Satnav/GPS recommendations (or good websites for info?)

**J-MuN** · 02-10-2006 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by kleung

The 510, 710, and 910 are all SiRF Star III-based, so that's a good thing.

Tomtom has a really slick, easy to use interface, so based on reputation, I don't really think you can go wrong with any of those two. They're not cheap though...

I have had any direct experience with either of those two products, but I have done a fair bit of research (I'm in the market for a Bluetooth GPS receiver myself).

not too sure about the design though. Bit chunky for my liking but that's just a small price to pay.

**kleung** · 02-10-2006 02:52 PM

The design doesn't bother me so much, but that's subjective I guess. I'm more intrigued by the price. Organiser World has the 910 listed for $1149. That's an awful lot of money to pay for navi+mp3+BT car kit IMHO.

But to each, his own, I say.

**muhhan** · 05-10-2006 05:14 PM

I have been looking at the Tomtom units as well. I think the main difference between the 710 and 910 is that the 710 uses sd memory car to store the maps where as the 910 has a 20gb hard drive to store maps, mp3s, videos. The 910 also felt slightly lighter than the 710. The 910 can is hooked upto the computer to upgrade the maps and transfer data to the unit.

I agree that both are pretty chunky. Apparently the speaker is better quality and louder compared to others on the market.

Also, a lot of the navman systems have been reported to be inaccurate, only by about 50m but that's enough for you to miss turns, which is annoying. When I was trying out the Mio system in store it showed that I was in NSW in some place I never heard of (i'm in Adelaide) and it was extremely slow. If it can't perform in the store when its brand new then what hope has it got after I buy it?

Personally, I'm leaning towards the Tomtom 910.

**kleung** · 05-10-2006 09:51 PM

It's actually not surprising that it can't perform in-store, given that it can't see any satellites...

Even the SiRF 3-based GPS receivers only *barely* work indoors, if you're lucky. Most GPS receivers need a good view of the sky to get a good lock.

The TomTom software is very fast when calculating routes though, and it reroutes fairly quickly when you miss a turn too.

Regarding the spoken instructions - I find that a female voice is more easily heard and understood while you're driving. No idea why. It might be to do with the pitch of the voice?

**Ferrarista** · 05-10-2006 10:12 PM

I used a Mio today, very easy to use and cheap too

$599 RRP

Being in the electronics business i get good discounts though

**Limbo** · 06-10-2006 12:55 AM

i'm running the Tomtom software on my PDA thru bluetooth and a GPS unit.
I also got the female vioce. It just sounds better i think. And yes with the TomTom it seems to be great at rerouting especially when you take the wrong turn. ANd yeah my GPS unit has trouble inside the house but driving around its fine.

All you need is a cheap PDA with bluetooth, a GPS antenna and then just get the software off the net. Works like a charm

**TypeRice** · 06-10-2006 01:07 AM

im getting a GPS too... but for no particular reason... just to make my car look nice when driving at night.. ppls will see many lights comming from my car...

and they are all LEGAL !!!!.. who needs neon lights (illegal)... when i can have a blue lit aftermarket Tacho, a Orange background wallpaper on my PSP, and watever colour light the GPS is emitting.. ahhaha

**kleung** · 06-10-2006 03:46 AM

Limbo: Apart from the fact that downloading TT off the 'net is illegal...

So...you running TT6?

TypeRice: If you're just after the bling, why not just get a DVD screen? It'd be cheaper than fitting a GPS-enabled screen...

**muhhan** · 06-10-2006 05:36 PM

Hmm, not seeing the gps unit indoors is valid for an inaccurate positioning, but suggesting that I am halfway across the country?!? I was under the impression that gps units may lose some accuracy indoors but not that much.

This probably applies to most units, what happens when you go under tunnels and are driving in mountainous regions with lots of trees, over growth, and rock walls/valleys? I can think of several areas in the Adelaide Hills and on Great Ocean Road where these environments occur. Are any of the systems better in positioning in this regard?

**kleung** · 07-10-2006 01:08 AM

muhhan: It probably defaulted to the location of whatever is set to 'home'. Most of the satnav software I've used either defaults to the last fix location, or the 'home' location, until it gets a new fix from the GPS receiver.

A GPS receiver requires good signals from at least three satellites to get a position fix. But the more good signals it receives, the more accurate the positioning.

The SiRF3 GPSes would cope better with poor signal areas.

Going through a tunnel will cut off the GPS signal, but since you're not likely to spend more than a few minutes at most in a tunnel, the GPS will lock on again within a few seconds of leaving the tunnel. The longer a GPS receiver is turned off, the longer it will take to get a position fix when turned back on.