well here we go, tried to use my new garmin nuvi 3597 , which i have loaded s.e. asia maps on and it was absolute rubbish.

it got me on a dirt road between sarin and karat, then in bangkok ,simply refused to let me on tollways.

so i spat it !

" wife , downstairs , motorsai taxi, lieu lieu( dunno how you spell it) "

" sonchai, take me to sathorn towers, NOW "

upon arriving at sathon towers i raced up to level 22 and calmly entered the GARMIN office in bangkok.

i enquired as to the possibility of changing my map, they called a technician, who disappeared out the back with my G.P.S. she promptly returned and told me they could help.

i agreed to pay them money. she quickly retrieved my gps and it was promptly upgraded, she put a new micro sd in it.

paid the bill 2200 baht and was told i was entitled to a free map upgrade in store when a new map comes out.

overall the service was prompt and my GPS now works a treat. very happy with that shop, they are most unthaw in their approach to a business, meaning they were effective with a minimum of fuss.

rob

Edited March 16, 201511 yr by moose7117

I have Garmin Thailand on my iPhone, which includes free map updates four times a year. I have found map detail, accuracy and POIs to be excellent.

Never have a problem with mine which is an old one. Got an updated map about two years ago in Tu-Com for 500 Baht which is still remarkably up to date considering how fast things change over here.

I also have a Garmin and have found it to be superior to other GPS systems I've had over the years here in Thailand. Your Garmin nuvi 3597 should have four free updates a year for life. It will inform you when to check for updates at the beginning of each quarter of the year. You should have received a cable with it when you purchased it that can link it to your computer to get the updates from Garmin's Internet site. The cable has a USB plug on one end for your computer and a fitting on the other similar to ones that link cell phones to plug into your Garmin.

The first time you use it to link up it should download a Garmin program into your computer to manage updates for you. Good luck with your Garmin and enjoy.

Can anyone experienced Garmin user explain this, please?

When I go to my girlfriend's sister's house (from Pattaya to Ban Chang) it (correctly) takes us "cross-country" but on the way back it wants to keep us on route 3. Why the different routes for the same journey albeit in reverese?

Alan

I have had little joy using my Garmin. A lot has to do with the different spellings Garmin use compared to local usage. For example Sri Don Chai Rd is Si Don Chai on Garmin.

Can anyone experienced Garmin user explain this, please?

When I go to my girlfriend's sister's house (from Pattaya to Ban Chang) it (correctly) takes us "cross-country" but on the way back it wants to keep us on route 3. Why the different routes for the same journey albeit in reverese?

Alan

You're settings may indicate "faster route" which will sometimes cause this to happen. Try different settings like "shortest route" to see if that suits your driving style.

Sorry but Garmin stinks, I only use it because the others stink more. Examples on the expressway to Minburi there is specific turn off that Garmin tells you to turn when you have already passed the turn off (everytime the same thing - but we know now), which means a 22 km detour. It gets confused when you drive on layered roads like on the road to Mega Banga. On the route north from HH it wants you to go through BKK instead of using highway 4 and Nakhon Sawan, which means that when you take highway 4 the irritating women inside Garmin tells you to make a u-turn for about an hour. It is too slow on commands for BKK traffic, by the time it gives the command you can't turn anymore. The prenounciation of the Thai names are so bad that my wife can't understand what the Garmin is saying.

Why can't the Garmin have a learning mode which will enable you to travel your prefered route instead of the Garmins route. GPS's (devices) lack off developments will make them outdated within 10 years.

I have a Hand held Garmin 4-5 years old, download the maps from Thailand, Laos,Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia....from the net....(unofficially)....

There Ok, It's a good help but I always have maps of the place were going...just to check....Usually my wife and I know were to go, My GPS helps me to find back the road if I'm lost Or it the road is blocked for works, or to find a shortcut...It is also useful in Off road when we get to a y junction in the mountains were there are no indications...sometimes the track is not on the GPS but you can see the nearest road and logic thinking helps you to find the right direction. It's a good tool but like any other tool don't follow blindly.....

Sorry but Garmin stinks, I only use it because the others stink more. Examples on the expressway to Minburi there is specific turn off that Garmin tells you to turn when you have already passed the turn off (everytime the same thing - but we know now), which means a 22 km detour. It gets confused when you drive on layered roads like on the road to Mega Banga. On the route north from HH it wants you to go through BKK instead of using highway 4 and Nakhon Sawan, which means that when you take highway 4 the irritating women inside Garmin tells you to make a u-turn for about an hour. It is too slow on commands for BKK traffic, by the time it gives the command you can't turn anymore. The prenounciation of the Thai names are so bad that my wife can't understand what the Garmin is saying.

