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Thread ID: 94886 2008-11-16 06:41:00 How to buy car GPS unit Nomad (952) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
720551 2008-11-16 06:41:00 Hi, I have read the consumer mag, Garmin and Navman was recommended . Tomtom and Uniden was not .

So . . I had a look outside . Navman seesms to be more available .

I have sort of found it is features after features and I don't need those . The maps should all be relative for the same brands and I am buying it now . I don't really need fuel estimate, speed cams, camera integrated, bluetooth or computer comptatible .

So what is impt for myself is maybe reception . For diff models, is there a difference and where and what should I look?


Thanks .
Nomad (952)
720552 2008-11-16 09:08:00 What did silly consumer mag say was wrong with TomTom. I have a TomTom and it's great.
TomTom and Garmin here in the UK are widely used.
wmoore (6009)
720553 2008-11-16 09:41:00 I think it said, Tomtom and Uniden had inaccurate map for rural parts of NZ .. incomplete numbering ... They said they were fine if you use the fastest route way but if you use the other route way they may get you lost. Nomad (952)
720554 2008-11-16 10:29:00 I gave Mr Marnie a Garmin for his birthday. He was impressed with a couple he had seen being used by 2 others. Although Navman and Tomtom seem to be advertised more. One had brought their Garmin out from the States for use while in NZ.

It's been an incredible help finding places and routes, even within our own city. Not just known addresses, but restaurants and such, where we know the name but not the address. Before we went to Brisbane in July, he bought what was needed to cover that area. It made getting around so easy. Reception was very good. You use what you want from the features. There are different price levels for the units and that would reflect on what features they offer.

I would have asked him for more details, but he's snoring his head off right now. Others will probably give you more technical information. If you need any more details I can ask him tomorrow.

Cheers,
Marnie
Marnie (4574)
720555 2008-11-16 17:54:00 You should see where they send tourists around here very funny, up Beatson rd into Nelson over all the speed bumps, one co worker who has a bus got told to go via the Molesworth station from Blenheim to Christchurch so yes rural or even town can be in accurate in NZ gary67 (56)
720556 2008-11-16 20:18:00 Very true! I was testing a TomTom unit around Auckland last year, found it to be excellent. A+. Brilliant.

However the same model was pretty hopeless at finding addresses or knowing what is or isn't a road around (some) rural areas.

Apparently NavMan is the one to go with for rural NZ.
wratterus (105)
720557 2008-11-16 21:46:00 only reading the title and my first thought was how hard is that can it be to buy a GPS unit, "walk in to shop, hand over cash, take the goods"


a more real answer . . . .

look for features you will use, don't just get blinded by a big list of features .
look for how easy it is to get map updates, some of the cheaper units can't take updates .

a good big screen is high on my list but each to their own . . . . .
ask if you can test drive a unit . . . . .
robsonde (120)
720558 2008-11-16 23:43:00 Has anyone lost a reception while driving or that it simply not pick up at the start?

Say, night, raining, dark clouds etc etc...


Cheers :nerd:
Nomad (952)
720559 2008-11-16 23:46:00 I'm not certain as to the advantages over a map or road signs .

You need satnav to find your way around Auckland?:illogical It can't be that hard .

Traveling through this beautiful country has never been difficult for someone who has basic map reading skills . How can one go wrong with such good signs throughout the country? If you want to head south, look for the sign that says "south . " (and north, east and west . ) How hard can that be?

If you belong to the AA (and who would not belong?) up to date maps are part of the service - not that there are all that many changes of any great significance over the years .

Wellington has not moved since I was there last . North has not changed - it's still up there . If all else fails, looking up in the sky should give you a good indication of the points of the compass .
Roscoe (6288)
720560 2008-11-16 23:58:00 I'm wanting to use it for rural and south island trips to do landscape photography for sunrise and sunset and long drives say from Welly to Q'town. Or from Chc to Q'town if I get a hire car. Nomad (952)
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