Experiences with the Garmin Thailand map for the iPhone
I've been living in for a while now Thailand and drive about 20,000 km a year here, and I've done that without GPS until recently.
I still had a nice Garmin StreetPilot 2720 lying around, a very advanced expensive device at the time and at least about 6 years old, but I have never used it in Thailand for the simple reason that it is not easy to update such a device with a Thai card.
Garmin
The Garmin website does not have the Thailand map on their website anyway. There are many on the internet tips about how you can download and install such a map for free, but I think you need to have quite a bit of technical knowledge to bring this all to a good end - also considering the many problems that are raised in the various internet forums.
Another option is to visit the Garmin dealer in Bangkok with your Garmin GPS receiver, they seem to sell Thai maps for most different Garmin devices. However, so far I have mainly used the standard GPS and Google map on my iPhone, but that still remains a bit of a hassle.
iPhone
Recently, however, Garmin released the Thailand map for the iPhone. A download via the Apple app store turns the iPhone into a full-fledged GPS unit for roughly 1,000 baht. You can get a phone stand with a suction cup to stick your phone to your windshield at any IT store. I now have more than a thousand km on it, and the experiences are very positive! It really is a fully-fledged GPS navigation system that is in no way inferior to the existing GPS systems on the market. The language can be set to Thai or English. Reception is good, also in the city, and where I thought I was experiencing problems - the continuous updating of the current position - it worked almost flawlessly there, the system has little to no problems with delays, it also works very well in the city Good!
The local speed limit is clearly indicated, with or without a warning if one exceeds it, and when I drove from a 90 km into a 40 km zone, the speed limit on the screen changed exactly at the moment I passed the 40 km sign. Impressive! Many restaurants, gas stations, hospitals, etc. etc. are already loaded into the system and are all very easy to find. If you drive wrong, the recalculation of the new route is also very fast.
Bangkok toll roads
Disadvantages encountered so far: the navigation system occasionally chooses a busier (but shorter) road, and sometimes it does not know whether you are driving on the elevated toll road or on the road below it. It also seems to prefer to avoid toll roads in Bangkok – an odd choice given the often chaotic traffic. I expect these issues to be resolved in future releases. In addition, it is recommended to use such an iPhone charger for in the car; GPS use is quite an drain on the battery. Apart from that, the system is a very good alternative to a full-fledged GPS navigation system, which can save a lot of searching on the often hopelessly poorly or confusingly signposted Thai roads!
I have a Nokia N8 that contains a free app with great GPS for Thailand and also NL spoken with a choice of lady or gentleman. is very precise, even small ois in Bangkok, Chiangmai and other cities easy to find
usually you can choose from : faster route ; shorter route; toll roads or not; turn (U) or not ; dirt roads or not.
Maybe that answers the questions about whether or not toll road and the busy , but shorter route .
Furthermore, always enter the vehicle or walk. A navigation system also takes this into account (for example, a walker can walk against the direction of travel on a one-way road).
Incidentally, it is strange that Garmin supplies this; I thought TomTom had a deal from Apple.
peter how much does a nokia n8 cost and can it also be stuck on the windshield with a part to be purchased?
I bought a Thai card from Tom Tom. Everything actually works fine though
the downside is that you can't navigate by zip code. Finding your way in Bangkok by street name, for example, is not possible.
It works fine for the outlying areas and by city name. Costs 35,- Euro
Frank
That surprises me, Frank, because I can find my way around Bangkok by street name and search with the TomTom (both the iPhone version and the separate TomTom).
Searching by zip code is indeed not possible, but you also have that with Garmin. As far as I know, Tomtom only allows you to search by postcode in the UK and NL.
Garmin has recently released an official Thailand map. But there has long been a semi-official Garmin map from ESRI (if memory serves me well); ESRI had made that map for Garmin, but Garmin decided not to use it. Something like that. But it did work. I have used these maps on my Nokia N95 and later newer versions also on the Garmin nuvi's. The cards are available in English and Thai.
I'm more of a TomTom fan myself; In my opinion, a better user interface, clearer instructions and clearer maps. At Garmin it is difficult to search for Petchburi Road in Bangkok. It can only be found at Garmin if you search under Thanon Phetchburi. At TomTom you can also search for “Thanon” or “Petchburi”. So easy. I also find the Tomtom maps more up-to-date in the Netherlands. I don't know if this is also the case in Thailand. Incidentally, you can set whether you want to use toll roads with the TomTom or not.
Whether you install Garmin or TomTom on your iPhone, you get free updates! This in contrast to individual cards!
esri Thailand sells a (micro) SD card with a map of Thailand (TSM = Thailand Street Map) for all Garmin navigation systems for 2000 TB (including shipping costs). Not as good as, for example, Speednavi; but it has no use for Garmin. It is made by Nostra. tel.: 02 636 8421
Tickets are also for sale (in Bangkok) at Gadgetrend http://www.gadgetrend.com/aboutus.php
Gadgetrend is on Phloenchit Road in Aramin Plaze, approximately opposite Intercontinental Hotel and Gayshorn (Shopping Centre). Skytrain stop Chit Lom
Mr. Dennis, I don't know any map of Thailand from Garmin. Where is it for sale? What I do know is the South-East Asia map including Thailand. But this is very limited compared to Esri.
