functioned easily and is it would of if bought here.

I have a noticed a few bargains going on ebay though so dependent on the model your interested in keep an eye out there.

I got the garmin 60csx.

Im running the Mio Digiwalker A701 phone, PDA and gps all in one.

but in reality having played with a few different ones

anything running the SirfIII antenna (the gps reciever bit itself) windows mobile or CE (so you can run other software like GPS dash, oziexplorerCE +anything else you want) with 64 MB of ram will do you nicely. Bluetooth and GPS out via the USP/bluetooth ports is a nice to have but not essential.


If you have a laptop thats fairly rugged or a 12v PC and a 7-9 inch LCD screen that can work up on the front dash grab a GPS mouse and go that way.

I can not comment about the quality of the maps on GPS systems in Australia.

I can make some comments on the reliability of Garmins and TomToms as I have/still do run both systems.

Garmins prove to be quite robust and reliable.

Tom Toms may have good maps on them BUT the hardware is completely unreliable!

It took me over 36 hours to reset a Tom Tom 910 once! Am on charger 3 and 4 now. Have had two TomTom chargers pack up on me. Hence bought two chargers to keep in one of the vehicles. When I went into shop to get charger number 2 the customer in front of me was having a brand new tom Tom sent back to the manufacturers! The customer behind me had a faulty Tom Tom! 3 customers in a row with faulty Tom Toms in the shop at the same time must say something about the reliability of Tom Toms

Regards


Brendan

Originally Posted by leeds

I can not comment about the quality of the maps on GPS systems in Australia.

I can make some comments on the reliability of Garmins and TomToms as I have/still do run both systems.

Garmins prove to be quite robust and reliable.

Tom Toms may have good maps on them BUT the hardware is completely unreliable!

It took me over 36 hours to reset a Tom Tom 910 once! Am on charger 3 and 4 now. Have had two TomTom chargers pack up on me. Hence bought two chargers to keep in one of the vehicles. When I went into shop to get charger number 2 the customer in front of me was having a brand new tom Tom sent back to the manufacturers! The customer behind me had a faulty Tom Tom! 3 customers in a row with faulty Tom Toms in the shop at the same time must say something about the reliability of Tom Toms

Regards


Brendan

Other manufacturers ( eg HP ) bundle the Tom Tom software with their Ipaqs. So you can get reliable hardware, and also run Oziexplorer on the same machine.

Hey there Four Boar,
sorry for not getting back earlier. The Magellan Crossover, with the Discover Aus Toppo Streets and Tracks retails for $1299. Not cheap, but uses Navteq mapping, used by most In-Car Navigation systems. Some portables use Sensis mapping. The Crossover has a 8hr rechargeable battery in it and comes with the windscreen suction cup holder and car charger and 240v charger. At the moment I still need to have both cards with me (Off road and on) but they can be swapped without turning system off. They are working on having both lots of mapping on the one card. Go to Next Destination :: GPS & Lifestyle Distributors and you see more. It is very easy to mark and find way points. A mate has the latest Magellan Explorist XL colour screen etc. He bought it just before the Crossover came out and paid the same money. After seeing mine he is now planning to sell his, to get one of these.
Be carefull getting one from US. I am not certain but from what I've heard you may not be able to get updates for it, look into it and find out for sure.