Help needed with choosing Sat Nav

Had a quick look at the posts I could find on this but all a few years old and technology waits for no man.

Basically I have moved to a new area and will be doing a fair bit of travelling around the patch in my new job so really need to get a Sat Nav for the car. This got me thinking that I could kill two birds with one stone and get one I can also use on the bike as I got Sat Nav envy when Rosco was getting us lost using his and then claiming the great roads we found were planned.

Anyway can I have your thoughts on best compromise position as out and out bike sat navs are comparitively expensive. Basically want something reliable and easy to use, that can be powered through car lighter socket (may fit same to bike) and not too many bells and whistles. Have bluetooth stereo system in car that phone works through so bluetooth on a satnav not necessary. Happy to stop bike if I need to adjust a route and really use it as a back up glance at system. Waterproofing - if its lashing down chances are it will be tucked away in bag anyway or in a generic waterproof pouch.

So basically dont need too many bells and whistles just a decent basic sat nav that wont direct me off a cliff. Cheers .....

frazmcfraggle wrote: Basically want something reliable and easy to use,.

That rules them all out then

Short of a bike sat-nav you are looking at a device which you put in your tank bag, a dedicated pouch as you have mentioned or in your pocket - if you want to rely on spoken directions.

Phones have them these days and I guess have given the dedicated units a run for their money. My Nokia phone came with a car cradle but the box has never been opened, I already have a Zumo 550 with a car mount and no car, so never used it .

I think it depends on what you are used to, but I don't use my phone sat-nav, find it most frustrating. Had to try and follow a route on an iPhone this afternoon and it kept directing us the wrong way and then tried to get us to turn left off a bridge!! Needless to say when the driver wanted to get it to direct us back I said don't bother I'd tell him the way.

Not sure what second hand prices are like maybe worth a look. In spite your experience with Rosco's Humo (Honda badged Zumo 550) they are not bad. I find I do have to glance at the screen when it wants me to change direction, especially in built up areas. I have loaded up heaps of points of Interests including chain stores which I'd never dream of visiting, but having a Golden Arches, a Kwik-Fit and the like logo on the screen helps with landmarks and I find requires a far quicker glance than trying to get road names.

I've always done alright with Garmin, fairly easy to use and has been reliable provided it's updated regularly.

My problem now is that the maps take up so much memory and my old 2820 has so little I have to pick and choose which maps to install!

The one I have (effectively a Garmin 550) is pretty good imho.
Might be a bit cheaper since it's been superseded.

I paid extra for the lifetime updates (only for the supported lifetime of the product through so not exactly sure how many years i'll get)

Lots of fancy features that you may or may not use such as Track (where you've been) and the ability to make this a route.
Set out a predetermined route with various via-points.
Can 'find' you a shop, food, garage, fuel in any area from its database.

They've added more to their maps now as I can't download the full european maps to it anymore. It does still give you main roads though.

The likes of google maps should always be more up to date and a phone app such as NavFree are constantly updated so potentially are more accurate. Tie this in with a water-proof mount (like wot Krusty Paul) uses and it might prove 'enough' for what you want.

I think Paul uses his iPhone as a sat-nav. Maybe get a report from him to see if that is a cheaper solution that might give you enough to do what you want.

Good luck.
Cheers
Rosco

Don't get the same one as Rosco.....
Remember the Spain incident Chris?????

Dirt Bike Dave wrote:Don't get the same one as Rosco.....
Remember the Spain incident Chris?????

You lot bloody enjoyed it I know you did.

Ok maybe not the beach bit :/

In my defence I couldn't hear the thing as I'd bust my audio cable and we had to ride on the wrong side of the road.

FYI - I think the newer Garmin units have better spec Bluetooth (higher quality)
I think mine only does mono and not stereo too.

I get my music via my Intaride (via 3.5mm stereo audio jack) and the directions via Bluetooth to the intaride from the Garmin (can be cables too I believe).

If you want music, sat nav, Bluetooth, phone etc make sure you know how they are all going to connect and work together before you buy anything.

I use an old car TomTom GO 710 which I lash to the bike with sticky-backed Velcro. I run a power cable from under the seat into the cockpit area, and then run headphones from the unit into my helmet. A couple of things to think about:

- mounting: I mount mine in the cockpit, above the dials. This is perfect for me; I tried it in a tankbag and here it is way too low to be able to glance at effectively. Make sure you can mount it in a place which is easy to look at whilst riding (the higher the better AFAIAC).

