Buying a new GPS. Your picks and pans?

[markis10]

JB hifi are flogging a Garmin nuvi 255W for $195 (Full Oz Maps).

I note that on Amazon I can get the same (except for US, not Oz, maps) for USD133 with free shipping to anywhere in the USA. (All I need is someone from the USA to accept delivery for me )

I'm considering as I have around 10 days USA car hire coming up and such it would pay for itself on that alone. (Not to mention the additional $185 to purchase USA maps)

PriceUSA or shipto can help you with that little problem for a fee! probably not worth it for sub $500 products but for ntoebooks it is another story.

 

[jadeqld1123]

Warks

i have been using a Gamin for the past two years. i updated to a tom tom in july. had it for a month. a piece of cough. gave it to my daughter in law. the best GPS (my opinion) is the Garmin Nuvi 765. you can get one for about $494.00. well worth the money. go to www.johnnyappleseed.com.au and have a look. you can order over the phone. very trustworthy company. i think they may be in sydney. but the Brisbane ph. number is (07) 3865-4288. ask them if they have a shop in your home town. they also offer a great after sales customer service. regards

jadeqld1123

 

[Fifa]

I have the 930 pre-traffic (requires an additional 'antennae' to receive the live updates).

+1
Love our Tom Tom GO930 - used it in NZ late last year (dont know how we would have survived the Auckland inner city roads without it ) and will use it in Europe later this year.

We laugh at some of the road pronunciations, especially around Canberra!

 

[Keith009]

Using a Garmin. I'm not sure what model this one is but it costs approximately $429 when I bought it a few months ago. No issues with it apart from our first unit losing satellite reception and not regaining it - replaced it with no fuss.

 

[serfty]

... a piece of cough. gave it to my daughter in law. the best GPS (my opinion) is the Garmin Nuvi 765. you can get one for about $494.00. well worth the money. ...

Available on Amazon for USD210.

Nice unit: amazon.com: The Best of GPS in 2009 (#11)

(BTW, how did your D-i-L appreciate the "piece of cough" )

 

[markis10]

The best GPS units overseas is not a good guide, it really comes back to the mapping base in the unit and cost of updates, depending on the mapping base used my residential address is either spot on or 500m down the road, surprisingly its the telstra base (sensis) that gets it wrong!

Garmin are by far the most popular GPS in the world and for aviation and marine use would not recommend anything else, just watch those mapping issues.

 

[serfty]

The best GPS units overseas is not a good guide ...

True, My need is for USA travel, so this becomes really cost effective.

 

[Warks]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies - 26 replies on 290 views is a great 'yield'.

I may be more confused than ever though!

I guess there are just so many models of the brands and they all have their pros and cons. Tom Tom seems to have its fans but then there are people who hate them. Mac vs PC anyone?

What I like:
updated maps
voice recognition (if it works)
spoken street names (always good for a laugh "turn left on Smith Saint West")
A decent mount that doesn't just rely on a suction cup on the windscreen
Lane guidance (sounds good, not sure what it involves but if it tells you what lane to be in well in advance it's handy)
Flat screen back (easy to put in pocket)
Speed and red light camera alerts (for Victoria - only a fool needs them in NSW as there are three enormous signs on every approach to a fixed speed camera here and I don't run red lights anyway)

A lot of people (on other review sites) complain about models with poor battery life. I was wondering how often you even need the battery if it's always plugged into the car.

 

[markis10]

Battery life can be an issue if you are between appointments, not sure how to get to the next one and your mobile needs recharging becuase you have been talkign your head off, not to many cars have two sources of power like the other halfs Tribute, both my SV6 and G6E have a single outlet for powering devices.

 

[serfty]

Double Adaptors can be purchased reasonably cheaply:

Also, additional sockets are cheap and easy to install.

 

[markis10]

Double Adaptors can be purchased reasonably cheaply:

Also, additional sockets are cheap and easy to install.

Hertz tend to get upset when you modify their cars, or whatever company the OP intends to use on their travels that require a GPS, and a power double adaptor is not usually something I want taking up room in my carry on. Its on my travels when I run into problems with batteries, have been known to drive with the notebook on the passenger seat charging the mobile via USB !

 

[docjames]

Battery life can be an issue if you are between appointments, not sure how to get to the next one and your mobile needs recharging becuase you have been talkign your head off, not to many cars have two sources of power like the other halfs Tribute, both my SV6 and G6E have a single outlet for powering devices.

You can solve this by buying a double adapter for your car's power source....

 

[markis10]

You can solve this by buying a double adapter for your car's power source....

Or just get a GPS that has two hours of power on battery, I have enough adaptors to pack on trips as it stands

 

[serfty]

Hertz tend to get upset when you modify their cars, or whatever company the OP intends to use on their travels that require a GPS ...

... a power double adaptor is not usually something I want taking up room in my carry on. Its on my travels when I run into problems with batteries, have been known to drive with the notebook on the passenger seat charging the mobile via USB !

Try these:

12/24 - 5V DC-DC USB Converter - Jaycar Electronics

12 - 5V DC-DC Converter with USB - Jaycar Electronics

 

[Warks]

I see JB HiFi has a limited range on special but it doesn't mention the model numbers so you have to go to the store or guess.

Portable - Navigation - GPS - JB Hi-Fi - Smashing Prices!

I might just go and buy one and try it, if I don't like it I can always return it.

 

[serfty]

I see JB HiFi has a limited range on special but it doesn't mention the model numbers so you have to go to the store or guess.

Portable - Navigation - GPS - JB Hi-Fi - Smashing Prices!

I might just go and buy one and try it, if I don't like it I can always return it.

See post #20.

 

[Warks]

See post #20.

Yairs. The $291 Garmin looks good though with the "live traffic updates" and "real photo lane guidance" thrown in plus "Gtm25 Traffic Receiver Included". Still don't know the model though.
Will check them out in store.

 

[straitman]

warks,

The TomTom GO930 is really good at just under $500 if you shop around. The extra price is worth it for some (or all) of the Blue Tooth and world maps for about 16 countries.
The newer GO 950 is also available from about $550.

 

[Warks]

Just to update you I bought a GPS yesterday. Not even the one I set out to buy but that's sales for you. With the Navman 3 years free maps too good to refuse (and the offer closing yesterday - talk about a "call to action") I bought the Navman MY55T for $369 and they threw in a case (woohoo!) from DSE. It has the live traffic updates, bluetooth, FM receiver and suchlike.
I don't think the touchscreen is that good - takes a bit of prodding but the mount is pretty good and it's a nice wide screen. Navigating through the options could be easier but I'll get used to it.

Anyway the real reason I bought it from DSE is they offer the 14 day return if you don't like it. Am doing two trips (PER and TSV) in that time so I'll give a good road test. Then I'll know if I can handle its performance or want more. I'd return it if I don't get what I want out of it.

It does have a two year warranty unlike the rest. Also school zone warnings (whether it's school times or not).

Will review it for you shortly.

I did play around with the Tom Tom 750 with its speech recognition. It's a good feature but didn't work that well. Does it 'learn' your voice?

Thanks.

 

[serfty]

JB hifi are flogging a Garmin nuvi 255W for $195 (Full Oz Maps).

I note that on Amazon I can get the same (except for US, not Oz, maps) for USD133 with free shipping to anywhere in the USA. (All I need is someone from the USA to accept delivery for me )

I'm considering as I have around 10 days USA car hire coming up and such it would pay for itself on that alone. (Not to mention the additional $185 to purchase USA maps)

Thanks to those that helped; I now have this critter with fully loaded USA MAPS for AU$155 all up. ^