i30 Owners Club
GENERAL STUFF => GENERAL DISCUSSIONS => Random Chit Chat => Topic started by: Dazzler on July 04, 2010, 22:17:49
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I have a 21/2 Y/O Mio 520C GPS which I will be "throwing in" with my i30 if I sell her privately... It has a great 4.3 widescreen and is fairly user friendly..I like the split screen display which gives me a good size speed readout amongst other things...
I don't like the limited choice of voices for the text to speech and the battery life is poor (although better.. nearly an hour since battery replaced under warranty)
I am thinking about replacing the Mio when I get my new car later this year and want to go for a 4.3" again with similar features but more choice of voices and better battery life BUT i don't want to spend much more than A$250 as there seems to be a number of reasonable models around that figure.. I'm thinking Garmin or Tom Tom any comments welcomed (please clarify your reasoning) I found RYDA.com a good place to buy from last time..
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Garmin 3790T :idea:
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I'm thinking Garmin or Tom Tom any comments welcomed (please clarify your reasoning) I found RYDA.com a good place to buy from last time..
If you use safety camera or other warnings for poi's then the latest TomTom's will not support them. TomTom have changed their policy in the last few months. It's the warning sounds they have stopped, not the display of poi's.
TomTom do have more map updates here in the UK than Garmin, but not sure how often maps are updated in AU.
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Garmin 3790T :idea:
Looks great but almost A$500 over here.. I have found models here www.ryda.com.au for around A$200 that will do everything I want (although may go to A$300 if necessary) I mainly use my GPS as a speed check (no cruise control) and don't even need bluetooth as I have a separate bluetooth module...
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If you use safety camera or other warnings for poi's then the latest TomTom's will not support them. TomTom have changed their policy in the last few months. It's the warning sounds they have stopped, not the display of poi's.
TomTom do have more map updates here in the UK than Garmin, but not sure how often maps are updated in AU.
Haven't had that feature before.. More interested in accurate maps, ease of use and a clear speed readout. Plus a "pleasant" voice on text to speech.. my best choice on the Mio is a fairly curt female with an american accent... :rolleyes: (no offence to our USA members)
I was looking at Tom Tom and it says 3 hours battery life :eek: That would be very handy if walking around a mainland capital city (which we do from time to time) :cool:
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I think that both TT and Garmin are good units. I would ask for a demo to see which menus you like the best. Both makes are well supported.
I use a web site and forum(member since 2004) here in the UK called pocketgpsworld(dot)com
You will find lots of info there if you are interested.
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What about this ?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BRAND-NEW-MIO-MOOV-360-in-car-GPS-Free-2009-Mapping-/320521261524?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item4aa08e51d4 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BRAND-NEW-MIO-MOOV-360-in-car-GPS-Free-2009-Mapping-/320521261524?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item4aa08e51d4)
If you dont like the mio maps, you can install Miopocket on a SD card and install any WindowsCE based software you like. If I was financial I'd buy one to see if I could hook up to the bluetooth dongle that hasnt arrived yet that Shambles seems to be having problems with. Hope its not a dud product :mad:
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Best comparison site I found was at http://gps.toptenreviews.com/navigation/ (http://gps.toptenreviews.com/navigation/) and then just search up the GPS using shopbot, staticice or ebay afterwards!
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Thanks for all the suggestions so far (some great food for thought there) I was thinking at one stage about getting one that incorporates a wireless reversing camera :idea: but don't know if any of the better brands do one (and would probably be dearer than I want to spend) :'(
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This looks cheap :eek: anyone know what these are like??
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/7%22-CAR-GPS-HD-NAVIGATION-SYSTEM-REVERSING-CAMERA-%20-4GB_W0QQitemZ120585546534QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&query=%7Bquery%7D&fitem=120585546534&linkin_id=8024509&mt_id=641&kw=%7Bquery%7D
Actually.....I'm very tempted by this one :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/5-GPS-Navigation-System-WIRELESS-REVERSING-Camera-/260626926208?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item3cae934a80
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Seems like a cheapy RPC made thing. It doesn't say what operating system and what kind of maps it has.
I use a Garmin Nuvi 205 3,5" for two years now.
Pros.: Cheap, navigation algorithm & features, maps (for Greece), free lifetime maps update (for Greece), map updates every 3 months (again for Greece), autonomy, good reception, you can record your own voice (i recorded my 8 yrs old son's voice :D, lots of fun), plenty of customized vehicles on web (but no i30 yet :'().
