Thread: Best GPS Unit for Europe Trip?

The iPhone does not have to be unlocked (jailbreaked) to use the Navigon app.

Originally Posted by ace

The iPhone does not have to be unlocked (jailbreaked) to use the Navigon app.

True, I'm more concerned about accessing the cell networks while there.

Yea, you might want to do some hard research on that. I went to Germany and ended up with a $600 phone bill because they run on different networks.. so when it is downloading data it costs a forttune because you are on another company's pipe... With navigational aids, you might need some due dilligence on that also..you could buy a nav device on this side of the pond and not have any maps loaded for another country...Also Europe runs off a different GPS constellation,right? Gallieo (or something like that)..I am not sure how that would Effect nav device from here? So, I would suggest really tlking to company rep from Garmin or Tom Tom before purchasing the wrong one. One thing that always works is Google Earth.. Just make sure you seCure your wireless before getting on a public pipe. Tons of hackers waiting for an unsuspecting tourist to walk in with an open pipe on their laptop.

If you don't like to pay such a bill you should do the following:
1. deactivate "Traffic"
2. deactivate "Roaming"
There are tons of informations about using iPhone for navigation abroad in the Internet

Another method: you buy a prepaid card in the country where you spend your holidays
Therefore your iPhone should be provider-free
Be careful!
If you get a lot of calls every day, you pay a lot of money
My mobile# I told only some friends

Good things to think about, I wonder if buying a unit (whether TomTom or Garmin or other) at Saturn when I get to Munich is the easiest thing to do rather than trying to use the iphone?

I learned...you get the updates for the apps for less. I use the apps since 2009 and never paid for the 6 or 7 updates.

Originally Posted by eTom

If you don't like to pay such a bill you should do the following:
1. deactivate "Traffic"
2. deactivate "Roaming"
There are tons of informations about using iPhone for navigation abroad in the Internet

Another method: you buy a prepaid card in the country where you spend your holidays
Therefore your iPhone should be provider-free
Be careful!
If you get a lot of calls every day, you pay a lot of money
My mobile# I told only some friends

That's funny! After I hit sendi thought of ETom...Every picture I see of ETom is of him on the next pilgramage around the globe. Truley the fellow who would haved the scoop...Mine is a couple years old.

Originally Posted by Wintchase

.Also Europe runs off a different GPS constellation,right? Gallieo (or something like that)..I am not sure how that would Effect nav device from here? So, I would suggest really tlking to company rep from Garmin or Tom Tom before purchasing the wrong one.

Wrong! They are building the Galileo satellite system but it won't be ready for several years yet. We use the US and Russian satellites same as you.

As for buying a satnav when you arrive in Munich, you will need to buy the European maps. I don't know how it works in the rest of Europe, but here in the UK we can buy the whole Europe map or just the UK which is cheaper. The units come with them ready loaded of course but if you go that route, make sure the one you buy comes with the whole Europe map and not just Germany. That's assuming you are going to other countries of course.

I would think it probably better to buy one in the US and get the Europe maps there so you will have your US guarantees to fall back on if the unit goes wrong!

Gareth