Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

The wife's interested in one of these on Virgin but the reviews we've seen are variable (as usual) so does anyone have any first hand experience?

The sat nav option appeals as she walks a lot and likes to know where she is but is it already installed or does it have to be downloaded and most importantly is it any good?

We're all on VM PAYG right now and have VM TV (XL), landline and 2mb BB - do we qualify for any special offers/discounts via VM?

Any thoughts?

Cheers! :tu:

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

I don't know about that model but on my model E71 (crap - not recommended) the software was installed but you have to download maps and voices.

The sat nav stuff works OK. I normally only use it for driving but used it in walk mode when I was in London last week and it worked fine.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

OVI Maps are available for that phone and I use them on my Nokia 5800, I went to Scarborough and Newcastle in the car using the Satnav and you can use it for walking as well by plugging in headphones and listening to the directions if required.

http://europe.nokia.com/buy-online/n...vigation-promo

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

This is one offer she's seen:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ext%3E5230.htm

She's more interested in walking/cycling than driving so if it works well for that, great! So although it's not clear from the advert, I presume the above offer provides the sat nav application on the phone but not necessarily any maps. Are these hard to download? Do you need to buy a USB cable or could it be done via the memory card? We're both novices when it comes to mobile phones, apps, downloads etc. so keep it simple for us... ;)

:tu:

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

I downloaded it direct using the inbuilt browser but it should have a mini USB B port fitted similar to mine and you can download it online very quickly.

It will be ideal for walking and cycling or in the car, I will be using mine next week when I go to Conway.

It can also show satellite views like google of the area if reuired.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

It isn't really much use for cycling as it doesn't do cycle tracks. I also haven't identified a suitable bracket that I could use with the bike.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

Sounds ideal if we can get to grips with the techie stuff.... ;)

So are you saying she could download the maps direct to the phone via the mobile internet or via a PC and USB cable? Can't the maps be downloaded to the micro-SD card via the PC and then just slotted into the phone? Don't want to buy a cable if we don't really need one for anything else.

Cheers.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

I meant around towns and cities, I have no idea if you can get a Satnav with cycle tracks on.

OVI Maps is excellent for general use and I have no issues with it and it is less bulky as it is a mobile phone and of more use than a TomTom.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

USB cable should come with the phone as standard. You have to use the Nokia Ovi software suite (can't remember if that was on the CD or I downloaded it from Nokia website) to identify your phone and you choose what maps/voices you want. You then just drag them to your phone.

It sounds more complicated than it is..... or my descripton is more complicated than it actually is. ;)

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

Mine come with a mini cable in the box.

The maps download directly onto the phone as I think it needs to know which model it is in order to send down the correct files.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

Cheers guys will look into all this. :tu:

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

Mine didn't come with a USB cable, but they're not expensive. Compared with the hassle of getting the tiny card out of the phone, it's worth the cost.

The easiest and cheapest way to install maps and voice files is with Ovi Suite on your PC.

Compared with a dedicated GPS receiver the built-in one seems less sensitive, i.e. it can take quite some time to lock on the the satellites (or, if you're not tight like me, you could use the A-GPS which downloads data from the internet) and tends to lose lock more often. But that's made up for by the convenience.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

You do get them for cycling. Most cities and towns have some cycle route infrastructure in place. I did read in a cycle magazine sometime ago that ovi had developed software for cycling but it doesn't seem to be an option for me to download. It may be available for some Nokia models.

TBH I haven't looked too closely into it because I tend to follow the same routes everyday into work. The route suggested by ovi when I did try it out was quite scary. Even with the motorway option turned off:D

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

LondonRoad: IIRC you're in or near Glasgow? When my wife and I were using Ovi navigation through Glasgow recently, we passed under the M8 and were amongst some tall buildings. The sat nav told us to "as soon as possible, turn round, then turn round." After we both shouted at it and then ignored its instructions, it stopped talking to us until I reinstalled the maps and voice files.

It may be my imagination, but does yours put on a tetchy sarcastic tone of voice if you miss a turning or think you know better?

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

Sounds a bit like my wife... :D

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

No that is just the wife from the back seat.:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

You're right, it is a bit iffy on the M8 in the city centre. Not even just near tall buildings. If you join the M8 at Charing Cross it tells you it's doing a route recalculation 3 times in the next mile. :erm:

I tried using the surfer dude voice coming back from Dundee the other day. It was amusing for a short time, telling me to "Chill, What's the hurry dude", if my accelerator foot got a bit heavy. Eventually it got on my t!ts though.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

I was thinking of getting this phone myself but was wondering about font sizes - especially for texting. I've set my existing phone (Nokia Music Express 5220) to the largest font size but it's still a bit small.
Ideally i'd like to be able to read/compose texts while out and about without the need for getting my reading glasses out every time.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

I use the large size font - seems pretty good to my (getting older) eyes. Although it would probably be much the same as the 5220. Perhaps have a look at one in a shop?

If you turn the phone sideways, you get a full alpha keyboard. Using the supplied tool makes typing even easier.

Or better still, install the Swype keyboard http://betalabs.nokia.com/apps/swype-for-symbian.

These don't change the font size though.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

Thanks for the advice Pauls9

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

I'm just about to order my phone but before I do can someone advise re.the Virgin £15 Web tariff ? Is web access free up to 500mb but over this I would be charged 30p per day ?

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

The missus decided against this phone in the end and went for the LG GT540 Optimus which she's very happy with. The google maps/sat nav is excellent and IIRC the screen is a bit bigger than the Nokia. The Optimus wasn't available on Virgin at the time but we got it from Carphone Warehouse (all their phones are unlocked) and then stuck a Virgin SIM in it. She is using the £5pm web access add-on which gives up to 1gb pm. Thus far she's never used more than about 20% of her monthly allowance so it's proving a good deal.

Re: Nokia 5230 with sat nav
 

We have gone for the payg on the 8p a min 30 p a day with 2 5230:)