Which sat-nav?
Discussion
Good afternoon all!
As of yesterday, Mrs McBook is legally allowed to drive on the roads of the UAE
She passed first time which I couldn't believe - the test lasted all of 10 minutes!
Unfortunately, two years of sitting in the back of taxis have left her with absolutely no sense of direction and she's pretty scared about getting lost. My R32 doesn't have sat-nav so I'm in the market for a Tom-Tom or Garmin or whatever is good out here.
Does anyone have any experience of after-market sat-nav out here? My main concern is the pace at which the roads change so I need a system from a company that offers regularly updated maps. Any advice or recommendations?
As of yesterday, Mrs McBook is legally allowed to drive on the roads of the UAE
She passed first time which I couldn't believe - the test lasted all of 10 minutes!Unfortunately, two years of sitting in the back of taxis have left her with absolutely no sense of direction and she's pretty scared about getting lost. My R32 doesn't have sat-nav so I'm in the market for a Tom-Tom or Garmin or whatever is good out here.
Does anyone have any experience of after-market sat-nav out here? My main concern is the pace at which the roads change so I need a system from a company that offers regularly updated maps. Any advice or recommendations?
Mattt said:
No TomTom here AFAIK.
TomTom produce a Middle East map that you can buy and upload to your device. I did exactly that before I left the UK but, like a total fool, I forgot to pack it in my hand luggage! It's currently somewhere in storage or transit with the rest of my stuff that I shipped out here so I can't say if it's any good or not.The TomTom website said:
Map coverage statistics: street network coverage in Bahrain 99%, Kuwait 99%, Oman 80%, Qatar 99%, Saudi Arabia 82% and United Arab Emirates 99%.
countries covered: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
additional information: 183,620 kms of roads and 90,794 points of interest are covered for the entire region. House number coverage in Kuwait has 99% UAE has 36%. Map caters for navigation from house to house as well as cross border from country to country.
Anything has to be better than the trial-and-error way we have all learnt to get around this place!countries covered: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
additional information: 183,620 kms of roads and 90,794 points of interest are covered for the entire region. House number coverage in Kuwait has 99% UAE has 36%. Map caters for navigation from house to house as well as cross border from country to country.
The company I work for here in Bahrain is the distro for Garmin so if you have any questions on Garmin specific models ask away and i will find out! I have sold allot to the US Navy here, nothing crazy, just the hand held 60CSX and a couple of the Nuvi 1690 gps ones.
Having a gps in Bahrain is a bit like having a chocolate teapot here though...!! You cant get lost here! But for the UAE its a good idea!
Having a gps in Bahrain is a bit like having a chocolate teapot here though...!! You cant get lost here! But for the UAE its a good idea!
Dunk1982 said:
The company I work for here in Bahrain is the distro for Garmin so if you have any questions on Garmin specific models ask away and i will find out! I have sold allot to the US Navy here, nothing crazy, just the hand held 60CSX and a couple of the Nuvi 1690 gps ones.
Having a gps in Bahrain is a bit like having a chocolate teapot here though...!! You cant get lost here! But for the UAE its a good idea!
That Nuvi 1690 looks pretty nice! Do you know if all of the features (airport arrivals, cinema times etc) are available in the UAE? Also, I assume there is a subscription charge for that stuff?Having a gps in Bahrain is a bit like having a chocolate teapot here though...!! You cant get lost here! But for the UAE its a good idea!
I have a Garmin Nuvi 1310 which is pretty good. I had a TomTom One in the UK and found the TomTom to be more user-friendly compared to the Garmin but the maps in the Garmin are known to be slightly more accurate. Mine came pre-installed with the maps of the GCC countries and the only problems I've had were driving through roadworks/diversions (but, as with all satnavs, it just re-calculates) and the maps include roads in Qatar that aren't even finished/open yet!!
Mine is only a few months old and will be going cheap in a couple of weeks as I'm heading back to the UK. PM me if your interested.
Mine is only a few months old and will be going cheap in a couple of weeks as I'm heading back to the UK. PM me if your interested.
Gentleman Geoff said:
Mattt said:
No TomTom here AFAIK.
TomTom produce a Middle East map that you can buy and upload to your device. I did exactly that before I left the UK but, like a total fool, I forgot to pack it in my hand luggage! It's currently somewhere in storage or transit with the rest of my stuff that I shipped out here so I can't say if it's any good or not.Desert Dog said:
Go Garmin and buy it locally. They have a very good agent here (AMIT) and have plenty of stock for all sorts of bits, accessories and maps. I bought a Nuvi loaded with Middle East and UK maps which worked well. Roads in Dubai do change occasionally..... 
Only places I've seen them for sale are the big electronics retailers like DG Sharaf. Is there a better place to purchase? mcbook said:
That Nuvi 1690 looks pretty nice! Do you know if all of the features (airport arrivals, cinema times etc) are available in the UAE? Also, I assume there is a subscription charge for that stuff?
I will find out for you, as mentioned in the other replies ours already come with the GCC already on the sd card and i think UK roads too, the top of the range Nuvi has blue tooth and a mp3 player built in as well. Garmin have a really good supply chain to the GCC, our guys always have stock and get more in quick (3-4 weeks). We supply sharaf dg here in Bahrain but if you can buy direct from the distro as your more likely to get a better deal and service from them. Cant speak for the UAE one but our guys are well clued up.Also for a small fee my guys will download maps onto a blank sd card for you, if you provide your own sd i think they do it even cheaper so check with the guys where you are, if they tell you you have to buy the original Garmin map sd card they are talking balls imo.
