[Big Tim]

Hi Folks

I'm thinking of buying a SAT Nav system. Main uses would be.

(1) Finding my way to lots of different schools around England's North West - I am a supply teacher

(2) Travelling in Continental Europe with 'van in tow. OH and I often row over route directions from a map

Handsfree bluetooth phone option would be useful. Have considered Tom Tom 710/910 as got good "Which?" Mag reports. (I rate "Which?'s impartial judgements VERY HIGHLY) However, on Amazon lots of negative feedback.

Any other recommendations?

What the are the best prices.

Thanks in anticipation

Tim

[BrianI]

I have had a Tomtom 500 for two years now and find it excellent and very simple to use, although mine only shows major roads in Europe I have found this to be OK when in Europe.

If I was buying one today I would go for the Tomtom One Europe which gives fully detailed roads in Europe (and UK) which is £199.99 on the TT website and will be cheaper elsewhere. Probably the best value for money. Does not do hands free calling with mobile phone though. You need the 710 for this if that is important for you. However thats £100 more.

I do not see the advantage of going for the larger screen models as you tend to go by the voice commands and the larger screens block more of your view.

There is no point in going for 910 model unless you want North American maps as well. You can always buy these later anyway if needed and use on other models.

If you want to add lots of POI's (Points of Information) for caravan sites, speed cams, schools, etc, you may need to buy a larger SD card but these are relatively cheap these days.

The maps seem to get updated about every 18months but you have to pay for these.

Brian

[ian dunning]

Hi Brian,
We have the 510 which also does bluetooth handsfree,
Regards,
Ian.

[BrianI]

ian dunning, on Jul 10 2007, 10:35 PM, said:

Hi Brian,
We have the 510 which also does bluetooth handsfree,
Regards,
Ian.

So does my 500 but you only get the major roads in Europe
Brian

[py77]

Had my Tomtom Go 500 for a year and a half and have found it very user friendly and easy to update. Bit annoyed about having to buy updated maps, but you can't have everything.

[BrianI]

py77, on Jul 10 2007, 11:42 PM, said:

Had my Tomtom Go 500 for a year and a half and have found it very user friendly and easy to update. Bit annoyed about having to buy updated maps, but you can't have everything.

If you bought a paper map you have to buy an updated one eventually. They don't get updated for free.

Brian

[Davidc]

I am a Garmin fan. Always have been. They started satnav off! Quality stuff. Not the cheapest but I think the old adage- you gets what you pay for applies. Have used a Streetpilot 2610 for three years or so and just updated to a Nuvi 660. just used this round france and it is very very detailed [Apart from one speed camera just ouside Saumur where it kept insisting I was in a 19mph area rather than a 90 kmph area - lost in translation methinks!!]

The 2610 is for sale if anyone interested. Complete all accessories and cd's instructions etc etc

[ace]

Tom Tom 500, in a word Superb!!!!

[wolf]

I recently bought a Tomtom One V2 UK unit from PC World for £139.99, which included the speed camera POI's.
So far I am very impressed with it. It does all I want it to , and more. Being aware of the hype in the media about satnav taking drivers down unsuitable roads I tend to use the "advance planning" facility when towing. This allows you to input your destination and then do a run through of the route to check for unclassified roads, fords etc.
There is loads of information and help on various websites and forums and you can download lots of POI's and even programmes to improve the versatility of your unit. All these are legal and free.
I would recommend the complete set of POI's for all the CC and CCC club sites, including CL's etc, and also the Calor dealers (which you can get from the Calor website).
A great modification is Tripmaster, which gives you loads of information about your journey including the ability to set speed warnings for four different speeds. I use it to set a 60 mph warning when towing on motorways. It can also be switched to read in kph for those continental trips.
Uprating the SD card is cheap and easy. I bought a high-speed 512mb card from Staples for just over £5.
Admittedly I am new to satnav, but I can't see the point of buying a more expensive unit as your first satnav - the TT One has more features than I am fully using at the moment. As for the handsfree 'phone capability - buy a handsfree kit from Ebay and use voice dialing and save yourself some cash!