Why can't the Garmin have a learning mode which will enable you to travel your prefered route instead of the Garmins route. GPS's (devices) lack off developments will make them outdated within 10 years.

Its operator error. Garmin is the worlds leading consumer GPS.

Your post is funny.

Bought a Garmin unit a little less than 2 years ago. I've been blown away by it's accuracy and real photos of intersections. I've used them quite a bit in the states and they've just gotten better.

HOWEVER

The search function to find addresses is less than worthless and I can only search for functions and find them less than 10% of the time whether searching in English or Thai. We've resorted to looking up things in Google maps, and then entering the Coordinates into the GPS. It's awkward but it works well and gets us where we need to go. I do wish they'd have a better search function but like someone else mentioned, if you don't spell it exactly, it doesn't find what you're looking for.

I went to a book store and purchased a paper map, a notepad and a pencil.

Now, before I want to travel somewhere, I simply check out the route on the map, jot down the relevant directions on the notepad (with the pencil) and away I go.

Have never had to shell out any money for expensive software or hardware and have never had to worry about flat batteries.

Interesting to note that the technology that has served us so well, for so long, is being so easily discarded.

Its tested, proven and known that your smartphone has a better gps and are faster and more accurate than any gps. For Android just buy Sygic world map for around 40 euro. Have maps for most parts in world and offline. Free lifetime updates. If you have a Nokia windows phone then you have same but free maps covering same countries as Sygic so i guess Nokia uses tom tom maps too. If you have any smartphone and free internet then by all means use google maps.

...I got the same....!

Then I bought a GERMAN product: KAMAZ. I'm very happy with it. Sometimes it's surprising, even to choose a short cut, I didn't know before....

I went to a book store and purchased a paper map, a notepad and a pencil.

Now, before I want to travel somewhere, I simply check out the route on the map, jot down the relevant directions on the notepad (with the pencil) and away I go.

Have never had to shell out any money for expensive software or hardware and have never had to worry about flat batteries.

Interesting to note that the technology that has served us so well, for so long, is being so easily discarded.

Yep. Love it!

It's the way I've travelled around numerous countries since Columbus was a navigator. (Well, not quite )

Never lets me down, but just in case, don't forget the eraser and the pencil sharpener. Not a multi-tool of course, that's illegal here, apparently

Its tested, proven and known that your smartphone has a better gps and are faster and more accurate than any gps. For Android just buy Sygic world map for around 40 euro. Have maps for most parts in world and offline. Free lifetime updates. If you have a Nokia windows phone then you have same but free maps covering same countries as Sygic so i guess Nokia uses tom tom maps too. If you have any smartphone and free internet then by all means use google maps.

Well count me as one who didn't know that smartphones have "better gps and are faster and more accurate than any gps". Presumably by 'gps' you mean a dedicated GPS receiver unit?

For Android just buy Sygic world map for around 40 euro.

Or for Android, iOS or Blackberry, you can install maps.me, which is a free app and you can download and install maps from anywhere in the world for free. I was on Saipan recently, and they even had a very good map with turn by turn directions and POIs for that. Even Garmin and TomTom do not have maps for Saipan. Updates come frequently, and you are notified of map updates from within the app. I also installed Sygic for a trial run, and I honestly cannot see a lot of difference between them.

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by bubba

There are some open source maps about that are free. last night i put the latest uk maps on my garmin nuvi 660, alongside the Thai maps, placed garmin in simulation mode and tested them out works a treat includes speed camera's,

All countries are available link - http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download

I wouldn't even attempt to drive out of my downtown Bangkok neighborhood on a new route without my Garmin in the car. I use my phone and Navigator or Maps for walking, but the Garmin for driving.

I can't read Thai, and the traffic signs are often incomprehensible. Then there's flyovers, and u-turns and one way streets to make navigation even more challenging. 95% of the time, the Garmin is right on. 5% of the time, it gets me there, but not the way I'd have gone on my own.

I do agree that a learning mode would be nice, or the ability to follow a previously recorded route instead of relying on the built in logic. My main complaint is that it's too likely to send me down BKK side streets when an expressway would be a lot handier and faster...even if it is a few km longer.

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by impulse

...I got the same....!

Then I bought a GERMAN product: KAMAZ. I'm very happy with it. Sometimes it's surprising, even to choose a short cut, I didn't know before....

Is the KAMAZ in English and/or Thai?

