Plz post your GPS reviews here...

[zombie]

Im looking to buy a new GPS I have a small budget of around $350-400

I want to know where all the revenue cams are.
Easy to use for nubes.
Easy to update maps (without paying for them).

Any recomendations please list the pros and cons your comments etc.

I have a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx with the latest Australian maps (City Navigator)

I also run Tomtom Navigator on my PDA

For on-road navigation, Tomtom runs rings around the Garmin. For anything else (ie 4x4ing, boating, flying etc) or even just keeping a track log, the Tomtom is useless and the Garmin really shines

On the other hand, the Garmin PC software (Mapsource / City Navigator) is totally brilliant, and I finally figured out how I can export the data from that to a format my Tomtom can understand so I get the best of both worlds

For Revenue cameras ("safety" cameras) you can download POI (Place of Interest) files for Tomtom from OZPOI - and they can be converted to formats suitable for other GPS units too.

There's no fixed speed-cameras out here in the West, but I have my Tomtom play a siren when I'm coming up to a known red-light camera (sounds like an air-raid siren)

[Hammer]

Im looking to buy a new GPS I have a small budget of around $350-400

I want to know where all the revenue cams are.
Easy to use for nubes.
Easy to update maps (without paying for them).

Any recomendations please list the pros and cons your comments etc.

On point 1: Most decent GPS now have the red light/speed cameras POI within the units. Especially within your budget.

On point 2: Almost all units are plug and play - so easy for newies. If your a bit of a techo and can't decide on two units, look at their technical specs etc. Some units have a faster refresh rate at moving the maps (faster & smoother etc), and have a more powerful built-in aerials, so they can lock on satellite signals quicker.

On Point 3: Here I dont' think you'll have much luck. I don't think there are on-going free upgrades for maps. Unless you're buying a unit that is within their map changeover period, in which case, they will usually offer a once-off complimentary upgrade.

But if I'm wrong, on the free map upgrades, I'm very keen to find out too.

But in the end, your pick will be down to personal choice. They're like mobile phone. Pretty much do the same thing, but one just jumps at you more than the others. And they're nearly as dispensable as mobile phones too. Requiring an upgrade every, two to four years.

[Veloce]

Im looking to buy a new GPS I have a small budget of around $350-400

I want to know where all the revenue cams are.
Easy to use for nubes.
Easy to update maps (without paying for them).

Any recomendations please list the pros and cons your comments etc.

I've used the Tomtom One XL - very user friend i'd say.. Seen some go for $385ish....

I think you have to pay whereis for updated maps but it does come preloaded with 2007/2008 maps. Nice big 4.3" screen - though it does not sound out street names.. It only tells you "at 500 metres turn left".

You could also change the tone of the person talking to you - you can have an american accent talk out aloud, male or woman, etc. etc.

I'm with sliq. Had a Tomtom 300 which was stolen (:evil:) a few weeks ago. I had bought a refurbished mid range Navman before this but found it harder to find my way round it. Sold it at a profit and bought the TT. Just bought an XL (nearly new) for $230 off ebay (:D ) and it is great. TT's i found are naturally easy to use. Greay value @ $230.

[Richee]

I have the Navman S80; it's above your budget, but I'm with AJ. It rocks!

We have a Navman S80 too, its great and spoken street names is the way to go IMO.

http://www.techoni.com.au/product_info. ... ts_id=1523 this place has it for $440 a little over your budget but well worth it.

[sliq]

Navman S90i here, & it ROCKS!........obviously above the authors budget, but any of the new Navman units are awesome.....

Hammer, the S80/S90i has THE best text to speech i've ever heard from any unit, you won't regret the upgrade mate

i had a navman s90i but got rid of it... read up on cnet it gives you way off the mark misleading directions... =z and just a tad slow for my liking

[AJ]

Navman S90i here, & it ROCKS!........obviously above the authors budget, but any of the new Navman units are awesome.....