[JonathanM]

Consider the PDA option, replaces paper diaries, my PDA/GPS runs a nav programme called Mapopolis, the good thing is it allows a contact in the address book (schools?) to be used as a destination, so you only enter the info in the adress book, then use the contact name in mapopolis as destination. Works well for me, cost of mapopolis is about £60 for western europe, plus PDA.....about £200.
Negatives are that Mapopolis is pulling out of the sat nav market soon, so limted upgrades in the future. Shame, nice programme to use.

[widu13]

You won't go wrong with a TomTom IMHO which is very user friendly with Garmin a close 2nd. I have a HP rx5720 currently, which is a PDA running TomTom. My phone is also a PDA so I didn't really need nother PDA but after a rebate it has only cost me £104 and has a 3.5" screen.

Concentrate on the navigation software and not the name / make. You need to try loads to find out which one you get on best with.

[navigator]

Tim,

If you already have a PDA with bluetooth consider purchasing standalone software such as Tom Tom navigator or Destinator and purchase a bluetooth GPS receiver (get a Sirfstar III chip if possible for faster cold seek times)

I used this type of setup with an IPAQ 2210 for 3 years.

I've bought a Tom Tom 710 now as the IPAQ is getting old, still works but the charging sockets are becoming worn making charging in the car unreliable.

The Tom Tom is good, I use it daily as it has a bluetooth hands free facility which I believe allows voice dailling with a compatible phone. (I haven't tried this yet)

As widu13 suggests, don't rush in, do the research and look at as many different set ups that you can.

Good hunting

navigator

[Calomax]

If you go to the Pocket GPS World website http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/" target="_blank">
http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/. You can get lots of help and advice on the forums (Fora?)

[Big Tim]

Thanks for all the replies VERY HELPFUL

I took the plunge a few days ago and bought at TTom 710. Very good price of £230 in Argos sale although I had to hunt around branches to find one.

I've been trying it near home and I'm very pleased so far. Off to the Continent on Saturday and hoping to get as far as Rome towing the 'van. So the TT710 will have a good trial.

Thanks again for your advice.

Best wishes

Tim

[Big Tim]

Hi Folks

Following advice on this, and other caravanning websites, I bought the Tom Tom 710 last July. I got an excellent price of £230 in the Argos sale, although I had to ring around a lot of store and travel to Chester, 25 miles away to get one. I got interest free credit for 6 months too so I don't have to actually pay for it until January 2008!!!

I'm VERY PLEASED. My wife and I used it for the 5 weeks we were away travelling down through Europe as far south as Rome. It was a real boon and few problems although we did check routes with a road atlas as necessary. A lot less rows with the "navigator" this year!!! LOL. The TT really came into its own when a car breakdown meant that we had to consider and plan an alternative route home. I am now using the TT in my work as a supply teacher and it's proving very useful in finding "new" schools.

Thanks again folks for all the advice. I highly recommend the TT710. I, also, use it as a handsfree phone with my newish Sony W850i mobile again very useful, much easier handsfree than the phone, even with phone in holder, as the TT touch screen "buttons" are much bigger than the phone's buttons. It has, also, saved me the expense of buying a bluetooth headset.

I've, also, downloaded free POI for UK and European campsites from this website.

THANKS A LOT EVERYONE.
Tim

[John Douglas]

I've had a Tomtom 1 Europe for a week now and am looking forward to using it on my journey to Spain in three days time. I've used it locally and I'm generally impressed with it. Just one small point as I near home, it tells me "in 200 yards turn left" then "turn left". The turning is actually four feet wide with a post placed centrally and a "Cycling prohibited" notice. Just hope there arn't too many like that.

[Big Tim]

No John

Fortunately not too many "turns" like that in our experience.

However, when we broke down in Italy Red Pennant had us towed to a site up, and I mean up, in the hills near Orvietto. When we were returning there with the hire car the TT tried to persuade us to turn up about 4 dirt mountain tracks. I don't know if they would have led to the campsite but I wouldn't have like to have tried them.

One disadvantage is that TT does distinguish between roads of different widths so one has to use one's common sense when towing. That's where a good road atlas is a useful backup.

Have a good time in Spain.

Best wishes
Tim

[Davegayle]

I've always used the fastest route option with my van on the back (big twin axle) and the tom tom has never let me down. It's asking for trouble using the shortest route. I've also got the low bridges map which can be set at your required height to warn you before you rip your roof off :D