Thread: GPS navigation Systems

Originally Posted by rsser

Here's a useful website with reviews and descriptions of features:

GPS Review : GPS Reviews

US-based tho.

Thanks for this Ern, interesting reading, I will have to go back and have a more thorough read.

Colin.

Colin - check out the Wireless ! online site.

Prices look good. Full details of each model are shown too. Handy site just for that.

Originally Posted by artme

Colin - check out the Wireless ! online site.

Prices look good. Full details of each model are shown too. Handy site just for that.

Thanks Artme for this website, I have had a look though and like the look of one Garmin unit. I will compare prices then decide.
As you say, the prices look good and I don't think I will be able to do better elsewhere but I like to check first.

Regards,

Colin.

Went out with some friends this afternoon and he brought his MY50T along.

4.7" screen. good graphics. 4 years worth of maps. Cost him about $350. I liked it.

Originally Posted by artme

Went out with some friends this afternoon and he brought his MY50T along.

4.7" screen. good graphics. 4 years worth of maps. Cost him about $350. I liked it.

Artme,

That is a good deal getting map updates for the next four years for about $100 (if I have read it correctly).
The average price round the traps is $250/$260 for that unit.
I like the 4.7" size screen.

Colin.

Great thread, it answered a few of the questions I had about the same topic.

Couple of things. I've been looking into getting a new one for teh last week or two. Dick Smith on special can be amongst the cheapest sources, but you will struggle to beat the prices on ebay. Watch out on ebay for refurbished units. cnet.com.au and google gear guide have australia relevant reviews. This is important as australian units are often bundled differently. The private reviews on cnet are vicious, it seems none of them are ever happy with anything, but they will give you good clues on what may go wrong. GPSmagazine.com GPS Buyer's Guide is not australia specific but has some nice pages that help you cut through the mire of features and models.

My first car gps was a chinese no name 2 years ago. It was by far the cheapest unit available then at $180. Similar ones sell for about $80 now on ebay. It has lead me astray a couple of times, but also saved me a few times. It has many features that I am shocked are missing from name brands, such as an automatic search on any thing, suburb, street name whatever. It just returns a bunch of hits and you can pick from them. It has a big arrow to show which direction the next turn is.

I'm thinking about a garmin 885T but am trying to find out about the aus bundle. I like the idea of voice commands and lane guidance. I don't know how useful traffic is, or if that particular model allows street avoidance and route editing. $450ish on ebay. The tom tom 750 is $80 cheaper but apparently the voice command sucks. Navigon's 6300 seem to be hardly normal only and at $499 I'm not keen.

Really only you know which one will be right for you, it's personal choice.

Edit: remember unless your buying a top end gps you can buy a new machine every few years for about the same as map updates. Personally I don't think they are worth it...

Well, we just bought a Garmin nuvi 1390T!!


According to several other people i have spoken to, and a different salesperson in Clive Anthony's, the Navmans have a reputation as being unreliable. They have more of them returned percentage wise than any other brand.

As I said earlier on. we used a Garmin in the States and were more than happywith it.

Cost was $270.

Originally Posted by artme

Well, we just bought a Garmin nuvi 1390T!!


According to several other people i have spoken to, and a different salesperson in Clive Anthony's, the Navmans have a reputation as being unreliable. They have more of them returned percentage wise than any other brand.

As I said earlier on. we used a Garmin in the States and were more than happywith it.

Cost was $270.

That is about what they were online plus postage.
I might wander down to Carseldine and see what they have in stock.

Colin.

Originally Posted by artme

Well, we just bought a Garmin nuvi 1390T!!

You will not be sorry. I am on my third Garmin, the latest being the 1390T. It replaced a TomTom that was good, except I could not read the screen in sunlight!! Garmin, never had a problem.

Had the first run with the Garmin this morning. Worked like a charm. We knew where we were going but deciced to test it out. Took us a slightly different route but we worked out that it avoided 8 sets of traffic lights!!. now that has to be a plus!

JB HI-FI currently have a garmin on special for $187 4.3" screen. Might have a look at it.

I have had a Nuvi 760 for a year. As posted above, I found the auto-routing in the country and regional towns to be rubbish. Don't need it in my home town so can't speak about city algorithms.

Some pluses:

1. I was able to ring Garmin Australia and have them send me out files of locations of 'safety cameras', free.

2. For a modest sub you can get more, and more recent, 'red spot' data like this from

GPS Data Team - GPS POI for Garmin, TomTom, Navman and other popular GPS brands.

Of course I don't speed. Only need the GPS warnings to double check that I'm not

I hacked into the voice files. Couldn't stand the repeated 'Recalculating' announcements when my choice of route diverted from its. Replaced it with 'OK, have it your way Ern'

Originally Posted by artme

Had the first run with the Garmin this morning. Worked like a charm. We knew where we were going but deciced to test it out. Took us a slightly different route but we worked out that it avoided 8 sets of traffic lights!!. now that has to be a plus!

Thanks for the feedback Artme, it is good to hear from someone that has the unit you are thinking of buying.

Our daughter has decided that as they will be using the unit most, they will pay for it, now I have to do some fast talking to see that they get the one I want the to get.

I have pointed them in the right direction but as their new home is nearing completion and they are looking at lights for it, the GPS has taken a slight back seat.
I will persevere.

Colin.