Sat nav?

[quattro]

I definitely need some help with these as I've never owned one and I'm SICK of getting lost in NZ because the google maps on my iphone is so poor. I plan on doing a South Island jaunt over Christmas. I'm not rich so I'm looking on trademe for something either cheap or second hand. My current list of concerns is as follows;

- I see a lot of brands I don't recognise or no-name knock offs but I wonder should I stick with the main brands? Are they all similar in usability?

- In terms of screen size, is it the bigger the better or small is beautiful?

- I'll want to take it home to IRL with me next year, possibly via Nepal so I wonder will all the makes and models facilitate upgrading with EU maps etc.

- Have I any reasonable expectation that I use it as an MP3 player too?

- If I buy a second hand one, what should I expect to find in-the-box in terms of cables, CD roms, warranties etc etc?

- How can these be mounted? Will I have to invest in a tank bag too or can I use some kind of waterproof mounting? Will a touch-screen function correctly when used with a waterproof cover?

Thanks for reading...

[sinfull]

Why would you want to know where you're going ?

[Hitcher]

Sat nav/GPS? Three words: Garmin. zumo. 550.

[thecharmed01]

Check them out, most of them will only do nav and nothing else.

I've had a Garmin (loved it) and also a Navman which was also good, however AFAIK Garmin have better world maps. The one's I had were just a matter of purchasing new maps online and popping them onto the SD card included, or you could order a preloaded SD.

I've taken to using my phone though and it's honestly JUST as reliable.
Hit up the App Store as there are 'extra' apps for your iPhone that are related to Google Maps but are proper Nav systems. I used "Navigation" 2 weeks ago to find my way from Kimbolton (ass end of nowhere by Sanson) and through Fielding back to the main road to Wellington.
Would have been incredibly lost without it!!!
Also "Latitude" has a good rep.
Both made by Google and free, might be worth a try before you pay money for something you don't need?

[LBD]

Sat nav/GPS? Three words: Garmin. zumo. 550.

X 2...its brilliant

[Teflon]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics...-427602791.htm

I have one of these running tom tom software and Igo8.. chuck it inside a ram mount or top of a tank bag

[geoffm]

Get a Garmin
I have a Garmin Nuvi 760 ( a standard car model), which has an earphone jack for on the bike, combined with a $40 waterproof case from Trademe.
Main reason for Garmin is the free open source maps (www.nzopengps.org) - better than the standard maps, updated every 2 weeks, and legally free. If you look around the internet, there are plenty of pirate maps for other models available,

[FJRider]

Get a New Zealand motorcycle atlas ... it shows ALL the GOOD roads ... for gravel AND sealed ...

The south island has plenty of huge signs too ... telling you which direction the towns are, and how far away they are ....

[DEVVIL]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 500 water proof. Works for me. I rode Napier to Pukekohe on one charge (I use a car 12V charger if needed) easy to use with gloves but no ear piece on the 500. Mounts are cheaper from the us
http://www.gpscity.com/search/q=nuvi+500 I just use a givi handle bar mount and Velcro

[JMemonic]

Check them out, most of them will only do nav and nothing else.

I've had a Garmin (loved it) and also a Navman which was also good, however AFAIK Garmin have better world maps. The one's I had were just a matter of purchasing new maps online and popping them onto the SD card included, or you could order a preloaded SD.

I've taken to using my phone though and it's honestly JUST as reliable.
Hit up the App Store as there are 'extra' apps for your iPhone that are related to Google Maps but are proper Nav systems. I used "Navigation" 2 weeks ago to find my way from Kimbolton (ass end of nowhere by Sanson) and through Fielding back to the main road to Wellington.
Would have been incredibly lost without it!!!
Also "Latitude" has a good rep.
Both made by Google and free, might be worth a try before you pay money for something you don't need?

FYI not so good in locations you have no network access.

[thecharmed01]

FYI not so good in locations you have no network access.

I didn't find that a problem as when you are using the satellite GPS systems you aren't relying on cell coverage entirely.
You can map your entire route, and it seems to download huge chunks in advance. When I lost cell coverage, I still had the route map and it still showed me where I needed to go.

It was the same when I was using the Navman and my Garmin. There were frequent dead spots where the satellites weren't "available" but the maps were there regardless.

The phone apps seem to behave the exact same way as the SatNav's do. When you lose Satellite, you lose the voice but you can still look at the map and check you are on the right track and as soon as you get satellite back it starts talking again.

No system is 100% foolproof really...

[ducatilover]

Why would you want to know where you're going ?

We don't know how lucky we are

[Gremlin]

Oh look... a GPS thread.

Wot the others sed re Garmin (pref the Zumo 550), NZOpenGPS maps (free, most accurate maps of NZ - hell, find a correction and it's in next weeks version), but it also depends how much you will use it.

I have a Zumo 550, with all the wiring, look up Ram Solutions for flexible mounting options (Zumo 550 came brand new with all required mounts) and the Zumo is waterproof, as it's a motorcycle GPS first and foremost. I've done 70,000km+ with mine, two bins, and it's still working as well as the day I bought it.

[Phreak]

I have one very similar to this, and it does the trick perfectly for me. Admittedly, the maps aren't as up to date as some of the more expensive gear, but that doesn't worry me too much. It's never gotten me lost yet! Plus, it plays MP3's, movies, and has a nice big screen for ease of use with gloved fingers. For your bike I'd suggest putting it in a tank bag (with a clear top pocket obviously!)

I'm pretty sure the above mentioned unit uses iGO gps software, which is easy to find online for alternative maps (ie Europe etc) as well.
Power it with a cigarette socket off your battery, and you're away!

[PrincessBandit]

Oh look... a GPS thread.

Wot the others sed re Garmin (pref the Zumo 550), NZOpenGPS maps (free, most accurate maps of NZ - hell, find a correction and it's in next weeks version), but it also depends how much you will use it.

I have a Zumo 550, with all the wiring, look up Ram Solutions for flexible mounting options (Zumo 550 came brand new with all required mounts) and the Zumo is waterproof, as it's a motorcycle GPS first and foremost. I've done 70,000km+ with mine, two bins, and it's still working as well as the day I bought it.

Yeah, + 'however many we're up to' for the Zumo 550. Blardy brilliant although we sold ours a while back when Balu sold his bike. Great for motorbike sausage fingers (in gloves) and wet weather.