Pedro Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 I know a few of you have to do a fair bit of driving for a living and was wondering if you have any experience of Sat Navs. We're off to France in August and I'm the lucky ****** who has to drive through the night to get to our site. Mrs P. has said she'll stay awake, but I have absolutely no doubt that within an hour she'll be sparko So, to allow an easy passage, I was thinking about getting a GPS Sat Nav thingy, but haven't a clue which is the best one. Any ideas chaps? P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamspartacus Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 I did a bit of camping around france (6 weeks last summer) and the only time finding sites is a problem is if they're in towns or dense areas. If, as is likely, the site is out in the countryside then its easy enough to find em, I wouldn't bother with the sat nav. IAS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Aftermarket sat nav is becoming very popular at the moment. A thread was done on this a while back you might want to do a search for it. However, in my opinion the best unit available is the Tom Tom closely followed by Garmin. Make sure which ever one you buy has a full European Map. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted May 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Thanks Axe, there's loads of threads P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 A survey was carried out by the AA recently and I think the Tom Tom came out on top. Try some of the motoring websites as I am sure there will be heaps of info circulating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Roberts Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Deffo got to be the tom tom, you can get euro maps off fleabay for them too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Went to the rugby earlier on this year, england wales at twickenham. Traveled down with my mate dangerous dave and we had to fit in a business call on the way down. He had a tom tom, fabulous bit of kit that lead us stright to his contact then to the hotel where we were all meeting up. He also has the european upgrade and uses it on their family trips to france. Well worth a look Ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Whatever you get make sure you download another voice for the instructions I like the idea of the Ozzy Osbourne one "Turn ******* right at the next junction" Classic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 I use tomotom. It works a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted May 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Quist, how good is it in central London? The A to Z is forever out of date, does Tom Tom keep up? P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Roberts Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Went to the rugby earlier on this year, england wales at twickenham. Traveled down with my mate dangerous dave and we had to fit in a business call on the way down. He had a tom tom, fabulous bit of kit that lead us stright to his contact then to the hotel where we were all meeting up. He also has the european upgrade and uses it on their family trips to france. Well worth a look Ft How come EVERY ONE has a mate called Dangerous Dave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sloter Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 TomTom defo the way forward. If you’re quick you might be able to grab a bargain. TomTom have just updated there range. Nothing wrong with the old range at all. Tomtom 300 was UK only SD card, 500 Europe SD card, 700 Europe Harddrive (not sure on a harddrive in something like this!)Bluetooth etc. 500’s are a good model have a shop around the web someone might be doing deals they were a few weeks ago. The new range is just a bit more advanced with the top of the range model 910 having Europe, America and Canadian maps on! They all work off the same satellites it’s just down to differences like redirecting and how many gadgets you want on it! Some play MP3’s etc! Hope this helps a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisNicholls Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 This site will tell you all you need to know. http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/ Some interesting stuff on the forum regarding people having sat navs confiscated in France by the Gendarmes, something to do with the speed camera downloads being illegal out there, not entirely sure if I have that correct, it may be worth checking it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 (edited) Tom tom all the way I have an old copy of tom tom 3 here and i am SURE i have the french maps too as i used it last year to go to disneyland with the Son I am after a new one i can use with admiralty charts for sea fishing and navigating the costal waters too it's about £50 for the program and cant remember how much for the charts but worth it in my view. LG Edited May 9, 2006 by Lord Geordie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albifrons Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Thought of getting one myself so I found this. It's the cheapest I can find. TOM TOM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 BECKER !!!! GET THE BECKER SYSTEM !!! A very good mate , is a car electrician and swears by these !!! BECKER TRAFFIC ASSIST 7914 Portable GPS Satellite Navigation system. Is i'm sure the one you want , but i'll ask him the model number tommorow !!! all the best yis yp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albifrons Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 YP Cant see a Speed camera database on that model. Is there one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 I have the tom tom 500 it has the main roads in europe but if i was going to drive abroad i would go for the 700 model you can down load the roads and new maps when ever you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 (edited) I utalise a PDA for mine with Bluetooth GPS receiver and can update the speed camer database etc PDA was £75 on a contract (needed a new phone anyway) GPS receiver was £60 from online auction site And my mate gave me his old copy of tomtom Sorted for £135 LG Edited May 10, 2006 by Lord Geordie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 I got a Tom Tom one for £229 from Halfords two weeks ago the card I have is only for UK roads but very good pavman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted May 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Albifrons, that refurbished Tom Tom 700 looks the best bet to me. Many thanks everyone P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 I don't have one of these, but from what I have seen the maps are stored on standard SD card, can they not just be copied from one to another or do they have file protection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy75 Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 I use TomTom 5 mobile on my Nokia phone - all the functionality of the full-on TomTom units but one less thing to carry! I'm selling my old Nokia 6680 smartphone with it all on there on *bay at the moment - item 9133625911. I upgraded my moby so I am keeping the bluetooth GPS dongle - as stated in the auction these can be had from around £35. PocketGPS is the place best place for speed camera databases I have found, dead easy to update the "Point of Interest" files in TomTom's too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Quist, how good is it in central London? The A to Z is forever out of date, does Tom Tom keep up? P. No it dont. Once you buy tomotom thats it. You can't update it as far as I know. But they don't build too many new roads in London, there isnt a lot of space They do **** around with bus lanes, congestion charges and the like though. Gotta keep your wits about you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Yeah you pay £120 plus for the software and a year down the line you have to buy the NEW version which HAS peed a LOT of people off Perhaps in future they WILL bring out an upgradable version but till then i am sticking to TTN3 as i aint gonna be hammered for over £100 every year for a new set of maps. LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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