Dunk1982 said:
mcbook said:
That Nuvi 1690 looks pretty nice! Do you know if all of the features (airport arrivals, cinema times etc) are available in the UAE? Also, I assume there is a subscription charge for that stuff?
I will find out for you, as mentioned in the other replies ours already come with the GCC already on the sd card and i think UK roads too, the top of the range Nuvi has blue tooth and a mp3 player built in as well. Garmin have a really good supply chain to the GCC, our guys always have stock and get more in quick (3-4 weeks). We supply sharaf dg here in Bahrain but if you can buy direct from the distro as your more likely to get a better deal and service from them. Cant speak for the UAE one but our guys are well clued up.Also for a small fee my guys will download maps onto a blank sd card for you, if you provide your own sd i think they do it even cheaper so check with the guys where you are, if they tell you you have to buy the original Garmin map sd card they are talking balls imo.
I'm not so sure that I need an mp3 player but the bluetooth would be very handy.
In other news, I have just found out that I can't get her insured on my car until she's had the license for 1 year... looks like it'll be a Yaris from a hire company then. She will not be happy.
Desert Dog said:
Here you go... www.amitdubai.net
Theres also these guys too in your neck of the woods, dont know what the service is like though.. http://www.japanmarine.jp/garman.html
Mattt said:
Gentleman Geoff said:
Mattt said:
No TomTom here AFAIK.
TomTom produce a Middle East map that you can buy and upload to your device. I did exactly that before I left the UK but, like a total fool, I forgot to pack it in my hand luggage! It's currently somewhere in storage or transit with the rest of my stuff that I shipped out here so I can't say if it's any good or not.From what everyone else is saying it sounds like you'd be better off with Garmin anyway.
Right... just been chatting to our Garmin guy...
The Nuvi 1690 sounds like the one to have, has bluetooth and has the Nulink system but that dosent work in the GCC (check out www.garmin.co.uk/1690 for info on that). Basic it comes pre loaded with the Euro map and for a little extra cost (20-30BD) we load the GCC map so your local guys should do the same.
Price wise my guy was telling me that we cant compete with UAE as the market is much bigger but i would be interested to know what you get quoted. Also check the warranty, in Bahrain we provide the full 2 year Garmin worlwide warranty but in Dubai ive been told they only provide 1yr Dubai, 1yr worldwide.
If you need anymore info let me know
Dunk.
The Nuvi 1690 sounds like the one to have, has bluetooth and has the Nulink system but that dosent work in the GCC (check out www.garmin.co.uk/1690 for info on that). Basic it comes pre loaded with the Euro map and for a little extra cost (20-30BD) we load the GCC map so your local guys should do the same.
Price wise my guy was telling me that we cant compete with UAE as the market is much bigger but i would be interested to know what you get quoted. Also check the warranty, in Bahrain we provide the full 2 year Garmin worlwide warranty but in Dubai ive been told they only provide 1yr Dubai, 1yr worldwide.
If you need anymore info let me know
Dunk.
Dunk1982 said:
Right... just been chatting to our Garmin guy...
The Nuvi 1690 sounds like the one to have, has bluetooth and has the Nulink system but that dosent work in the GCC (check out www.garmin.co.uk/1690 for info on that). Basic it comes pre loaded with the Euro map and for a little extra cost (20-30BD) we load the GCC map so your local guys should do the same.
Price wise my guy was telling me that we cant compete with UAE as the market is much bigger but i would be interested to know what you get quoted. Also check the warranty, in Bahrain we provide the full 2 year Garmin worlwide warranty but in Dubai ive been told they only provide 1yr Dubai, 1yr worldwide.
If you need anymore info let me know
Dunk.
Cheers, Dunk. You've been very helpful!The Nuvi 1690 sounds like the one to have, has bluetooth and has the Nulink system but that dosent work in the GCC (check out www.garmin.co.uk/1690 for info on that). Basic it comes pre loaded with the Euro map and for a little extra cost (20-30BD) we load the GCC map so your local guys should do the same.
Price wise my guy was telling me that we cant compete with UAE as the market is much bigger but i would be interested to know what you get quoted. Also check the warranty, in Bahrain we provide the full 2 year Garmin worlwide warranty but in Dubai ive been told they only provide 1yr Dubai, 1yr worldwide.
If you need anymore info let me know
Dunk.
I'll get down to the shops or AMIT and see what the price is later in the week.
Dunk1982 said:
Also for a small fee my guys will download maps onto a blank sd card for you, if you provide your own sd i think they do it even cheaper so check with the guys where you are, if they tell you you have to buy the original Garmin map sd card they are talking balls imo.
Dunk, are your guys still able to do this, I have a Nuvi 200W that came pre-loaded with USA maps, I run Euro maps on a card, but could do with the Middle East maps on another card, sadly they're not available as a download, only on CD which isn't too handy for me right now!I bought a Garmin (model with the biggest screen I could find)with touch screen, built in bluetooth and preloaded with GCC maps for the wife. I paid about AED 1,400 2 years ago. She is more than happy with it (when she uses it that is...).
1st thing I did was change the direction commands to a female voice. When asked why I pointed out that if I had left it as a male voice she might not follow the commands (she doesn't always follow my directional instructions). At least her and her parents saw the funnyside of things...
1st thing I did was change the direction commands to a female voice. When asked why I pointed out that if I had left it as a male voice she might not follow the commands (she doesn't always follow my directional instructions). At least her and her parents saw the funnyside of things...
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