I know this posting may be somewhat redundant since I have seen some references to this topic in other threads (which are older and I currently can't find), hoping to get current information on this specifically since I am thinking about getting a handheld Garmin for off road/on road use. What I would like to end up with is a Garmin unit with ESRI Maps most current version. I have read that the Maps can be bought and loaded on the unit in Thailand, but what are the differences between a Thai purchased unit (Thai OS) and foreign purchased unit?

As far a a handheld, the major difference would be price. I have a Garmin eTrex and a GPSMap 60. Both use the TSM ESRI map with no problems. The GPSMap 60 is a far better unit that the eTrex. It has now been replaced but is still an excellent unit. I have never used the new generation touch screen handheld units. If I were to buy another handheld unit, I would seriously consider the new touch screen units.

Thanks for the reply. The unit I am considering is the Garmin GPSMAP 62sc (which has compass, alt. and camera). Not sure why the price is so expensive here, the GPSMAP62s is 25,500 here or 374.99 USD purchased overseas. (the 62s is the model with no camera, the 62sc is 443.35 overseas and is not sold here). Just want to verify that there is no major difference between overseas purchased or local, which is sounds like there is not.

You can get a perfectly good Garmin 40 for 3,990 THB in Thailand, complete with TSM 2012.30 map, and OK for on-road use.

I used to be heavily into my Garmin GPSs. However with smart phones and application having these facilities I found that my smart phone with the relevant Sygic software more than suits my everyday driving needs.

I really like when I am in BKK and I see somewhere I want to return to I just take a picture of the place, with the smart phone as I drive, then later I navigate back to the picture!

it does many other things check it out here http://www.sygic.com/en/android The price has gone up since I bought it but I think Thailand is about 20 Euros.

Edited October 29, 201213 yr by maprao

I really like when I am in BKK and I see somewhere I want to return to I just take a picture of the place, with the smart phone as I drive, then later I navigate back to the picture!

With the Garmin 40 all you do is take/store the coordinates, later you can be returned to the same location.

I really like when I am in BKK and I see somewhere I want to return to I just take a picture of the place, with the smart phone as I drive, then later I navigate back to the picture!

With the Garmin 40 all you do is take/store the coordinates, later you can be returned to the same location.

I hear you but you are carrying two devices your gps and your samsung galaxy / I Phone / smart phone . I used to be a great Garmin fan but only for airborne GPS now.

Horses for courses. Everyone has their own preference. With the Samsung Galaxy III most people I know seldom now even log on online unless it is to do serious work. They are true all in one device. The GPS is just one of them.

Edited October 30, 201213 yr by maprao

I have a Galaxy S3 but It cannot begin to compare with either of my Garmin Nuvi dash top units. Convenience and ease of use cannot be compared. Maybe if you become lost while on foot, the phone would be a great thing. I turn off my phone while I'm driving.

I used to laugh at the cameras built in the phones but not anymore. Many phone cameras are now great. My S3 has a terrific camera. Sometime down the road, phones may have great easy to use GPS maps, but not yet today.

Hi Gary A Try the Sygic GPS maps on the S3 while you drive around Bangkok. I reckon you will more than pleased. I think if you get it from the slide me or app store you will get 7 to 14 days free use of the GPS maps. Without downloading this software I would agree with you, no good. Now I use this purpose built software for the andriod GPS in Thailand, UK and USA. Granted I have payed and bought the licensed software. Try it on the S3 clip the phone to the windsreen with the holder and change the orientation to landscape. I know you will like it!

Also I have highjacked the Garmin thread with this so I will bow out now. However after you try them PM what you think.

Edited October 30, 201213 yr by maprao

Hi Gary A Try the Sygic GPS maps on the S3 while you drive around Bangkok. I reckon you will more than pleased. I think if you get it from the slide me or app store you will get 7 to 14 days free use of the GPS maps. Without downloading this software I would agree with you, no good. Now I use this purpose built software for the andriod GPS in Thailand, UK and USA. Granted I have payed and bought the licensed software. Try it on the S3 clip the phone to the windsreen with the holder and change the orientation to landscape. I know you will like it!

Also I have highjacked the Garmin thread with this so I will bow out now. However after you try them PM what you think.

I have looked at trial Sygic maps. I live out in the boonies and many roads in smaller villages are not shown. It gave routing errors saying there are no roads available. Those missing roads are on the new Nokia map and also on the free Nostra map. FYI those roads are also not shown on Google maps. Nostra lacks settings but the map details are very good.

You can get a perfectly good Garmin 40 for 3,990 THB in Thailand, complete with TSM 2012.30 map, and OK for on-road use.

I have just been told in S-ed store and Tesco Lotus that this is Thai language only? I was surprised as I had thought it was dual language.

Can you confirm?

Not true. I'm not sure if that model can use the dual language map and it may limit you to either Thai or English.

ADDED - I always advise people to buy their units from an authorized dealer. They give great support and help you out if you need answers.

http://www.eaglegps.co.th/index.php/lang-th/car-navigation?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=112&category_id=2

Edited November 3, 201213 yr by Gary A

You can get a perfectly good Garmin 40 for 3,990 THB in Thailand, complete with TSM 2012.30 map, and OK for on-road use.

I have just been told in S-ed store and Tesco Lotus that this is Thai language only? I was surprised as I had thought it was dual language.

Can you confirm?

The Garmin 40 usually comes with a Thai TSM 2012.30 map preloaded from retail stores. The included CD contains both a English language file and Thai language file and instructions file. It is best to use an authorized dealer if you are having trouble with maps. The Garmin 40 does not contain a 'dual' language map.

Garmin units used to come with a pre-installed base map of where you bought it - either a base map of North America or base map of Europe. The base map is of major highways - good enough to navigate via major highways to all parts of the continent. (you could navigate across the U.S. for example, via the interstate highway system). You then bought additional 'detail' maps for street level detail.

I haven't bought a Garmin in about 8 or 9 years now. But from what I've seen, they are intended for driving, so you usually buy them with the detail map built in. And also from what I've seen, while all units are capable of being updated as new map versions are released, they aren't all capable of having 'other' maps installed.

My GPS is a Chart Plotter (Garmin GPSmap 276c) - intended for boating purposes - but because it was 'waterproof', I used it on my motorcycle. I can load maps for boating, maps for outdoor recreation purposes i.e. topographic maps, as well as detailed road maps. My GPS has been through Central and South America, Africa, middle East and Europe, and had appropriate maps loaded for each continent. So some of the newer Garmins wouldn't be suitable for my purposes if I cannot remove and add map detail sets.

So with that said, If I was a westerner (North American or European) I'd be thinking about buying the unit for where I intend to use it the most. Get the pre-installed maps of that area; then if I was coming to spend a bit of time in Thailand, and drive around a bit, I'd load the maps for that when needed.

Just some thoughts to keep in mind.