GPS purchase

[migrant]

I was wondering what GPS people have bought, and liked in Thailand.
Where and how much?

Thanks!

[Big Boy]

Not answering your question , I brought the GPS I was familiar with in the UK to Thailand. All that I had to do was buy and load Thai maps, which was a lot cheaper, and no learning process involved.

[jingjoe]

I dumped my gps and now use my samsung galaxy phone,downloaded the free maps app and it gets me to anywhere i want to go,more up to date than the gps,and handy,can use it while on foot,riding bike or in car

[moater]

Consider not buying one at all and using a large screen smartphone instead. See http://huahinforum.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 90#p356055 and below.

[hhfarang]

I have the Garmin Nuvi (bought in Hua Hin years ago) and it has served me pretty well, though I only use it on out of town trips. Have to buy/upload map updates once every couple of years as things change in Thailand due to the ever constant road construction.

I don't use the smart phone because any time I turn on the GPS it eats the battery pretty fast. Also, is the GPS on all you need to use the maps app, or do you also need a data plan (or data turned on) ... I only use my phone in WiFi mode, with phone network data turned off because that eats minutes and battery fast.

[STEVE G]

I use sygic navigation on a tablet, you download the maps so you don't need data and I plug it into the charger in the truck so battery life isn't a problem.

[hhfarang]

^ That sounds interesting and like a good substitute. I'd have to buy the in car charger and remember to turn off the GPS when not in use but still better than carrying an extra device. Do they have reliable Thailand maps and does it work on a smartphone with voice instruction like a dedicated GPS unit.

[STEVE G]

The maps are excellent and car chargers with a USB outlet cost very little. I think it does have voice commands but I've never tried that as I have an aversion to electronic noises. If you want to try it, you can get a free trial before purchase.

[hhfarang]

Not using voice commands sounds dangerous. Do you pull off the road periodically to stop the car and look at the map? The whole idea of GPS voice instruction is that the driver can pay attention to driving rather than looking at a map.

[barrys]

I use the GPS/maps function (HERE Drive+ app) on my Nokia 1020 and, yes, it does have voice commands.

[STEVE G]

I just put it on the dash board and glance at it the same as you do with the screen on an inbuilt navigation unit. I don't use it that much as the vast majority of the driving I do in Thailand is to places that I know but I can imagine that around Bangkok it would be very useful and in that kind of traffic you probably would need the voice thing. I just had a look at the website and the maps that sygic use are from TomTom.

[moater]

Sygic does have voice guidance ("commands" seems a tad strong ), but I don't like its interface. My favorite is Google maps, which is free and has awesome voice guidance, but requires a data connection to calculate routes. It uses surprisingly little data though, so you can get away with a minimal monthly plan (50b? 99b?). For offline navigation I like iGo for Android, which comes with tons of features and POIs.

Not sure about forum rules on linking to... err... "free" copies of apps, so I won't. However, they can be easily and safely obtained at no cost if your morality allows.

Re chargers, I got one of these. It's extra great since it has a standard electrical socket, so I can charge/power anything even if it doesn't have a USB plug.

[clinton114]

Garmin nuvi. I was really impressed with it in & around Bangkok, but up in Isaan, the map seemed to be outdated for some of the less-major roads.

[Big Boy]

My Tom Tom maps have been first class. It seems to know know all roads from Krabi to Khon Kaen. It has taken me across a couple of pineapple fields, but that was my personal enjoyment of off-roading. If I'd ignored the command to turn onto a dirt track, it would have simply re-calculated to use proper roads.

[buksida]

Have used Sygic on my Samsung phone and am well impressed, even with the free version you can download the entire map of Thailand and it works without an internet connection.

Tip for using Google maps: download and zoom in on the map of the town you want to go to when online, then activate the GPS on the phone and it'll work even when you're offline. This is how I managed to navigate around Myanmar!