GPS in Pattaya

[bigtommy 7]

Anyone recommend where to buy a reasonably priced GPS in Pattaya ??

 

 

maybe someone has one for sale that they no longer use / need ?

 

 

thanks.

[Austhai7 18]

Tuk Com on Sth Pattaya Rd might. Also the 4x4 shop on Sukhumvit Rd about 100 meters Sth of the Nth Pattaya Rd lights on the East sideof the Rd.

[sexyman 15]

Around 3 yrs ago I bought a "Besta" GPS in an electrical shop in the big shopping center on Beach rd, Pretty sure the shop is called "Power buy"

Cost 2500bht. They were even cheaper than the sellers in Tuk Com.

Power buy has a shop there too.

Just in the process of upgrading the maps now. Downloaded from their website at a cost of 900bht.

Upgrades are free for the first year.

This unit has been great and better than the Garvin that I used to rent with a car.

I would highly recommend Besta as an inexpensive and excellent GPS.

[Gary 4,100]

I know nothing about various brands of GPS units. What I do know is that the Thai ESRI Thailand map is the best map available. Don't confuse the Garmin South East Asia map with the native Thailand map. The Garmin map sucks as do various other maps that I have tried to use. When you buy a GPS, make sure that it can use the ESRI Thailand map. I'm not a Garmin fanboy but I do have four Garmin units. There are a number of Thailand maps available but none are anywhere near as good as the made in Thailand ESRI map.

 

ESRI is the best map but they seem to want to do their best to confuse people. Their Thailand map has a number of different names. The latest is called Nostra. I stick with Garmin because I know the Garmin brand of GPS can use the best map. Remember to avoid the Garmin map.

 

The Google map for Thailand now has navigation enabled. It's in the beta stage and there are glitches but it is usable. Unfortunately you have to be online to use the Thailand map.

[Trvlr 50]

Do you have a link to where the map is available?

[Gary 4,100]

Do you have a link to where the map is available?

 

Here is a link to probably the best shop in Bangkok;

 

http://www.gadgetrend.com/gps_nuvi40.php

 

You can buy a Garmin unit for Thailand at many different shops. They will have a Thailand Street map already installed. It is best to buy from a decent shop rather than a department store because most of the time the department stores will have the Thai map version installed. A good shop will make sure the English map is installed. That Garmin model 40 for less than 4,000 baht is hard to beat. That price includes the latest Thailand map. These units work out of the box and you need to do nothing to start using them. Before you buy, have them turn it on and make sure it has the English map installed. If not, a good store will change it from Thai to English for you. The price should be the same. Don't let the store tell you that they can't change it or that there is an extra charge.

 

A Garmin unit bought in a country other than Thailand will not be able to use all the map features such as junction view. The Thailand units can use maps for other countries without any problems. You can buy a memory card with any Garmin compatible map on it and you will be off and running. All my units were purchased from eBay and all use the Thai Street map. Of course I had to install the Thai maps myself but they work fine other than the junction view won't work. That feature is nice to have if you use the Bangkok super highways but you can get along fine without it. All the points of interest work fine and the small streets and one way streets are on the map.

[BigDUSA 71]

I agree with Gary. One thing I do when I've purchased a Garmin GPS. I go online to www.garmin.com and d/l the latest and greatest software updates.

[Gary 4,100]

I agree with Gary. One thing I do when I've purchased a Garmin GPS. I go online to www.garmin.com and d/l the latest and greatest software updates.

 

That is a useless thing to do. Garmin will sell you an expensive map that is no where near as good as the native Thailand ESRI map. I know that for a fact because I was stupid enough to pay the $99 for the inferior map. That money was totally wasted because I deleted the map from my Garmin. I learned the hard way.

[BigDUSA 71]

That is a useless thing to do. Garmin will sell you an expensive map that is no where near as good as the native Thailand ESRI map. I know that for a fact because I was stupid enough to pay the $99 for the inferior map. That money was totally wasted because I deleted the map from my Garmin. I learned the hard way.

 

 

I find that d/l the latest and greatest firmware works well for me. As far as a map of Thailand goes. I have no recommendation to make.

[Trvlr 50]

Can I ask what you paid for the Nuvi, out the door?

An even more important question: will the device readily recognize Thai addresses that are in the format "111/11 Moo 11, Pattaya" etc? I have to practice what that means, because I cannot decipher an address like that.

[sexyman 15]

Just did a bit of quick research.

The maps for "Besta" are supported by "speednavi" who use the ESRI maps.

I knew the maps in the Besta unit where far supierior to Garvin I had used before.

The update I just did was current as of June 2013, The unit now has a new screen layout as well.

So if you want to save a few baht go for the Besta.

I have never had a problem with mine in 3 yrs.

[Idefix 2,275]

Hi. I don't have a car here, so no need of a car's GPS,

but nowadays do you really need one when your phone or tablet can do (nearly?) the same job for free ?

Google Maps on an Android phone seems to work very well :)