Sat Nav (Gps) Help

[Crosswind]

Hi Guys,

I would like to know if it is worthwhile buying a Satnav (Sala Prosat) ?

This is mainly for my better half who is not too familiar with some roads in Colombo. So the following are important:

• Voice navigation is a must
• Should be a permanent fixture on the car
• No need for info like points of interest

I was thinking using a phone permanently with a car. I got only Windows phones and I tried to use HereDrive App but it says it doesn't support navi for Sri Lanka.

What do you guys think? Is it worth investing on a sat nav this day and age (25k for the Prosat thing)? Are there any options other than the Sala crap?

Thanks in advance

[Davy]

A popular brand in Australia is GARMIN. It's now in Sri Lanka and you can check them out here:
http://garminlanka.com/product-category/on-the-road-garmin-gps-navigation/

I have personally used one for about 6 months on my cousin's car and I never missed a turn. Easy to use and they do provide map updates frequently (can simply plug into the PC and update). However, I'm not exactly sure about the quality of maps for Sri Lanka, but I believe they wouldn't be selling the product if the maps were not good. Hope someone using one of these can comment on how good they are in Sri Lanka.

What I use currently is my trusty old Anroid phone with Google Maps.

[ae100]

If you can bend your second rule ('should be a permanent fixture on the car') a bit, then my suggestion is a smart phone with Google maps app.

I've also used a conventional GPS navigation a few years ago, but it's no match with the app in terms of live updates and the amazing level of detail.

All you need is a phone holder sticking on to the windscreen, and you are good to go.

I even use it to plan the route ahead, cause now it gives the traffic details and the ETA, and suggest any quicker routes while you are on the way.

But with the ladies the problem is, you'll have to spend a day teaching them how to use it, and they will never learn the route even after going to the same place ten times, cause they'd only depend on the 'turn right / turn left' command, and they'd want to stop the car right where the GPS says 'you have arrived' :-)

Good luck..!

[JayZ]

Hi Crosswind,

You could get a cheap GPS over ebay or Aliexpress and install SALA or City Guide map. Much cheaper then the SALA unit and no any issues so far.

[JayZ]

Repost.

Edited July 30, 2015 by JayZ

[tiv]

Hi Guys,

I would like to know if it is worthwhile buying a Satnav (Sala Prosat) ?

This is mainly for my better half who is not too familiar with some roads in Colombo. So the following are important:

• Voice navigation is a must
• Should be a permanent fixture on the car
• No need for info like points of interest

I was thinking using a phone permanently with a car. I got only Windows phones and I tried to use HereDrive App but it says it doesn't support navi for Sri Lanka.

What do you guys think? Is it worth investing on a sat nav this day and age (25k for the Prosat thing)? Are there any options other than the Sala crap?

Thanks in advance

Well I've been using the Sala Prosat Device since 2013, Got it updated several times, Except for the suction cup, which failed recently, the device is rather bullet proof.

The guidance system is quite good. Maps are updated time to time (highway stuff etc) The voice guidance is decent but nowhere near compared to systems in European countries.

As for fixture, these devices either have a suction cup or if you have Navigation compatible head unit, you can get an SD

Also theres this new device called navgo which forms an interface between a non navi compatible head unit and provides on-screen gps, on sale for a similar sum, Komi knows more on this.

Also look up for devices for sale in popular classifieds sites, You might be able to find a mildly used one. I too feel 25k is a tad bit too high for a gps,

system, especially since its just software installed on a generic Chinese head unit

Please do mind I do not work for any of the above companies, If this post seems like an advert, admins feel free.

[Crosswind]

Do goo maps have voice navi?

[Crishan]

Do goo maps have voice navi?

Yes they do. And it works perfectly. I use it in my Ipad. Only problem is the way the lady pronounce the name of the streets. Some times I have to halt the card & read it.

[Crosswind]

I've used Garmin products in the past and they are good. Called Garmin just now. Price is better than Prosat. But I am not sure how reliable their maps will be. Would this be a concern?

