I have learned that different brands work best in different countries.

That depends on the maps they are using I guess. And the updates. So I would like to know which one works best in Thailand?

And also, do I have to use it online or does it works offline as well? I gueass if using online there comes addition internet costs for that?

Thanks

Captor

A true GPS does not use the internet for signal reception. It uses signals from at least three are more GPS satellites to fix your position relative to where you are holding the GPS unit. There is no cost involved for this signal reception. In Thailand I would recommend the Garmin nuvi brand GPS unit available from THB 3,990 up, map included.

As he says ^^^, the dedicated GPS units store the maps on the device and don't require internet access to work. The only times you will need the internet access is when you're:

• downloading the maps into it (first time, but many units can take the maps from the sd cards or be updated via usb)
• updating maps
• subscribed to premium features like traffic

I personally think the era of dedicated units has passed, today's smartphones can outperform dedicated units in some ways and in some ways are more convenient. A smartphone is always with me whenever I travel locally by a car/bike, it's always with me when I'm on foot overseas, it can perform other functions like being a phone (obviously), photo/video camera, internet access, etc, etc, screen sizes are up to 6.3 inches (Galaxy Mega) or if some prefer to use them on wifi/3G enabled tablets, screens can be had 7-10". Smartphones can get a lock faster with A-GPS, GPS and GRONAS systems all in one device (while dedicated units only use GPS???)

Now the software is a different animal, while on dedicated units software and maps are included into the unit's cost and there is a handful of manufacturers you can choose from, on smartphones the choice is pretty much limited to TomTom or Sygic (both of which use TomTom maps, recommend Sygic personally) for offline navigation, or Google maps for online, however G-Maps Navigation isn't available in some countries. Also a cost of the apps with maps can be more than a cost of a dedicated unit.

My personal choice is a smartphone with Sygic app (available for Android and Apple). More info on sygic is on their website. http://www.sygic.com/en/android:buy-now

To add to the above, if the dedicated unit is lost/stolen/damaged beyond repairs/etc... you'd have to get a new one and pay again. With phone apps once you bought it - it's yours with all the lifetime app updates and map updates and when switching your hardware, the same app can be re-installed into a new phone/tablet as you already own the app. Sounds like a better deal in a long run.

A true GPS does not use the internet for signal reception. It uses signals from at least three are more GPS satellites to fix your position relative to where you are holding the GPS unit. There is no cost involved for this signal reception. In Thailand I would recommend the Garmin nuvi brand GPS unit available from THB 3,990 up, map included.

The Garmin nuvi. Right...Thank you.

Thats the information I need. And the price is OK I believe. I will look into that at MBK next time. I guess that is a good place to buy it?

The OP is requesting what 'GPS' unit to purchase in Thailand. Unless the OP is requesting which iPhone, Smartphone or other electronic device to purchase then he is requesting the correct info. If the OP is looking for another 'telephone' based device then he needs to rephrase his question.

To add to the above, if the dedicated unit is lost/stolen/damaged beyond repairs/etc... you'd have to get a new one and pay again. With phone apps once you bought it - it's yours with all the lifetime app updates and map updates and when switching your hardware, the same app can be re-installed into a new phone/tablet as you already own the app. Sounds like a better deal in a long run.

Hi Shurup and thanks for your detailed information.

I can see what you are meaning about using the smartphone. Bit I believe the maps for that aren´t that good.

I tried Sygic about one year ago in Bangkok in my Samsung S3 and I must say that was a disaster. If I would rely on that I would probably still circling in the same loop that I ended up in that time.

That is the reason why I am looking for a standalone GPS. But maybe a lot has happen since the last year about the maps?

I think it is a little bit to early to rely on a smartphone solution. Maybe in 2-3 years if they have updated the maps properly.

However, the software version and map I tried that time was some tryout version. I can not remember that I payed 23,99 for that anyway. Maybe the paid one is better?

I appreciate your explanation above how it works and the difference between on and offline. That clarify some of my other thoughts.

The OP is requesting what 'GPS' unit to purchase in Thailand. Unless the OP is requesting which iPhone, Smartphone or other electronic device to purchase then he is requesting the correct info. If the OP is looking for another 'telephone' based device then he needs to rephrase his question.

