Which Satnav?

Iceweasel

skivenov wrote: »

I've worked all over the country for year and had them all, or travelled with someone who has, at one point or another. I used to say I wouldn't have anything but a TomTom, now I prefer Google Maps on my phone.

Have you tried this outside the UK?

What are the charges like?

maurice28

Iceweasel wrote: »

Have you tried this outside the UK?

What are the charges like?

I'm another one who is a fan of Google Maps on my phone, it's not let me down yet and combined with an in-car charger the battery ends the journey more charged up than it started it.

I haven't tried it abroad though I must admit. In terms of in Europe, on O2 data charges are limited to £2.99 per day (I think!) so it wouldn't cost more than that for a day's navigating. Outside of Europe it could quickly mount up so it's probably not the best option for foreign driving.

In the UK though, I think it's hard to beat.

DigForVictory

We used Google Maps (after TomTom) & found it was significantly later in the turn as well as subject to the availability of phone masts etc & after one *fraught* journey agreed to stick to the Tomtom & stay married...

Your Mileage May Vary!

andrewf75

Saw a which report the other day and they rated Garmin better

Richard53

molerat wrote: »

Only sometimes. To prevent this, before updating open up in windows explorer, go into the map file, make a copy of MapSettings.cfg which will then be named MapSettings-Copy.cfg (or just copy it off to your computer). Update the map, go back in, delete the new MapSettings.cfg and rename the old copy to MapSettings.cfg (or copy it back from your computer). All your settings and favourites are then saved.

I found this workaround, but only after I had updated my maps and lost 3-4 years' worth of favourites. I was annoyed because a) the workaround is a hassle, and not everyone would be confident to do it, and b) there was no hint of a warning that this would happen. I can't be the only TomTom user who keeps his favourite locations year to year. Most were easy to put back in, but some were irreplaceable.

molerat wrote: »

The problem with the new 2013 range TTs is that you can not add third party POIs and speed camera databases, a real omission IMO, you are stuck with what TT give you.

I didn't know that. It's a game-changer. Looks like they are going for the walled-garden approach, like Apple. I have used several third-party POI files in the past and would like to continue. Also, there is a brilliant program called TYRE which allows you to create a route in Google Maps and transfer it to the satnav as an itinerary. It works really well in the field. It's designed for Garmin, but works (a bit clumsily) with TomTom. If that becomes impossible with a new TomTom, then I am definitely going for a GArmin next time.

Moto2

Richard53 wrote: »

I can't be the only TomTom user who keeps his favourite locations year to year. Most were easy to put back in, but some were irreplaceable.

Personally, once I've been somewhere, I don't need it saved in the sat-nav for future use, I can usually recall it.
TBH - I only ever tend use sat navs for the last couple of miles or so of a trip. I've spent a large part of the the last 30 years around the UK and Europe using maps and A-Zs.
Stuck behind a bus in a wet and dark city can be frustrating, that's where sat navs are invaluable to me.

Johno100

Does anybody know why Sat Navs are still so expensive for what they are?

I bought mine about 5 years ago for just over £100 and looking on Argos a similar device with the same spec is now about the same price. Other small electrical devices have plunged in price over that time, e.g. compact cameras, smart phones, DVD players, Freeview boxes, but Sat Navs have stuck at the £70 to £120 mark.

Moto2

Johno100 wrote: »

Does anybody know why Sat Navs are still so expensive for what they are?

I bought mine about 5 years ago for just over £100 and looking on Argos a similar device with the same spec is now about the same price. Other small electrical devices have plunged in price over that time, e.g. compact cameras, smart phones, DVD players, Freeview boxes, but Sat Navs have stuck at the £70 to £120 mark.

The competition for mapping is woeful
The electronics may well get cheaper, the mapping doesn't

hanvyj

Johno100 wrote: »

Does anybody know why Sat Navs are still so expensive for what they are?

I bought mine about 5 years ago for just over £100 and looking on Argos a similar device with the same spec is now about the same price. Other small electrical devices have plunged in price over that time, e.g. compact cameras, smart phones, DVD players, Freeview boxes, but Sat Navs have stuck at the £70 to £120 mark.

I figured most of the price goes towards producing the maps, which change every year, or keeping the satellites up in the air. Satnavs are a really great deal when you think there is no monthly charge for the continuous service you get!

My two cents:

Garmin: Our Sat Nav is a garmin. It's pretty good but 3 years old and showing it a little (does get knocked about, transfered between cars etc). I'm sure the signal has been getting worse as it's aged though...

TomTom: Parents have one. I'm impressed at how well it's aged (thought they had a new one, but no - I just hadn't seen it for ages and forgotten what it looked like!) It's 8 years old and, however much my father complains it's taking him the wrong way, is pretty good.

Phone: I've been using my phone (Google Maps) for a while. I find it a little more inaccurate than our dedicated SatNav. It's too quiet (noisy car though), and I don't have a dedicated mount thing so It's allways getting distracted by something pressing the screen...

I honestly prefer a dedicated SatNav. If I was getting a new one, TomTom and Garmin both seem reliable so I'd buy for screen size and battery life. Anything with lifetime map updates wins hands down.

Moto2

I figured most of the price goes towards producing the maps, which change every year, or keeping the satellites up in the air. Satnavs are a really great deal when you think there is no monthly charge for the continuous service you get!

The satellites are free it mainly uses the US Air Force Navstar system of 32 low earth orbit satellites - the US tax payer picks up the tab.