[jassi]

^^ampere - does the garmin + india maps combo , read names of locations, roads, etc? With MMI software + maps (on windows mobile), it does not read out names, just gives voice directions (right, left, etc). Basically does text to speech work?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by jassi

^^ampere - does the garmin + india maps combo , read names of locations, roads, etc? With MMI software + maps (on windows mobile), it does not read out names, just gives voice directions (right, left, etc). Basically does text to speech work?

No it does not read the names of the road. But I guess that is not to do with the maps, but with the hardware. If you find a high end garmin device, I guess that should work.

Not fully sure.
NetfreakBombay (NFB) should be able to explain that better I guess.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

If one buys Garmin device, and loads MMI maps on it, is the interface/tools/etc still the same as Garmin? Is it just the maps that get loaded, or the MMI programming as well?

Yes interface and functionality would remain the same. MMI would give you just map "data".

Some functionality might not work if not supported by data or if data is not detailed enough. E.g. "Search by pincode" would not work if map does not have city/town boundaries.

Originally Posted by jassi

Basically does text to speech work?

Yes it does. You might have to download a voice with TTS. Downlaod location : Garmin: Voice, British English-Emily (TTS) Updates & Downloads

Some units do not support these voices. Steps to enable TTS are here :

Enable Text-to-Speech: TomTom or Garmin GPS Review

Originally Posted by ampere

My summary Garmin H/W + India Maps (MMI or Satguide) is the best combo.

Completely agree. Garmin is the best hardware. Satgiude is VFM + good coverage.

[genesis]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Yes it does. You might have to download a voice with TTS. Downlaod location : Garmin: Voice, British English-Emily (TTS) Updates & Downloads

Some units do not support these voices. Steps to enable TTS are here :

Enable Text-to-Speech: TomTom or Garmin GPS Review

I think it may be a little bit different. I had spoken to a Satguide person and he said their maps do not support TTS. But are just turn by turn maps.
Hence I ended up buying a Garmin 205W which does not have TTS since it was much cheaper than the upper end models with TTS. No point spending money if the maps dont support it.

It tells me turn left after 1km. Rather than turn left after 1km on Mahatma Phule Street. Also by the time a British or US voice reads out a street name, you have probably passed by

I feel that in reality in India, the the Turn By Turn direction are enough since you can always see the street name to turn on at the top of the GPS in large letters.

I dont know if MapMyIndia supports TTS or not

[Thad E Ginathom]

Thank you ampere and NetfreakBombay. I'm sure it would have been said before, but threads like this get to be like a long-running news story, when I find you I can't understand stuff because I didn't follow what happened months or even years ago.

You've summed it up for me very nicely.

[ampere]

I agree to what genesis said. You don't need a voice to pronounce the name of street. A case in India, where names change every day ! (Pun Intended )

And that too if you have to pay dearly for this feature alone. From that point of view, I feel the Nuvi 205W is real VFM. It just does, what you need it to do. @Genesis even I have the same piece !

[ruchirtnt]

but is any trouble with MMI VX140, as i am looking for navigation with bluetooth support and playing a video is an added advantage

[akp]

Originally Posted by ampere

No it does not read the names of the road. But I guess that is not to do with the maps, but with the hardware. If you find a high end garmin device, I guess that should work.

Not fully sure.

You are right -- I have a Garmin 765T with MMI map that I have been using for a couple of weeks now - it does read out all the names of roads etc.

[genesis]

Originally Posted by akp

You are right -- I have a Garmin 765T with MMI map that I have been using for a couple of weeks now - it does read out all the names of roads etc.

It actually has to do with the maps and the device (as per the Satguide rep)

So in summary, the deduction would be:

MMI maps (7000 rs) support TTS (reading out road names) and if you have a Garmin which supports TTS then it is worth it

Satguide maps (2100) dont support TTS (they say turn left, right and street name is displayed in large bold on top).

We are then talking about a price difference of around 25 USD (cheapest model above 205W which supports TTS + 100 USD (5000 more for MMI maps) to get TTS working in India

[rishi_kapoor]

[quote=
If one buys Garmin device, and loads MMI maps on it, is the interface/tools/etc still the same as Garmin? Is it just the maps that get loaded, or the MMI programming as well?[/QUOTE]

If you buy MMI maps, the interface and operating software is still Garmin and that is the best part.

[ampere]

Satguide's is available. According to them, this has 600 cities (as told to me by Satguide folks). This means they have massive upgrade. Looks like trying to catch up with MMI. Downloaded the new map just minutes, by the link provided by Satguide.

I checked upon some of the errors that I had pointed to them about Kerala esp. Trichur/Guruvayur. These errors seem to have been fixed.

(Thanks to the magic potion by NFB, I could install the new maps into Mapsource in a whiz)

I don't know which new cities they have added. I have asked them for release notes. Not sure if they would provide.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by rishi_kapoor

If you buy MMI maps, the interface and operating software is still Garmin and that is the best part.

Thanks to you, too, for that confirmation.

[ruchirtnt]

could have more inputs regarding the major difference between VX140 and Garmin 215W
as both are of chinese make.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ruchirtnt

could have more inputs regarding the major difference between VX140 and Garmin 215W
as both are of chinese make.

Why do you say Garmin as a Chinese make? After all Garmin is Garmin as we know it; associated with the quality which they stand for. At least I feel so, after using their product (I have a 205W Nuvi).

[bigman]

Originally Posted by ruchirtnt

could have more inputs regarding the major difference between VX140 and Garmin 215W
as both are of chinese make.

Its like chalk and cheese, you can buy a cheap 800RS DVD player made in China and a branded 3000RS DVD player made in China. After a year or so the cheap one with poor factory quality control and el cheapo components will show you why it was so cheap. The branded player with good components and quality control process will work for years to come.

Same with these PND's. They both might be made in China but the VX140 is a cheap system sold across the world under various cheap brand names which are not associated with quality.

At the end of the day its your choice but there is no point paying Garmin type prices for devices such as the VX140. At maximum its a RS3500 device.