Roberto1980

Hi,

Going over for a recce / and activate PR in October and looking to hire a car.
We will be basing ourselves in hamilton or burlington to drive around surrounding areas.

Now, car hire companies can include a GPS with the car for approx $16 per day.

It's only a 6 day trip, but I'm considering just buying one ( a gps) to take over as I will no doubt need one when we move over anyway?

I've never owned a gps, so can anyone recommend a reasonably priced brand that I could purchase here in the uk and can use in canada?

Even if I pick up a second hand one, what software or specifications do I ensure it has ?

Thanks

neilg14

Why not just buy one in Canada ?
If you buy one in the UK, you'll have to download North American map onto it.
They're as cheap as chips over here.

Former Lancastrian

Garmin and Tom Tom are about the 2 best sellers for car GPS. Magellan also do one. I know the Garmin allows you to purchase maps and download them so it doesn't really matter which way you do it you will have to purchase and download a map if you want to use it in both countries.
Check out Best Buy, Amazon and Visions for Canadian prices to compare if cheaper buying over here. Also some being sold are refurbished as opposed to brand new so that explains the price differences for the same models.

Tirytory

We had to clear out the UK maps to allow for Canadian ones- we had it for the UK anyway since we travelled around France for holidays.. So I don't know if storage differs in different models. We have never used it in Canada- both cars we bought had sat nav

Former Lancastrian

Most of the newer models come with the function of the SD card as all units have limited storage even when updating. Ive had my Garmin with lifetime maps for about 5 years and only had to buy an SD card.

Tinpusher63

If you have an Android cell (mobile) phone or tablet with a GPS receiver (most if not all have one nowadays).

You could try this it's free. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....here.app.maps

OFFLINE NAVIGATION with search, directions list, and turn-by-turn voice guidance.

Download maps for over 100 countries worldwide.

Piff Poff

Don't get a magellan.

JGK

You can pick up one in canada for ~$100 or so with free lifetime map ugrades.

Roberto1980

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I'm considering picking one up when we come over.

Under $100 sounds fair enough. Where would I pick one up ? A mall or any dedicated retail store that would be best to go to? (If anyone knows anywhere around Hamilton that'd be great)

Hemi Dave

100 will get you a small basic GPS, 150 will get you one you can actually see and use. Canadian tire always have sales (flyers) so timing is everything.

Best Buy have a better selection and prices are pretty good.
Magellan RoadMate 5.0" GPS (RM5220LM) - Refurbished : Refurbished GPS - Best Buy Canada

Allie73

Best Buy, Staples, Walmart, Factory Direct (which often sells refurbished electronics)

Oakvillian

Either an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet, if it has a GPS chip, will allow you to use Google Maps while offline. I believe Apple Maps has an offline mode as well. This will use the GPS signal to locate you on the map, but will not use data bandwidth when you're roaming. You can save the relevant map area in advance, tell the map app where you want to get to, make sure data roaming is switched off, and away you go. On an Android device with an external storage slot, you could store a massive mapping area on an SD card. If you're at all comfortable with technology, and already own a smartphone, you really don't need to spend extra on a GPS device.

Just ensure you switch off the "data roaming" function as this is what racks up the international billing (he says, from bitter experience )

magnumpi

Plus Tax

Office Supplies, Technology, Ink & Much More | Staples

JGK

I got mine at London Drugs, but I have seen them advertised at crappy tire and other stores.