Sat Nav (portable)

March 2007

It is easy to get lost in the endless stream of sat-navs and upgrades hitting the accessory shop shelves every month. The choice is made no easier by the growing list of extras available, such as MP3 players, JPG picture viewers and Bluetooth connectivity.

But the true measure of a top sat-nav unit has to be how it gets you from A to B. Our list of essentials includes: a seven-figure postcode search, TMC (traffic message channel) to avoid the jams and a good POI (places of interest) database with contact details. Choosing the best system depends on what kit you already own, so we split the satellite navigation camera-locator combination units from the standalone models. If you have yet to buy a hands-free kit, look out for systems which include them, especially if they upload your address book and include a separate microphone.

We checked POIs by searching for ATMs, hotels and restaurants, searched for four sample postcodes plus tested maps by looking for a roundabout which we knew had been replaced by traffic lights in 2002. On the road, quick routing and rerouting after taking a wrong turn, clear spoken directions and an informative but not cluttered screen won points.

Verdict

For a full-spec machine, go for the Acer. It is our choice for those who have no need for a camera locator although, if you do not require a Bluetooth hands-free facility, the TomTom One is a good alternative. For an effective but cheap sat-nav, it’s hard to ignore the Navman F20. If you want to invest in a speed-trap locator, check out the reasonably priced yet high-spec combination unit from Shinco. Should your budget not stretch that far, the AA Vive is a good alternative.

STANDARD
1. Acer P630
2. TomTom One V2
3. Navman F20

COMBINATION
1 Shinco GM350S
2. AA Vive
3 Garmin nüvi 610T

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