Satnav

[beefy]

Just for the uk and ireland

What about this-
TomTom, portable GPS car navigation systems - ONE Regional Assist

12 months roadside assistance into the deal .

[MaureenHall]

I got mine from Asda, about �47 or thereabouts. It gets me from A to B, shows me where the nearest petrol station / cash point etc is, bleeps when there's a speed camera, and recalculates the route if I take a wrong turn or miss a turning. Loads of other facilities on it too that I haven't looked at yet. It's a Binotone and I'm happy with it

[beefy]

JUst found this one -
Garmin Nuvi 250 Satellite Navigation System with Full: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo
For � 80 you can't really go wrong.

[allotmentlady]

thanks beefy, looking at the garmin one

[beefy]

If you need any help drop me a pm

[allotmentlady]

thank you!

[jackie j]

OH has a garmin always wants us to go the long way round when leaving the house so we always ignore that bit lol know the way anyway. Its fun to use when you know where you are going cos usually takes you on a different route. Always telling us recaculating !!! Great tho when you havent a clue where you are going.

[tootles]

I hate them (sorry if this doesn't help).
We had friends come to visit last summer, they were staying in a campsite on the way down. The satnav took them such a bizarre route that the campsite was closed by the time they got to it. It then took them down roads i've never even seen to get to us. The 10 hour journey took nearly 15.

I would choose very carefully, perhaps take it for a test drive on a route you know well before you commit to the best part of �100

[Hilary B]

We got given a satnav, rather old and a bit limited (especially outside UK). We haven't yet worked out how to change the 'home' location. It is fun using it for journeys that are familiar<g>. You do get the choice of 'fastest' shortest' or 'most economical' routes. When in Europe, the 'economic' version seeks to avoid toll roads....

[Glutton4...]

I think the main problem with people getting strange roads to follow, is them not setting the parameters on the flippin' thing when they buy it!

Most of the time, I'll go main roads/motorways, then use the Sat.Nav for the last bit (local roads). I've got a TomTom One, and the only reason I got that was, an 'Old Boy' that I used to work with had been given one for Christmas and he found it simple to use, even though he'd never used a computer in his life. So I thought if he can use it, it must be easy.

OH had a posh expensive one that was very difficult to use - he sold it for the price of a TomTom and bought one of those instead.

BIL uses about three different ones (on his PDA) and says they all have their good and bad points. I can't be bothered updating my maps, which I suppose I would if I used it more.

[beefy]

I think the main problem with people getting strange roads to follow, is them not setting the parameters on the flippin' thing when they buy it!

Most of the time, I'll go main roads/motorways, then use the Sat.Nav for the last bit (local roads). I've got a TomTom One, and the only reason I got that was, an 'Old Boy' that I used to work with had been given one for Christmas and he found it simple to use, even though he'd never used a computer in his life. So I thought if he can use it, it must be easy.

OH had a posh expensive one that was very difficult to use - he sold it for the price of a TomTom and bought one of those instead.

BIL uses about three different ones (on his PDA) and says they all have their good and bad points. I can't be bothered updating my maps, which I suppose I would if I used it more.

Correct if your satnav is set properly thats half the trouble thats why I told Allotmentlady to pm me if she needs any help .I'll try and make sure it's set up in such away that these sort of things don't happen for her.
But and it's a big BUT you still have to use common sense .You just don't follow these things blindly - they give advice -if you don't like it ignore it and it will reroute you another way.

[bubblewrap]

Although I don't drive Madderbat does & would never entertain a sat nav.
Whenever we go any distance we plan our route and use a thing called a MAP
I must confess living in Loughborough I have Ludite syndrome!
Besides we don't fancy taking the car for a swim.
When Madderbat was young her dad was quite capable of ending up in farm tracks without a sat-nav to help him!

[Mrs Dobby]

As someone who works with SatNav every day (I'm the store manager of a Halfords Superstore and responsible for ensuring all my team know how to use / explain / sell them), I'd obviously advise you to go into one of our branches and talk to someone. Take a look at Halfords for satellite navigation, bikes, car audio, car maintenance, car styling and outdoor leisure for some basic info, you can even reserve it online and pop into the store to collect it, at the web price!

There's a large range available, many with discounts (especially if they are just going obsolete - TomTom One Classic(choice of uk or europe), Garmin Nuvi 200(uk) and 250(europe), TomTom 530(uk), 730(uk & europe), 930(uk, europe, north america), and unlike a lot of other retailers we can set up and do a demo for free too! We also offer a price promise, so if you find it cheaper locally (25 miles from the store) within 10 days of purchase, then as long as we can confirm the price (either before or after purchase), then we will sell it for the discounted price or refund the difference (doesnt apply to web only retailers and prices, the other supplier must have the unit in stock, available to buy to any customer and must be the same unit (be carefull, there are currently 16 models of TomTom One current and other obsolete ones going back for 5 years now)).

It really depends on what you are looking for, if just a basic SatNav, then any of them will do the job, cheap and cheerful Navigons and Beckers are very good value, but older technology, so arent as instinctive to use, TomTom's, Garmins and Navman's are all very easy to use but a little more expensive!

Take the time to look at the full range, do you want a standard 3.5" screen, or the 4.3" widescreen (not only a bigger map display, but also gives a full keyboard for entering your postcodes, rather than having to switch between letters and numbers), you'll pay a bit more for a widescreen, but IMHO they are worth it!

If you are EVER going into europe, then get one with europe on it, as to upgrade a uk to european maps can cost �40 to �100!

