Anybody have good reports on the following models. Prices converted from $AUD at 24 baht per Dollar Australian

Navig8r M35 3792 Baht

Navman F15 4728 Baht

TomTom One 5976 Baht

TomTom XL 8040 Baht

Nuvi 265W By Garmin I think 9456 baht

NavmanS200 Platinum 10440 baht

Thanks

john

Edit Whoops forgot the 10% refund for GST (VAT) so prices will be 10% less.

wokka, what are you looking at?

Do I assume correctly that as you mention GST refund, you are looking to buy in Oz, and bring to Thailand? If you are looking to buy here, prices will be at least double what you pay in Oz, when you convert the other way.

The first thing to establish is whether the brands you are considering produce Thai maps - not all do. And each brand has it's own maps, so they are not interchangeable.

The second point is that if you buy in Oz, you will only have an Oz map, and will therefore need to buy a map for Thailand if you want to use here.

Then you should look at the features offered in the GPS, and determine whether they will be of any use here eg traffic reports, blue tooth with hands free mobile phone, etc etc. From my experience thusfar in Thailand, I would suggest the Nuvi 265W would be way over-specified for here.

I did a lot of research before I purchased, and settled on the Garmin brand. It then became a matter of which model, depending on what I wanted, and how much I was willing to pay.

I bought a Garmin Nuvi 260 on eBay in Oz for $150 (the price here would have been around $400, depending on conversion rates). It included 2009 Oz maps.

It has all the standard features, but most importantly, it announces the actual names of the streets when you need to turn. This is very handy for me, because I normally wear glasses for reading, but not driving, and therefore my view of the GPS screen in the car is a bit blurry.

Have a look here http://www.jbhifi.com.au/portable/navigation/gps/

The Thailand map is about 7000 baht if you buy it on an SD card or CD. However, I have found a simpler and far cheaper solution which I can help you with if you require.

ps remember, you will only get the GST refund if you spend >$300 in 1 hit.

wokka,
jacks post is comprehensive and relates to your situation in oz. I have a Garmin nuvi 200w and am very impressed with it. I have several Atlases and fold up maps (I like maps) and none of them can compete with the detail of the nuvi map (mapsource I think) of Thailand. Recently I installed a Kenwood DDX 8032 BT and would love to install the add on Garmin GPS but they want 30,000bt and that is a bit ridiculous considering it just a GPS receiver that uses the KW display. I don't think mapsource offers the Thai only map as it is now included in the new SE Asia map, maybe that is part of the reason they want so damn much for that add on I would like to have;o(

You can downlaod maps of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos for free.I have heard excellent commenst about the Garmin range.

S/E Asai map is 7K.

I have the zumo 450 becuase I use it on the bike. The 2010 model is available in Lotus for around 12K baht I have been told it works fine. Mor then likley is yuor out of country yuo can get a btettre buy I save a lot on my unit by getting it from tjhe states. The taking out the US map and loading the S/E Asia mpa 8.1 version.

Actually used for the first time today just put in some small villages in it on the outskirts of Udon. Put on the shortest rout not the d fates. Man did it take me for a real trip. Saw places I had never seen before all within 40 Klms of Udon. Some were dirt t roads I guarentee you won't find on any map. But they were all in good codition.

Next time I will try the fastest route and see what happens It was really lot of fun.

Yuo can gewt the map from Gadget Trend in Cahing Mia or Bangklok. Might be soem advantage to that since they give yuo a program that allows you to put the maps in your computer. Make a trip plan in the computer and then down load to the GPS. Lot easier to see what your doing.
MNow I bring up the map on the computer figire out what i want to do then enter the information in the GPS a two step procees. That additional program would maker closer to a one step process.

I've tried downloading map source from Garmin so far have not been able to get to work.

I have also been told it will work with Google maps haven't tried that yet.

Thanks for all the info Gents. I was leaning towards the Garmin Nuvi 265w @ AUD 394 (383 from JBHFI but they are a 120km round trip) so will buy local and haggle them down as I am buying a laptop also in the next few days.

I will venture out to Eddies Sports Bar on my return and have a deep and meaningfull with you Mr. Spratt.

Once again thanks all for your help.

John

Forgot the 2010 comes with the Thai map already, but form waht I understand it's in Thai writing guy don't seem to be able to get the english written version. I have no idea why, don't have one and not sure they don;t know how to do it or just can't be doen.

rufus wrote:You can downlaod maps of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos for free.I have heard excellent commenst about the Garmin range.

Rufus,,,, can you expand on your post,,,, How can you get the maps for free? Are they in Engrish or Thai? I might be able to get one (GPS) for my brother-in-law.

And yes, I've heard many good things about the Garmins.

To all others,,,, I understand from a friend that just bought a Garmin,,, that the purchase allowed him to update the next years map update free but he had to buy future updates.. Anybody know if that's the policy with all other manufacturers???