Mr Roelof Jan,
I do indeed mean the Southeast Asia map you mentioned, which also includes Thailand. Whether this map is worse or better or equivalent to ESRI I don't know either, since I now use TomTom and in any case find the TomTom map for Thailand better than that of ESRI.
Hi Jan.
There is indeed a thailand map from garmin.
unfortunately I can't see what it's called now, my PC is unwell.
If I remember correctly his name is bangkok street map.
But it is a map of all of Thailand.
I once found it on the internet.
I use the one from Southeast Asia myself.
It also wakes up fine.
Regards,
Frame.
Does anyone know. I have a navigation system Mio type Moov330 whether there are maps or updates in Thailand, thanks in advance
I think from Speed Navi; I had a Mio 701 A and it worked perfectly (better than Garmin).
Unfortunately my Mio no longer works ; and I can no longer use it.
It works on Windows I'm told.
The phone number: 02 266 9943
http://www.SpeedNavibiz
I also only use Garmin for emergencies to get back home.
Looking up streets is difficult because the Thai often use different ways of writing street names.
A GPS works much better in Holland, but it is still useful to have with you in Thailand.
To Messrs Marco and Piet,
Mister Marco is his maps FOR Garmin , but NOT FROM Garmin !!
Eg the one from esri and there will probably be more (although not every card can work on a different system).
I checked with Garmin itself and the maps of eg esri (which is very difficult to operate because people first ask for the province if it is a place outside your own province) Garmin considers illegal.
Garmin does have the South-East Asia map, but it is very limited and in my area many places are not even mentioned and the streets that lead there are not in the map.
In that respect, the esri folder is much more extensive.
Mister Pete,
It's strange that your GPS works better in the Netherlands (I assume that's what you mean by Holland).
It works on satellites of the US military to determine position.
And they are equally strong almost everywhere .
I have no difference here on the Mio and Garmin.
It is not as with a telephone that it depends on the density of masts .
However, it may be that the reception in certain places hardly or not even receives the signals from the satellites due to high buildings around you; tunnels; mountains when driving in valleys; and very dense forests etc etc .
I hope I've been a little clearer again.
What should I enter on the Tom Tom if I want to go to Pattaya? From Koh Chang to Phuket, for example, you can do it (almost 24 hours -by car- that journey takes, so opted for the plane). The BKK airport, the new one, didn't know the computer version of the TomTom either when I tried it (maybe it was too soon after it opened), but friends of mine drove a Tom Tom in their car from BKK to Koh Chang without any problem. In short: even if you are equipped with electronic aids, always take a good map with you (and of course a co-pilot you can entrust with the navigation). Even better: travel by public transport if that is not too inconvenient. That is safer and you have no navigation problems.
Strange, because I have been driving Tomtom across Thailand for several years (Bangkok -> Isan, Hua Hin -> Isan, Pattaya -> Isan). No problem. Pattaya is recognized, Bangkok is recognized. And the airport of Bangok, of course. If you search under “points of interest” you will certainly find the airport and similarly many hotels in Thailand.
Since the maps are often based on satellite images, there can sometimes be an error, but this is mainly the case in rural areas. Also, a useful place (hotel) can be located just on the other side of the road than what the TomTom indicates, but just look around and you will see it. In short, a TomTom is fine in Thailand, but using your common sense and taking a map is always a good idea.
If necessary, I can install any map for Garmin, including Thailand. Costs are 1,000 Bath, which is a lot cheaper than in Bangkok at ESRI. In addition, I can also put the device in Dutch or any language and install police cameras. Greetings Rolf
Where ESRI installs the official version.
I suspect you download the Garmin map. The “unlocked” versions of any Garmin map can be downloaded in many places, especially via the newsgroups (“spotnet”, former FTD). That works fine, but then asking 1000 baht for "the effort" I personally think is on the high side. But perhaps for those who do not know how and what a solution.
My Garmin Zumo 220 was having problems and I had ESRI's map of Thailand. Although I still had a year and a half it was not repaired because the folder of ESRI turns out to be illegal . So Garmin user you have been warned.
Dear Roelof Jan, you can simply put the card on a micro SD, if you have problems, just take the card out. I've been putting maps into Garmin for years and have never had any problems with it. Greetings Rolf
On some maps you first have to enter the province and only then can you enter the place you want to go to. This usually only applies if that place is outside the province where you are. Unfortunately, it is also true that many places are written in different ways. (Mancha Khiri; Man Ja Kheeree; Mancha Kheeree as an example). Often a device does not recognize the “other” name
I had bought a new ticket on micro-sd; but when my Garmin broke down (the installed map is of the whole of Europe {including Russia}) . That was not the problem , but errors F30 and F34 occurred in the device due to the card . That's what I wanted to say and warn against; furthermore, the card has many unpleasant things. The map of South-East Asia does not have all that. However, it is limited with what is on it. I hope I'm a bit clearer now.