Sat nav for parents

Yorkie1

My parents, who are in their 70s, are considering getting a sat nav.

Neither is that competent technologically so don't need anything whizzy and ease of use is important.

So, obviously it needs to be able to instruct on pre-prepared routes, but also they would like it to be able to deal with re-routing owing to road works / accidents (if this is possible).

They haven't mentioned W Europe maps but I think that would also be useful as they do travel to France / Belgium quite a bit.

Within reason, budget isn't too much of an issue (i.e. no need to go for the absolute cheapest).

Has anyone any suggestions?

Thanks.

suki1964

Get a smart phone with maps


My sat nav is sitting gathering dust as it costs to keep it updated.

Yorkie1

Thanks but they're not that technologically competent I'm afraid. Dad won't use computers or mobile phones (unless in an emergency) and they don't use mobile phones enough to justify either a monthly contract or PAYG data.

Hence request for sat navs.

As an aside, do sat navs operate on mobile phone coverage or other? How do they know if there are unplanned delays ahead? How do they avoid mobile phone blackspots?

forgotmyname

Satnavs are much of a muchness. They will all have senile moments and send you on some obscure route.

Mostly its operator error, Put high street and select go. Then wonder why its going to take 6 hours instead of 5 minutes. Which high street?

Google maps uses data on your phone so yes it needs a signal. But you can cache the map before leaving home. Yes you can get traffic info also. From roadside cameras that monitor data and other users also. (Waze) Ive sat in traffic sending messages to other Waze users stuck in the same queue.

Or you can use an app like co-pilot or navfree that doesnt need a data plan or signal.

Plenty of choice.

I_have_spoken

TomTom GO 5000 EU - 5" Sat Nav with Full European Lifetime Maps, Lifetime Traffic Updates £199

Buy cheap, buy twice.

bod1467

Expensive, but looks like possibly the best option for OP's parents.

OP - you'd probably have to help them set it up (to get the live traffic updates), but after that they should be good to go.

http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/services/connect/#tab:tab3

giraffe69

My tom tom is quite old and maybe when it does I'll consider something else. It has three merits. It always works and it is simple. It does not need any connection for maps. If you want a version with live traffic that will cost a bit more.
I'd go the Satnav route rather than the mobile phone or tablet because of simplicity. Try Amazon or Halfords to see the range and prices. They are all discounted on what the manufacturers site suggests.

InsideInsurance

Yorkie1 wrote: »

So, obviously it needs to be able to instruct on pre-prepared routes, but also they would like it to be able to deal with re-routing owing to road works / accidents (if this is possible).

Are you talking about it finding out about the problem and rerouting itself or you finding out about an issue yourself and asking it to reroute you?

The Live functions can be a bit hit and miss, at least on both my TomTom and now my Mercedes (dont know who does the command system for mercedes). Both sometimes dont pick up things, sometimes they pick up false road closures but the worst is when they keep finding then losing some update and so every 5-10 minutes its doing a reroute because it keeps changing its mind on if there is heavy queuing traffic on the M25 or not.

jbainbridge

This looks like a good deal at £89 -

http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-audio/sat-nav/car-sat-nav/tomtom-xl-uk-roi-western-europe-classic-4-3-sat-nav-with-free-lifetime-maps

ciderboy2009

Or one of today's special offers at Aldi - lifetime maps & traffic for £89.99
: https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-16-october/product-detail/ps/p/sat-nav-garmin-nuvi-55-lmt-we/

Marmaduke123

jbainbridge wrote: »

This looks like a good deal at £89 -

http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-audio/sat-nav/car-sat-nav/tomtom-xl-uk-roi-western-europe-classic-4-3-sat-nav-with-free-lifetime-maps

Sounds like a much simpler option!