[isam]

If you are OK to use a mobile phone or a tablet with a Windscreen mount, the best option would be an Android phone/tab with Map Factor Navigator and Google Maps. Map Factor Navigator is free, and you can use it for most places. Google maps are pretty accurate. Or you can get the Sala maps installed from Di*log. I guess M*bitel provides it too. This way you can detach the nav system and take it with you if you are on a hike or want to read a book, or even to make a call.

EDIT:

http://www.mapfactor.com/en/ - just found out that MapFactor Navigator is available for Windows phones FOC. You can check it out yourself. They provide free offline maps (about 4MB) and provides free updates as well.

Edited July 30, 2015 by isam

[isam]

Yes they do. And it works perfectly. I use it in my Ipad. Only problem is the way the lady pronounce the name of the streets. Some times I have to halt the card & read it.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but Google Navigator wants an active data connection to navigate? Would be OK if you are in and around Colombo. But it could be a limiting factor for outstations when there is no or slow data coverage outstations.

Edited July 30, 2015 by isam

[isam]

Hi Crosswind,

You could get a cheap GPS over ebay or Aliexpress and install SALA or City Guide map. Much cheaper then the SALA unit and no any issues so far.

JayZ, I don't think this is legal. Even if can you install a map without the license key by hacking it, you will not be able to update, isn't it?

[JayZ]

JayZ, I don't think this is legal. Even if can you install a map without the license key by hacking it, you will not be able to update, isn't it?

Hi isam, Not illegally. You can buy the Cityguide map for Rs. 4K and live updates available. Sala map is somewhat expensive and last time i checked they did not have the Android version but only for Win CE devices.

[Davy]

I've used Garmin products in the past and they are good. Called Garmin just now. Price is better than Prosat. But I am not sure how reliable their maps will be. Would this be a concern?

According to this link (scroll right down to the "Sri Lanka GPS Map Update History" section), they have been consistently updating the maps. If the map data is comprehensive enough, then you will have no reliability issues. I'm not sure about how comprehensive it is in Sri Lanka.

The details are so good in Australia that the maps show speed limits, locations of traffic cameras and even the correct lane you should be on so that you can drive without disrupting traffic (these things are not available on Google Maps - at least not yet).

[Crishan]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but Google Navigator wants an active data connection to navigate? Would be OK if you are in and around Colombo. But it could be a limiting factor for outstations when there is no or slow data coverage outstations.

Hi Isam, yes. You are correct. It needs an active data connection & 1 1/2 hour usage made the battery drain by 40%

[Davy]

Hi Isam, yes. You are correct. It needs an active data connection & 1 1/2 hour usage made the battery drain by 40%

If you have the latest version of Google Maps, you can search for an area and then save the map on your phone. Therefore you do not need to have a data connection always. This was introduced a few months back.

So if you plan to travel to an area that you are certain will have no mobile network coverage, you can save that area on your phone as an offline map and keep using maps offline. Google for it and you can find out how.

EDIT: While the above is true, offline maps cannot be used for navigation. See post #24.

Edited July 31, 2015 by Davy

[Crosswind]

I had actually used Garmin GPSs (not Sat Nav, just the GPS) about 8 years back when I was in radio transmission planning for a telco. Also I've used Garmin Sat Nav when I was in Oz few years ago, so when Davy mentioned about Garmin Sat Nav being available in Sri Lanka now, I was more than elated. Went to the Garmin showroom/office in Navinna and pulled the trigger on a Nuvi 55.

Cost was a hefty 23k but that's still less than the price of a Prosat and far below the price of a Dialog Sat Nav. Drove with the GPS for just 6km so far, from Navinna to home. Apart from the fact that the device is not user friendly (typical Garmin), everything seems to be bang on target.

Thanks for the input guys, especially Davy.

I'll post a full review after using it for a few days. Might be helpful for autolankans.

Edited July 30, 2015 by Crosswind

[Davy]

WoW that was quick! Hope you'll like it. Waiting for your review.

[asrock]

Me too interested on a Garmin sat nav unit. Was looking at one on ebay with touch screen and bluetooth (nuvi 2597 LMT) few months back, but my budget set me back. I never knew that Garmin had a branch in SL. Must pay a vist to them, hope they have few other models available.

