Sat Nav verses hands free phone kit

dreamersfantasy

I am starting a new job where I will have to commute to work by car. At the moment I am reliant on looking up routes beforehand and trying to memorize them, which is OK on the more straightforward routes, except when there is a diversion I am unfamiliar with in place. Also my car is an older model so does not have hands free calling which I may need to let people know if I am going to be late.

So to summarize what I need is the ability to check routes on a map display as I drive (preferably with lane and junction indicators, additional location markers such as buildings would also be useful as not all road name signs are clearly visible), the ability to make phone calls (if it becomes necessary), and, preferably, accurate traffic information.

I am not sure whether to buy a hands free phone kit or a sat nav and which model is best?
I know that in the past my siblings have used TomTom and Garmin sat navs and I was not that impressed with the TomTom but that was several years ago before any of us had a smartphone with accurate gps.

Any advice welcome as I am hoping to use the Black Friday sales to get a discount on what I need.

Thanks.

Browntoa

Waze app is your friend , live traffic updates and rerouting if needed

Ability to make calls via "hey Google" and" telephone xxxx"

Ms_Chocaholic

I used to have a TomTom but when that broke I didn't feel the need to spend £100 when there's bound to be an app that will work just as good.


I now use the Waze app, I find it preferable to the maps on my iPhone as the Waze shows you the speed and I find is clearer in terms of voice commands.

Ms_Chocaholic

Waze is free too! Oh yes and I agree about traffic problems, if there's a car broken down on the hard shoulder it even alerts you to that. Not sure how it does it but it's great.

Browntoa

https://lifehacker.com/waze-adds-hands-free-controls-motorcycle-directions-an-1820846212

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3401457/google-assistant-takes-the-wheel-in-waze-to-bring-hands-free-reports-and-directions.html

forgotmyname

Mum struggled with dedicated satnavs and worried about roads being out of date. Got her using google maps and she loves it. Found it very easy.

Hope she doesnt read this but electricty was a new fangled invention to her.