No telephone based device. Have try that with pretty bad result. Looking for a dedicated device. Thanks.

As for maps, Tom Tom on iPhone works fine apart from areas up country, Garmin on a regular GPS is more reliable. Forget the rest.

The OP is requesting what 'GPS' unit to purchase in Thailand. Unless the OP is requesting which iPhone, Smartphone or other electronic device to purchase then he is requesting the correct info. If the OP is looking for another 'telephone' based device then he needs to rephrase his question.

Seeing the OPs question, I figured he's not very knowledgeable in GPS tech so I offered a phone based alternative, which could be cheaper, more useful depending on OPs needs and whether or not he owns a smartphone.

To add to the above, if the dedicated unit is lost/stolen/damaged beyond repairs/etc... you'd have to get a new one and pay again. With phone apps once you bought it - it's yours with all the lifetime app updates and map updates and when switching your hardware, the same app can be re-installed into a new phone/tablet as you already own the app. Sounds like a better deal in a long run.

Hi Shurup and thanks for your detailed information.

I can see what you are meaning about using the smartphone. Bit I believe the maps for that aren´t that good.

I tried Sygic about one year ago in Bangkok in my Samsung S3 and I must say that was a disaster. If I would rely on that I would probably still circling in the same loop that I ended up in that time.

That is the reason why I am looking for a standalone GPS. But maybe a lot has happen since the last year about the maps?

I think it is a little bit to early to rely on a smartphone solution. Maybe in 2-3 years if they have updated the maps properly.

However, the software version and map I tried that time was some tryout version. I can not remember that I payed 23,99 for that anyway. Maybe the paid one is better?

I appreciate your explanation above how it works and the difference between on and offline. That clarify some of my other thoughts.

No problems, I don't know what was your particular problem, but I was using Sygic for over a year and in a number of different countries. Never had problems but they keep updating their sortware and maps on regular basis.

I can usually find my fay around without heavily relying on GPS so my experience can differ from your, and if you did pay for it, you technically still owe it so you could always try to re-download a newer app version and try again?

To add to the above, if the dedicated unit is lost/stolen/damaged beyond repairs/etc... you'd have to get a new one and pay again. With phone apps once you bought it - it's yours with all the lifetime app updates and map updates and when switching your hardware, the same app can be re-installed into a new phone/tablet as you already own the app. Sounds like a better deal in a long run.

Hi Shurup and thanks for your detailed information.

I can see what you are meaning about using the smartphone. Bit I believe the maps for that aren´t that good.

I tried Sygic about one year ago in Bangkok in my Samsung S3 and I must say that was a disaster. If I would rely on that I would probably still circling in the same loop that I ended up in that time.

That is the reason why I am looking for a standalone GPS. But maybe a lot has happen since the last year about the maps?

I think it is a little bit to early to rely on a smartphone solution. Maybe in 2-3 years if they have updated the maps properly.

However, the software version and map I tried that time was some tryout version. I can not remember that I payed 23,99 for that anyway. Maybe the paid one is better?

I appreciate your explanation above how it works and the difference between on and offline. That clarify some of my other thoughts.

No problems, I don't know what was your particular problem, but I was using Sygic for over a year and in a number of different countries. Never had problems but they keep updating their sortware and maps on regular basis.

I can usually find my fay around without heavily relying on GPS so my experience can differ from your, and if you did pay for it, you technically still owe it so you could always try to re-download a newer app version and try again?

To add to what I've said before, I think your phone might not have had been set up properly if it was giving you a hard time. I never ever experienced any weird behavior from a phone GPS ever and I've been using them for years, even before the 1st smartphone came out. If you for example don't have a GPS enabled but only an A-GPS, it will show you jumping all over the map as A-GPS uses the cell towers to find your location and it can only give you the approximate location comparing to actual GPS or GRONAS. Furthermore, if your phone is on your laps somewhere and not on the windscreen on front dashboard, it may never get you accurate location (bad weather will make it worse) or it may loose the signal and fall back on A-GPS, any of which will make it look as if you're jumping all over the map and the software will keep recalculating the route which may look like it make you go around in circles. All it means is you're not getting a good GPS lock for which you idealy need clear sky. But this is pretty much the same case with dedicated GPS units, only they don't have an A-GPS feature to fall back on.

