Which SatNav?

[oceanscape]

Our cars here in the UK have built-in sat nav systems, so I'll need to purchase one to take with us to Orlando. I know I could buy one there and save $$ but we would like it for the airport run, so I'll need to buy it in the UK.

Any recommendations? I'm looking for the cheapest model possible that has the USA maps built on. I've used TomTom before, so that brand would be preferable.

Thanks!

 

[Lilybee]

Hi

You have a couple of options. First, if you have an iPhone 3G or 4 you can purchase co-pilot live USA maps. Costs around £7 and we used it all last year.

Second option, go onto the Tom Tom website and see what sat navs you can buy USA maps for. The only Tom Tom (and sat nav I know of which has USA) maps costs around £170 so this could be an option.

Let us know how you get on

 

[oceanscape]

You have a couple of options. First, if you have an iPhone 3G or 4 you can purchase co-pilot live USA maps. Costs around £7 and we used it all last year.

That sounds ideal, but to use SatNav on the iPhone don't you need data roaming turned on? And wouldn't that cost a fortune in the USA?

 

[Babyboo]

I bought the Tom Tom app for my iphone and using it in the UK is great so added the US maps.

I used them a few times which was also great - but yes you do have to have data roaming turned on so has turned out a pretty usless purchase. We had one in our hire car (came with the car not paid for) so ended up using that.

The few times I switched my data roaming on (which wasn't often) over the holiday cost me over £200 and that was after the bundle package I had already paid for

 

[disneyholic family]

i bought one in the states last year and i was very happy with it..
i ordered it on amazon.com and had it delivered to me at the hotel..
it was waiting when i checked in..
but yes, i didn't have it for the airport run and yes, i did take a wrong turn, but it wasn't too bad...managed to make it to the hotel with only one wrong turn...

and now that i've said i was happy with it, i don't recall which one i bought...
it was very cheap....i have to go find it for our trip in august....
maybe it's in my computer backpack....i'll have a look...

 

[wayneg]

I have an Android phone but I would guess Co pilot is same for both, data connection not needed. It costs £3.02 for Android, read the info here https://market.android.com/details?id=com.alk.copilot.market.usa&feature=search_result
Reviews are mixed. I have never tried it.

I would either buy off ebay or wait and buy from walmart (as I did in Feb) I bought this model, £50 incl tax http://www.walmart.com/ip/TomTom-XL-335SE-4.3-GPS-Navigation-System/15173175?findingMethod=rr

Ebay they often come up from about £50 delivered http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TomTom-GO-710...ics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item2c5c30a1f8

 

[Lilybee]

Hi ocean

UK co pilot USA maps is £3. No you do not have to have the data turned on. It uses the phones in built GPS. Just make sure 'data roaming' is turned off in settings. As long as you do not have the little dot next to the signal bar then you will not be charged data. I assure you. I had the same worry last year and worked a treat.

Don't spend £60 for a Tom Tom map. Trust me. This does the job just as good.

 

[Townfan]

Hi, I think it is important to note, having read the information on this thread, that if you use a standalone GPS app on your Android or iPhone, such as TomTom, Navigator or Copilot, you DO NOT NEED to have data roaming on. These apps have the maps on the phone and only use the built in GPS radio or a GPS booster if you can the appropriate cradle. I have used my TomTom maps on my iPhone extensively across Europe and the US and I have never had data roaming on. You only need data roaming if the maps are not loaded on the phone, ie if you use GoogleMaps with turn-by-turn GPS navigation. Sorry if it appears if I am shouting but I am a tech geek and wanted to make sure that the right info is posted.

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi, I think it is important to note, having read the information on this thread, that if you use a standalone GPS app on your Android or iPhone, such as TomTom, Navigator or Copilot, you DO NOT NEED to have data roaming on. These apps have the maps on the phone and only use the built in GPS radio or a GPS booster if you can the appropriate cradle. I have used my TomTom maps on my iPhone extensively across Europe and the US and I have never had data roaming on. You only need data roaming if the maps are not loaded on the phone, ie if you use GoogleMaps with turn-by-turn GPS navigation. Sorry if it appears if I am shouting but I am a tech geek and wanted to make sure that the right info is posted.

are these the kind of programs that talk to you? turn right now, turn left now...etc etc

 

[Townfan]

If you are looking for a sat nav app to use on a Android or iPhone, look for one that describes itself as turn by turn navigation. These apps give you voice directions. The Google Maps version on Andoid phones is free but does need a data link (3G) because it needs to access maps on the web. This also means that it is very expensive to use abroad because of data roaming charges (£150 bill on my return just for navigating from DTD to Universal). Most dedicated apps like TomTom and Copilot use maps that have been download to the phone so don't need access to the web.