Looking to purchase a 'sat nav' for vehicle-advice sought

[hotspur (Chris)]

Hello.

I've just been appointed to a full time position in invasive alien creature management.I do a lot of K's in the bush.But my odometer has just stopped working.If I purchased a 'sat nav' is it possible to type in a given value of K's and it effectively become an odometer?

What makes and models would people with experience suggest? what features should I look for in a 'sat nav'?

I really have no knowledge on these items,but it appears I need to get one this week,so any suggestion,and answer to question re-becoming an odometer,would be really helpful,thanks.

[hobbit]

Wouldn't a non functioning odometer be considered a defect?

[Bart]

A sat nav will give km/h however; unless it is a specific unit for some predesigned purpose, like a Vapour dash for a motorbike, I doubt it will record your total kms travelled.

And yes, your vehicle must have a working odometer and if it is replaced with something else you will need permission for that. Talk to the Consumer and Business Services in your state, they will have a form to fill out if you need to alter the odometer reading for any reason.

[Starless (Brian)]

Chris,
I have had a Navman and a Garmin.
The Navman was OK but the Garmin I now have is much
more user friendly.
I recommend you get a unit with free lifetime map updates.
I find the bluetooth hands free phone facilty usefull, I don't
make calls on it but do occasionally recieve them.
The driving tax collection camera warnings are also very handy.

[Kunama]

Android App "GPS Odometer" on your phone!

[Bart]

The vehicle MUST have a working odometer and speedometer. A GPS unit or other device will not suffice for legality. As previously posted, if you need to change the odometer, you must have permission to do so, otherwise you can be charged for tampering or fraudulent behaviour when reselling the vehicle or at any other time the vehicle is inspected.

Besides that, I use a Garmin Nuvi 2497LMT and find it to be excellent, both on my adventure bike or in the car.

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi Chris,

I first purchased a Garmin unit shortly after they were released. It served me well until it was out of date and updating was about $100.

I bought a Tom Tom top of the range a year ago. With life time free updates.
Also for SWMBO a Garmin. With free updates.

Differences:

New to old Garmin; much faster log in. Easier to use. touch screen.

Tom Tom. I now prefer this one. It is registered to be used in 45 countries.
It does not drop off the windscreen in heat like the Garmin does.
Bigger screen
Has live road conditions, free for first year after that a fee. It is fairly accurate for arrival timings. Suggests alternate routes before hitting the road. Very useful in congestion situations.

Both units are excellent. Within 5M accuracy. Garmin is slightly more user friendly but that may be because I was initiated on the Garmin.

However as I mentioned my choice is the Tom Tom but it is double the price of the Garmin because of all the countries for which you get life long free updates, bigger screen and a host of choices of voices colours etc.

Cheers

[Astro_Bot]

Garmin Nuvi here, with lifetime map updates, and I'm very happy with it.

My GPS records trip distance, so it is a second source of distance travelled, but doesn't have an permanent odometer function.

And, yes, you're going to have to get that odometer fixed.

BTW, why isn't the company/department providing a car if you have to drive all over the place (especially into the bush) in the course of work?

[eddiedunlop (Martin)]

Have you considered a hand-held device like a Garmin Oregon 550? I use mine as a satnav and I'm sure if you activate tracking it would record the number of kms travelled. It may also be useful for the type of work you do. You can download and record waypoints and the device will guide you to them even if they are off-road (not sure if all satnavs will do this). You can download these to your computer and project them onto Google Earth. It will take reasonable quality, geolocated images and even has an alarm clock! Indispensable when in the field.