Gps

[awayfoe]

where to buy GPS in jomtien or pattaya ?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

I bought mine (Garmin Nuvi40) from the Apple shop on the ground floor of Tukcom. The price was identical to the best advertised online price anywhere I saw (3990B) and the service was fine.

The Nuvi40 works fine also and I dont quite see what I would get from a more expensive model. Maybe someone will enlighten me.

[awayfoe]

I bought mine (Garmin Nuvi40) from the Apple shop on the ground floor of Tukcom. The price was identical to the best advertised online price anywhere I saw (3990B) and the service was fine.

The Nuvi40 works fine also and I dont quite see what I would get from a more expensive model. Maybe someone will enlighten me.

thank you for info

[topt]

the SE-Ed bookshops which are in most of the "malls" - Lotus, Big C, Tukcom etc all sell a range of Garmin models - just depends what they have in stock.

The Nuvi 40 only works with English or Thai - you cannot switch languages which you can on the more expensive versions plus some other benefits.

[BlackPuddingBertha]

The Nuvi 40 only works with English or Thai - you cannot switch languages ......

Mine switches.

[JaiLai]

I bought mine (Garmin Nuvi40) from the Apple shop on the ground floor of Tukcom. The price was identical to the best advertised online price anywhere I saw (3990B) and the service was fine.

The Nuvi40 works fine also and I dont quite see what I would get from a more expensive model. Maybe someone will enlighten me.

Is it both Thai and English language?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

Is it both Thai and English language?

There are buttons that I can push to make it change languages. I understand it when it is in English and when I select "Thai" the script changes to something that looks like Thai script which I cant understand. I have had Thai people enter addresses in Thai and it has found the location, so I'm guessing it works.

I also have two different update maps on my PC, the English Thai/Malay/Singapore one which I use and another Thai one, though I dont know what the difference is between them as I have never attempted to install the Thai map due to me not understanding Thai.

[JaiLai]

Is it both Thai and English language?

There are buttons that I can push to make it change languages. I understand it when it is in English and when I select "Thai" the script changes to something that looks like Thai script which I cant understand. I have had Thai people enter addresses in Thai and it has found the location, so I'm guessing it works.

I also have two different update maps on my PC, the English Thai/Malay/Singapore one which I use and another Thai one, though I dont know what the difference is between them as I have never attempted to install the Thai map due to me not understanding Thai.

Thanks a lot for the info, have you found it accurate?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

Thanks a lot for the info, have you found it accurate?

It took me to a small place in Bangkok the other day without the slightest trouble, based on a lat/long location gleaned from Google maps. The built-in map actually appeared to be more accurate than the Google map as it had small sois on it that Google didnt show. I found this experience of driving in Bangkok to be extremely quick and easy. Quicker and easier than in Pattaya in fact!

Apart from that I have used it around Pattaya/Rayong and areas in-between and the only thing that I did notice was that it twice called a road by the wrong name. For example, it might say "in 300m turn left onto such and such road" but when you turn you are actually on highway 302 or whatever. It's still the right road taking you to the right place, but with the wrong name. So no big deal. You can tell the road name from the road signposts easily enough anyway. It may even be that the road was renamed at some point, or it could have two valid names.

It has a rather good feature that shows a picture of junctions, so you have an idea of what to expect before you get there. Route recalculations are quick. It doesnt have any fancy features like bluetooth but the built-in speaker is loud enough for me. I just lay it on the passenger seat plugged into the cigar lighter socket and it works fine. Touch screen is a little "hard" compared to a smartphone, but that's just the cheaper sensor technique used. I'm looking forward to trying it in Malaysia.

[JaiLai]

Thanks a lot for the info, have you found it accurate?

It took me to a small place in Bangkok the other day without the slightest trouble, based on a lat/long location gleaned from Google maps. The built-in map actually appeared to be more accurate than the Google map as it had small sois on it that Google didnt show. I found this experience of driving in Bangkok to be extremely quick and easy. Quicker and easier than in Pattaya in fact!

Apart from that I have used it around Pattaya/Rayong and areas in-between and the only thing that I did notice was that it twice called a road by the wrong name. For example, it might say "in 300m turn left onto such and such road" but when you turn you are actually on highway 302 or whatever. It's still the right road taking you to the right place, but with the wrong name. So no big deal. You can tell the road name from the road signposts easily enough anyway. It may even be that the road was renamed at some point, or it could have two valid names.

It has a rather good feature that shows a picture of junctions, so you have an idea of what to expect before you get there. Route recalculations are quick. It doesnt have any fancy features like bluetooth but the built-in speaker is loud enough for me. I just lay it on the passenger seat plugged into the cigar lighter socket and it works fine. Touch screen is a little "hard" compared to a smartphone, but that's just the cheaper sensor technique used. I'm looking forward to trying it in Malaysia.

Thanks for your input.

[craigt3365]

These guys have a pretty good selection and will ship anywhere in Thailand:

http://www.eaglegps.co.th/

[OZEMADE]

TOM TOM works fine and in both English and Thai. I bought mine from OZ and it never missed a beat.

[JaiLai]

So, went to the store on the bottom floor of tukcom and it's totally changed now and has no GPS units.

Went to Powerbuy in central, they had this unit i was after, as per normal got NO feedback or info from the sales zombie - she knew just a little bit less than nothing. She did however call some lady in bangkok who informed me that this model ( Nuvi40 ) only comes in Thai language, is that correct?