I have used Garmin for years, my Model has bounced off the road, been in rainstorms , can get a signal in a dungeon and still works great.

Best to go to their website and choose one suitable for your use. I know some people use 'phones but as for their serviceability and support for

mapping ???

The OP is requesting what 'GPS' unit to purchase in Thailand. Unless the OP is requesting which iPhone, Smartphone or other electronic device to purchase then he is requesting the correct info. If the OP is looking for another 'telephone' based device then he needs to rephrase his question.

Seeing the OPs question, I figured he's not very knowledgeable in GPS tech so I offered a phone based alternative, which could be cheaper, more useful depending on OPs needs and whether or not he owns a smartphone.

Dear Shurup, yes and I appreciate your alternative very much as well. And it is still "on the map" for me. As I said above my tryou was some year ago and maybe there are better maps now

and that i will tryout again with Sygic.

And that you for the explanation about how it really should work. I will for sure give it a new try. Maybe there was something wrong with my settings. Maybe I had not gps enabled for example.

I only know that I hold it in the window all the time.

So are you saying that I shall enable both GPS + A-GPS? In Location services in my S3 I have 3 settings to enable: 1) Use wireless networks (this creates extra costs?) 2) Use GPS satellites 3) Location and Google search.

Should I enable all of them?

3) isn't necessary as it's totally different and has nothing to do with maps, but yes, enable both 1 and 2, especially 2nd. First one will help get a satellite lock faster but it will only work if you also have a mobile data enabled (usually folks with large or unlimited data plan leave it turned on at all times). If you have a small data plan and don't leave it on at all times, you can turn data on, which will only help to get a lock faster, offline maps like Sygic, don't download maps so there will be no data transferred and it by itself will not create any extra costs, but leaving data ON will allow your other phone services to use data so that may give you extra costs or drain your small data plan.

Once the software gets a lock on satellites, it usually stays locked even if you move the phone away from the window onto your laps, or wherever...

I don't know your particular case and what were your problems, but I know that there are millions and millions of Sygic users and I don't hear about many that are unhappy. When you do try again, come back here and tell us about the problems you're experiencing (if any) and hopefully someone here will be able to help you.

I have a Galaxy S2 by the way and don't have any issues with it. It can't be that bad on a newer hardware (S3?).

A true GPS does not use the internet for signal reception. It uses signals from at least three are more GPS satellites to fix your position relative to where you are holding the GPS unit. There is no cost involved for this signal reception. In Thailand I would recommend the Garmin nuvi brand GPS unit available from THB 3,990 up, map included.

The Garmin nuvi. Right...Thank you.

Thats the information I need. And the price is OK I believe. I will look into that at MBK next time. I guess that is a good place to buy it?

I would go to amarin plaza to a place called gadget trend in the outdoor section. it is on the second floor, or the floor just above mcdonalds. thailand always has a different floor numbering system for every building. they served me well; have great customer service, good prices and a warranty, and map updates etc.

to add to the discussion above, I used my wifes ipad as a navigator once, nothing serious just to try it out. it was great. i then looked at the compass, and it was about 10 degrees off of what i knew was true east. i never used it again, but maybe that is because it is too bloody big. an iphone would be a nice compromise i admit - i am just not a phone person.

Edited July 14, 201312 yr by isawasnake

3) isn't necessary as it's totally different and has nothing to do with maps, but yes, enable both 1 and 2, especially 2nd. First one will help get a satellite lock faster but it will only work if you also have a mobile data enabled (usually folks with large or unlimited data plan leave it turned on at all times). If you have a small data plan and don't leave it on at all times, you can turn data on, which will only help to get a lock faster, offline maps like Sygic, don't download maps so there will be no data transferred and it by itself will not create any extra costs, but leaving data ON will allow your other phone services to use data so that may give you extra costs or drain your small data plan.

Once the software gets a lock on satellites, it usually stays locked even if you move the phone away from the window onto your laps, or wherever...

I don't know your particular case and what were your problems, but I know that there are millions and millions of Sygic users and I don't hear about many that are unhappy. When you do try again, come back here and tell us about the problems you're experiencing (if any) and hopefully someone here will be able to help you.

