best nav system?

[ooh304]

i know this has been done before but i wanting to get a navigation system asap and was wondering which brand are good for street and to get to camp sites out bush if you have any opinions please tell me i need as much info as possible. thanks.

[general lee]

My old man and brother use Garmin. They rave about it a heap. It is a pretty good system in my opinion.

I use Navman for work, not as good as garmin but still pretty sufficient.

[maca82]

If you know it's been done before... why not look at old posts?
That would be better than starting a new thread with old questions. Especially a dumb question that is bound to get 1000 different results...!

[ooh304]

General lee thanks for your input,
As for maca i started this to get a direct answer from people and people may know of a new model on the market that wasn't available yet in other post so thanks for your stupid reply to my " stupid question." If you have any negative replays think them don't waste your time and write them on here.

[mattekps]

I got a Garmin Nuvi 660, only got it a few weeks ago. I have used it on road a fair bit, it is awesome. Only small problem I find is that the time estimates are sometime a bit out; usually underestimates.


I have not used it that much off road because I don't have any off road maps. However, I used it last weekend in Toolangi, Victoria with the standard map. I was surprised to see that is picks up a few of the main off road tracks.

MATT

[hillbilly123]

In all fairness, without stating exactly what you really want it to do, it is a not very sensible question. They are all different with some strengths better than others, depending on what you want. Do you want a large screen or small, voice guidance or not. Do you want offroad tracks or just highways. Touch screen or menu.
So you see if you post specifics someone will be using a unit that fits what you want. Other wise as maca82 says you will get a 1000 answers and none may be what you really want.
Just as an example in town I use a Nokia N70 mobile phone with TOM TOM mobile 5 on it and a bluetooth GPS. Out of town I have a laptop with Copilot Live 8 and Trackranger mapping on it. Endless possibillitys as you see.
Most new models get extensive media advertising probably before any of us get to use them as we also wait and see how the model performs.
Also be aware its not the unit that costs the money its the map updates at usually about $200 a pop. Or if you have a Toyota Sahara with Sat Nav the CD is $380
Hope you accept this as constructive as its meant to be.:thumb:

[Harb]

Keep asking mate, thats what forums are for, If you wanted stored info you could go to the manufacturers sites and read dribble.

I use a Garmin PlusII an oldy but a goodie, it has serial out so I can plug it into my dash mounted toshiba tablet style laptop in which I run Oziexplorer.....all very simple fairly cheap and works a treat, never had an issue with any of it.
If you go for a newer model , make sure it can communicate with a computer , as you may go down that path as well.

cheers
John

[StevenB]

the best nav system? the one that gets you there

your best bet would be to check out a place like gpsoz. They will get the info out of you they need to know to give you the best advice

[ooh304]

iam looking for a voice turn by turn with mainly street use but it knows the easiest way to a main road when i decide to get lost out bush, also one with a decent screen that you don't have to squint at to see could you tell me if the 3.5 inch ones are easy to see or if there to small. And harb nice reply.

[offroadn]

well he wants some answers i was thinking the same thing and already have a tom tom its great on the roads but no good in the bush what do you guy recomend

Shouting is not necessary and it won't get your point across any clearer.

I too am looking for a good GPS system but I took the smart approach and searched because there are a million threads on this. The problem is that there are no black and white answers. Most people will post their opinion and opinions differ a lot. Go to a dealer and ask them what they recommend, that's the best advice I can give.

[vxtreem]

Even then dealers will try and sell you the one's they get the best margin on.

[hillbilly123]

Really screen size doesnt matter I never look at mine usually am looking where Im going and just listen to the voice instructions. The Nokia screen is too small to read from a distance anyway but just listen and it gets you there

[hillbilly123]

To crazynut
In netiquette large fonts and capitals is considered shouting.
Some punctuation and correct spelling makes posts easier to read as well.


To get back on topic try Googling (GPS systems) and see what you get.
GPSOZ is a good site and will give fairly unbiased opinion.
Go to somewhere like WOW sight and sound in Brisbane who have several different makes and get them to demonstrate each one. Stick to the more well known brands and ask what the map updates cost.
Cheaper is NOT BETTER.
Screen sizes vary and the largest is probably 4.5ins. I find I dont watch it at all, just drive and listen.
Some now come with bluetooth as well, handy if you have a compatible phone.
Most have good city coverage but little off road.
If you want that, as other posters have said, a system like a PDA that you can hook up to a laptop with either Oziexplorer or Trackranger is the way to go as you can load topographical maps and use them off road (Hema) for instance.
Is that a good enough answer for the majority.

[vxtreem]

Does the oziexplorer software cost like $300.

[hillbilly123]

Possibly Go here and look

Mapping and GPS (http://www.ja-gps.com.au/maps_fugoziex.html#anchor712723)







Google is a marvelous tool If only more used it

[glint]

Depends on how much you want to pay as that seems to determine the quality of the mapping software. I couldnt justify $900+ so i bought a new Roadangel on special for $400. It was crap. Kept sending me up no-through roads and took me on the most bizzare routes.

I took it back on the grounds that it didnt do what it said on the box and swapped it for a TomTom 'One' which i got for $450. Much better on the road and much easier to use. (plus you can buy alternative voices to keep the kids amused). Still, it struggles once you go bush but you get what you pay for.

If i had the money i would have bought one with 'whereis' mapping but youre talking nearly a grand and most of the additional features are gimmicky.