Which GPS should I buy

sapphire125 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 5

Hi,
I am new to this GPS thing and I would like to buy one, but I am completely lost with regards to what. 8O

I live in the Scottish borders and drive around a lot of small towns and villages over an area of approx 1800 square miles, I would like to be able to work out the quickest and best way to go.

Are there any hand helds that would do this job ?

I have looked at a GPSmap60CS but not sure if it would give me the detail I would like (nobody around here sells them so no chance of a demo) I also quite like the look of a STREETPILOT III DELUX but I see they are no longer made so hard to come by (always EBay I suppose).

Can anyone offer advice and rough guide to price I should pay.

Cheers

MarkHewitt · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:46 pm Post subject:

What about something like TomTom GO?

mantunes · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject:

The first thing to do is decide about the main choice:

- Handheld GPSr (like the ones you've referred)

or

- PDA + GPSr + Maps and driving/navigating software?

If you have, or intend to buy, a PDA then the choice is the second one.

I'm new in this site too but i have and operate a handheld GPSr (Magellan Meridien Platinum) for three years and i think the handheld GPSr has one minor advantage but some more disadvantages.

Advantages: Robustness - Designed for outdoor activities (i'm Geocacher).

Disadvantages: Mapping/Navigation software and maps totaly proprietary. You have Mapsend software AND maps for Magellan and MapSource software AND maps for Garmin from the unit manufacturers. You have no other options to get navigation software and maps available for a regular user.

If you decide for the handheld unit. The answer for your question is Yes the detail is very good. In medium cities (Lisbon) all the streets are reproduced in both the Garmin or Magellan mapping softwares. In the rural/interior country (Portugal) ALL roads are reproduced, even the minor ones. The problem is with the new highways constructed during the last years... But this is a mater of time to have the maps updated...

Hope this helps.

PS: I have a Qtek 9090 and just ordered the new BT-338. :D
_________________
MAntunes

"I'm not confused, i'm well mixed"

snooper · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2005 Posts: 32

Just purchased a ipaq rz1710 bundle from PC world for £299.00. This bundle comes equiped with Tom Tom Ver 4.4. I live in Newcastle and visit rural parts of Northumberland. TT4.4 has been excellent locally. Sound investment. :D

BBB · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 24, 2004 Posts: 206

All IMHO:

iPAQ based GPS with
BT GPS receiver and datalogging built in (if your lucky you may just be able to get a Pretec at www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk)
- draw back = what to do when the Li-on dies?

On the other hand is you are skilled the present NAVMAN 4420 bundle is actually very good value but omits a datalogging feature (GPSU is an excellent GPS data utility program)

With an iPAQ you can use streetwise GPS functionality and also have topographical functionality via separate software.

Streetwise GPS and topo GPS are inherently different

Drawback of iPAQ: humidity, moisture and water resistance - there ain't none unless you purchase a special w/p housing

The 60CS is w/p but IMHO streetwise navigation is best done using voice prompts - you really don't want to be jiggling a GPS unit in one hand, steering wheel in the other

My tuppen'orth

Googlebot · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:35 pm Post subject:

Snopper :

Fifer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 41

Another PDA alternative to consider is Destinator 3. I've found it to be excellent around rural Angus and Fife and I'll check out the Borders next week as we are travelling to the Lake District via the A7 with a very lazy stop-over at Melrose en-route. In Fife and Angus, it even shows up a lot of farm roads which was really unexpected. As of this morning (courtesy of today's POI-Edit update) it can use the full range of this site's POI downloads too.

sapphire125 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks everyone for these ideas lots more to think about, a lot more units availible than I first thought.

Fifer:the A7 is the backbone of my area so it would be very interesting to see what Destinator 3 makes of it feedback on this one would be appreciated.

Heribata · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1

Sorry to everyone...but i want to talk with mantunes in portuguese!!!

mantunes será que me podes fornecer o teu email para te colocar uma questão!!??? Obrigado!!!
O meu é agostinhosoares@gmail.com

Once again sorry to everyone, but i need the contact of mantunes

Agostinho

Skippy · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:55 pm Post subject: Re: Which GPS should I buy

Fifer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 41

Fifer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 41

Well, I used Destinator to navigate the route split into the following sections (the spilts were because we were stopping off at places en-route; I probably could've used waypoints instead):

Glenrothes - Edinburgh (Ocean Terminal).
Ocean Terminal - Melrose.
Melrose - Howton (Ullswater, Cumbria)
Howton - Ambleside.
Ambleside - Howton.
Howton - Carlisle.
Carlisle - Glenrothes.

Destinator performed perfectly. On a couple of occasions, it chose a route which wasn't the one I'd have chosen and I went with my choice but Destinator quickly re-routed and stayed with me. A couple of other times, I trusted Destinator when it took me off the route I'd have chosen and it found a better way than that which I knew. I am very happy with my choice of software. Incidentally, I loaded the Safety Camera POI database and it found every one I knew about plus a couple in Edinburgh which I didn't.

sapphire125 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for the information, I am heading up to Edinburgh this weekend to try and have a look at a few units and hopefully narrow down the field.

thanks again :D

Fifer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 41

Be aware that Destinator are announcing Destinator PN ( which will replace Destinator 3) at CeBIT, scheduled for an April launch. Just my luck for the product to be replaced 3 weeks after purchase. Rolling Eyes

	PocketGPS
	Web