New to satnav, advice please :)

old_codger1

Hi,

I've never had a satnav and know nothing about them. However, I promised my daughter I'd buy her one if she got a new job. This wasn't entirely altruistic as otherwise she'll never come and see me coz she'll say she can't find the way here

Anyhooo.... I don't want to spend a fortune because... well, I'm mean but mainly because without knowing how these things work I've no idea what I'm buying. I don't want to spend a fortune and buy something that has bells and whilstles she'll never use or can't figure out. I just want something that's cheap and cheerful and does the job. For that reason, (and not the 'being mean' one;)), this is the one I've been looking at...

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146672

My first questions are, how does one go about updating the maps on these things? Do you need some sort of monthly subscription to stop them sending you the wrong way up a road that's now a one-way street?

Basically, any advice greatfully accepted

mazza111

I have this sat nav. It's not bad, but not the best software, however you can put the tomtom software on there. There's another post about it. Mine now has Windows mobile on it, and a whole lot of other programs that make life easier whilst travelling.

This was the link from the other post : http://www.lime-exeter.co.uk/navigo/ IF you want to do it. The Navigo is ok though, I was just used to TomTom which is a lot better than the other.

amcluesent

buy cheap, buy twice...you need a TomTom - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130674

sarerb18

Just returned mine for refund. First journey using shortest route took me miles out of my way to get to destination. 2nd journey I took a wrong turn due to confusing information and then it brilliantly recalculated and sent me down a route where it told me to turn right in 300m but there was a concrete dual carriage way bollard down the middle of the road that had been there since 1970! 3rd journey navigation would not work. Going to buy a better one now.

wonka

You can't go wrong with a TomTom, probably the best software, and reasonably priced too.

macman

Bear in mind that changing the hardware will not necessarily change the mapping. Most of the mapping software is done by 2 companies called Tele-Atlas and Navteq, so whatever the hardware, you're likely to be using mapping from one of these 2. Tele-Atlas is now owned by TomTom, but they still supply mapping to other hardware manufacturers.
The real difference is in the hardware and what functions you get on different models.

kwikbreaks

You didn't get an answer about the maps...

A full map update would be expensive. With TomTom there is a feature called MapShare where users send in things like blocked off roads etc. and (hopefully after being vetted) these come down as small update files if and when you connect it up to a PC and update it. You occasionally get a software update for the device too although most are just updates to the updating software.

I've only ever used TomTom so can't comment on other makes but they are very easy to use. If you decide on speed camera warnings they also sell them but I chose to buy from PocketGPSWorld instead as I'd been using them with TomTom on a smartphone before moving on to one of their dedicated units.

The thing I find annoying is the tendency to sucker you into going down dodgy roads to cut off a corner even when you selected fastest route and not shortest. On several occasions I've been directed to turn off a main road into a secondary road that has quickly deteriorated into something resembling a farm track with hedgerows scratching the wing mirrors both sides. On investigation these interesting routes have saved about a mile over one sticking to main roads.

old_codger1

Thanks guys

So, am I right in thinking that these things are essentially just a computer, (which I DO know about:), running various bits of software under Window CE or whatever, (albeit software designed around a touch screen device), and you can install, say, the tom-tom software and the maps that tom-tom uses and they will work in the same way?... or essentially the same, anyway.

I've torrented the stuff from the http://www.lime-exeter.co.uk/navigo/ website and will have a look at the files later. I might have a go at loading it onto the windows CE device emulator available at...

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=A120E012-CA31-4BE9-A3BF-B9BF4F64CE72&displaylang=en#Requirements

for fiddling purposes. That might tell me a little although it won't have the GPS data available for obvious reasons

Also am I right in thinking that the data is simply stored on the device and the GPS is updated but that this just tells you where you are and which direction you're going. In other words am I right in thinking the data isn't updated in real time... it's just d/l by the user every once in a while?

macman

You've lost me on the first bit codger, but the mapping data does not update in real time as there is no data connection (other than the GPS), the maps will only be updated when you buy an update, or when you update by connecting the satnav to your PC and download the updates.
I think most systems give you a year of updates from date of registration, after that you need to buy a map upgrade. After a year you only get the system upgrades, not the maps.
The only systems with real time updating would be the ones giving you traffic info etc, which obviously must be current. These are available as options on most of the TomToms, or built in on the more expoensive models. Look for 'TMC module'.

kwikbreaks

It is possible to download hookey versions of some GPS software and run it on Win CE or Windows mobile devices (yo'd need the correct version for the device in question) but you'd get a better idea of what it's really like on the actual devices by going to a shop and asking for a demo.

old_codger1

macman wrote: »

You've lost me on the first bit codger,

NP. I confuse myself sometimes

macman wrote: »

but the mapping data does not update in real time as there is no data connection (other than the GPS), the maps will only be updated when you buy an update, or when you update by connecting the satnav to your PC and download the updates.
I think most systems give you a year of updates from date of registration, after that you need to buy a map upgrade. After a year you only get the system upgrades, not the maps.
The only systems with real time updating would be the ones giving you traffic info etc, which obviously must be current. These are available as options on most of the TomToms, or built in on the more expoensive models. Look for 'TMC module'.

OK! Thanks