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Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:16 pm
by Judith
My Honda built-in Sat Nav is dying a slow, agonising and very relunctant death [sad] ! I can no longer rely on it and that's not good if we get a shout to an area I don't know (which is most times!)

I want to get a new, reliable Sat Nav so the question is which one?

I need one that can use OS Grid References for directions rather than just postcodes (for obvious reasons!). I also want one with a decent map that can be displayed even if you don't need directions. Sometimes I just like to have the map showing so I can see what turnings are coming up along the road for e.g. (maybe it's a female thing!)

I'm assuming my choices are Tom Tom or Garmin so any recommendations gratefully received! Can't afford anything too expensive [tongue2] .

Thanks!
Judith

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:28 pm
by Darren
TomTom doesn't accept OSGR, only Latitude and Longitude in addition to addresses and looking on the Garmin website neither do theirs.

I think there is a general assumption by the makers that if you have an OSGR, you don't need sat-nav.

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:38 pm
by Judith
Ah, well that rather blows the doors off then!

Do Tom Tom and Garmin accept full postcodes? One problem with my Honda Sat Nav is that (when it is working) it only accepts the first half of a postcode together with the digit of the second half, I then have to choose a road name which I don't always have.

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:45 pm
by Darren
My TomTom 950 accepts full 7-digits postcodes,

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:54 pm
by mark_n
My Tomtom also does full postcodes....

I'm not aware of any of the satnavs that allow entry of OSGR's as they are aimed at road users, they use postcodes or lat/longs.

MY personal preference is for TomTom (even though I was a garmin GPS person).

I try to keep an open mind.....when I bought Anita a satnav I went to halfords and had a play with garmin/tomtom the others.
..............I left with a Tomtom [smile]

You might want to think about what phone you have ....I seldom us my Tom tom as I have a nokia phone and get nokiamaps for free. This allows me to run viewranger which does do OSGR's (and is also free to us) Plus it makes calls and gets me on the internet etc etc...

If you want to borrow my tom tom then you are welcome to have a play for a couple of weeks.

Mark

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:39 pm
by Philip E
My Garmin nuvi excepts grid ref / full postcode / long latitude

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:10 pm
by PollyPocket
We used to hav a garmin, prob about 8 years old now. Does os but not postcode so I would imagine with improvements in tech they prob do both now!
I loved our garmin one. Never let me down!

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:17 pm
by Judith
Thanks guys. Phil perhaps I could have a look at your garmin if you are at training tomorrow.

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:34 am
by Philip E
Sorry Judith
Won't be at training tonight

Re: Tom Tom versus Garmin Sat Nav

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:05 am
by mark_n
Philip E wrote:My Garmin nuvi excepts grid ref / full postcode / long latitude


Thanks for the update Phil,

Didn't realise they could do that....when I looked the guys told me they couldn't...


../m