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by mrjon

Solar storm today..

A 4 on a scale of 5.

Wondering where..

Solar storm today..

A 4 on a scale of 5.

Bring a Map just in case!

The best GPS in Thailand may be Garmin,. I just wish it had the facilities O had on my TomTom one 11 years ago. It still does not have waypoints without forcing you to stop for at least 5 minutes. So you cannot use the waypoints to guide you along better routes and still know your arrival time. The update for new junctions can take a full year before they appear. In the past it has routed me over bridges which only a motorcycle can use.

Quite often I take a route that I know is better. When it recalculates it tells me my route is 10 Km shorter.

I just wish that TomTom would come to Thailand. Until then, I could not live without my Garmin.

Edited March 18, 201511 yr by Toany

Never have a problem with mine which is an old one. Got an updated map about two years ago in Tu-Com for 500 Baht which is still remarkably up to date considering how fast things change over here.

They must have given you the map from the next year.

The best GPS in Thailand may be Garmin,. I just wish it had the facilities O had on my TomTom one 11 years ago. It still does not have waypoints without forcing you to stop for at least 5 minutes. So you cannot use the waypoints to guide you along better routes and still know your arrival time. The update for new junctions can take a full year before they appear. In the past it has routed me over bridges which only a motorcycle can use.

Quite often I take a route that I know is better. When it recalculates it tells me my route is 10 Km shorter.

I just wish that TomTom would come to Thailand. Until then, I could not live without my Garmin.

TomTom has a Thailand map for ages.

Garmin must be the worst GPS in the world. Probably leading GPS manufacturer in insufficiency.

Love my Garmins man.

Have a Zumo for bike riding, weather prof and dedicated bike options so you avoid toll ways.

The best GPS in Thailand may be Garmin,. I just wish it had the facilities O had on my TomTom one 11 years ago. It still does not have waypoints without forcing you to stop for at least 5 minutes. So you cannot use the waypoints to guide you along better routes and still know your arrival time. The update for new junctions can take a full year before they appear. In the past it has routed me over bridges which only a motorcycle can use.

Quite often I take a route that I know is better. When it recalculates it tells me my route is 10 Km shorter.

I just wish that TomTom would come to Thailand. Until then, I could not live without my Garmin.

Garmin must be the worst GPS in the world. Probably leading GPS manufacturer in insufficiency.

Any reason why you would say that? I have both a Nuvi 3579 and the Thailand iOS map. Both work very well for me and the POIs and maps are quite accurate, with updates four times a year.

The best GPS in Thailand may be Garmin,. I just wish it had the facilities O had on my TomTom one 11 years ago. It still does not have waypoints without forcing you to stop for at least 5 minutes. So you cannot use the waypoints to guide you along better routes and still know your arrival time. The update for new junctions can take a full year before they appear. In the past it has routed me over bridges which only a motorcycle can use.

Quite often I take a route that I know is better. When it recalculates it tells me my route is 10 Km shorter.

I just wish that TomTom would come to Thailand. Until then, I could not live without my Garmin.

Garmin must be the worst GPS in the world. Probably leading GPS manufacturer in insufficiency.

Any reason why you would say that? I have both a Nuvi 3579 and the Thailand iOS map. Both work very well for me and the POIs and maps are quite accurate, with updates four times a year.

How about sending you in dead end streets is Bangkok, or even here in Pattaya where I live and don't need a GPS actually as I know the roads, sending you on a detour.

In my home country, opposite my parents house is a small dirt road which is for the most part only usable for bicycles, but it is countless how many big trucks are sent in there by their Garmin.

My cousin travels all over Europe in his mobile home, and has thrown his Garmin literally out of the window, because it's not so easy to do a turnback with such a vehicle, and has changed to a Mio with which he is very satisfied.

OK, guess I have been lucky, then. Never had the above happen to me. Given what you have posted, it is difficult to understand how Garmin remains the world's leading consumer GPS company.

Edited March 18, 201511 yr by bubba

OK, guess I have been lucky, then. Never had the above happen to me. Given what you have posted, it is difficult to understand how Garmin remains the world's leading consumer GPS company.

Garmin is in a conspiracy to send people driving down wrong roads. Dont know why but they are. Garmin really sucks. Nobody in their right mind would ever purchase one.

...I got the same....!

Then I bought a GERMAN product: KAMAZ. I'm very happy with it. Sometimes it's surprising, even to choose a short cut, I didn't know before....

Is the KAMAZ in English and/or Thai?

hahahahha, I don't speak Thai...... (many languages available with KAMAZ)