If that is correct? if so what are the options, to have someone bring from overseas or order online then just download the map for Thailand?

Thanks.

[BlackPuddingBertha]

I'm surprised that shop has stopped doing GPS units. Are you sure that they haven't just moved? I will check next time I'm in there.

Some people have reported getting a CD with the Nuvi40 that contains the English firmware but my unit had no CD. Either way, the English firmware can be downloaded from the Garmin website (once you have registered) along with free map updates for the first year. A decent shop would do this for you (the shop in Tukcom did it for me).

Not a recommendation but I noticed a specialist GPS shop in Bang Saray the other day. As far as I know the price of the Nuvi40 is the same 3990B everywhere, so why not try them and see if they will set it up for you?

[craigt3365]

So, went to the store on the bottom floor of tukcom and it's totally changed now and has no GPS units.

Went to Powerbuy in central, they had this unit i was after, as per normal got NO feedback or info from the sales zombie - she knew just a little bit less than nothing. She did however call some lady in bangkok who informed me that this model ( Nuvi40 ) only comes in Thai language, is that correct?

If that is correct? if so what are the options, to have someone bring from overseas or order online then just download the map for Thailand?

Thanks.

Did you wander around the upper floors of Tukcom? I've seen quite a few shops selling GPS units there....

[hm1973]

If you have a smart phone (Samsung or IPhone) I recommend you download the Garmin app. It costs about 1,500 Baht and works off the GPS on your phone. I use it all the time and it works really well and updates automatically. All you need to invest in is a holder and a USB car adapter (you must plug the phone in as the battery usage is very high).

[craigt3365]

If you have a smart phone (Samsung or IPhone) I recommend you download the Garmin app. It costs about 1,500 Baht and works off the GPS on your phone. I use it all the time and it works really well and updates automatically. All you need to invest in is a holder and a USB car adapter (you must plug the phone in as the battery usage is very high).

I was in the middle of nowhere in Issan a few years ago and a friend had his iPhone with a GPS app. We were riding scooters and got a bit lost. This app showed exactly where we were, all the roads (even dirt ones), even a few landmarks. Impressive.

[longball53098]

If you have a smart phone (Samsung or IPhone) I recommend you download the Garmin app. It costs about 1,500 Baht and works off the GPS on your phone. I use it all the time and it works really well and updates automatically. All you need to invest in is a holder and a USB car adapter (you must plug the phone in as the battery usage is very high).

I looked on Google Play but do not see a Garmin App for Samsung Galaxy S phones only Telstra? What am I misiing?

[craigt3365]

If you have a smart phone (Samsung or IPhone) I recommend you download the Garmin app. It costs about 1,500 Baht and works off the GPS on your phone. I use it all the time and it works really well and updates automatically. All you need to invest in is a holder and a USB car adapter (you must plug the phone in as the battery usage is very high).

I looked on Google Play but do not see a Garmin App for Samsung Galaxy S phones only Telstra? What am I misiing?

I just played around with the Google Maps app on the Samsung. Pretty cool. It gets good ratings, and it's free! Can even pick parts of a map and save for offline use.

[BlackPuddingBertha]

I just played around with the Google Maps app on the Samsung. Pretty cool. It gets good ratings, and it's free! Can even pick parts of a map and save for offline use.

Yes, that app isnt bad and the other various free/cheap/not-so-cheap GPS Android apps can be OK also.

My main objection to them is that my phone screen is too small for the app to be easily usable, they mostly need a phone data package for full usage, I would have to bring a charger/USB cable with me and I prefer the loud voice prompts and junction info that the Nuvi40 provides. If the Nuvi40 cost a lot more than 4000B I would probably think again, but at that price for something I can just leave in the car and which does everything I need it's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

[InterestedObserver]

So, went to the store on the bottom floor of tukcom and it's totally changed now and has no GPS units.

Went to Powerbuy in central, they had this unit i was after, as per normal got NO feedback or info from the sales zombie - she knew just a little bit less than nothing. She did however call some lady in bangkok who informed me that this model ( Nuvi40 ) only comes in Thai language, is that correct?

If that is correct? if so what are the options, to have someone bring from overseas or order online then just download the map for Thailand?

Thanks.

The Thailand Garmin nuvi 40 comes with a Thai language map installed. The English language map is available from an included CD, GPSsociety (ESRI) on-line, and selected dealers that know what they are doing. Price is 3,990 THB, complete.

[pontious]

I am about to buy a Nuvi 40. Does anyone supply a proper car dashboard holder?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

The English language map is available from an included CD, ...

If you get the CD. I didnt.

The firmware and maps are easily downloaded though.

[InterestedObserver]

The English language map is available from an included CD, ...

If you get the CD. I didnt.

The firmware and maps are easily downloaded though.

I suspect that you received a Singapore Garmin nuvi 40 that included the Singapore/Malaysia maps. Does your English language version contain the Thai OS and display junction views within Bangkok?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

When the unit was first turned on it was all in Thai. On the box it says "Thai version" or something similar.

The lady in the shop downloaded and installed the English firmware which I subsequently updated along with the newer version of the map when it was released.

Both the software the lady installed and the subsequent software I downloaded had the Malaysia/Singapore maps and when I went to Bangkok recently the device was displaying images of the junctions.

I can change the language settings on my device to allow Thais to enter addresses in Thai script, and that seems to work (not that I have used the feature more than once).