Cons.: crappy graphics, slow processor, Garmin OS (doesn't accept maps other than these dedicated for Garmin PNAs)
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I would rather not go smaller than 4.3 but Garmin are a nice unit (I have had a play with one a m8 had)
I very nearly bought the 5" one on ebay with the reversing camera but you are probably right (you get what you pay for...) :'(
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If its a WinCE device with the sirf gps chip you should in theory be able to load igo8 onto it with the latest maps - all of which you purchase of course :wink: Thats why the Mio is good because of the SD card and the ability to run MioPocket on it - good quality hardware plus configurable software.
http://netfresco.com/MioPocket/default.aspx (http://netfresco.com/MioPocket/default.aspx)
Note that it does not come with any commercial nav software, it just has the icons for when you install it after you buy it :wink:
Downfall is it takes about 1 minute to boot up to windows desktop if you let it go flat or push the switch too far and shut it down totally, otherwise it wakes up straight into the nav software where you left off.
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Reading between the lines, the eBay ones use a demo of iGO that has been fixed so as it does not stop working after the demo period. As you have said, you get what you pay for.
I see the same unit on eBay for the UK with no camera for about £65. Not sure how that relates to AU$.
Take a risk :lol: Then we can ALL buy one if they work okay :lol: Only joking...
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I have a 21/2 Y/O Mio 520C GPS
Given the size of Tasie do you need one as you must have been down every road, nook and crany on the Island?
:lol:
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Hey Dazz, i've had a Garmin for a few years and never had the battery loose power yet.
it uses Jenifer Hawkin's to give dirrections :lol:
my maps need updating but they charge about $100 so not worth updating, the trip data and speedo read out are good easy to see & as far as i can tell it's accurate. it's a Nuvi 250W
cheers
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Hey Dazz, i've had a Garmin for a few years and never had the battery loose power yet.
it uses Jenifer Hawkin's to give dirrections :lol:
my maps need updating but they charge about $100 so not worth updating, the trip data and speedo read out are good easy to see & as far as i can tell it's accurate. it's a Nuvi 250W
cheers
Jenifer Hawkin's eh... now your talkin' (does a picture of her come up on the screen when she says something? :lol:)
I am familiar with that model (it is a lot like my Mio) :cool:
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I have a 21/2 Y/O Mio 520C GPS
Given the size of Tasie do you need one as you must have been down every road, nook and crany on the Island?
:lol:
You are right Lester.. because I have lived or worked in almost every part of Tassie (and "investigated" the other parts) I very seldom need the search function here so mainly for speed function... But I do take it with me when I travel to the mainland and have used my MIO in Darwin, Perth Western Australia, Northern New South Wales and Melbourne (was a real life saver) :D
Myown i30 ...I am still tempted to buy the 5" one with the reversing camera but don't really want to have to pay someone to install that part (I wonder how hard it is to install the wiring that detects when reverse is selected)
Ben, thanks for the info on Miopocket.. One of the reasons I was tempted by the Mio in the first place was the fact that it played MP3's and had other non GPS functions (Picture Viewer etc) but due to the poor battery life not so good in practice...
I'm really not one to fiddle with loading extra software to customise.. It is a shame I can't get a Mio or Garmin 4.3 to 5.0 inch with the reversing camera function (that is not more than say A$300 to A$350)
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I would rather not go smaller than 4.3 but Garmin are a nice unit (I have had a play with one a m8 had)
I very nearly bought the 5" one on ebay with the reversing camera but you are probably right (you get what you pay for...) :'(
Nuvi 205W is 4,5". Same pros. and cons. as nuvi 205 and i think is fairly cheap.
(Without taking into account the main features)
I dislike:
Graphics, slow proccessing.
I like (having some fun):
http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/ontheroad/voicestudio#fragment-3
http://www8.garmin.com/vehicles/bundles/allvehicles.html
http://www.vehiclesforgarminnuvi.com/
EDIT: Nuvi 205 & 205W isn't available at AUS.
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I have a Garmin nuvi 205W and it's superb. Never makes a mistake and re-routing is almost instant.
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Personally I would stick with a Garmin or TT :)
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Sounds like I better get a Garmin or TT OR if I get anything else and have problems I better keep my mouth shut :-[
Thanks for the links babis... If I get a garmin they will be handy.. :mrgreen:
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Get either TomTom or Garmin......they are easy to get map updates at the right price... :D
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If you have plenty of time to loose with zero-sum as return, try googling for "Car Pc" or "Carputer". I did and finally thought that mounting a netbook or even a laptop on the dashboard would be easier, cheaper and mostly neat :rolleyes:
Found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-2-4G-Wireless-Rearview-Backup-Waterproof-IR-Camera-/320558237227?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa2c2862b
Looks good (if it really works with a single GPS unit)
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Another good find Babis... My options are growing :mrgreen:
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A real Eaby(ss)...