- power: make sure the unit will take a power input easily. Mine needs to have the windscreen mount attached to it to have any inputs or outputs; this is OK as I got a broken one and removed all the suction cup gubbins to leave just the electronics part, which I attach to the back and offers all the in/out ports

- headphones: many car units have no headphone socket. You can use Bluetooth headphones with some, but you'll then need to get some of these too. Mine has a 3.5mm port in the mount, which I plug some in-ear earphones into which act as both headphones and earplugs

It all works OK for me - even in the rain, as the unit is shielded from the worst by the screen. You probably won't go this route, but I hope the pointers above give you something to think about.


Looks like a factory install

Nice one i use SatNav on tank bag and its shit

ANother option is the kapten voice activated one.

Cheap, I got mine from ebay for £50 but no screen and you have to programme where you want to go on the pc. It got me to Wee mac no probs. Plus then you have 2 meg of mp3 to listen to as well.

Far too modern stuff for me.

Nothing wrong with a good old Map

Get a bike intercom, put the wife on the back, I call it Sat-on-the-back Nav. It's never wrong, gives you more information than you need(might not be at the right time) The bike has its own mounting points no electrical connections needed, just food and drink when you stop. It also comes programmed with riding advice and a speed limiter.

outstanding answer Mr P

past-it wrote:Get a bike intercom, put the wife on the back, I call it Sat-on-the-back Nav. It's never wrong, gives you more information than you need(might not be at the right time) The bike has its own mounting points no electrical connections needed, just food and drink when you stop. It also comes programmed with riding advice and a speed limiter.

Ha ha, I tried one of those once but my speed limiter had a habit of punching me in the back or squeezing my balls. Not ideal.

lol , i just use my phone , its never been wrong , allways updated, and easy to use

past-it wrote:Get a bike intercom, put the wife on the back, I call it Sat-on-the-back Nav. It's never wrong, gives you more information than you need(might not be at the right time) The bike has its own mounting points no electrical connections needed, just food and drink when you stop. It also comes programmed with riding advice and a speed limiter.

My Little Sat-Nav

I have a little Satnav, it sits there in my car,
A Satnav is a drivers friend, it tells you where you are.

I have a little Satnav, I've had it half my life,
It does more than the normal one, my Satnav is my wife.

It gives me full instructions, on exactly how to drive,
It says "thirty miles an hour" , "And your doing thirtyfive".

It tells me when to stop and start, and when to use the brake,
It tells me that it's not to bright , nor safe to overtake.

It tells me when a light is red, and when it goes to green,
It seems to know instinctively, just when to intervene.

It list the vehicles sat in front, it lists those to the rear,
It takes all this to account, then specifies my gear.

I'm sure no other driver, has so helpful a device,
For when we leave and lock the car, it still gives out advice.

It fills me up with counselling, each journey's pretty fraught,
So why you ask not exchange it, and get a quieter sort?

Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, makes sure I'm properly fed,
It washes all my shirts and things, and - keeps me warm in bed!

Paddy Baker

Just a quick update, eventually went and got a cheap £50 binatone job out of argos as I have been driving without one for years, including as a taxi driver so sense of direction is good. Main reason was for the final half mile to get to the relevant doorstep.

Bought this cheapy as it has a headphone socket which is like finding rocking horse sh*t these days so can use on bike if and when as well.

So far so good, has done a good job on the journeys I have tried it out :cheers:

Glad to hear you're not lost down there Fraz and are settling in.
When you having the house warming then?

Hopefully catch up on a ride out soon.

Give us a shout if you are venturing north on the bike and we can try an meet up. Assuming neither of us gets lost

Cheers
Rosco

hey Ross, getting keys to house in a fortnight so housewarming will be ......eh ......... i'll get back to you.

Billy and his good lady have already decided it to be their drunken crash pad when they go out in Carlisle so house may not be standing for too much longer.

Still to put new tyres on bike and then bring it down but there is room for it round back of house, or if i want at the depot where it will be indoors and cctv'd. Will let you know when I am getting bike down and we can get a wee run after that