GPS Questions

[Hank Kinsley]

Hey guys,

I am going to Thailand and India in the spring and was considering getting a GPS unit. I really don't know anything about them so I was looking for some advice. Can a car GPS be used world wide? I was looking at the Garmin Nuvi 680 as one possibility but it didn't say anywhere that it had maps for Thailand and India.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Conquest10]

You have to be careful and look at all the specs. Don't know if there are ones that are world-wide but I know there are models with only North American roads. I know the one I got my father only has the lower 48 states (good for him since he never leaves the state but does travel a lot within Illinois).

[Hank Kinsley]

That's what I'm afraid of. Sure, most of the time I'll be in NA, but I'd love to have it for my trip, and it's the main reason for buying it. Anyone else?

[hudsonf]

Check their web page. They may have maps for the areas you want to travel.

[Webster]

maps for Thailand and India.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

You have to buy the map. It is not cheap. For Thailand, here is the link:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13803

for India, you may have to buy from third party map source. Check the link from Garmin's site:

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mpc/#

contact the company that make the map for India here:
http://www.asplindia.in/contact_us.htm

[Hank Kinsley]

Honestly, I didn;t think it would be this difficult! It's been a decade of GPS now, and I thought the map packs would be no problem.

On top of the map issue, I guess what I really wanted to know is: will any GPS unit, whether it be a 'automobile' GPS or a 'world' GPS, work the same in any country (i.e. will they all still give Lat/long etc).

[Supreme2k]

It may have been a decade, but you have to look at the most prolific (and profitable) market.

Also, here's an article on how the GPS works.

[HmNtr]

There is one called PHAROS, which I think will have all its software auto update according to your position in the world. The specific version is called THE TRAVELER.

http://www.pharosgps.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=001%5FPTL600%5F7%2E81&cat=136

I have heard nothing but good stuff from my colleagues who have this product, and they travel all throughout Europe and Mexico, so I would think that this product would work in those countries you mentioned as well, but it never hurts to call the companies and ask about their product.

Just make sure to make an informed purchase with which ever product you choose to go with, because there are many products to choose from.

[HmNtr]

PS,

Remember that if you purchase a GPS unit, that you make sure to also purchase the correct AC/DC adapter for the region/countries that you will be visiting, because the standard American version AC/DC adapter does not work in other countries...

HmNtr

[Hank Kinsley]

Anyone hear how the Blackberry Curve is at world GPS? Is it similar to the Pharos that was posted above?