Where to buy a sat-nav?

Not me squire. Sounds interesting mind... I could chat to my imaginary
pillion, all day long. Oh. Hang, wait, I already do.

 

"God Is My Co-pilot"

 

I was reading a story in the local rag which was about some AA survey (or
something) where younger drivers these days had no clue where places where
due to their poor geography and reliance on sat-nav. Even if they went
off in the wrong direction, they wouldn't know.

So, thanks for confirming that.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus

You didn't do a gross error check early in each leg of the journey?

Shirley a quick glance to your right would have revealed a gross error?

 

Probably, not.

 

The problem I have with using a satnav is that 1) it distracts you from the
business of driving; 2) it only shows you that part of your journey that
you'll be making in the next minute or so, 3) it doesn't explain its
decisions, and 4) it can be unclear what it wants you to do. Plus I find
the master/slave relationship irritating. The effect of this is that all
your attention is taken up obeying the satnav, and you don't have much idea
of where you actually are. Once you lose the sense of position, then you're
wholly reliant on the satnav. This is my actual experience of using satnav
over a semi-familiar route.

The time/distance/average speed etc readouts are nice, but not essential, as
I normally do that stuff in my head anyway. My usual method of navigation
is to have maps for the journey and review them at stops or in cases of
doubt. It's not infallible, but generally works well for me.

 

YM "left". I was mostly somnolent with terror when it was my turn in the
barrel.

 

He took me back to the hotel from Keith McKay's house, and I was very
very drunk. The man is a hero.

 

heh.

oh, and a hearty "**** off".

 

So drunk, in fact, you clearly didn't know which direction
you were travelling in[1]. Excellent work.



[1] I took you from Peel to the BBQ.

 

And then back, too, in the wrong direction (the right way round the
circuit), right?

 

Heh, must be getting senile, I misremember. I thought you left earlier
and got a lift with someone else (Andy?) on the return leg.

 

You've pretty much summed up most bloke's experience of having their other
half provide directions.

The SatNav:
1) knows which was is up.
2) knows where you want to go (assuming you've told it correctly).
3) doesn't get in a huff when you get all shouty.
4) doesn't change it's mind, as long as you don't divert from the master
plan.

I don't have those problems at all, but then I appear to be able to multi-
task, which men aren't supposed to be able to do.

I don't like stopping.

 

i have a mental picture of a bike with two large barrels of petrol
strapped over the back, with hoses and a squeezy bulb valve leading from
them into the tank, and one of those bead seat covers on the saddle.

 

Ah, like a motorcycle version of a Nissan Bluebird minicab.

 

exactly

 

That's pretty much my take on it[1], it's the last bit that it makes
all the difference on. When working in many different towns around the
country I always used allow an extra hour to locate the final
destination. I suspect that now with a satnav that extra time would
not be necessary.

So far in the car on the rare occasions I need it now I make use of
the phone and a bluetooth receiver. I feel a dedicated unit for the
bike needs to be put on the list but I'll probably go with Bonner's
plan of a cheap one in a tank bag.[2]

[1] Except for Ginge, I and Statto getting a bit confused on the way
to Chimay. that was in the middle rather than the end.
[2] Which means I need to get around to sorting that out as well.

 

What a palaver. No, that's not decent directions; that would be
something including road numbers, signposts, towns, road features etc.
etc. Like, "follow the A999 to village x, turn left on the road signed
village Y, ignore the next junction with a similar sign, follow this
road to the junction with the M99, then take the fifth exit from the
roundabaout....".

Sounds like you need a satnav then, if you have to go through all that
preparation each time.

 

They'll have to prise the maps out of my cold, dead hands before I get
a SatNav.[1]

[1] I said something similar reagrding mobile phones back in the
early/mid 90s. I finally succumbed in late 1997.

 

It's served us, but I wouldn't say well.

We've spent hours each trip abroad simply trying to find the different
hotels we're staying at, sometimes dog tired and with rain chucking it
down. The satnav will earn it's keep the first time I don't have to do
that, never mind the subsequent times.