How important is lifetime map updates on a Sat Nav

Carrot007

Remember if you must have a seperate device (Which is kind of old fashioned these days, google maps works fine and you can download map data for offline use (but do go online for traffic info)) then remeber to buy a just released unit if you want one with lifetime updates.

The lifetime is that of the unit, not yours. (or less if the company goes bust I guess).

Nick_C

I have a Tom Tom with US and European maps that is 9 years old. Not updated the maps for 8 years. All works OK. Occasionally I would come across a new roundabout or interchange, but roads don't change a great deal.

However, I now use Google Maps on my smart phone. For a big road trip in the US this year (3000 miles in 25 days) I downloaded all the maps I needed over WiFi before I left. I needed 20 maps, and used my phone plus Google maps as a sat nav. No data usage needed as all the maps I needed were available off line.

I wouldn't buy another Sat Nav.

forgotmyname

Define Lifetime. Plenty of threads where people had to buy new units because the free lifetime map updates wont work on the satnav they bought.

Lifetime = 2 or 3 years not really for life.

Hard to beat the apps availble on a smart phone, if you dont like the layout of one then choose another. Plenty to choose from for free and paid.

Lumstorm

I would that lifetime map updates is a good thing on a sat-nav as long as they update it I have a six year-old Garmin that is still getting updates. I just updated a couple of days ago which is needed as the local roads are all changing roads disappearing and new ones appearing, new roundabouts and exits disappearing. I prefer to have a separate device to my phone plus I have the voice of William Daniels guiding me.

giraffe69

My in car satnav behaved peculiarly and although it went back to normal by that time I tried Google maps and wouldn't willingly go back. It wins hands down for accuracy and being up to date. I really resent it being made difficult or expensive to update the in car version and won't have another one. One thing to say if you use a phone is to have a decent holder.

beedeedee

I have a really old TomTom which I update for free every few months from my laptop. Got a bit fed up with the snooty woman's voice telling me to "turn around" too much - so swopped her voice for a much more laid-back Ozzie guy.....happy now!

wongataa

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

All sat navs use the same geo-synchronous satellites in space

GPS satellites are not in geosynchronous orbits.

dipsomaniac

forgotmyname wrote: »

Define Lifetime

means nothing in this context as it is totally down to the will/financial stability of the company.

i bought a screwdriver (£10) from snapon in 1984. the handle snapped a couple of years ago. when i went back to snapon for a replacement i was told it had broken in the wrong place. the franchise had been taken on by another person and i wasn't a regular customer. the company ignored my emails. every chance i get now i rubbish snapon.

Debbie_Savard

I could have in-car Sat Nav or phone but I keep my TomTom 5000 with it's built-in SIM for traffic updates and lifetime map updates. Best tool for the job.

indesisiv

Like others I use my garmin for navigating.

Couple of reasons really:
1) I normally forget to download maps in advance and there are a lot of areas I drive where there is no signal at all nevermind data!

2) Battery life of the phone! Phones do eat through battery whilst using sat nav. (yes you could buy a charger but then my phone would be running really hot! and I'd need a long charging cable to reach to the windcreen where the phone would be)

3) I'd need to buy a phone mount that suits my phone

4) I'd need to figure out how to stop all other notifications whilst using the navigation.