Jetdoc,,,, I have a friend that just bought the 200W Garmin and he absolutely loves it,,,, I think he sleeps with it,, He got it for a really good price ($150 i think) because it's been discontinued. He tells me something new every day about that unit.

Those are all descent stand alone systems. Not a lot to say as far as being bad, except the cost per unit on the retail side. It costs, less than 40 USD to have each manufactured, some cheapy brands are half that from good ol China, Malaysia, and what not. Keep that in mind.

Most everyone, (fartlang), in Udon has a Laptop/Notebook, or if not, as cheap ass charlies, might have, at least a high end mobile/cell phone, and modern at that. That means, new. Some 4 year old ones can do this too, on the high end scale

Purchase a GPS adapter/receiver for your mobile/cell, or If, laptop/notebook along with in-car phone/computer stand/rack/holder, and you are all set with GPS that verbally guides, as well as visually, for less than a hundred USD to zero, just by looking on the net. Google it folks, or something. GPS receivers are very common, plug and play.

The big bonus is you can download free legal GPS software for both units, or if you know how to get proprietary software for less, to nothing.

All on your own on that one, but it's way too easy. Too easy. In fact it's so easy, it's easier than picking up a BG!

I've been using GPS via mobile, and sometime the notebook, and even both at times, throughout Japan, Taiwan, HK, Some of China, as well as here, for the past 4+ years for about, 70 bucks U.S.D. when I started.
Actually, it cost a bit more, over time, because I upgrade my mobile every 6 months or so, and notebook when I feel like it, but both still use the same GPS receiver, and spliced. Works great.

For what it's worth, use what ya want, but I prefer using what I already know, and how to make work. All can too, by just researching a bit.
Stand alone units are OK, but I like gadgets that can do a lot more, especially if it cost a lot to do something, that something else is already capable of doing, and has also been around for years.

Up to ya'll, but as far as stand alone, I do like the Garmin, and Tom Tom units. Almost retard proof, but with stand alones, and mobile/cell units, is that one can take with, from automobile, to Harley. Mobile, is the most mobile of course. Power is an issue.

Anybody here, ever hear of EBAY? Use it.

This GPS stuff for cells, and notebooks has been around for awhile now. Notebooks are the best to use, but a modern mobile with GPS is just as cool nowadays, and one can split with it, when ya leave the car, but the very best thing is to have an in-car PC under the seat with 7" touch screen monitor on the dash. I hope to start that project soon, as old as that one is.

I'm a tad bit behind on that one, by 4 years or so.

I have seeen guys talk baout down loads from Garmin a beign free from their site and it does look possible. Howevre the S/E asai ,map is no produced bt Garmin adn they have discontiuned the Thailand map. Up dates roads are not goign to change that much if any certainally not enough to warrant a annual update. But waht doe cahnge is the Hotels , Restuarants, Fuel stops ect.

In all honesty before I take a trip into an area I don't know I do lots of reseach ahead of time. So I really don't think that would be worth an annual update to me. What the advantage of the S/E Asia 8.1 map As an example lets say you want to visit Malayasia, you already have the mapd and GPS ability. Apparently it really is not tha difficult to take trip into that country. Laos may be a little more dificult. The road system for cars doenst look all that great in Laos or Cambodia at the moment..

Where I found the real joy was yesteday whn it took me off the beaten path. That worth every baht I paid for it. You can't plan a trip to a village when no road shows on a map to the village. I was not on anything yesterday that a car could have not easily done. We wonder across som vrey confusing dirt road junctions. I could see when I went the wrong way. Not a sign in sight Thai or English, got me right where I wanted to go.

Had nice little chat with an 80 year old spry chracter in some unknown village, who plan to toddle off to Bangkok on hte 8th. Came out of there with a better look of what the depth of that situation really is.

I would have never experienced that trying to ise a map. I have ridden here for six years using maps. The has truly opened a complete new experience for me.

If you have a chance to look at different Garmin units, I'd suggest a Nuvi 750. It has some great things that the cheaper 200 series don't have. A few extras are that when you take it out of the cradle, it remembers where your vehicle is. In other words, you can't lose your vehicle. It also has a "Where am I" feature that you can press anytime and save the spot or just to see what is available near where you are. I love to listen to audio books when driving. The 750 has an audio jack to connect to your vehicle radio. If you don't have an audio jack on your radio, you can use the built in FM transmitter to listen on the vehicle radio. If nothing else you can also listen to the 750. The speaker isn't too bad. It doesn't have Bluetooth or traffic reports built in. It is a wide screen but will still fit in your pocket. It will accept a 4 GB memory card and that will hold a LOT of music or books.

ADDED - Just for your information, be careful which brand you buy because Thailand maps will NOT be available for most other brands. I'd stick with Garmin.