Help - a BASIC but excellent SATNAV required......

cheapread · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 01, 2007 Posts: 13

Budget £200

I have had a Navman F20 for 16 months - it is absolute RUBBISH, so much so that I think it is faulty...?? Generally it is almost acceptable but OFTEN it goes ape and gives a strem of contradictory instructions one after the other.... sometimes to distraction.
I drive a basic Ford Focus - no screen shielding and it is well mounted and power is from cig.lighter or battery, no issues there.

I desperately need a simple accurate SATNAV.
I dont want camera warnings.
I dont even need good visuals on a screen ( I dont even look at it ! )
I dont want Europe, Channel Islands nor Kurzistan, just BRISTOL !
I just want straight forward reliable aural instructions on how to go from A to Z in the Bristol area and occasionally Cardiff/Bath.

I believe that ' text to speech' is coming in - I think that would be very useful to me ( If it means 'turn left into Acacia Avenue' etc. ?). I expect that will take me above the £200 limit and give me all the extra add-ons that I am declining above!

I am VERY disillusioned with the mapping info or whatever makes my F20 go stupid - is there another supplier of mapping. ( I belive TT uses same maps...)
Would much appreciate your help in slinging this F20 and buying a newer
more advanced but SIMPLE device with no gimmicks or add-ons.
Thanks all
Sad

mikealder · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

The TomTom 720 can be bought below £170 at the moment and that offers the text to speech reading out road names and such like, it can even read out SMS text messages from your mobile phone if its compatible, with full Western European mapping it might be a bit too much though as the coverage is far greater than Bristol, check Currys out Here - Mike

Johnny_D · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

Mike's on the money.

I too had an F20 for about a year. USB fell off the motherboard!

Got a 520 now - worth every penny. With the cash saved get a 2Gb card and load it up with MP3's which you can play through your car radio along with the instructions.

Worth every penny.

JD
_________________
TTG 300 Died the death of a cracked screen
Navman F20 USB Fell off
TTG 520 Third time lucky?
Bloody Superb PGPSW Camera Database.
Not much else!

gatorguy6996 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:06 am Post subject:

You should also take a serious look at the Navteq-mapped 200 or 300 series Garmin nuvis. Many British posters have expressed a preference for them, based on the map accuracy.

cheapread · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 01, 2007 Posts: 13

Mike, JD and Gator -

you're the business, guys, - thanks ever so much -

I'm off to stake out 520's and also a side glimpse at a Nuvi coz I heard good things about them ...although I think they might be pricey ...

No gimmicks says I and straight away I am lured to a 2Gb of MP3 to transmit to my radio, clever stuff even if I have to pay for add-ons -

Great website/board this - will lurk...

THANKS again guys -
Don

cheapread · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 01, 2007 Posts: 13

and the TT 720 too !!!

robertn · Frequent Visitor Joined: Feb 06, 2005 Posts: 564

If you think the Navman is that bad, I do wonder if you will still be disappointed with the other options. They are better, but from what I have experianced, not that much better.

I am however a visual, not an aural person, so the text to speech will make a bigger difference to you than me, and it is much better hearing "Turn left into wotsit st" rather than "in 250 ft turn left".

Be prepared to adjust you expectations or be disappointed, at least that way, any surprise will be a pleasant one.

movilogo · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 24, 2008 Posts: 29

You don't need to spend £200 for a good Sat Nav

Binatone X350 - £70 [good review everywhere]
Navman S30 - £85
Tomtom One UK - £100

I know you are unhappy with Navman F20, but S series is said to improve a lot over F series

gadger999 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 27, 2008 Posts: 2

I too am in the same boat as you (and also from Bristol) and ive just opted for the TT520 Music Edition which includes an ipod connecter and £10 itunes voucher from ebuyer for £139 which is the cheapest price i could find .
Cheers

paulyoung666 · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 30, 2006 Posts: 47

just picked up a nuvi 200 w today , and i am well impressed going from a garmin i3 Very Happy

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