Whats the best sat nav software to get?

[Guest Nubbing]

I am going to get sat nav for my QTEK 8300. This is because when I am not using the sat nav in my car, I can carry it with me and not leave it on display. If I got just a sat nav unit it would be a hassle carrying it about. Also smartphone (if you already have a smartphone) sat nav is cheaper as all you need to pay for is the software and the reciever.

So whats the best and/or/as well as cheapest sat nav out there?

Also we all no a HTC Tornado booming out instructions and contantly displaying the map on that big bright screen will see its power dissapear fast. How does the GPS reciever and the phone get powered at the same time in a car?

Just passed my driving test today :)

[Guest derekyeu]

I'm using Mapopolis on my SDA with a Holux Bluetooth receiver. Works very well and cheap. There are other GPS softwares. TomTom is highly rated, but no US version yet.

Mapopolis does not come with any PC software for trip planning, so you have to do everything on your phone. Mapopolis is free, you buy the maps. You can download a demo map and try it out on your phone.

Derek

[Guest leobg]

TomTom is highly rated, but no US version yet

Are you sure no US support? Why do I think there is :)

TomTom is really great!

Mapopolis not bad either.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

TomTom does not support CDMA at the moment and so the Smartphone (Mobile) version of TomTom is not available as yet in the USA.

As to the first post and charging, I use a dual cigarette adaptor to charge the phone and the GPS at the same time. It makes life easier not having to worry about how much charge is left etc.

[Guest kc1]

I use it on my SP5, and it has some nice features but there are many many errors in traffic restrictions - even with the latest map. I get at least one new error each time I use it, of the type where its telling you to turn right at the end of the road, even though its a no right turn. And its not as if those traffic restrictions are new.

re US - my friend has TomTom working on his Cingular 2125, for when he visits uk or oz. Seems to work fine

[Guest Looby]

I use Mapopolis, it's fast, pairs well with the GPS and hasn't put a foot wrong yet. This is on a SP5 smartphone. :)

[Guest Nubbing]

TomTom does not support CDMA at the moment and so the Smartphone (Mobile) version of TomTom is not available as yet in the USA.

As to the first post and charging, I use a dual cigarette adaptor to charge the phone and the GPS at the same time. It makes life easier not having to worry about how much charge is left etc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ahh very clever, any links to where I can get a dual cigarette adaptor?

I don't know much about the car that I drive. But I do know that it aint got a CD player.

Is there away to connect my Qtek 8300 to my car stereos. Basically like an IPOD connector. The car does have a Cassette player and I have heard of cassets that have ipod slots on them. So surely I can somehow connect my Qtek to my car stereo.

Thanks for all the replies about the sat nav software. I was going to get tomtom but the possible 5 week wait for it seemed a bit too much. Also I wanted to know about other options. The price seemed a bit high too, especially when I have heard of Smartphones costing £150 and come with sat nav...think it was on this websites news page once.

[Guest Samsonite]

try your local Halfords for dual ciggie lighter adaptors...

As for SatNav packages, Expansys - www.expansys.com - do various models bundled with Co-Pilot. I use that and have no problems at all - Version 6 is the latest so be careful you dont end up buying 5 - still good but the later the better.. It comes with a UK map and doesnt tie you to a GPS unit like TomTom...

[Guest Nubbing]

try your local Halfords for dual ciggie lighter adaptors...

As for SatNav packages, Expansys  - www.expansys.com -  do various models bundled with Co-Pilot.  I use that and have no problems at all - Version 6 is the latest so be careful you dont end up buying 5 - still good but the later the better..  It comes with a UK map and doesnt tie you to a GPS unit like TomTom...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I found co-pilot 6 with ukmaps on expansys.com £181

I also found TOMTOM mobile 5 with GPS thing for £200

Things are still looking too expensive :) I thought it would be lots cheaper than buying a dedicated Sat nav unti. Suppose its £150 with VAT off... £20 extra, better going with tomtom I suppose?

I know TOMTOM GPS untis are going for £70 on ebay, could I buy the tomtom software dirt cheap somewhere else then?

Any other options?

Oh, also I found this

From here Problem is the qteks headphone slot is smaller than the standard headphone slot...so I am guessing there is an adapter available to make the Qteks smaller headphone slot into a bigger one....bet that would stick out :D Where the hell could I get something like that from? Perhaps I should pursue a USB cassette to car connecter. phew.. :-&

Edited February 20, 2006 by Nubbing

[Guest Samsonite]

AFAIK, you cant buy TomTOM software only. Its their way of protecting their product. The software will only pair with the supplied GPS reciever.

As for cost v. dedicated unit etc, dont forget that you have the phone anyway. Even if you buy a TomTom GO (or whatever they are), you will still have the phone as well.... the costs bear themselves out to be comparable and you dont have a dash mounted microwave oven staring back at you as well as your phone in your pocket... there is a current trend of car break ins for satnav units.

plus there is always the added cool factor of phone based Satnav!!

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

Yep TomTom Navigator is available as software only, but for the phone the Mobile version is only available with the GPS unit.

[Guest Nubbing]

Well got this

and this

From ebay all together costing £9.40.

Sat nav just seems to deer at the moment. I would pay £100, but £200 is pushing it too far. Unless your a delivery person its not worth that much money. :)

[Guest Monkhouse]

AFAIK, you cant buy TomTOM software only.  Its their  way of protecting their product.  The software will only pair with the supplied GPS reciever.

Not at all! TomTom Mobile works with any compatible GPS receiver - I use a 16ch 'BT-77' unit, off eBay for £35 + P&P.

You just need to make sure that, when setting up TomTom for the first time, you choose 'Other GPS Receiver' when given the choice, and not 'TomTom Receiver'.

Works lovely, v. happy :)

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

You can still only buy TomTom Mobile with the GPS so it's pointless looking for a seperate GPS unit unless you intend to buy a dodgy copy of TomTom.

[Guest nastassja]

i also use tomtom with a fortuna slim gps, no problems at all.

[Guest Nubbing]

Not at all! TomTom Mobile works with any compatible GPS receiver - I use a 16ch 'BT-77' unit, off eBay for £35 + P&P.

You just need to make sure that, when setting up TomTom for the first time, you choose 'Other GPS Receiver' when given the choice, and not 'TomTom Receiver'.

Works lovely, v. happy  :)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well thats good new, BT-77 unit off ebay you say. :-k

You can still only buy TomTom Mobile with the GPS so it's pointless looking for a seperate GPS unit unless you intend to buy a dodgy copy of TomTom.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well its tomtom's fault for not selling it right. Clearly if tomtom is compatible with other GPS recievers they thought 'well just in case we will make it compatible with other GPS recievers'' Marketing folk said sod it lets just make it exclusive with our reciever.

And now there clearly charging to much for everything. Am off to a computer fair tomorrow...

[Guest aty]

try your local Halfords for dual ciggie lighter adaptors...

As for SatNav packages, Expansys  - www.expansys.com -  do various models bundled with Co-Pilot.  I use that and have no problems at all - Version 6 is the latest so be careful you dont end up buying 5 - still good but the later the better..  It comes with a UK map and doesnt tie you to a GPS unit like TomTom...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dual ciggie lighters, even quad ciggie lighters for 99p from (dare I say it) the 99p store in Birmingham.