Charles Chodkowski Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Looking to buy a sat nav for our European travels. I don't want to make the misstake of buying the wrong one. Can anyone advise which is the best. I want full European mapping and the ability to enter GPS coordinates, something which TomTom wont except I'm led believe. Can any one help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrytraveller Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Hi Charles, As it happens just been checking the very question myself on the web. I use the Mio 269+ and looking to upgrade for the newer Mio C710, both models have long/lat inputs, so I know which one I will go for now. If you go for the Mio C710, check that it has full UK postcodes (foreign imports don't) and that it has V3.2 not V3.00 mapping installed. You can get free updates from the Mio web site to V3.2, if you are buying new it should be already loaded. When I looked over 16 months ago at all satnavs, I was put off the TT because of its rather bulbus backside, it is awkward to handle and easy to drop (unlike my wifes!) Regards Terry Happy to answer any other questions - if still living >:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 We bought a Mio 268+ 18 months ago and we are very pleased with it. I have been looking at threads recently for a way of using the Mio without the window support and it seems that some people are using "beanbags". I have looked at the Garmin one but can't work out how it works. Does the support fit into the slot on top of the beanbag? If so then the Mio support arm should fit also. There was another reply that said they have made their own but don't say how they attach to the dash, maybe with Velcro. Ours is a Ducato 1998 so the dash is very curved so this might be a problem. Don't know if anyone can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek500 Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 I want full European mapping and the ability to enter GPS coordinates, something which TomTom wont except I'm led believe. Can any one help? I've got TomTom6 running on my PDA. I've got a seamless Europe map on a 1gb card and individual country maps on a 2gb card. You can enter co-ordinates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 If you are going down the pda route, I think TomTom6 will allow plotting by coordinates. I know that you can get a freeware prog for TomTom5 that takes coordinates and puts a POI on the TomTom screen. ""Beaten to the post by one minute !" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevandali Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 The tomtom 910 has the ability to add co-ordinates, I am going through a tomtom or MIO PDA decision at the moment and have decided on the pda going by the overall advice I have received from forum users. Both seem to work fine so it is just a matter of choice. The other half likes the 'look' of the tomtom so things might change. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Chodkowski Posted February 20, 2007 Author Share Posted February 20, 2007 Hello Terry Thanks for response. Just looked at the Mio710(Europe) on Global Postioning Systems website, at £289.95 it seems to be just what I want and will order one in the next few days unless someone advises otherwise. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry1956 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hi there, I have a tomtom 910 and just can,t get on with it, I have tried to load long/lat positions onto the hard drive but it looks like one has to be in the position to input the details. I know this sounds odd and can,t be right but I have not found a way of downloading long/lat positions into the unit. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be greatful. I had a navman before and think for the money it was far better then tomtom. terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Slightly O/T I have just recived the Maplins News jletter and they are having a "Grand Sale". 2Gb cards for £29 and other goodies that might be of interest. Some PDA SatNav items as well. (Not Mio by the looks of it) Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrytraveller Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hi Charles, I asked Global Positioning Systems whether or not they had V3.2 mapping and UK Postcodes loaded on their C710. Just received a reply from Global Positioning systems, as follows :- Hi - yes, it does have full UK postcode search capabilities and and the software is V3. Regards Simon Reading between the lines they don't have V3.2 loaded, although you can get a free update from Mio web site, some people have had problems loading the update. So stick to your guns and make sure you have the new V3.2 mapping software installed on a new Mio C710 before you purchase. I will be sticking to my Mio 269+ bought from Global Positioning Systems, until I know for sure the Mio C710 has V3.2 mapping installed before I buy. I will make sure that Global positioning Systems know of this post, I hope they will reply on this forum, as it may be detrimental to their sales if they don't. Regards Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrytraveller Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hi Charles, Just received email from Global Positioning Systems (GPS), they say :- Hi Terry it seems I was mistaken earlier and our C710 units have V3.2 mapping loaded as standard. Apologies for any confusion or inconvenience. Regards Simon. So providing the Boss agrees, you can purchase a New Fully Updated Mio C710 from GPS!! I will place my order after my wife has retired for the evening Regards Terry ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philman Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hi Terry, interesting what you say about the update. My son bought the 710 on my advice and as it had v3 installed I suggested that he download and install v3.2. This he did and the 710 will not work properly now, he has emailed MIO several times and followed their instructions to no avail. He has also phoned them and received more guidance but it still doesn't work. It looks as if he will have to get it replaced, more hassle. It was working fine before the attempted update. So anyone thinking of buying the MIO ( which IMHO is one of the best on the market at the moment ) make sure that v3.2 is pre installed. Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrytraveller Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hi Phil, Had a look at Mio-Tech site FAQ, it was notable that "C710 will not work properly after Updater Tool was used" was absent from the list, but over 1,250,000 had viewed "How to use the tool", if it was straight forward as they claim, there should have not been so many views. Soak testing software by soaking the user is a feature of some software houses. At least they admit that V3 was buggy, hence V3.2 came to be born. I think I will put off purchasing the C710 until next year because of lack of confidence. I must say that after around 16 months of using the Mio 269plus, has been excellent, only ever freezing once. We just bought a new TV after 10years using the old one, went for a widscreen (unnatural - all my windows are square) 32" CRT , as I read in the PDF manuals for LCD TV's - ' It's not a TV malfunction if you loose a few pixels' How do they expect the buying public to accept a statement like that? Anyway best of luck with your sons replacement satnav. Regards Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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