I have a Galaxy S2 by the way and don't have any issues with it. It can't be that bad on a newer hardware (S3?).

I will give it a new try next time in Thailand, thanks for your explanation.

The Garmin nuvi. Right...Thank you.

Thats the information I need. And the price is OK I believe. I will look into that at MBK next time. I guess that is a good place to buy it?

I assume you're gonna need the GPS to work in English, in which case ...

I would go to amarin plaza to a place called gadget trend in the outdoor section. it is on the second floor, or the floor just above mcdonalds. thailand always has a different floor numbering system for every building. they served me well; have great customer service, good prices and a warranty, and map updates etc.

... I second the Gadgetrend recommendation. I got mine there and the lady was very helpful setting it up. I don't know if the new models no longer need this but the older model I have required some tweaking on the computer before it worked in English, which I would not have been able to do on my own and I am not sure I'd rely on someone in MBK to do...

and I find Amarin plaza very easy to get to since it connects to the BTS (heck the shop is even on the same floor as the BTS access!)

Edited August 30, 201312 yr by build6

Thanks man! Good information. And yes, english would be nice. But thai too when I am not driving but I assume that should be no problem an dthat gadgettrend can help with that too. It is probably easy to switch once there is english too.

A true GPS does not use the internet for signal reception. It uses signals from at least three are more GPS satellites to fix your position relative to where you are holding the GPS unit. There is no cost involved for this signal reception. In Thailand I would recommend the Garmin nuvi brand GPS unit available from THB 3,990 up, map included.

The Garmin nuvi. Right...Thank you.

Thats the information I need. And the price is OK I believe. I will look into that at MBK next time. I guess that is a good place to buy it?

I bought mine at Tesco

Most of the Garmin now sold in Thailand no longer use the ESRI map.

As far as I know the SpeedNavi maps are the only ESRI ones available.

SpeedNavi are available on Besta GPSLearner 5 6 or 7 which also has english and thai dictionaries,

It is also available on Kamaz gps. This is now on special at Central B2S and in fact I bought one to replace my old gps earner which has seen better days.

Updates are available evey 6 months of so from the Speed Navi site and you get one years upgrade free..the other ones are reasonably priced, I was vey impressed by mine.

all this talk of GPSes has made me hanker for a new one -

question: is there any place you can buy a GPS and do the VAT-refund claim thing at the airport? (I use the GPS when I visit Thailand but take it with me when I leave!)

also, does anyone know if there's a difference in the chipset used in the old Nuvi 40 and the replacement Nuvi 42?

harrry I'm pretty sure ESRI is still selling the Garmin nuvi 42, would this not mean at least that model of Garmin is using the ESRI maps? Which Garmins do not?

Edited September 1, 201312 yr by build6

all this talk of GPSes has made me hanker for a new one -

question: is there any place you can buy a GPS and do the VAT-refund claim thing at the airport? (I use the GPS when I visit Thailand but take it with me when I leave!)

also, does anyone know if there's a difference in the chipset used in the old Nuvi 40 and the replacement Nuvi 42?

harrry I'm pretty sure ESRI is still selling the Garmin nuvi 42, would this not mean at least that model of Garmin is using the ESRI maps? Which Garmins do not?

I find the issue a little confiusing. Eagle used to be the ESRI THai people for garmin however a look at their website seems to show they are now selling the other map.

Going round the stores showed a mixed bag with most being the new map and a few ESRI ones. I came to the conclusion that the few that supported ESRI were probably old stock so updates will be the other. I may be wrong.

I just download Sygic maps on my phone (7 days free trials) but when the phone is inside the truck I can't get a GPS signal.

My old Garmin Nuvi 205W no problems getting a signal inside the truck.

I don't want to use data package on the phone when using it as GPS, so I guess I will rather buy the new Garmin Nuvi 42 instead of buying the Thailand Sygic maps.

That's a shame the Sygic maps looks good and if I can get a holder for the phone that would be the best.

Anybody else having problems with the phone GPS signal inside a car??

Edited September 1, 201312 yr by guzzi850m2

As for maps, Tom Tom on iPhone works fine apart from areas up country, Garmin on a regular GPS is more reliable. Forget the rest.

+1

Have used TomTom on my iphone. Worked pretty well.

