are the sat nav systems that have been in the shops for lets say 2 years the maps must be old?

Question

if the maps are old they are not mutch use are they any cheaper ?

Answer 1

I have a sat nav built into my car and the company that make the software stopped all support for it 3 years ago.

It means that as time goes on the worst it is getting, the car manufacturers have washed their hands of the whole issue other than offer a complete replacement at £1.500.
It's an integral part of the dash with other functions so can't just be pulled and replaced with a Pioneer version for example.

It's not completely useless but another 5 years and it'll not get used at all because by then i'll have bought a £200 Tom Tom which can be binned and a newer one bought when it gets long in the tooth.

Answer 2

the maps are updated every 6 months, although there is usually not much need to change them. you can update the maps, at a cost, but you will probably find your Sat Nav hardware will date quicker than the maps. Best thing is to get a Nav system which can be updated cheaply and serves another purpose - such as a mobile phone or PDA, I had TomTom on my Nokia N80 and also on my Loox PDA. A 2 year old TomTom with maps from 2004 should still do the job for you, unless you live on a new road or visit new-builds alot

Answer 3

Sat navs pick up 3 signals from 3 different satellites to tell you where you are, a map can never tel you where you are, you have to work it all out yourself.

Sat navs are live and update you to the new route when you stray off!

It's not a map, and is far more advanced. Roads dont change that quickly either, for instance the M6 M25 etc has been there 50 years already.

Sat navs tell you your arrival time, your distance left, camera sites, nearest hospital, petrol station, restaurant etc, and much more than a map could ever do.

Answer 4

You can update your sat nav from your pc, and the makers do update there software quite regularly. I don't think they go out of date as such. I bought one 2 years ago and it's still bang up to date. I paid £500 for it, same one now costs £150, wish I had waited. Garmin are best then Tom Tom forget the rest.

Answer 5

you update the maps on them when you register the sat navs, can be done online

Answer 6

yes usually... also mroe mobile phones becoming gps enabled so another reason wht stand-alone gps systems now half price... see www.totalpda.co.uk for some deals...

Answer 7

i thought they were automatically updated by satellite each time you used them!

Answer 8

i think you can update them on line
cheaper is good