Edited July 30, 2015 by asrock

[Crosswind]

Me too interested on a Garmin sat nav unit. Was looking at one on ebay with touch screen and bluetooth (nuvi 2597 LMT) few months back, but my budget set me back. I never knew that Garmin had a branch in SL. Must pay a vist to them, hope they have few other models available.

They have only 3 models available at the moment. Nuvi 55 (the one I bought) for 24/- (discounted to 23/-), Nuvi 65 for 30/- and a weatherproof, waterproof antitheft blah blah unit for 75/-

They seem to be dealing with corporates and other GPS related products more than retail. Their retail showroom wasn't impressive at all.

[isam]

If you have the latest version of Google Maps, you can search for an area and then save the map on your phone. Therefore you do not need to have a data connection always. This was introduced a few months back.

So if you plan to travel to an area that you are certain will have no mobile network coverage, you can save that area on your phone as an offline map and keep using maps offline. Google for it and you can find out how.

Yes you can use the offline map saving feature, last time I checked but it was limited to certain size, making it useless for a long trip. Have they increased the area? I have never tested, but does the turn-by-turn voice assist also get downloaded?

[asrock]

They have only 3 models available at the moment. Nuvi 55 (the one I bought) for 24/- (discounted to 23/-), Nuvi 65 for 30/- and a weatherproof, waterproof antitheft blah blah unit for 75/-

They seem to be dealing with corporates and other GPS related products more than retail. Their retail showroom wasn't impressive at all.

Yeah its a shame, I checked their website, nuvi 55/65 does not have BT. A referbished nuvi 2597 LMT with 1 year warranty costs around 17500 with shipping.

[Ruslan]

Yeah its a shame, I checked their website, nuvi 55/65 does not have BT. A referbished nuvi 2597 LMT with 1 year warranty costs around 17500 with shipping.

Im using one of them with osm map. Works like charm.

[Davy]

Yes you can use the offline map saving feature, last time I checked but it was limited to certain size, making it useless for a long trip. Have they increased the area? I have never tested, but does the turn-by-turn voice assist also get downloaded?

Yes you are right, I think the current area that can be saved per map is 50km x 50km. That too if the amount of information in that particular area does not exceed a certain limit. If it does, the size will have to be reduced before saving. Importantly, I assumed that offline navigation is possible, but turns out it's not. Also, the saved maps will automatically be deleted from the phone in 30 days.

So Crishan was right. You do need an active data connection for navigation using Google Maps. I will edit my previous post. Sorry for the confusion.

Edited July 31, 2015 by Davy

[madmax]

Just use google maps. You don't have to worry about updating maps. Get a good phone holder and charger and you're done. When I was in the coutry in June, I relied on google maps to go everywhere including the east coast that I have never traveled before.

Yes they do. And it works perfectly. I use it in my Ipad. Only problem is the way the lady pronounce the name of the streets. Some times I have to halt the card & read it.

Does it? I couldn't get the voice navigation to work on Google maps on my iPhone while in SL, even though it works when I'm in the US. I thought it wasn't availabe for that region. Oh well...

Edited July 31, 2015 by madmax

[Pericles]

Just use google maps. You don't have to worry about updating maps. Get a good phone holder and charger and you're done. When I was in the coutry in June, I relied on google maps to go everywhere including the east coast that I have never traveled before.

Does it? I couldn't get the voice navigation to work on Google maps on my iPhone while in SL, even though it works when I'm in the US. I thought it wasn't availabe for that region. Oh well...

Must be the iPhone

Works great on mine. Has done for a long time.

I feel the British voice is better at the road name pronunciation, but it might just be me. I was using the default but the brit voice came on when I started using a new phone, quite nice.

Also, I'm not a heavy user of navigation, but I've never had any issues when using it even in remote areas. Signalwise. The only issue (Which I don't think is addressed in any system locally) is that it can't find a particular house number. But the info is crowd sourced so if people can be bothered, it might work. My house number can be found, since its updated on Google Maps