Hi all,

I am looking to get a GPS system. I am living and working in Bangkok. To be fair, my wife will probably be doing more driving than me, but none-the-less, I want to be able to use it in English.

What is the best unit to buy? Is there any particular unit that is better for Bangkok i.e. better maps etc.? I'll confess to being pretty ignorant in the world of GPS systems, so when I say "best" I mean user freindly, good maps, value for money (not to be read as "cheap", just "good value") - oh, and I want to be able to interface it through blue tooth with my mobile phone so I can use it as a "hands free" kit

Recommendations, tips, and comments all much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

This subject has been 'done to death' in the last few weeks....a search may well overheat your computer

As for myself, I have never had any GPS units other than Garmins. I have used or tried most all the available maps and have decided that ESRI maps are the best.

As far as a specific unit, it depends what you want. Most all the Garmin units get you from point A to B. The more expensive units have bells and whistles. I don't care for Bluetooth and the FM traffic reports don't work here, so that option is useless. I like the audio book and MP 3 player option. The FM transmitter is useful but the audio jack works much better if your vehicle can use it. I also like the detour function and a unit that remembers where you parked is nice to have. A Micro SD memory card option is a must. The newest units have lane assistance and junction view. I don't have that feature but I have just ordered a Nuvi 855 that does have those features. Whether the US purchased Nuvi 855 will work with the ESRI map is yet to be determined.

Thanks for the replies.

Cheers Gary. I had a look online at the Garmin that costs about 12,900 baht - I think it is the widesreen version with junction assist and blue tooth ...... I think it is the 215?

I think one of the main things for me is to be able to have place names in either Thai or English - depending on who is using it (me or mrs.).

Cheers......

You probably have this link, http://www.eaglegps.co.th/index.php/lang-en/car-navigation. You have to read the description carefully. There are two functions you will want to look for. One is lane assist and the other is junction view. They are not the same. I think the Nuvi 215 and the Nuvi 1460 both have these features.

Apparently Garmin units sold in Thailand are a little different than units sold elsewhere. It appears that ESRI had fiddled with the unit firmware and some of the newer features only work with units sold here. I would guess that is an attempt to force people to buy Thai units which are normally at least double the price.

ADDED - When you buy the unit, you have a choice of a Thai language map and the English language map. It is possible to put one map on the memory card and the other in the internal memory. That way you can choose which map you want to use.

Edited April 22, 201016 yr by Gary A

When you buy the unit, you have a choice of a Thai language map and the English language map. It is possible to put one map on the memory card and the other in the internal memory. That way you can choose which map you want to use.

The Mrs. picked one up today - I would rather have been there myself, but its done now so no point in crying over spilled milk.

The unit did not come with a memory card - is that normal? Its all in Thai - there is a CD with it, but there is a sticker on the CD saying:

"Please do not download the English OS from Garmin Web Site and install it on Thai OS nuvi, otherwise you wouldn't be able to revert back to THai OS anymore". I am pretty ignorant in these things ..... what exactly does that mean?

Many thanks everyone.

The Mrs. picked one up today - I would rather have been there myself, but its done now so no point in crying over spilled milk.

Picked up what? Please elaborate.

Edited April 28, 201016 yr by aidenai

Perhaps I do not have a good knowledge with Garmin units; i bought one few weeks ago.

When you are a destination it is easy to bookmark where you are and easy to get to it the next time, for outside Bangkok, it work wonderfully, but it is not a street directory, it is a navigator.

In Bangkok I did not find it is very good, lanes changes from one way to two ways, traffic or road blocks, none are display in the Gramin, streets assistant I think at this stage is not available in Thailand.

I bought a separated memory card, the shop did load the english map, lots of details in it.

1. You will have to purchase a microSD/SD memory card, 1G is more than enough.

2. You download the English Language Map from the CD. There are instructions on the CD in Thai, or help posted on ThaiVisa. If you want both maps on the GPS, download the English map to a microSD/SD card.

3. You will need a mini USB cord to connect the GPS to your computer.

4. Only use firmware downloaded from the ESRI Thailand website. Firmware updates obtained from the Garmin US website are not compatible with the Thai OS (operating system).

Edited April 29, 201016 yr by InterestedObserver

The Mrs. picked one up today - .......

If you require any assistance, we need to know the Garmin nuvi model number 205, 215W, 1250, 1460 etc.

i just copied and pasted the English version from the CD, no micro card and most annoying no connection to computer, luckily for me my last unit usb fitted. previous post show step by step guide how to do, thats what i used. i still prefer the i go 8 map but the Garmin is great aound Pattaya City, just uses all the back roads and miss all the traffic. programme shortest route, although out in the country best to go to quickest as shortest has took be down some rough tracks. points of interest also good.

I have try copied and pasted the English version from the CD, but its still not working, any idea why

Thanks

TomTom

TomTom

Do you use a Tom Tom here in Thailand?

I have try copied and pasted the English version from the CD, but its still not working, any idea why

Thanks

did you delete Thai map first