Sat Nav.

I use a Garmin StreetPilot c310 in the car with no problems so far. I've also got a Garmin GPS12 which has been used for years on the hill with no fault issues whatsoever.

Save some dosh and get the other-half map reading, saying that my missus gets lost in Debenhams!

Beano

SWMBO recently bought a new car, & it has "Smartnav" in it. It works in conjunction with Traffic-master, & so checks live traffic conditions/problems whilst calculating the best route,updates your route if a better one becomes available & also flashes up warnings of static speed cameras. It doesn't display a map as such, just direction info (prepare to take the next junction in 1 mile, pictograms of roundabouts, etc). Being a typical bloke, I like maps, but my wife, who can't read maps prefers the simple directions & voice prompts. Anyway, its a very simple to use & effective/accurate system.
matt.

hi jasons,
i recently bought a tom tom 700 which untill recently was the top of the range sat nav that they made. this range 300/500/700 has now been superceded by a new range (model nos elude me)
BUT apart from widescreen i cant really tell any difference from the new to old models, and if you look on the web you will pick up a bargain. i paid online £330 for the 700 tom tom and it came fully loaded with speed cameras warnings - all of europe maps ( even france) and all accessories you will ever need.
it has never let me down and i am fully satisfied with it.(great bargain)
hope this is of help and enjoy your trip.
regards, scotty

We recently bougth a Tom Tom 510, part of the new range Scotty mentions. It's very to use BUT we've found it's no substitute for local knowledge. Great where you have no idea where you are going though.
J

Just bought a Navman iCN720. Used Tom Rom Navigator 5 on a PDA but I wanted an all in one unit. I was going to buy a Tom Tom 510 or 710 but found out that there were (and possibly still are) issues with the in car charging arrangement because of a design fault. The non widescreen Tom Tom units are not affected.

Being used to the way Tom Tom draws maps and lays out information, I was less impressed with the Navman but am quickly getting used to it. The default magnification level of the Navman is smaller than is ideal for me but it zooms fine at turns and junctions. It’s a slick, well built quality unit. Of particular note is the sensitivity of the GPS receiver – it can lock onto a signal and hold it practically anywhere, including indoors.

I wrote a report at: http://www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/viewtopic.php?t=33086 if you want more info.

I wouldn’t put this up as the best thing since sliced bread but for my needs it’s more than adequate and I’m very happy with it.

Cheers

A lot of Satnav systems buy in their maps from NavTeq, it can take two years or more from the installation of a new road or junction for the information to appear on the digital maps in the SatNav. So be aware.

The UK NavTek maps do have errors in them - placing roads in the wrong "village" or 'District" so selecting a target address can sometimes require several diffrent goes at defining the address.

To help get the maps corrected, report any errors to the map making company - eg NavTek have a web site for reporting updates and you receive responses from them as well.

I have found that the most important thing when using a SatNav is knowing when to ignore it.
Use it for the last 5 miles, but not for a long journey, use a map to plan your route and a satnav to help you round major road foul ups.

i agree with you derek, many times ive left the sat nav on to come home from a familiar route and ive ignored the voice telling me to "turn left" when i know i should go straight on.
but having said that most problems are sorted in the set up procedure, for example with the tom tom you can use either shortest route OR quickest route and ive found this does make a difference also i find that if you input the postcode that makes life much easier too!
sat nav is very good but by no means is infallable.
i once travelled from essex to birmingham which im not familiar with and ended up about 5 miles from the correct road of which there were 3 in brum!!
if i had the postcode it wouldnt have happened.
scotty

I haven't committed to buying one yet but one thing which impressed me was the Tom Tom Go 910's ability to tell you vocally which street name to turn into - other models don't have this feature. In an unfamiliar area I reckon this would be a great help.

The Garmin alternatives aren't as good in this respect but they are more compact and could conceivably be used when walking - the Tom Tom unit being a bit too bulky to contemplate this use.

Peter

Thanks for all your replies.

I couldnt agree more about local knowledge, but my knowledge of southern Wales is somewhat, non-existant.

When you have 2 small-ish children in the back of the car wondering if we 'are there yet?' im going to try and make the journey in one go and try to avoid turning round, and backing up very narrow country lanes because ive taken a wrong turning!

I think the Tom Tom units look very user friendly so it could be the way to go (so to speak).

Thanks everyone!

I borrowed a friends Tom Tom 700 on two driving holidays in france last year and it was excelent.

It had all of europe in it and it even has most hotels resteraunts, car rental places etc in it under the points of interest command.

This was great when returning a hire car from Monte Carlo to Nice airport.

As people have said, if you now the area, you probably know a better route, but if you are somwhere familliar, it works a treat.

Simon