VMS gps unit- four years later

[NavyDiver]

My D3 2005 is a SE version- no cool GPS or maps. I looked at several options but ended up with a VMS touring 500 four years ago. It is jammed in the dash where HSE types would have an inbuilt GPS! Several dozen trips in the Vic high country. Flinders ranges and a nice long desert trip it has worked very well. Mud maps upgraded not V2 as mentioned on another post.

On road it works well. Off road it works even better allowing trip planning on my computer uploaded to the unit. Reversing camera added and works a treat saving the kids bikes, easy hitching of the trailer and parking.

My GPS partly died two weeks ago reporting a software fault. I had backed it up when I brought it and again when I added some new maps. The unit failed to connect to my computer leaving it needed about 50 odd error clearances to show maps and not working in any other mode. I could not restore my back ups.

A phone call to VMS was a nice surprise. Helpful advice and offers of assistance. A email with several possible solutions failed to fix my unit. VMS then posted me a flash card which fixed the problem.

Warranties are good, getting help well after a Warranty has gone shows a business with products I will be happy to keep using in my Disco.

[BMKal]

I purchased a VMS 700HD a while back at one of the 4WD shows. Once it finds a satellite signal, it seems to work reasonably well, both as a street navigator and off road as well. Problem is that the thing took bloody ages to acquire a satellite signal (was mounted on top of the dash using the bracket / suction cap supplied). Problem seemed to be much worse in metro area - to the point where last time I used it, I had arrived at my destination using the maps on a Blackberry phone before the bloody thing had found a signal.

Recently replaced it with Hema Navigator HN6 which for me has worked much better.

I'm not technical enough to go downloading other maps etc - I just use whatever comes on the device. So far, I've found the Hema offroad maps to be much easier to use than whatever was on the VMS - but that could also be partly because I'm familiar with the Hema maps, having them on laptop etc for years.

[NavyDiver]

Ouch Re your 700 HD BMkal. Mine has no direct line of sight the the sky and I am still surprised it acquires the satellites so quickly. Did you try to get VMS to look at it? Give them a call as your one is clearly faulty. The new ones have more satellite capability than my older one. Mine has acquired satellites as soon as I get to the map screen in about 20 to 30 seconds.

My hiking hand held GPS unit has trouble picking up satellites if in the same location as my VMS. Sorry to hear of your problem.

[BMKal]

My son's got it in the D2 in Kalgoorlie at the moment. It has always worked much better outside the metro area for some reason. I'll have a look at how it's working in his car next time I'm home, and if it's still not behaving, will be in contact with VMS.

Thanks ...............