Sat Nav with Live Traffic Updates (no smartphone)

Clutterfree

Hi all,
I want to get my mum a Sat Nav for Christmas and ideally one with live traffic updates so that she can divert her route if necessary.
However, all those I’ve looked at seem to only do live updates via a smartphone.
My mum doesn’t have a smartphone.

Years ago we had a TomTom that had a traffic update device that worked when it was plugged into the lighter charger socket. This would be ideal but I can’t find one.

Does anyone know of a sat nav with live updates that doesn’t require a smartphone?
Only needs UK maps.
Budget is around £100 mark but could go to £150.

Many thanks.

glennevis

Search for Live Traffic Alerts, not updates.
Garmin do them, this link explains your options and the terminology
https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/traffic/

motorguy

Clutterfree wrote: »

Hi all,
I want to get my mum a Sat Nav for Christmas and ideally one with live traffic updates so that she can divert her route if necessary.
However, all those I’ve looked at seem to only do live updates via a smartphone.
My mum doesn’t have a smartphone.

Years ago we had a TomTom that had a traffic update device that worked when it was plugged into the lighter charger socket. This would be ideal but I can’t find one.

Does anyone know of a sat nav with live updates that doesn’t require a smartphone?
Only needs UK maps.
Budget is around £100 mark but could go to £150.

Many thanks.

In Garmins naming convention you want to look for a 'D' for Digital Traffic Updates. It uses the DAB radio signal for traffic updates. This one for example...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-DriveSmart-Bluetooth-Hands-free-Commands/dp/B07LGBLNCV/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3DVB9MV5ZZ3TR&keywords=garmin+sat+nav&qid=1575301712&sprefix=garmin+sat%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-9

T in the name means "Traffic Updates" but requires a smart phone.

jaybeetoo

TomTom Go Premium and Go Premium X have a built in SIM to get traffic updates.

sal_III

The DAB radio traffic updates are terrible if the built-in Sat-Nav in my Audi is anything to go by. It's only good for planned road closures and major accidents, as far as I can tell takes hours from the moment the incident occurs until it shows up. Definitely not showing congestion/queues.

IMHO a cheap android smartphone (plenty at £100 price point) with PAYG data SIM is much better option. Download offline copy of google maps, put it in a car holder and call it sat-nav. Shouldn't use more than £1-2/m worth of data

Clutterfree

sal_III wrote: »

The DAB radio traffic updates are terrible if the built-in Sat-Nav in my Audi is anything to go by. It's only good for planned road closures and major accidents, as far as I can tell takes hours from the moment the incident occurs until it shows up. Definitely not showing congestion/queues.

IMHO a cheap android smartphone (plenty at £100 price point) with PAYG data SIM is much better option. Download offline copy of google maps, put it in a car holder and call it sat-nav. Shouldn't use more than £1-2/m worth of data

The built in sat nav in our Audi is great and shows accurate queues.

My mum would never work out how to do it with a smartphone and I’d prefer there not to be any monthly costs. She’s not very tech minded - took her 2 years to do an iPad update!

I’ve found 2 possibles now.
TomTom with a SIM card but pretty expensive at £260.
Garmin with digital traffic for about £160.

Thanks for all your replies.

cranford

If you think using a smartphone may be difficult then using some Sat Navs will also be a problem. I have just installed the Waze app on an elderly relatives (80) phone and this is as about as simple as it gets to use a Sat Nav. I recommend that you try it before you dismiss smartphones.

getmore4less

sal_III wrote: »

The DAB radio traffic updates are terrible if the built-in Sat-Nav in my Audi is anything to go by. It's only good for planned road closures and major accidents, as far as I can tell takes hours from the moment the incident occurs until it shows up. Definitely not showing congestion/queues.

IMHO a cheap android smartphone (plenty at £100 price point) with PAYG data SIM is much better option. Download offline copy of google maps, put it in a car holder and call it sat-nav. Shouldn't use more than £1-2/m worth of data

3 data reward sim 200MB a month free, ideal for satnavs.

wongataa

sal_III wrote: »

The DAB radio traffic updates are terrible if the built-in Sat-Nav in my Audi is anything to go by. It's only good for planned road closures and major accidents, as far as I can tell takes hours from the moment the incident occurs until it shows up. Definitely not showing congestion/queues.

The digital traffic (DAB service) on my Garmin sat-nav is just fine.

motorguy

cranford wrote: »

If you think using a smartphone may be difficult then using some Sat Navs will also be a problem. I have just installed the Waze app on an elderly relatives (80) phone and this is as about as simple as it gets to use a Sat Nav. I recommend that you try it before you dismiss smartphones.

The O/Ps parent(s) dont have a smart phone.

motorguy

sal_III wrote: »

The DAB radio traffic updates are terrible if the built-in Sat-Nav in my Audi is anything to go by. It's only good for planned road closures and major accidents, as far as I can tell takes hours from the moment the incident occurs until it shows up. Definitely not showing congestion/queues.

IMHO a cheap android smartphone (plenty at £100 price point) with PAYG data SIM is much better option. Download offline copy of google maps, put it in a car holder and call it sat-nav. Shouldn't use more than £1-2/m worth of data

DAB updates on our BMW are great. Shows accidents, congestion and queues no problem.