If you are looking for other functionality such as Hands free bluetooth, mp3 players and fm transmitters (allows you to load up the unit with music / audiobooks and then transmit them to the vehicles radio to play thru the car audio system), then a higher spec Garmin, TomTom Go or Navman would be a better choice (the Navman S80D is at �139.99 before the VAT discount and has uk and europe maps and bluetooth hands free calling)

Dont worry about speed camera warnings, they all come with them nowadays, tho you do need to update to the latest database asap (usually free the first time, then you pay a yearly subscription to continue updating - remember there are other sites such as www.pocketgps.com who will offer custome Point of Interest (POI) files such as speedcamera databases at a lot cheaper prices than the manufacturer's!)

Personally I'd be looking at Garmin, as they are the only brand that will allow you to swap a faulty unit (because ALL sat nav's have licenced software most of the manufacturer's will not allow the retailers to swap them, and if you do have a problem, then the best thing to do is ring the manufacturer's direct, as 99% of problems are software related and can be sorted out over the net. If after following the manufacturer's diagnostic process and reinstalling the software / updating the software the unit is then diagnosed with a 'hardware fault', then Tom Tom will send someone to collect it from you, take it away and repair it (for free) before returning ti direct to you (about 5 working days usually), Navman will tell you to take it back to the shop for it to be returned and repaired, but only GARMIN will give you a return number to allow the retailer to swap it for a new one!

Oh, and please ensure you buy a case with the unit, the only thing that wont be covered under warranty is damage to the screen (easily done if you put it into your pocket or hadnbag) and replacing a screen will cost almost as much as buying a new unit!

Personally I dont own one, I am usually quite good at finding my way, but if I have to go somewhere new for work, then I am fortunate that I can borrow one for training and use it, and can say they do make life a lot simpler!

Anyhows, hope this is of some help, please feel free to ask me anything about Sat Navs or to PM me if needed!

[miffy]

We have a Tom Tom, it is easy to use can load updates to it and we have never been directed into a lake by it! We got the first one half price in Halfords and have just bought the updated version from Sainsburys for about �80 which i know is not cheap but we are very pleased with it and as you say it takes alot of stress out of travelling with the family and dog in tow.

[allotmentlady]

As someone who works with SatNav every day (I'm the store manager of a Halfords Superstore and responsible for ensuring all my team know how to use / explain / sell them), I'd obviously advise you to go into one of our branches and talk to someone. Take a look at Halfords for satellite navigation, bikes, car audio, car maintenance, car styling and outdoor leisure for some basic info, you can even reserve it online and pop into the store to collect it, at the web price!

There's a large range available, many with discounts (especially if they are just going obsolete - TomTom One Classic(choice of uk or europe), Garmin Nuvi 200(uk) and 250(europe), TomTom 530(uk), 730(uk & europe), 930(uk, europe, north america), and unlike a lot of other retailers we can set up and do a demo for free too! We also offer a price promise, so if you find it cheaper locally (25 miles from the store) within 10 days of purchase, then as long as we can confirm the price (either before or after purchase), then we will sell it for the discounted price or refund the difference (doesnt apply to web only retailers and prices, the other supplier must have the unit in stock, available to buy to any customer and must be the same unit (be carefull, there are currently 16 models of TomTom One current and other obsolete ones going back for 5 years now)).

It really depends on what you are looking for, if just a basic SatNav, then any of them will do the job, cheap and cheerful Navigons and Beckers are very good value, but older technology, so arent as instinctive to use, TomTom's, Garmins and Navman's are all very easy to use but a little more expensive!

Take the time to look at the full range, do you want a standard 3.5" screen, or the 4.3" widescreen (not only a bigger map display, but also gives a full keyboard for entering your postcodes, rather than having to switch between letters and numbers), you'll pay a bit more for a widescreen, but IMHO they are worth it!

If you are EVER going into europe, then get one with europe on it, as to upgrade a uk to european maps can cost �40 to �100!

If you are looking for other functionality such as Hands free bluetooth, mp3 players and fm transmitters (allows you to load up the unit with music / audiobooks and then transmit them to the vehicles radio to play thru the car audio system), then a higher spec Garmin, TomTom Go or Navman would be a better choice (the Navman S80D is at �139.99 before the VAT discount and has uk and europe maps and bluetooth hands free calling)

Dont worry about speed camera warnings, they all come with them nowadays, tho you do need to update to the latest database asap (usually free the first time, then you pay a yearly subscription to continue updating - remember there are other sites such as www.pocketgps.com who will offer custome Point of Interest (POI) files such as speedcamera databases at a lot cheaper prices than the manufacturer's!)

Personally I'd be looking at Garmin, as they are the only brand that will allow you to swap a faulty unit (because ALL sat nav's have licenced software most of the manufacturer's will not allow the retailers to swap them, and if you do have a problem, then the best thing to do is ring the manufacturer's direct, as 99% of problems are software related and can be sorted out over the net. If after following the manufacturer's diagnostic process and reinstalling the software / updating the software the unit is then diagnosed with a 'hardware fault', then Tom Tom will send someone to collect it from you, take it away and repair it (for free) before returning ti direct to you (about 5 working days usually), Navman will tell you to take it back to the shop for it to be returned and repaired, but only GARMIN will give you a return number to allow the retailer to swap it for a new one!

Oh, and please ensure you buy a case with the unit, the only thing that wont be covered under warranty is damage to the screen (easily done if you put it into your pocket or hadnbag) and replacing a screen will cost almost as much as buying a new unit!

Personally I dont own one, I am usually quite good at finding my way, but if I have to go somewhere new for work, then I am fortunate that I can borrow one for training and use it, and can say they do make life a lot simpler!

Anyhows, hope this is of some help, please feel free to ask me anything about Sat Navs or to PM me if needed!

WOW what a reply, we are going to halfords tomorrow to have a looksie...


thanks to everyone for their advice and ongoing support , will update tomorrow evening.