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Personally I'm usually a map man.
Never really used a GPS at all.
Only one I have is on my push bike (Garmin), and that is a data logger anyhoo not really used as a guidance tool - the newer version is a mapping/guidance device though.
I've have been toying with the idea of getting one though recently......
Will be watching this thread with interest though.
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Hi Clackerz .. The ones with an instant speed readout are a handy heads up display tool to keep an eye on your speed.
The "text to speech feature" where a voice calls out directions is terrific when in you are in a strange city.. My Mio was GR8 in Melbourne late last year it got me around all over Melbourne in a rent-a-car avoiding all the toll ways :D
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Personally I'm usually a map man.
Never really used a GPS at all.
Only one I have is on my push bike (Garmin), and that is a data logger anyhoo not really used as a guidance tool - the newer version is a mapping/guidance device though.
I've have been toying with the idea of getting one though recently......
Will be watching this thread with interest though.
im in the same boat,my satnav is my passenger holding a street directory. :lol: :rolleyes: but sometimes the wife will use the satnav in her mobile phone.it does the job for now. :razz:
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O/K thanks for the help everyone...
I decided on this Garmin one ...for about A$306 delivered with free pouch and screen saver..
http://www.ryda.com.au/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=NUVI1390T&Show=TechSpecs
Then saw this one for only about $27 more...(with voice control which is a great safety feature)
http://www.ryda.com.au/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GO750
Problem is I like the fact Garmin has lots of free down loads to customise and it is about a centimetre thinner and might just have a bit better battery life by the look of it..
I am thinking the Garmin will be better if I want to use it when walking around...
Thoughts please...before I order one or the other :mrgreen:
P.S. I don't want to go any bigger or won't fit in my pocket...
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I have a Garmin nuvi 265T which I bought just before I picked up my i30 this year.
It has bluetooth, not that I usually bother to use it as people rarely call me.
You can change the voice on it.....you get a male or female voice for each country and also have the option of being able to download software which will enable you to use your own voice or anyone else's for that matter.
One issue I do have with Garmin is their maps.. I updated with the latest when I bought the unit and yet occasionally I find myself driving across "open country" with no road in sight even tho the road I'm actually on has been there for a number of years.
Overall tho, I'm pretty happy with it.
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I've heard people talking about different satnavs, and being told to turn left, or right, when there isn't a road to turn into. that could be dangerous :rolleyes:
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I have a Garmin nuvi 265T which I bought just before I picked up my i30 this year.
It has bluetooth, not that I usually bother to use it as people rarely call me.
You can change the voice on it.....you get a male or female voice for each country and also have the option of being able to download software which will enable you to use your own voice or anyone else's for that matter.
One issue I do have with Garmin is their maps.. I updated with the latest when I bought the unit and yet occasionally I find myself driving across "open country" with no road in sight even tho the road I'm actually on has been there for a number of years.
Overall tho, I'm pretty happy with it.
I went the Garmin 1390T.. Got it locally for $295 ... Much more compact and pocket friendly than the Tom Tom G0750 .. I compared them side by side and decided to forgo the voice command (they were both the same price) ...
Guess time will tell .. But I reckon I will be be happy enough with it.. :D
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Sounds good, Daz....I paid $168 for mine, (I think it was a pretty good deal at the time).
I got it from "Wow" while I was holidaying in Townsville.... :)
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Good choice :D
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Thanks.. I could have got a cheaper model of Garmin but the 1390T seemed like the sweet spot... :cool:
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I've heard people talking about different satnavs, and being told to turn left, or right, when there isn't a road to turn into. that could be dangerous :rolleyes:
And that's why people shouldn't solely rely on these gadgets.......
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I've heard people talking about different satnavs, and being told to turn left, or right, when there isn't a road to turn into. that could be dangerous :rolleyes:
And that's why people shouldn't solely rely on these gadgets.......
I've used a GPS in 5 different States of Australia. I learned early in the piece to still keep an eye on the road signs and other drivers etc... (but a GPS certainly helps to point you in the right direction) :cool:
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Even if don't use it as a GPS, you can still play with :lol:
So, good choice Dazz!
BTW, i think that Hemmi's new avatar modified could work as a custom vehicle for garmin... with owner's permission of course
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Even if don't use it as a GPS, you can still play with :lol:
So, good choice Dazz!
