enforcer

Can anyone give me some advice on the best GPS unit for the RX8.

Ideally something that has the capacity to sit well is what I'm looking for...

Black-8

I've personally used Navman, and find it is working to my expectations, so no issues there. Haven't used Tom Tom myself, but most reviews rate Tom Tom as very good (higher than Navman).

Not sure what you mean by "sit well", but both should be easily mounted on the windscreen .

auzoom

Your subject is 2 brands against each other. You have left out probably the best (but most expensive) around in Garmin and there are other as well such as CoPilot. Are you after a comparison of these products or do you all comers?

takahashi

Try to test it out yourself.

I brought my wife the Garman simply because it is easy to key in. Position is accurate and instruction is simple. Beware the text to speech model. They are a bit harder to understand when you are interstate, as I tested it in my college's one in Adelaide.

I myself use N95 GPS

midlife crisis

I'm happy with the Tom Tom 510 but don't have the hang of dragging the map yet. I only paid about $250 for it and it's amazed me with its map detail.

timbo

I have a TomTom, which I'm very happy with. Have taken it overseas twice, having purchased the relevant maps beforehand, and it has worked flawlessly/

Revolver

Not to drag this off-topic but is there real utility in these things over a hard copy map/directory or is it just a cool gadget to play with now and again?

I appreciate people who have shelled out for one will rave about them as indispensable but how often do people really use them and what for?

I speak as someone who rarely has to go somewhere off the beaten track...

takahashi

The best utility, not quite appreciable in Sydney as most of the traffic is one way, is to beat the traffic in front by going to side streets and get out in front of the queue. You can see in the map where you are going and the small streets around. The route will be recalculated to the destination also.

Also ETA will be shown in mine, so if you are already running late, you can relax. I found you cannot beat the ETA shown on the GPS as they are caculated at speed limit and not including stopping for traffic and lights.

Sometimes the route I take for years actually takes longer... it discoveres some new routes for me.

RjT

What Taka said,with my job its indispensable, Im in a different state every week driving to different clinics and instead of following a piece of paper from whereis or using the Map and missing a turn and having to find your way back sometimes, you can relax knowing your getting there and if the phone/portable device actually supports TMC (which is used more in other countries not so much here) it will reroute you around the traffic jams.

If you simply go to and from work and known places you have driven numerous times then its not much use.

thisllub

A friend has a BMW330 convertible with a GPS that decided he was in Sussex Inlet when he was in Castle Hill.

The Garmin are very good. A friend has one of these
http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2006/10/g...pth_review.php

You can even store a couple of hours of music in it and play it back over the FM radio.

timbo

Fair enough question. I use mine infrequently and my experience with it is enough for me to say that I'd avoid paying the big bucks for inbuilt sat-nav. Mine is portable, and that is really great because it means I can take it with me when I fly to strange places and pick up a rental car -- without paying for a big car with in-built.

As for overseas touring...trust me, this will save your relationship

azzaboynt

I've got a Navman 510. Getting a bit long in the tooth, but still works. Even when it's been sitting in the glove compartment in the heat all these years.

GPS device also means less agro from the wife when navigating or driving somewhere unfamiliar.

It's a portable unit as well, and has a battery that can last a couple of hours, and about the size of a PDA so can chuck it into a poket when strolling around.

I chose a Navman because it was developed by a NZ company but I've heard good reviews about the Tom Tom brand. I understand some of the latest models have bluetooth and MP3 capabilities if that floats your boat. The bluetooth would be handy I think. Link it to your mobile phone for hands free talking. Means one less gadget I have to stuff into the car, and therefore less weight

Cheers,
Azza

Revolver

Thanks for the balanced feedback guys.

I can see the benefit of a portable handheld unit when travelling, etc (especially with an epirb for when you are in remoter areas). Don't think I'd use it in the car very often though (I don't have to drive for work, etc).

I've used older handheld units when sailing offshore and found them a bit hit and miss in terms of reception, etc but I understand they've improved enormously in recent years.

auzoom

They have imporved massively over the years, especially in marine use. That being said their ability to understand traffic flow, traffic light affects in speed etc make it, imho, useless for day to day driving. I would rather understand where I am going using a map 1st and then use it as backup. There is new technology being used which allows GPS software to consume information from services identifying accident zones, go slow zones (ie schools, roadworks, etc) as well as traffic light timing and sequence. This is year off being in full use but is promising to say the least.

