Has anyone used a phone based sat nav abroad?
02 June 2009, 09:33 PM
#1
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Has anyone used a phone based sat nav abroad?
Just looking into something now and weighing up options.
So if you have, let me know what phone, what nav, and if it was legit if you dare lol.
Oh and how well it worked.
So if you have, let me know what phone, what nav, and if it was legit if you dare lol.
Oh and how well it worked.
02 June 2009, 09:42 PM
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My mate Jamie used his old Nokia with the external receiver in France and it worked pretty well.
Where are you going? If you promise to bring it back I will lend you my Garmin Europe
Where are you going? If you promise to bring it back I will lend you my Garmin Europe
02 June 2009, 09:56 PM
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I would like to try mine abroad, Michael. Got Tomtom Navigator 6 on my SE W960, along with silly celeb voices 
and Britain/European maps.
But I'm skint and don't trust the car so...
and Britain/European maps.But I'm skint and don't trust the car so...
02 June 2009, 10:12 PM
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TomTom on my Windows Mobile phone with bluetooth gps dongle works a treat.
full European map can take a noticable moment to start searching for POI. using the specific country maps is marginally quicker.
full European map can take a noticable moment to start searching for POI. using the specific country maps is marginally quicker.
02 June 2009, 10:15 PM
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Be careful that it doesn't auto-update (like Google Maps) as you'll be facing a large data bill ...
The Garmin Nuvi has European maps (including Eastern Europe) as standard if you are looking to buy something.
Steve
The Garmin Nuvi has European maps (including Eastern Europe) as standard if you are looking to buy something.
Steve
02 June 2009, 10:21 PM
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Absolute con IMHO. My 'GPS' N95 had GPS but no b maps to make it work. It also wants to conect to t'internet to get going wherever you are - think a quid a time if you are abroad, minimum.. Ahh the gap between marketing and practical reality...
D
D
02 June 2009, 10:24 PM
#7
I used Google Mobile Maps, Blackberry 8100 Pearl & an Emtac BT GPS to navigate myself into Paris in the rush hour and back out again. Not a problem at all Typed in the street name & it instantly recognised it and off I went...
I don't pay the bill but no-one moaned at me...
Typed in the street name & it instantly recognised it and off I went...I don't pay the bill but no-one moaned at me...
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02 June 2009, 11:06 PM
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OK I should have said shouldn't I lol.
Im going to the USA in 3 weeks, so need to use Florida maps.
Reason for asking was I am currently looking to get a phone tariff for my nephew and thought I might just get something like a Nokia 5800 or an HTC Touch HD and slap nav on them as they both have built in receivers.
Saves renting one which over just under 3 weeks adds up a bit.
Decisions decisions. lol
From experience, the unit in the scooby and the ones I usually rent are Garmin, so was thinking of going that route.
Cheers Tim
Im going to the USA in 3 weeks, so need to use Florida maps.
Reason for asking was I am currently looking to get a phone tariff for my nephew and thought I might just get something like a Nokia 5800 or an HTC Touch HD and slap nav on them as they both have built in receivers.
Saves renting one which over just under 3 weeks adds up a bit.
Decisions decisions. lol
From experience, the unit in the scooby and the ones I usually rent are Garmin, so was thinking of going that route.
Cheers Tim
03 June 2009, 09:12 AM
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Running TomTom on my Touch HD, maps are available for pretty much everywhere. Works very well for UK navigation. iGO8 is also highly regarded, again maps for pretty much everywhere, haven't got round to setting it up yet 
.
Ran the same software on a PDA in New Zealand (didn't have the HD then) and it was fine, also used an earlier version of TomTom in Italy and that was also good but did find a few map errors. Suspect it may be better now.
.Ran the same software on a PDA in New Zealand (didn't have the HD then) and it was fine, also used an earlier version of TomTom in Italy and that was also good but did find a few map errors. Suspect it may be better now.
03 June 2009, 11:39 AM
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Cheers CD
Dare I ask if its legit?
Just missed an auction in the US for Garmin Navigator with USA maps for a daft cheap sum. Hmmm
Got 2 debates going on in my mind right now.
First is which device, second is which nav and legit or not. I do have a good working relationship with Garmin lol
Dare I ask if its legit?
Just missed an auction in the US for Garmin Navigator with USA maps for a daft cheap sum. Hmmm
Got 2 debates going on in my mind right now.
First is which device, second is which nav and legit or not. I do have a good working relationship with Garmin lol
03 June 2009, 01:20 PM
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I used Nokia maps on my 6124 with a bluetooth GPS receiver when I went to the US last year. The good thing is about Nokia maps is that you can download the latests maps for the area's you need for free. The Navigation part needs a licence 
but the "free" part can show you your position, calculate a route and includes a good selection of POIs.
but the "free" part can show you your position, calculate a route and includes a good selection of POIs.