BTW, i think that Hemmi's new avatar modified could work as a custom vehicle for garmin... with owner's permission of course
Thanks for your help babis.. I'll go have a look at Hemmi's new avatar (he's been a bit quiet lately... :'()
Looking forward to a play with the new gadget .. Also got a new PVR (Beyonwiz DP-lite) so i've been playing with that first :mrgreen:
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only just read the thread today. i have the 1390T!
i bought it for the extra functions of the lane assist, junction view and the traffic thingy.
took me ages to work out the lane assist is a wee icon in the top corner and not a voice thing or a bigger section of the map that i could actually 'notice' while driving and not having to pay too much attention to the GPS.
i've never seen junction view work yet
the traffic thing always tells me there is no traffic, even if i'm stuck dead in it. this is suna's fault not garmin.
i sometimes get told to 'turn right here' when there is clearly no road to turn on, but i would say this is a fault of the mapping systems not the garmin
otherwise i love it so far, pretty easy to use though i haven't used everything in it such as the bluetooth, another thing i bought it for. took it to new zealand with me and it was fantastic over there, and saved hiring one for $10 per day.
positive, pretty quick to update majority of the time, sat position and navigation etc
negative, touch screen can be slow to respond when trying to move it, or zoom in and out
haven't played with the voices
did have issue with my map update, went to do that and there wasn't an update there and then my 3 months ran out so i couldn't update. appears a few others had some issues with this as well on whirlpool from what i read. possible glitch in system?
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I'll go have a look at Hemmi's new avatar (he's been a bit quiet lately... :'()
...Also got a new PVR (Beyonwiz DP-lite) so i've been playing with that first :mrgreen:
Probably Hemmi is stuck on viewing photos of the Turkish mediterranean beaches :P
BTW, where have you installed (https://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,1833.msg22412.html#msg22412) the home cinema?
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BTW, where have you installed the home cinema?
Hi Babis our biggest TV is in the Living Room between the two windows facing north.. We put surround sound wiring in the walls when we were building so the left, right and two rear surround speakers are in little plaster alcove (pockets) in each corner of the room.. with 1000 watts RMS it all sounds pretty good especially bluray :mrgreen:
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1000w RMS would be pretty bloody good...
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1000w RMS would be pretty bloody good...
Pah. I got more watts than that in my kettle. It says so :P
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1000w RMS would be pretty bloody good...
Pah. I got more watts than that in my kettle. It says so :P
Good answer . :lol: :lol:
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Even if don't use it as a GPS, you can still play with :lol:
So, good choice Dazz!
I've been having fun with the program for recording your own voice for the Garmin... :mrgreen:
Done a "normal" one with my voice (well as normal as my voice can be) :rolleyes:
and did another I called Luigi (tribute to my Italian background) with a strong italian accent.. :lol: :lol:
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you can do that with it? heh never noticed
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you can do that with it? heh never noticed
Sounded good in preview mode on the recording program but on the GPS not so good .. I will have to re-do it talking faster.. I sound a bit "slow" ... :-[
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Done a "normal" one with my voice (well as normal as my voice can be) :rolleyes:
and did another I called Luigi (tribute to my Italian background) with a strong italian accent.. :lol: :lol:
hahaha do you have a really "squeeky" voice? or is it really DEEP!!
lol the italian one would be funny as!
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I am on my 2nd Garmin, 1st was a Nuvi 310 and worked faultlessly for about 3 years. This help me towards making my decision to buy another. I have just brought a Nuvi 1490t with the large 5" screen and traffic receiver. So far so good. :mrgreen:
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Done a "normal" one with my voice (well as normal as my voice can be) :rolleyes:
and did another I called Luigi (tribute to my Italian background) with a strong italian accent.. :lol: :lol:
hahaha do you have a really "squeeky" voice? or is it really DEEP!!
lol the italian one would be funny as!
Apparently I have a very distinctive voice but neither squeeky or deep (I used to make spruiker CD's to play on a stereo outside my work...so can change my voice a fair bit to suit the situation)
Hi Dogga..
The 1490T would have been nice but I thought might be a bit big to fit in my pocket if wanted to use while walking around Melbourne or Perth. Think the 1390T is very similar just a bit smaller (all good so far) although there are some things about my Mio 520C I liked more ...
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I've been having fun with the program for recording your own voice for the Garmin... :mrgreen:
Done a "normal" one with my voice (well as normal as my voice can be) :rolleyes:
and did another I called Luigi (tribute to my Italian background) with a strong italian accent.. :lol: :lol:
Ok, I cant resist..... :-[
So Daz, you have a different voice for each head?
