Garmin GPS - US bought GPS in Europe

Author

US bought GPS in Europe

ian_rules@yahoo.com

2005-08-03, 5:48 pm

Hi,

I stay in the UK and am considering purchasing a GPS unit, possibly the
Garmin Legend or Vista colour. I have noticed the units are cheaper in
the USA. From what I have read, the European and American units come
with different basemaps. Is there any way buy the American unit and
turn it into what would be essentially a European unit? If it is
possible, what would it cost? Is there anything else I should think
about?

Thanks in advance,

Ian

Seagull

2005-08-03, 5:48 pm

ian_rules@yahoo.com wrote:
> Is there any way buy the American unit and turn it into what would be
> essentially a European unit?

No. The basemap cannot be changed.

> Is there anything else I should think about?

A few people have reported that you can't buy City Select Europe
in Europe as a standalone map product. You apparently have to buy
it as a bundle in the automotive kit which is more expensive.

Also, note that without a basemap, you'll have problems routing long
distances since all the detail maps you need for a route may not fit
in your unit's memory. The basemap is not precision detail, but it
is good enough for cross-country routing on major highways.

Cheers,
-+JLS

--
\ carpe cavy!
seagull @ aracnet.com \
http://www.aracnet.com/~seagull/ \ (seize the guinea pig!)

Colin Wilson

2005-08-03, 5:48 pm

> > Is there anything else I should think about?
> A few people have reported that you can't buy City Select Europe=20
> in Europe as a standalone map product. You apparently have to buy
> it as a bundle in the automotive kit which is more expensive.

Actually that`s *slightly* wrong

You can`t buy european maps in europe without hardware, but the bundles=20
where you end up with more hardware than you want or need are cheaper=20
than buying the maps from abroad.

Garmin have a seriously XXXXed up pricing system, and are essentially=20
"forcing" owners of their more expensive hardware devices to subsidise=20
markets in which they have more competition, i.e. laptop / PDA routing.

http://www.garminsuck.com

A GPS18 Deluxe comes with CS:EU and will cost you about =A3135 from=20
http://www.aspidshop.com - one unlock is tied to the GPS18, but the=20
other "free" unlock can be used on an existing unit.

The CS:EU maps on their own will cost you closer to =A3200 without the=20
extra "free" GPS receiver you didn`t need.

LinkBot