Sat Nav in Cyprus - Garmin - TomTom

willyhoops


Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 89

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 13:32

I have seen Garmin Sat Nav GPS units for sale - eg Nuvi 255W at 290 euros from this company in Nicosea - http://www.geomatic.com.cy



But someone told me they have seen a Cyprus TomTom. I already have a TomTom and called them to ask if I can buy a map but they say none is available. Can anyone confirm if TomTom with Cyprus maps are really available? If so does anyone know how I could buy a map and upgrade rather than buying a new unit?

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 14:00

You'll have to dig deep, or get one from Ebay and alike, and get a new one if you want a map of Cyprus for a Sat Nav.

They are coming....slowly, but the major players haven't yet done maps for Cyprus.

Also see earlier thread.... http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/417.asp

Another place this was discussed was..... http://www.easterncyprus.com/viewtopic.php?t=7634

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 14:20

I use a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx with my own map with added coordinates (Road Map of Northern Cyprus: http://www.cyprusdownload.nl). It works fine. I uploaded the same map into my Sony Ericsson mobile phone (on a 128 Mb SanDisk MagicGate Memory Stick Duo) - also with amazing results. It can be done!

willyhoops


Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 89

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 14:26

I told you I can buy a Garmin Nuvi 255W for 290 euros from the shop listed and also from Public in Mall of Cyprus. It comes with detailed street maps of Cyprus and free lifetime updates.



You can see the products for example here:

http://www.geomatic.com.cy/index.php?link=productdetails.php&serial=16

http://www.public.gr/products/internet_communication/productDtls_2326.html



But I am trying to find out if you can get a TomTom with Cyprus maps. A guy told me he saw a tomtom with cyprus map for sale in the South. If that is correct I would rather upgrade my TomTom than buy a new Garmin.



Garmin does not list the map on thier main web site. I think it is a third party company which has produced Garmin compatible maps and is selling them. But if they have made maps for Garmin why not for TomTom as well.

willyhoops


Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 89

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 14:58

By the way I found a link into the street maps that are used:



http://sigmalivemaps.geomatic.com.cy/?poiid=19335#



You can see the level of detail.



I can not find any info on the TomtTom and will just get the Garmin. Will let you know what I think of it.

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
28/12/2009 18:51

"But if they have made maps for Garmin why not for TomTom as well."

You answered your own queston really in "Garmin compatible maps". Compatible being the operative word. Garmin have an open platform and if you don't quite know what you're doing to update it you can easily cause many problems.

Tomtom keep all their maps "in house" and use their own ways to create maps. They also support their own maps by charging a large fee for new maps.

Support for other Sat Nav's rarely touches that of Tomtom. Don't forget that new roads are being built all the time. Points of Interest change frequently. Post Codes are updated twice a year by the Post Office, so many places that are new many Sat Navs cannot find. At least Tomtom update their Post Codes twice a year, even though it's not done as a standard update it is possible to find the latest files on their pages for you to manually update your Sat Nav.

willyhoops


Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 89

Message Posted:
05/01/2010 09:32

I got my Garmin Nuvi 255W for 290 euros. The user interface is a little bit disapointing compared to TomtTom with fewer advanced options for route planning and compass etc. The Maps of the greek side are however very good! A few times it said "turn left" when a TomTom with London maps would have said "bear left", but if you keep an eye on the screen when the junction is complicated it is no problem. So I would recommend the 255W which has a wide screen. Unfortunately it has no socket for the external ariel which I have plumbed into my car so I may upgrade one day and give this one to a friend.



I talked to the guys at Geomatic and they explained that they are making the maps themself. They have a car they drive around which records the roads etc. For the North Side they have 4,500km of roads mapped but they are not allowed to drive thier car around and must rely on Google maps.

willyhoops


Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 89

Message Posted:
05/01/2010 09:39

On the North Side I found the detail good but a maybe 20m error between the map and the actual location in the area i live. So the road might come up just before it says "turn left"! All the names are Greek, at the insistince of the Greek government.



To navigate from my house in the North to a place in the South in one step, I have to set the border as a via point or it gets confused and takes the wrong border crossing. No big deal.



It has various language options (including Turkish), I set mine to English speaking, writing and keyboard. Finding a place on the Greek side is easy if you have the postcode. For mall of Cyprus you just type mall into points of interest.



All in all a great product and I look forward exploring the South side now in a way not possible before.



The Government on the South side is involved in the mappring project with Geomatic - and rightly too because satnav is a great way to pomote your country.