Portable sat Nav

[Andy]

Weve decided to get one but like an alien dumped on planet earth and asked to buy a mobile phone, ive got no idea where to start...

I keep hearing about tom tom, but what is it?

I want something for approx £300, portable and can run through the cig lighter. It must be up to date with all current info etc.

What will i get for my cash?

[Inspektor]

I use a Navman 610. It cost £299 from Currys a couple of months ago, It really does just plug and play through the cigar lighter. I think the main differences between all of the GPS units on the market are what maps they use like Teleatlas/Navteq. Loads of info and downloads here PocketGPS.co.uk (http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/)
Hope this helps. :)

[GARY3306]

I use a Navman 610. It cost £299 from Currys a couple of months ago, It really does just plug and play through the cigar lighter. I think the main differences between all of the GPS units on the market are what maps they use like Teleatlas/Navteq. Loads of info and downloads here PocketGPS.co.uk (http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/)
Hope this helps. :)

That's the one I've got. It is outstanding. I do a lot of trooping around the country to competitions and I know that I ain't gonna get lost. For the price, it's hard to beat. There are ones with more features on than the ICN 610 but how many more features do you want than getting directed to any location in the country :confused: If all you want is a nav system then why spend any more. Oh and you can download all sorts of points of interest like speed camera locations (not that you would need them :D ), even where all the Macdonalds restaurants are. Get one, you won't regret it Andy. Have a look at mine on Sunday.

[Andy]

cool, cheers guys :)

how do the downloads work? do you just download them to your pc then plug your sat nav in with a usb?

[Duncan]

The pocketgps.co.uk is an excellent site to look at for reviews etc and there is also a discussion forum.

Another all-in-one unit to consider is the GO range from TomTom - www.tomtom.com - they are very nice little units.

If you want to have a chat about SatNav Andy, give me a bell - I've been using TomTom for years and can show you the TomTom software at Trax if you like.

D

[Duncan]

cool, cheers guys :)

how do the downloads work? do you just download them to your pc then plug your sat nav in with a usb?Basically yes.

D

[bruceybonus]

I'm pretty established with tomtom as well...damn good product.. Ive got it working on my spv, and work has provided me with a tomtom go which comes in handy.. unfortunately, both are better then the vx nav system, by a very long way!, no comparison really

[taffy]

I agree with bruceybonus about the tomtom being better then the standard vauxhall sat nav.
I have a vauxhall system in my signum but find it very slow compared to the tomtom. The tomtom gives you plenty of notice of what to do (i.e. turn off) the signum seems to wait until you are on top of the junction.
I also find entering destinations etc easier and quicker on the tomtom as you have a full keyboard displayed on the touch screen.

[GARY3306]

cool, cheers guys :)

how do the downloads work? do you just download them to your pc then plug your sat nav in with a usb?

That's right Andy. On the CD there is a desktop utility. You download the updates/points of interest to the SmartST desktop utility, then with the ICN 610 plugged in via the USB it will ask you if you want to update the ICN.

[Andy]

i'll have a look in dixons tommorrow. They have both the Navman and tom tom in store

[vectra 2.0 t]

same as duncan ive been using tomtom for quite a while now and think its one of the best.

[cyb]

I read in the paper the low lifes are targeting cars parked with these protable units left on the dash.
Be warned - it takes less time to stuff it in your glove box than it does getting a window replaced

[SirGSi]

Bought meself a BlueMedia BM6300 for £299 (seen it for £289 now).

I'm very impressed with it.

I started another thread a few days back, you might like to have a look at it?

HTH
Grant.

[SirGSi]

Here's the link (http://forum.vectra-c.com/showthread.php?t=1339&highlight=bluemedia)

[dazza-diesel]

Hi Andy….

This maybe a little late but here is a quick rundown on portable sat nav….. I sell this stuff for a living……

Tomtom…. By far the best known unit on the market launched 3 new models in the past couple of months go300 go500 go700…. All models are really easy to use and these units include navigator 5 the latest software from Tomtom the 500 and 700 include built in bluetooth and hands free kit for your bluetooth phone this also allows you to have live services like traffic master reports via GPRS integrated in to the tomtom unit…. Tomtom go 300 is retailing around £330 and is a great little unit well worth the extra £30 over your budget, 500 at round £450 and the 700 at around £550. The 700 comes with full maps of Europe pre loaded….

Support from tomtom has always been renown for being poor not because they don’t care just because the product has grown so quickly in the market this has been eased with a non premium rate support number for the uk but at times this can be a nightmare to get through on but once you do get through they are great and are happy to sort anything out…. Warranty turn around if you should have a problem is about 2 weeks but to be honest that’s about the norm for a return to base warranty.

Navman…. Not as well know in the market but growing quickly great range of units in the ICN range starting with the ICN510 (£340 ish) about to go end of life but still available in some stores great unit truly portable with a great battery life this has just been taken over by the ICN520 (£320 ish) 2005 maps are on this unit and yet again a truly portable unit great if your on foot other units in the range are the ICN635 and ICN 650 both these units are looking at around the £600 mark….

Support is mainly done my email on this product but have a good forum site that tends to answer most questions

I use a ICN510 never had a problem but if im honest if I had the choice now I would probably go with the TOMTOM GO 300 great unit easy to use and a good price point….

Any questions feel free to give ma a shout

[Duncan]

Great answer there Dazza. You have the advantage of dealing with the other makes as well. I can only sing the praises, and curse the 'quirks' of TomTom!! As you said, the customer service from TomTom has been heavily criticised, not because they don't care but simply they have become so popular they haven't installed the support as quickly!! They do seem to be getting better!!

