SPIII GPS for £150 !!

[Den]

I may be a bit of a GPS numpty here but can anybody tell me if it is vital that the aerial on the SPIII be in the vertical position for the unit to work correctly - or does it not matter?

Thanks,

Andy

Some will tell you it does matter. But when I use it in the car, the ariel is horizontal and it works perfikly

 

[Mouse]

It does matter, but it'll depend on how good your signals are.

If you view the "GPS info" screen on the SP3, you can see that you get a weaker signal with the aerial in the horizontal position than when it's vertical. But in most circumstances there's still enough signal for the unit to work.

 

[markrich]

Okay,

GPS's on the table. What is this unit like to use in real life. Given it's a discontinued model now. Is it too slow? Is it very usable? What's the actual usage like day to day?

Given the difficulties people have had getting the thing updated/working what is it like on the road afterwards?

Is it worth buying or best to wait until the next offer comes along for a more recent Garmin?

Marky

 

[Mollers01uk]

Generally there not too bad for the money you pay for with this deal. Obviously there is fater and newer units on the market but i remeber selling these units for £1000 at Maplins and now there £150 with a good mount as well.

Bargain is what i say as long as they have stock still????

i think if your starting off with gps then this is a good starter and then you have the option to put it on the bike as well and learn more.

Good Stuff

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

I am waiting to receive mine, but I can say form the 3+ and the 276C that I have already that Garmin make a great instrument, good user interface, easy to grasp the basics, does what it says on the tin. 150 quid as a punt is a great way to get involved and I won't be surprised if you plunge deeper in a year or so!!!

 

[markrich]

While there is always something else around the corner, I don't want to have to shell out money for a replacement unit in a year / 18 months time. What I would like the confidence to know is should I buy this unit and upgrade the maps to v8 (which I understand is the same version as in the newer units) or shall I wait for a better offer or spend more money on a faster unit now?

What would I gain on a newer unit if the maps are the same anyway?

I really want to go for this deal but something keeps holding me back and it isn't the idea of finding a Windows computer to load the maps onto which is pain in itself.

Marky

 

[robD]

Marky,

It's something only you can decide on I'm afraid

The wisdom of the resident Garmin 'guru' Michael/PanEuropean seems to suggest that acquiring a unit in the 2610 family would be reasonably future proof - Just make sure you get a unit with the basemap proper to where you will be using it most - Atlantic for the UK, unless I'm very much mistaken.

The good thing about Garmin is their support of their products, more often than not, if it breaks, they send you new one.

-Rob

 

[tod]

Okay,

GPS's on the table. What is this unit like to use in real life. Given it's a discontinued model now. Is it too slow? Is it very usable? What's the actual usage like day to day?

Given the difficulties people have had getting the thing updated/working what is it like on the road afterwards?

Is it worth buying or best to wait until the next offer comes along for a more recent Garmin?

Marky

I've used the SP111 for three years now including three trips to the Alps and Italian lakes. I have found it excellent although can be a little slow to recalculate when off route. I agree that it does not have all the bells and whistles of some of the newer models but does what it says on the tin.

 

[markrich]

I want to take my bike to visit my friend in Bielefeld, Germany and while confident I can find the way anyway, a GPS would be better to help navigate the streets when in an unknown town.

Additionally I have been dabbling with the idea of taking my bike further and visiting friends in Berlin and then visiting Warsaw before visiting more friends in Kaunas and Riga. I haven't been able to find a GPS by shopping around that would give me street maps of Warsaw, Kaunas or Riga; they all seem to think Europe stops at the Oder.

So I figure the SPIII is as good as any other in this respect, even the new ones, but if the maps are the same, the functionality itself must be different. If the SPIII is good enough for use now and in 18 months, what is the benefit of holding out. Can the SPIII get me around safely and easily which the newer units cannot?

Marky

 

[Mollers01uk]

While there is always something else around the corner, I don't want to have to shell out money for a replacement unit in a year / 18 months time. What I would like the confidence to know is should I buy this unit and upgrade the maps to v8 (which I understand is the same version as in the newer units) or shall I wait for a better offer or spend more money on a faster unit now?

What would I gain on a newer unit if the maps are the same anyway?

I really want to go for this deal but something keeps holding me back and it isn't the idea of finding a Windows computer to load the maps onto which is pain in itself.

Marky

I will point out though that the v8 maps are using larger tiles for when you download the maps to the unit. So depending on how much data you want on one card at a time it won't be as much as a previous version.

So for example if you had the whole of uk not ireland it would come to 170mb the unit only comes with a 128mb datacard so you may need to buy a 2nd card or get a 256mb datacard.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[(RIP) Perryhill]

No point arguing it as I've just been told they've all gone anyway.

And they told me yesterday they were getting more soon.

BTB there was someone on eBay selling Garmin compatible 256mb for about £40 still a rip off compared with SD or Flash but better than Garmin

 

[Steptoe]

Generally there not too bad for the money you pay for with this deal. Obviously there is fater and newer units on the market but i remeber selling these units for £1000 at Maplins and now there £150 with a good mount as well.

Bargain is what i say as long as they have stock still????

Would you buy a computer with windows 95

 

[Steptoe]

Look HERE A 2610 with version 8, and a 512 memory card for £325 -

 

[Humbug]

I phoned Garmin and they said I was entitled to the free upgrade to CN 8. They are sending me the DVD and apparently when I am prmpted for the unlock code it will check what version I am currently on and when it was unlocked/registered - this should determine that CN 8 can be unlocked free of charge.

Could you please let me know the number you called to get the free upgrade disc?

Have you received it yet and managed to unlock it because I have been led to understand that it cost $75 to unlock?

Thanks.

Andy

 

[markrich]

Would you buy a computer with windows 95

Wouldn't buy a computer with Windows! ;-)

 

[Mollers01uk]

Could you please let me know the number you called to get the free upgrade disc?

Have you received it yet and managed to unlock it because I have been led to understand that it cost $75 to unlock?

Thanks.

Andy

Number to phone garmin is 0808238000 thats freephone. They will send the dvd out to you and you then have to go to there website to purchase the unlock code for version 8. This costs $75 which i've just worked out roughly to be £45 - £50 depending on exchange rate.

Hope this helps.

 

[Steptoe]

Wouldn't buy a computer with Windows! ;-)

I was always under the impression (someone told me ) that mapsource only worked with windows

 

[markrich]

Sadly this is true, but a version for non beleivers using Apple is due this year

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Just received SP3 kit,
installed CN7 maps on supplied 128mb card,
unlocked for second Garmin unit (276C unit I also own),
installed CN7 maps on 128mb card which I bought separately.

Great value for money, thanks for advice, must save up to upgrade to CN8.....

 

[HMR]

Great value for money, thanks for advice, must save up to upgrade to CN8.....

Not required. It's free of charge.