Recommend a Sat Nav for someone who doesn’t really want one ..

[PaulXC]

I’ve had a couple of cars with Sat Nav built in but never really felt the need for it living in the UK – I think I pretty much know my way around the UK and when I don’t I look it up on Google Maps before I go. When all else fails I look it up on my IPhone. I find that’s about as much "on the go" mapping as I need.

But … I want or think I need something for my XC and a trip to Morocco. pretty much so I have a safety net of knowing where I am and taking being able to do some route planning before I go.

So how much of a Sat Nav do I need ? Any recommendations for a cheap reliable unit that would do serve this sort of purpose would be helpful,

Cheers

Paul

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Quest 1

Small, compact and robust

 

[PaulXC]

Cheers Johnny - I'll check it out.

 

[Fanum]

+1 for a Quest1 (don't be tempted by the version2)

under £100 on ebay but factor in the cost of a ram mount and charger.

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Maps

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Maps

Luddite

 

[Bumpkin]

Another vote for the original Quest here. For off road use I would be inclined to get a Touratech bracket which will probably cost as much as the GPS. However, it should help to isolate it from shock damage as well as providing a support for the antenna which I imagine could get damaged by off road use without.

 

[Tomcat]

Another vote for the original Quest here. For off road use I would be inclined to get a Touratech bracket which will probably cost as much as the GPS. However, it should help to isolate it from shock damage as well as providing a support for the antenna which I imagine could get damaged by off road use without.

Yet another for the Quest 1. Take a look on eBay for a separate plug-in antenna - they're only a fiver or so. I use my Quest on a Honda XR for green laning, and keep the integral antenna folded down - just rely on the external plug-in. I use the cheapy RAM mount for the Quest - no problems off road.

 

[Bumpkin]

Yet another for the Quest 1. Take a look on eBay for a separate plug-in antenna - they're only a fiver or so. I use my Quest on a Honda XR for green laning, and keep the integral antenna folded down - just rely on the external plug-in. I use the cheapy RAM mount for the Quest - no problems off road.

Good idea, an alternative way to protect the antenna.

Please note that the Quest cannot be used retracted in the Garmin powered cradle, you would require the RAM cradle and the QPAC to power it if you're not running off the internal batteries.

The internal batteries on the Quest will last for a full day of riding, however, the back-light only comes on when approaching a junction (an intersection of roads that the GPS will tell you to turn left or right etc.). Whilst the display is visible in daylight without the back-light it is easier to read with it. Using non routing maps such as Bob's World Map, especially at night, will require a powered mount to aid seeing the display. Externally powering a Quest results in the display being permanently back-lit.

The back-light can be manually turned on, for a short period, by pressing a button though this isn't ideal whilst riding.

 

[Tomcat]

The internal batteries on the Quest will last for a full day of riding, however, the back-light only comes on when approaching a junction (an intersection of roads that the GPS will tell you to turn left or right etc.). Whilst the display is visible in daylight without the back-light it is easier to read with it. Using non routing maps such as Bob's World Map, especially at night, will require a powered mount to aid seeing the display. Externally powering a Quest results in the display being permanently back-lit.

The back-light can be manually turned on, for a short period, by pressing a button though this isn't ideal whilst riding.

There's a setting somewhere to leave the back light 'on' when running on battery. Mine will run all day on battery with 50% backlight. I think the manual claims 20 hours run time with the back light off.

 

[Bumpkin]

There's a setting somewhere to leave the back light 'on' when running on battery. Mine will run all day on battery with 50% backlight. I think the manual claims 20 hours run time with the back light off.

Hadn't noticed that before, thanks; Menu > Settings > Display Setup > Backlight Timeout - set to 'Stays On'. Use my Quest, when not using the 2720, in a powered cradle anyway but nice to know all the same.

 

[PaulXC]

Maps

Yeah .. agree with you on that. Maps, a compass and knowing where the sun is in the sky is always my preferred option. I just though a SatNav might be a sensible backup.

P