Hammer, the S80/S90i has THE best text to speech i've ever heard from any unit, you won't regret the upgrade mate

i had a navman s90i but got rid of it... read up on cnet it gives you way off the mark misleading directions... =z and just a tad slow for my liking

just goes to show you shouldn't believe everything you read sliq , trust me perseverance & pushing all the buttons is the key, i've been using mine on a daily basis since xmas (it is on every time i leave home, whether i use it or not, specially as it signals the safety cams even when you don't have a route programmed) & have found all its quirks (they all have them)........by initially programming it to places where i KNOW how to get there & trying every function it has, i've sussed it completely.
As with any GPS, you are better to sit in the one spot & let it calculate before you move off, rather than on the fly, i've also noticed that the only time mine is a bit slower to calculate is when the route goes through really built up areas, obviously it has to load a lot more information.

i have found it is completely accurate in its directions, & along with the precise voice instructions, it can't possibly be misunderstood, the only time it might appear to lead you astray is if you program a particular street number in & it runs you around the block to bring you there on the correct side of the street, but as with everything, it pays to keep your eyes open & not follow it on blind faith alone, í always using the 3D maps, which give you a better overall picture of where it's taking you, & quite often flip to the turn by turn instructions when i'm not 100% sure.
IF you want foolproof, it costs you big bucks, but for 800 bucks & their portability, the Navman, Garmin, Tomtom etc are the ducks guts IMO.

[Mr Morlock]

Re reading the original post I would question the criteria and be somewhat sceptical like hammer. Firstly in Melb I am very doubtful that the GPS is going to do much to alert you for speed and red light cameras- if you rely on the gps you will contribute a lot to the State govt. As for free map upgrades that to me sounds more than unlikely- afterall where is the revenue stream apart from selling the hardware. Earlier map upgrades for Navman were expensive but I think most manufacturers have now made it more affordable. As some have pointed out gps is an aid- they are not perfect and there are always going to be new roads/ estates that are not covered.

[wun911]

Thanks for helpful replies,

[emexv]

I use a Mitac Mio 550 and run Tom Tom on it. It works very well and is a full blown PDA. As mentioned earlier in this post there are heaps of downloads available free at OZPOI such as camera locations, POI's, custom fonts and voices.

The great thing about using the PDA is I can run all the Rooftop offroad maps and therefore have full offroad mapping for my 4WD. All the rooftop maps are available on CD. There are also heaps of other maps available for all over Australia. Using Oz Explorer CE you can scan any map, load it, calibrate it and then use it as the base map for your GPS. You can also plan routes on your PC and load the route file onto the PDA for use.


One other big bonus......PDA's are tax deductable

[Juffa]

One other big bonus......PDA's are tax deductable

Not anymore. The Federal Govt removed this as part of the budget last week. Same goes for Laptops

J

[chatchat]

using TomTom software with Palm, easy to use, alternative generated pretty quick after off the planned track.

[bruce]

Umm, Melways (insert your local version) are cheap and get updated every year for around $30. Refresh rate is pretty quick

[emexv]

One other big bonus......PDA's are tax deductable

Not anymore. The Federal Govt removed this as part of the budget last week. Same goes for Laptops

J

[sliq]

digging up an old thread.

i've been looking for a gps for a while now.. and have my eyes on the new TOM TOM XL.

anyone had any luck with these?

[feel_ixx]

I currently own one right now, the screen is really big and is touch which is really good and its very easy to use.

However, there was one time when I had set my GPS to go to Mosman, and 99% of the way, it had redirected the destination to a place i was earlier in the day - in the opposite direction. I was in the passenger seat at the time so I didnt really notice anything too much - after 1.5 hours of driving, when the trip was onl meant to be 45 mins, I felt something was wrong, checked it up on the GPS - it had deleted my entry and reverted to an old desination. Worst experience of my life, as a result I had traffic the rest of the way getting there and traffic the entire way home.