Korean Job Discussion Forums

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Hi,

If I bought a quality GPS, such as Garmin etc.., would it work in anywhere in the world?

I am curious and want to buy one, especially if I can use it in any country.
Has anyone taken one from the UK or US and found it works OK in Korea?

Thanks
Ken

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I would guess it has more to do with who your contract is with. You will need some kind of GPS subscription to get a signal in Korea. Or any country.

The GPS bought outside Korea would need to be loaded with compatible Korean maps. They wouldn't be in English if they were Korean maps. Then it would have to be made to receive signal from a satellite used by Korean drivers. Too much trouble even if it were possible.

Didn't you ask this before?

Just get a Korean GPS. They're cheap as chips and you'll be up and running in no time.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Yeah, thanks ttompatz.

It kind of figures that that is what these round the world yachts use, silly me.
I just need something where I can set a point down where I leave from, and then be able to find my way back there again.
If I could buy one that would work wherever I am in the world, then it's a good investment.

I got lost 2 days in a row, and I am fed-up with wandering like a stray cow. Confused

The bit of my brain which is meant to notice landmarks and stuff, doesn't seem to be all that hot.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

How will GPS help you not get lost in Korea? The roads are built by insane people. You need a navigation unit that shows roads and cities. GPS will not help you avoid getting lost while traveling.

----Most Koreans use navigation units in their cars...and they need them.

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Yeah, I could lay down departure point and any special features.
I have one of those brains, where I can walk or drive somewhere, taking in all the hazards and notice things, but storage is a bit hit and miss.

I can turn round and have no idea how to get back to my car, lol.
One day this week, I went to a market and got lost. The next day I went up a wee mountain, lost my bearings in the trees and came down in a new city a 25 minute taxi ride from where my car was. It put 2.5 hours onto the hike and I was jiggered

I vowed to get a handheld GPS for the future.
Even near my hometown I would often get ost lout walking.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

IlIlNine · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

The G in GPS is GLOBAL! Cool

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

I know i am beating a dead horse....but do the navigation units that sold also have GPS options available? I really think it would be best to have the navigation features with firmware upgrades and downloadable maps. Reading Korean is easy and my friend's navigation unit is cool. You can mark starting point and destination points on it and it always directs you correctly. Seems much better than GPS. The maps are very detailed and useful.

PS: You can also watch T.V and downloaded movies on the navigation units I have seen. Altogether...it seems that it is the best option for the money.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

If you want a GPS for Korea, you really should look into the INAVI PNS model:

http://www.inavi.com/_Menu/InaviUZ/Showroom/Showroom.html

Maps are great. It's in Korean, though.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Another option is a PDA or one of these really small computers with GPS.
You can then load it with any software you like.

flummuxt · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

The OP did not phrase the question very clearly.

The question is not whether a GPS has worldwide reception; of course they do. GPS was designed to enable the US military to deliver bombs anywhere in the world, more or less. I guess they didn't care about bombing Antarctica. So you can be sure they have reception in S. Korea. The GPS here works, courtesy of the good ole US of A. And you don't need no subscription, folks.

What you do not always get is a basemap. Buy a N. America GPS and you can get a basemap showing cities in N. America. Buy a fancier model and you can get every street, more or less. I bought a GD Lowrance GPS and it had every nook and cranny in the USA, or more precisely the 48 contiguous states. Didn't work so well in Canada. Didn't work at all in Alaska because they seem to think Alaska doesn't have any roads. And has nuthin but an outline of Korea, which isn't very accurate.

So the problem is finding a handheld GPS that works off of AA nimh batteries with some sort of basemap of Korea. let me know if you find one.

Failing that, you want a GPS that records tracks and enables you to label waypoints. Then you can build your own map.

HOWEVER, not all handhelds let you do this. My GD Lowrance GPS does not record tracks. And it does not allow you to label waypoints. It just records the waypoints in numerical sequence. So, what was point 247, again???? Pretty GD worthless.

So you need to do your homework.

I doubt that the Korean car GPS units let you record tracks and label waypoints. They seem dedicated to showing you where you are in relation to streets and city maps. They do not seem to be for hiking. And they seem designed to work with a car 12 volt connection. And they ain't cheap, unless you think 500,000 won is a bargain for a GPS. Want a basic hiking GPS. If you were in the States, you could buy one for well under $100 at any department store, such as Target. Can't find a hiking GPS anywhere in Korea, yet. Maybe they figure the terrorists would use them to climb mountains, or something.

It just AMAZES me how often someone in Korean will swear you should just buy it here in Korea, and it is SO CHEAP!!! I wonder what's up with that?

Buy a hiking GPS before you come, unless you can speak Korean and read Korean maps, presuming you can find a Korean road sign.