Sat Nav

[Limey711]

Are there any Sat Nav systems set up for Thailand, I have checked all major makes of Sat Nav systems here in the U.K. Although they offer maps of Europe, U.S.A., Canada and Australia, at present there is nothing as regards Asia.

[Terry]

The whole question of Maps - either paper copy or satellite is alien to Thai culture (Or actively discouraged by the Military more likely).

You can get reasonable large scale maps but try getting good local ones at any reasonable detailed scale and one of three things will happen.

Either

1) They dont exist
2) If you get one - the roads shown dont exist or are just so badly represented.
3) If you get one the roads that DO exist aren't on the map at all.

I,ve done a lot of local exploration for fishing venues and the maps that I have, have been next to useless.

Sat Nav is taking off here in Asia, but as long as there is a heavy military influence - then accuracy and availability is suspect.

Google Earth is OK but unfortunately the images around HH are not so good as elsewhere - you can guess why.

My advice - get a compass on the dashboard, get to know a few landmarks and follow your boyscout training

[Winkie]

Panthip Plaza in Bangkok is now full of Sat Nav Software for whole of Thailand. whilst I don't have any, a buddy does, and it is surprisely good and up to date. Even 2 hours outside of Bangkok (North). Haven't tried it in HH area though.

Don't know brand, but when in BKK why not pop into Pathip and see what they have.

Its better than I exepcted it to be.

Also Toyota have been offering GPS for their cars for about 2 years now, so I think Thailand is catching up - Lets face it, with the speed of new road contruction (major ones anyway), the Software developers have an 8 year window to update for new roads!

Winkie

[klrsmith]

Are there any Sat Nav systems set up for Thailand, I have checked all major makes of Sat Nav systems here in the U.K. Although they offer maps of Europe, U.S.A., Canada and Australia, at present there is nothing as regards Asia.

I have an HP IPAQ and a bluetooth GPS that seem to work pretty well with the Kingmaps - you can download a 3 day eval copy from their site if you have a pocketPC... I've been using that three day version for quite some time.


Regards,

Kevin

[Guess]

The problem is the map data. I have noticed thought that ordinance style is starting to become available. The Military hae been selling provincial maps for years but only in Bankok. Aerial data is available but it needs to be tied in with ground data which is not so readily available.

It is possible now that digital sources are becoming available from Russian and US satellites.

I do know of someone who has a map that he uses with his iPaq but I have not seen the quality.

I think it will be a while before you can get anywhere close to what they have in the UK.

[STEVE G]

I think it will be some time before our dirt road in Kong Ki makes it onto a satnav system, but I would buy one that worked in Bangkok. I don’t get lost much in the rest of Thailand, but as soon as I leave the main roads in Bangkok I get hopelessly lost, especially in some of the outlying areas.