The TT300 is a great little unit, The 500 and 700 are even better if you want to psuh your budget a bit. As I said (Andy), I can show you the TomTom 5 software on my iPAQ at Trax - this will be the same software as on the GO range.

D

[Andy]

cheers guys, i actually went to Halfords to buy it (non of my local shops hand anything in stock !!) and chose the tom tom 300. But, when the guy went to check stock levels, he came back empty handed despite there being 20 boxes on display.

So i went for a navman icn520. Paid £350 for it? seems ok, not had satnav before so dont really know how to judge it. Took a while to work a few things out like poi's etc and on my first proper trip out it couldnt find the gps signal for about 20 mins. Other than that, seems to do the job.

[GARY3306]

......... and on my first proper trip out it couldnt find the gps signal for about 20 mins. Other than that, seems to do the job.

If you continue having difficulty with it picking up the signal Andy, you can get an external antennae (spelling?) that will sort it out.

[gizmo10119]

hi andy

have a look at www.totalpda.co.uk i got my tomtom package from them very competitie and very helpful, you can usually save a few quid doing it this way.
for example ive just bought a new camera, £199.99 in tesco but saved myself £40 by buying on line!

Tomtom is in no doubt far superior than the vx navigation, its like having 10 arms! id not be without it now.

[bruceybonus]

Whatever happened to the good old map reading, ya know!...map on steering wheel and all that! wondering where the hell you are...that horrible gut feeling of " i'm lost" :D ....that apart.. I don't know what I'd do without my tomtom...:)

[Duncan]

.....on my first proper trip out it couldnt find the gps signal for about 20 mins. Other than that, seems to do the job.That's probably because it's done what's called a 'cold start'. That is, the unit had been moved a considerable distance since it last had a fix (or hasn't had a fix since being reset) and therefore has to work out where it is from scratch. Now that it has had a fix it knows from the satellite data (ephemeral data) where to start looking next time it is turned on. You should find that next time you'll get a fix within 45 secs, usually much quicker. If not, then the unit is either faulty, or not very good!, and I'd take it back.

I'm assuming you haven't got a reflective screen on your car as that drastically weakens the signal. Also, where exaclty is your unit positioned in the car? If it's set back a bit from the windscreen then that can affect the signal, especially if the receiver in the unit isn't very sensitive.

HTH

D

[Andy]

its been fine for the wife since, so it must have been something i was doing wrong.

[Duncan]

its been fine for the wife since, so it must have been something i was doing wrong.Probably not m8. If you were the first to use it, then you would have had to wait for it to sort itself out from factory status (takes longer). Once it's done that, all subsequent fixes are then quicker.

D

[dazza-diesel]

Evening.... the ICN520 uses a 12 channel patch antenna so signal pick up should be very good... (i really need to stop talking like this dazza your not at work now :) )... always get a GPS signal before you start moving otherwise this will delay the signal fix..... i tend to switch on put it in the cradle when i get in the car by the time i have started the car put my seatbelt on its good to go.....

[Maverick]

Be carefull with the tom Tom if you have a heat reflective indscreen.

I bought Sam the Go500, but it does not work very well in her Zaf. So took it back!!!

[dazza-diesel]

no portable satnav will work very well with a heat reflective screen (based on you having it attached to the windscreen) unless you have the external antenna..... around £40

[prm]

Hi, I,ve seen a Dell X30+GPS+Satnav on e-bay, are these any good, or is tomtom a lot better, I have no idea what to get, but the cheaper the better, Ta.

[Duncan]

Hi, I,ve seen a Dell X30+GPS+Satnav on e-bay, are these any good, or is tomtom a lot better, I have no idea what to get, but the cheaper the better, Ta.What software is it running? What GPS?

D

[prm]

Duncan, it says navigation software, similar to tomtom 5?

[dazza-diesel]

Hi, I,ve seen a Dell X30+GPS+Satnav on e-bay, are these any good, or is tomtom a lot better, I have no idea what to get, but the cheaper the better, Ta.

As duncan said it depends on the software included..... also do you want a PDA???? if you just want GPS but dont feel you will use the PDA then i would say go with a stand alone GPS unit ie tomtom go 300 navman ICN 510 or 520..... If cost is a real issue then possibly look at the Garmin i5 for around £200...

Ive just had a look at a few packages listed on ebay for the Dell x30 and you will have to excuse me as I don’t make it a habit of slating other companies but looking at some of the descriptions of the packages leaves a lot to be desired…. this more so than others Item number: 5822095612

“tomtom like software” but don’t actually name the software although it shows screen shots from Tomtom?!?!?!?

“Condition: New ” so why does it only come with a 3 month warranty from Dell, only factory refurbs or returned stock comes with a reduced manufacturers warranty so its not new!!!!

Some people may say that this is splitting hairs but its your money and you should get what you are paying for ie a NEW PDA if it says new and a licensed copy of tomtom and not a hacked version which im guessing it is

Hope this has not put you off.....(rant over sorry :eek: :o :D )

[Tim2100]

Agree with Dazza. I brought a PDA with TomTom 3 back in april of ebay. condition was New although it had been used. Went to greta lengths to explain that tom tom 3 was included.

When i got the item, the tomtom was a copy and I had to fight with the guy to get the disks containing tomtom. Eventually got the disk which were copies, so the software was cracked.

BTW the guy is no longer an ebay user!!

[prm]

Thanks Guys, ill keep my eyes open for a stand alone GPS then, your valuable input is always welcome