03 June 2009, 02:59 PM
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Right, update... there is a Nokia 5800 on its way to me now.
So thats what im looking to get software for now
Nimbus, yeah I have done that before with the maps, but can be a little awkward at times when working out which road I want etc.
Would really like to get something thats doing turn by turn and guided, just for less stress lol.
So thats what im looking to get software for now
Nimbus, yeah I have done that before with the maps, but can be a little awkward at times when working out which road I want etc.
Would really like to get something thats doing turn by turn and guided, just for less stress lol.
03 June 2009, 04:38 PM
#15
I have the Nokia 5800 and the only Sat Nav available is Garmin XT which is ok, not as good as TomTom but i havent used it abroad. If you dont go down the mobile phone route...
Buy a proper sat nav unit while you're over there, we went to FLorida for 2 weeks and rented one. After we'd rented it, we went shopping and worked out we could have bought one out-right for less than the cost of hiring for 2 weeks. If you're going for THREE weeks i would imagine it would be alot cheaper to buy.
You never know, someone on here might have done the same thing and have one you could buy cheap before you set off. Thats what i would do next time, buy it, use it, bring it home and stick it on Ebay.
Buy a proper sat nav unit while you're over there, we went to FLorida for 2 weeks and rented one. After we'd rented it, we went shopping and worked out we could have bought one out-right for less than the cost of hiring for 2 weeks. If you're going for THREE weeks i would imagine it would be alot cheaper to buy.
You never know, someone on here might have done the same thing and have one you could buy cheap before you set off. Thats what i would do next time, buy it, use it, bring it home and stick it on Ebay.
03 June 2009, 04:53 PM
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yeah cheers mate, I been looking that route too.
Renting will cost us $170 this year. Last year, 2 cars @ $140 a pop, year before $140... Should have bought one years ago lol.
Maybe if I buy one I can rent it to SN users lol
I like Garmin over Tomtom anyway Just trying to find it "cheap"
Renting will cost us $170 this year. Last year, 2 cars @ $140 a pop, year before $140... Should have bought one years ago lol.
Maybe if I buy one I can rent it to SN users
lolI like Garmin over Tomtom anyway
Just trying to find it "cheap"
03 June 2009, 05:04 PM
#17
I got it "cheap" 
Had to pay for the electricity to download it
If you do get the 5800, have a look on this forum, it has lots of erm.. info
Noeman GSM
Had to pay for the electricity to download it
If you do get the 5800, have a look on this forum, it has lots of erm.. info
Noeman GSM
03 June 2009, 05:19 PM
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Nice one mate I shall do. Does it function ok?
lol im not permitted to view it.
If I need to sign up, but the software works fine, then im there. Does it have USA maps on there too ?
lol im not permitted to view it.
If I need to sign up, but the software works fine, then im there. Does it have USA maps on there too ?
Last edited by Snazy; 03 June 2009 at 05:20 PM.
03 June 2009, 05:50 PM
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Buying a unit is a last resort to be honest.
There is a UK company who rent them out cheaper than you get them in the USA so thats another option.
But would really like to make the most of it. Might just bite the bullet and get a proper version if I have to.
04 June 2009, 01:09 AM
#21
You can definately get any of the maps from the forum, the people are very helpful. If you get stuck with any of it, give me a shout. I only did mine a few weeks back so its still pretty fresh in my memory.
Garmin XT Mobile works fine, just not as good as tomtom, but its better than nothing.
Garmin XT Mobile works fine, just not as good as tomtom, but its better than nothing.
04 June 2009, 01:22 AM
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Cheers mate, appreciate any help you can offer. If you still got the files maybe you can buzz them over ?
Just got to find the north america maps now.
Much appreciated.
Just got to find the north america maps now.
Much appreciated.
04 June 2009, 11:01 AM
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07 June 2009, 04:28 PM
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I thought I would report back and say, all sorted now, and its fan-diddly-tastic too.
All working sweet as a nut, and suprisingly good for a nav on a phone.
USA maps all installed, along with google search, loads of POI's, local weather forcast, traffic, cameras etc
Chuffed to bits, thats a nice $170 saved on the holiday.
Thanks to everyone for their feedback and help
All working sweet as a nut, and suprisingly good for a nav on a phone.
USA maps all installed, along with google search, loads of POI's, local weather forcast, traffic, cameras etc
Chuffed to bits, thats a nice $170 saved on the holiday.
Thanks to everyone for their feedback and help
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