RAZZ

I was told that phones actually use "A-GPS" where the "A" is for assisted, and that it relies on the telco network data connections to help work out where it is, so even if the maps are all downloaded etc., it's really happier having internet access to work things out, and that you're better off with a dedicated GPS unit. Personally my phone tends to ring at inopportune moments for some reason, so a dedicated GPS works for me

Does anyone know which of the VAT-exemptable stores sell Garmins? I am making a flight out soon and would like to take a nuvi out with me... (any department stores like at Siam Paragon carry it?). When I was at Amarin GadgeTrend, the lady either didn't understand me or definitively told me GadgeTrend couldn't do it...

To add to the above, if the dedicated unit is lost/stolen/damaged beyond repairs/etc... you'd have to get a new one and pay again. With phone apps once you bought it - it's yours with all the lifetime app updates and map updates and when switching your hardware, the same app can be re-installed into a new phone/tablet as you already own the app. Sounds like a better deal in a long run.

Hi Shurup and thanks for your detailed information.

I can see what you are meaning about using the smartphone. Bit I believe the maps for that aren´t that good.

I tried Sygic about one year ago in Bangkok in my Samsung S3 and I must say that was a disaster. If I would rely on that I would probably still circling in the same loop that I ended up in that time.

That is the reason why I am looking for a standalone GPS. But maybe a lot has happen since the last year about the maps?

I think it is a little bit to early to rely on a smartphone solution. Maybe in 2-3 years if they have updated the maps properly.

However, the software version and map I tried that time was some tryout version. I can not remember that I payed 23,99 for that anyway. Maybe the paid one is better?

I appreciate your explanation above how it works and the difference between on and offline. That clarify some of my other thoughts.

No problems, I don't know what was your particular problem, but I was using Sygic for over a year and in a number of different countries. Never had problems but they keep updating their sortware and maps on regular basis.

I can usually find my fay around without heavily relying on GPS so my experience can differ from your, and if you did pay for it, you technically still owe it so you could always try to re-download a newer app version and try again?

To add to what I've said before, I think your phone might not have had been set up properly if it was giving you a hard time. I never ever experienced any weird behavior from a phone GPS ever and I've been using them for years, even before the 1st smartphone came out. If you for example don't have a GPS enabled but only an A-GPS, it will show you jumping all over the map as A-GPS uses the cell towers to find your location and it can only give you the approximate location comparing to actual GPS or GRONAS. Furthermore, if your phone is on your laps somewhere and not on the windscreen on front dashboard, it may never get you accurate location (bad weather will make it worse) or it may loose the signal and fall back on A-GPS, any of which will make it look as if you're jumping all over the map and the software will keep recalculating the route which may look like it make you go around in circles. All it means is you're not getting a good GPS lock for which you idealy need clear sky. But this is pretty much the same case with dedicated GPS units, only they don't have an A-GPS feature to fall back on.

Ah, a common myth, probably started by salesmen with poor English! Here's how A-GPS actually works: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS

I have a Garmin Nuvi 260W that I bought in NZ 5 years ago.

Last month I dropped it and broke the screen.

I rang ESRI and they told me it had to go to Garmin Taiwan and I emailed EagleGPS yesterday but no response so far.

I live 400 km from BKK or Chiang Mai and would like to get it repaired if the price is not too high.

Does anyone knowof a repair shop?

I have a Garmin Nuvi 260W that I bought in NZ 5 years ago.

Last month I dropped it and broke the screen.

I rang ESRI and they told me it had to go to Garmin Taiwan and I emailed EagleGPS yesterday but no response so far.

I live 400 km from BKK or Chiang Mai and would like to get it repaired if the price is not too high.

Does anyone knowof a repair shop?

http://www.portatronics.com/index.php?cat=c463_Repair-Parts---Services.html

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

(..)

I find the issue a little confiusing. Eagle used to be the ESRI THai people for garmin however a look at their website seems to show they are now selling the other map.

Going round the stores showed a mixed bag with most being the new map and a few ESRI ones. I came to the conclusion that the few that supported ESRI were probably old stock so updates will be the other. I may be wrong.

As authorized Garmin reseller, Eagle GPS still provides the ESRI map for Thailand. And that"s the map I would recommend.