Personally I am a fan of the garmin units, but I use CoPilot on my PDA. If I dodnt have a PDA then I would use the nuvi 660 or 310.

auzoom

There is a story that a while back the BMW system was driving people off an incomplete bridge in the UK.

RjT

I personally use 3 different programs, with varying versions of maps, and yeah one of them has tried to take me up a now one way street.

I love how the device drove them off the bridge!!!! lol

timbo

In theory, I agree but it is now quite dependable, IMHO -- especially where the vendor claims a high level of map accuracy. I was amazed how good it was when using it in Italy in June...although once or twice it tried to send us up a goat track or Vespa path

Must remember to post some pics of the device show some ace curve ahead. Only problem was that the 1.2L Fiat Punto, with 2 up and 60Kg or luggage was well below the task

Revolver

That's why they're called Punto's - when you get out of one, you feel like kicking it.

thisllub

I have a handheld. A Garmin GPS 60. I use it on the farm if reception is good. I have paced out a fenceline over uneven ground around a ridgetop and been accurate to the fencepost over 800m. Better than using a wheel.

The same GPS told me my average speed along a section of Thunderbolts Way was 190kmh and my elevation changed 1000m. I don't remember driving off a cliff.
I certainly didn't drive that fast.

enforcer

Thanks everyone. I can now see the benefits of both portable and secured units.

Like a computer (and mobile phone) I always consider the amount of internal memory a unit comes with because its always been the limiting factor for me. Fortunately most of the units these days have the maps pre-loaded.

When it comes to which one - resolution is a big consideration. If I go portable, do I go waterproof, there are compatability issues (i.e. bluetooth), and of course the biggest issue....price.

Taka is right...I'll have to do the hard yards and see them for myself.

takahashi

For whom it may concern:

Winton Raceway is

36.5185 S
146.0831 E

auzoom

Map accuracy is a good start, but one thing alot of people either ignore or just dont realise is that GPS is only accurate to 10m and only that if conditions are extremely good. To get 10m accuracy you need a "minimum" of 3 satelites and with high quality signal, however in practise, to maintain high accuracy you need around 4 satelites with reasonably good quality. With that in mind, cloud cover, buildings and tree cover can drastically reduce your signal quality and visibility of satelites.

There is also the issue of update frequency. The most common receivers at the moment ar 1hz, meaning they update position once per second. Its possible at the moment to get 5, 10 and 20hz receivers (cost is obviously a very big factor here).

In Tassy over easter, we had a day with low cloud cover, travelling down the highway with only 3 satellites and poor signal quality. POI's such as petrol stations and banks were being announced almost 100m late.

Not sure that there was apoint to that but I hope it helps

Cheers

Andrew

RXVIII

I'm using a Garmin Nuvi 660
I find it logical to use (multiple ways to enter address to avoid problems when suburb not exact match), relatively large screen, text to speech allowing street names to be announced on navigation, Bluetooth functionality with dial from touch screen, audio transmission to car radio if desired, additional compatibility with many phones (need to check list) enabling phone book, messages (including text to speech to hear messages) etc all from the touch screen.
Long power cable to be routed from bottom RH cnr of windscreen behind dash to ashtray power connection.
Fixed & mobile camera locations, school zones loaded.

I have had this model for more than 10 months so not sure if there is a new model coming soon.

http://www.gme.net.au/garmin/nuvi660.php


NB My sister just bought the new Mio C520 which looks nice and slim, nice resolution but I’m not familiar with all the functions. Big bracket though.

http://www.mio-tech.com.au/products/...20/default.asp

Best of luck!!!!

nugsdad

Great technology for finding a longer way than a street directory.

Ottog

I don't have a dedicated device like a Navman or a Tom Tom. Instead I run Destinator on my PDA. When I'm on the road it is always on and ever vigilant to warn me about such things as fixed speed and red light cameras and school zones. Not that I tear around everywhere at a million miles an hour however there are times when the concentration level isn't where it should be. I'm absolutely certain that mine has paid for itself well and truly with it's friendly reminders.

When I need to travel interstate it comes with me. Finding my way around in a strange town is no longer a problem.

Then there are the thousands of points of interest (POI's) that come with it. If your packing kids it will take you to the nearest McDonalds at the touch of button.

Now I'd buy that for a dollar.....

cheers... Otto