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Nah.. I got one removed at birth (but if you've seen a picture of me you will see I kept the wrong one) ... :wink:
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I just took the plunge and invested in a Garmin Nuvi 1490T.... I've only fondled it thus far but it feels and looks way cooler than my old Tom Tom device... Of course the acid test will be next week once I it the road for work again.
I do love the 5" screen though and the menu seems (at this stage) better than Tom Tom.....
A
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Hi "A" that is basically a slightly bigger version of mine (1390T) which is proving quite good so far.... :cool:
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Hi "A" that is basically a slightly bigger version of mine (1390T) which is proving quite good so far.... :cool:
Hiya Dazzler...
I had Garmin for my first sat nav, it was a dinky little affair bout as big as a golf ball but it got the job done fine. Then one of my daughters bought me a tom tom, which was OK, now I am happy to be back with Garmin. I know their speciality is more marine sat nav but I like their simplicity. I am just having one problem and I know it'll be 'ME' and not the machine i.e. the phone book from my iPhone (which loaded fine the first time I tried it) doesn't seem to be loading now. Aaaaahhhhhh
Good luck with the 1390t.....
Asa
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I took my Garmin nuvi 1490t out for a test flight today around North Yorkshire, over Pendle Hill and towards Skipton (for them as know there way round the UK). I was pretty impressed, it's the first time I have seen 'lane assist' working properly. It was useful to someone whom didn't know which lane to be in at a multi-junction intersection, although on one occasion it was rather late coming, which no doubt accounts for all the idiots who come flying up in the outside lane, then cut across ten lanes of traffic to leave the road. I like that it tells you the name of the street or road verbally, and she usually has the correct pronunciation as well. As I descended through the low cloud around Pendle Hill it did on one occasion advise me to make a turn into something resembling a farmers lane, which I ignored of course. This was rather worrying really, but since I am familiar with the area it presented no problems for me, but, I imagine some guy driving a forty two ton truck (who'd left his brains at home) might have fallen for it, as one occasionally sees this sort of thing on the news.
On another occasion the whole screen changed colour to attract my attention to a road works hold up, and indeed some few miles down the road I passed the obligatory five mile stretch of road cones, I can only assume that the workmen had popped off to have the elevenses and croissants. Which of course meant that there was no hold up, but had there been, I was prepared :-).
Up to now I am giving it 8 out of 10, I will give it the full top score when they sort out the bluetooth properly, I mean, It does work, but the phone book isn't loading properly, I guess the next firmware update will fix that, fingers crossed.
Asa
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Hi A,
I was considering a GPS with reversing camera earlier in this thread but my new car has it built in :D I have a small stand alone bluetooth module that clips on the sun visor but don't need that either now as new car has bluetooth built in as well... :rolleyes:
I find with most things that each brand has some good features and it would be nice to roll them all in together..My Mio had nicer looking maps and I liked the way the power stayed connected to the cradle all the time so when you hid it you didn't have to unclip AND disconnect the cable. On the other hand I like the way the Garmin switches itself on and off with the car...
Did you know if you press the speed readout in the bottom corner you get like a dashboard thing on the screen with a big speedo and other info on it :mrgreen: When I am just driving around locally I use the GPS as a speed check although again I have cruise and a speed alert now so my gadgets are becoming redundant fairly quickly.. :'(
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Nope I didn't know that Dazzler, but I am sure gonna try it out tomorrow.... thanks for that I need all the help I can get figuring out techi stuff these days... HAhahaha
Asa
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Handy working at Radio Rentals.. Today someone rang up wanting to rent a basic GPS for a couple of weeks (we don't rent them out) SO ... I sold him my old one :mrgreen: (only $70 bucks and he will collect it 2moro)
Last week I sold an old telly from Home .. had nothing suitable at work for her.... :cool:
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who needs ebay. :lol: :cool:
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Asathorny
Regarding bluetooth phone compatibility with the Garmin sat-nav.
My Garmin Nuvi 770 synchronises fully with a Motorola mobile phone. I bought a Samsung phone recently and had problems. The only phone numbers that appeared in the address book on the Nuvi were mobile numbers. Land line numbers would not appear. The only way I could get round the problem was by creating a second entry in the phone address book with a slightly amended name - and with the home phone number in the mobile field. It was too much of a cludge so I sold the Samsung phone and went back to my old Motorola.
Efforts to get information and help from both Garmin and Samsung customer support proved futile.
Have you tried checking whether Garmin claim to fully support your phone here... http://my.garmin.com/bluetooth/phones.faces