GPS suggestions please

[GSdude]

Although Im a relative newby and I appreciate there is a newbie Q & A section I thought this question may be better posted herein. Quite simply can you chaps suggest a decent GPS for me and the misus to find our way around the UK (and occasionally Belgium, Germany etc).I dont really ned NASA on my bike but Id like a clear colour display and simple controls. Any suggestions, prices etc would be appreciated.....in fact, as usual, ANY comments welcomed. Chaps (and chappies) over to you

 

[Gecko]

depends mostly on your budget.

For cheap cheap cheapness - look for a 2nd hand Garmin GPS V deluxe. Good basic unit (black & white) with all the turn by turn features and plenty of capacity to overwhelm you with the possibilities and a great first GPS. Price about 150 for a good second hand one with Mapsource city select software and necessary unlock codes. Downside only 19mb memory and serial connection to your PC so slow uploading but still a very capable unit ( I used one for 2 years)

For about 500 quid Garmins Quest is the mutts nutts. Full colour screen - loads more memory (256mb) than you are likely to really need until you begin crossing continents and it talks to you as well . Compact unit very light weight a popular choice among GSers. About the size of a packet of Cigarettes but very capable and light weight.

Top end of the scale - Garmin's 26xx range 2610 and 2650 full colour touch screen all singing and dancing with all the whistles and bells. Uses memory cards so you can upgrade and have all the European maps on all the time (if you want) More expenisve at about 750 quid I think but very good unit. Down side it doesn't have an independant battery supply so you need hard wring into either 12volt on the bike or in the car or 220volt at home. Not so handy if you want to go for a wlak - it's about the size of 4 packets of cigarettes so doesn't exactly slip into a pocket .

All the units use Garmin's mapsource software which is good stuff and is upgraded about every 12 months . Upgrades cost $100 but to be honest upgrading once every 2 or 3 years is adequate.


All units are waterproof so good for use on bike .
Best thing is come to one of the GS events and have a chat with the users. I have a garmin 60C nowadays - it's great . It falls between the GPSV and the Quest - has colour but no voice prompting and is rugged and very good on the bike. Downside is only 56mb but that's fine for me and the software is an expensive extra as you don't get it with this unit as standard whilst you do with the Quest - this is why I wouldn't recommend it to you as a first GPS unit.
Happy shopping
Gecko

PS when you buy one you need a good GPS mount so get yourself s MIGSEL GPS ram- mount .

 

[Pukmeister]

If you buy a GARMIN or BMW unit with the 'City Navigator' software package, the penultimate version is available for download as a free upgrade on the Garmin website, so your maps never need be too far out-of-date compared to the latest all-singing versions.

At present the version available for download is V6.5 and only GPS units sold after Jan '05 get bundled with the V7 software, mine is an '04 unit and came with 'City Navigator Europe V6'.

You can also download the most recent BMW Motorrad dealer listing info for your BMW Nav 2 from the BMW Motorrad website, which may well work as points of interest on a 2610 unit as they are very similar.

Try:

http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/gb/en/index.html

Then click on Navigation and then downloads.

 

[Jon]

Originally posted by Gecko For about 500 quid Garmins Quest is the mutts nutts.
2610 and 2650. More expensive at about 750 quid

Where you buying from Gecko? Quest is £354.95 from GPS Warehouse, complete with Ram mount.

They're also doing the 2610 for £599.99, complete with Ram mount.

 

[Mouse]

Pukmeister, I think you are confusing the MapSource software (currently at version 6.5 and free upgrades available from Garmin) with the City Navigator / Select map data - you can't download the maps, they come on CD. You can get a free update to the maps if you buy an earlier version after a new version has been released. For example you buy a Quest now, and it comes with City Select v6. But v7 was released earlier this year so you can apply to Garmin for a free upgrade.

 

[Gecko]

Where you buying from Gecko? Quest is £354.95 from GPS Warehouse, complete with Ram mount.

They're also doing the 2610 for £599.99, complete with Ram mount.

I stand corrected - and concede my prices are very out of date - but when I was looking at the Quest last year it was about 500 quid. Now it's an even better deal !!!

 

[Jon]

I stand corrected - and concede

No if only I'd be a sceptic, on today of all days

 

[Gecko]

Of course I may have just been confusing Euros with Sterling......

 

[GSdude]

Thanks very very much for your interest and suggestions I shall take it all on board and visit the GPS warehouse immediately to examine those Garmin units......Gecko you have excelled your self on this occasion.

 

[Gecko]

I'm all embarrassed now.....