Sat Nav advice...

[davefb]

Right, got a 'perfectly okay for my uses nuvi 200' that I've had for a few years... dont use it much, works..
But am going to america for 3weeks and will be driving A LOT, so .
1.. looked at updating maps, 60quid ( or50 or?) and even then, no guarantee it'll work on the nuvi because it's not got that much memory ( or is this bad online advice?)
2. rent one with the car..... HOW MUCH? basically more than a new device.
3. buy a new device in uk... so far, can only see one garmin , the 2475lt which is nice, but not every available and can't see it working because halfords (etc) dont bother stocking em.
4. buy a new device in US, cheaper, could just get an american only one..
5. opensource maps, so far havent managed to get these working, also not clear if they support routing and have POI
6. app for phone. could do, but not sure about phone in US ( thats another issue to check )

any ideas, advice? maybe info about other brands?

thnx

oh and did have a look at a bike gps , figured nice excuse , but they seem to be even more pricey

 

[jay clock]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Magella...8623942559&skuId=5190614&st=sat nav&cp=2&lp=1 80 bucks

I then looked at EBay and you can buy US versions from UK ebay. But then this popped up. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAT-NAV-H...ics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item4602ea05a5
Rental is only £35 for 4 weeks, plus postage

Looks ideal

 

[Razor08]

http://www.cheapsatnavhire.co.uk/
not bad at 22days for £35 including postage

 

[davefb]

yeah, theres some rent places online, and some that dont require you to be a "50+ ebuyer" ...

bestbuy, tbh, this or walmart or (etc) seems to be my preferred option, just seems annoying that really this is only due to maps.. IE, i don't mind shelling out 150 quid for a device, i get annoyed paying for a data file!

 

[jay clock]

Personally I would rent from the UK. If you did buy in the USA you could always sell it on Ebay in the UK to the next person who wanted one

 

[CopperCyclist]

I bet there's a free phone app that'll do the trick...

 

[davefb]

I bet there's a free phone app that'll do the trick...

theres certainly bloody expensive iphone apps

eg the tom-tom one..

but i've only got ipod... and that doesnt have gps..

tbh what i'll probably do is buy one in the states at walmart/bestbuy, for more than i thought, and end up having to buy UK maps when i get back ...

 

[defy-one]

iPhone app called "navfree" have a us version and it's as the name suggests FREE!

 

[davefb]

thnx for info,
I'm not too keen on the renting tbh, if only since I'd be worried about having to look after all the bits . I'm probably gunna buy in the states (best buy/walmart etc), unless I can get the 2475lt on a bargain(190 from john lewis at the moment).
so in about 3 months, I'll be back here asking for info about UK maps

 

[musa]

but see how much it'll cost you using your phone unless you can bypass it

running costs will be high and these phone companies don't play about

 

[CopperCyclist]

Shouldn't need to use the phone network, just the gps functionality of the phone. You can simply switch off the 'phone' reception, or remove the sim card to ensure no roaming charges.

 

[PaulSB]

Just one thought. I recently went to Belgium in someone else's car - he used TomTom which I also have on my iPhone and really like.

Out of interest I used Google maps to plot a route, which offered the exact same choices as TomTom. I then ran Google maps while drove and it was exactly accurate when set alongside the TomTom.

Obviously there are no voice commands which is a big disadvantage in cities and towns but if you just need long distance routes it could be a solution.

On foot in towns I find Google maps very good for navigating to places I don't know.