Cheapo Chinese Sat navs (1 Viewer)

[Allanm]

Are these Chinese units any good or can anyone recommend a better unit (. But still cheap) My Garmin Nuvi just leaves me so frustrated every time I use it in France. It always takes us on narrow C roads no matter what it is set at, and last week, trying to get to an aire ( St Valery sur Somme ) it insisted on taking me the wrong way down one way streets, which is not fun after a 250 mile drive at midnight!
Mrs A now insists we don't use it and has taken on the role of Navigator, which is interesting and most certainly does not result in arguments over which was the right turn to take a few miles back.....
If these units have a bus or truck setting, it might be more usefull
Allan

 

[Forestboy]

I had one (Masaie store I think) it was a load of crap. First one was faulty so they eventually sent me a replacement chip which had the same fault, they then sent me a replacement unit and that one failed within a month, did get a full refund. Wouldn't waste my money if I were you. Can't understand your Garmin I use mine all over the world and very rarely have a problem.

 

[GJH]

All sat nav units depend upon the base mapping. If the base mapping doesn't include road widths and the software doesn't avoid certain road classifications (whether they are narrow or not) then there is a risk of being routed down narrow roads.

We bought a TomTom Go Live 820 earlier this year (on offer in Currys at the time) to replace a Garmin Nuvi but the main reason was better POI display. Both devices were/are used in conjunction with a Truckers Atlas (Jill drives and I navigate) plus some forward planning to avoid unsuitable routes.

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[JeanLuc]

We have just bought a Garmin Dezl 560 which is designed as a truck / RV SatNav and I have created a profile with length, width, height, MAM and max axle weight. It replaced a Nüvi 250 which was 6 years old. Based on 4 weeks in Holland and Belgium recently, the Dezl is in a different league. However, as Graham says, if the maps database does not contain the requisite information, no SatNav will be able to avoid narrow roads. The available road data is much better now than when we bought the Nüvi and is getting better all the time. At least the Dezl tells me when it has no relevant truck data for the road we are on - caveat navigatio.

 

[MattR]

My Garmin Nuvi just leaves me so frustrated every time I use it in France. It always takes us on narrow C roads no matter what it is set at
Allan

So does my Garmin Nuvi

 

[Geoffers]

Just search sat navs on this site, there's quite a few posts on Chinese Sat Navs:thumb:

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[haganap]

Just returned from the USA where I used Co-pilot live the paid for version (£6.99). I have to say it was absolutely ACE.....

So much so that I am getting the Co pilot all of Europe and I mean all of Europe for £19.99. Loads of ways to change things like roads etc.... Doesn't use any data.

The way forward is definitely the smart phone with mapping, designated units are gonna be a thing for history. :Cool:

 

[Allanm]

All sat nav units depend upon the base mapping. If the base mapping doesn't include road widths and the software doesn't avoid certain road classifications (whether they are narrow or not) then there is a risk of being routed down narrow roads........

Seems whatever I set it on, it looks for the narrowest possible road!
It has the latest mapping installed and latest firmware. I just don't think it's very user friendly. I have always been a Garmin fan, well before they produced automotive units, I've tried Tom Tom's too and never been happy with them.
Being able to input vehicle sizes and exclude certain roads seems a great idea, maybe a Dezi is the way to go. All I want to do usually use main roads, I generally have Toll Roads and Motorways in the avoid list but there is nothing to help avoid the smaller ones
Also ( and this was my fault because I didn't tick the appropriate avoidance) whilst on our way to an aire in Normandy, the sat nav told me, with just over 1 km to go, "turn right in 900 metres and board the ferry"!
Allan

 

[Allanm]

Just returned from the USA where I used Co-pilot live the paid for version (£6.99). I have to say it was absolutely ACE.....

So much so that I am getting the Co pilot all of Europe and I mean all of Europe for £19.99. Loads of ways to change things like roads etc.... Doesn't use any data.

The way forward is definitely the smart phone with mapping, designated units are gonna be a thing for history. :Cool:

Where can you get this for under £20? Only one I could find is £34.99!
Allan

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[the stig]

We bought the chinese sat nav, the one that is suited for the bigger MH, as we are 34' long we needed better than what we had before. Have to say it is great, no issues with narrow roads, low bridges, weight limits etc especially when we are following manda3000gt