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Sat Nav's, choices and their map update costs . . . again


just john
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I've become disenchanted with my TomTom, it's clunkiness, map update costs, and lack of option on shortest route to dial out green lane shortcuts being the principle irritations.
I've recently read a good report on Medion Gopal X4345, which together with sat nav also has an MP3 player; having checked their map update costs it seems they are more expensive than TomTom, but how good are they? Has anyone used one in France?

 

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Dear Disenchanted,

So you have been suckered into wasting money on TT map updates, oh well so you can fool most of the people most of the time.  Basic TT is still good compared to others although if you had saved your TT update money you could have bought anything for free by now, at least you know about all the new roads in Slovakia.

Plenty of independent views Here I reckon a decent smart phone with Google navigation and pocketgps's camera app and your away.

 

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I agree, map updates are an expensive con to milk existing customers. I have upgraded my 4 year old Garmin once, and that was only because it was free, I certainly would not have paid for it. How many roads that you are likely to travel on change significantly enough to warrant an update anyway.

I do know what you mean about shortest routes but it's a common 'feature' on many devices and you just have to not lose sight of the fact that sat nav is an aid not a solution.

You could opt for the specialised map for lorry drivers which I think will efficiently eschew 'green lanes'..............[;-)]

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We have 3 Garmin's with Lifetime updates (buy thru Amazon cos it is cheaper than direct). Recently toured/worked in Turkey/Greece and Greek Islands. Chum had TT and paid for updating database for Greece and Turkey (included with Garmin). Imagine his surprise when motorway didn't feature on his TT. We have Zumo 660 for bike, 760 & 250 for cars. I use TT on my iphone for around town when walking ( bimbling).
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I have just taken delivery of my TT XL IQ with WE maps.  Our old TT's are still going strong but the maps do need updating, the Autorout past Tours does not exist, it's taken me off twice, dam thing [:@]

Hopefully now my new one will last me another 5 years before it starts getting me lost again.

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I just navigate round France using the road signs and generally only need my 2006 vintage German SatNav when I'm looking for an address in a town where the road layouts tend not to change.

That said, I do tend to keep it switched on because of the lovely German bird who does the voices......[:-))]

 

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My un-updated (if that is English[8-)]) TT got me around on my tour with only one real problem where a new urban road had been built.  One thing though, JJ, is that I do find the "avoid motorways" option is better for having a pleasant trip around than the "shortest route" which can take one down some pretty funny little roads (to say nothing of the way it took me off a dual carriageway only to take me through 2 kms of deserted ghost town before returning me to the same road once again!)

I bought a new Garmin and lifetime map updates but don't use it at all since it tried to take me first down a closed road and then backwards down the one-way system in LM - I'd far rather trust  the old TT and my instincts.[:)]

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Aww, come on guys, I have been hoping for a recommendation for a good solid, up to date, reliable, idiot proof satnav and you all making it impossible. Please, your recommendations for a cheap and cheerful job that won't send me down one way streets the wrong way, and will get me to the middle of Brussels without bumping into a Fleming!
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Give me a fortnight and I will report on ours.  It was £112 from Amazon by the way[:D]with 48 hour delivery.

My old one did take me through the Mersy tunnel so I could get onto the other side of the M53 to go to an address in Wallasey once.  Oh how I laughed, especially when you arrive in Liverpool city centre with a sat nav that hasn't seen a satellite for 10 minutes then takes 5 minutes to refind one.  It very nearly didn't make it back through the tunnel.  That said, in general they are a fantastic tool for the lost.

As a side note, if you have an infra-red reflective windscreen (heat reflective, looks purple or blue in sunshine, especially if you have polarised sun glasses on) they all will have trouble finding satellites unless they are mounted near a door glass or in the little payage window.

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I've not been one for updating the maps on my aged TomTom, which I did slightly regret recently when driving from the Vendee to Caen via Tours as it didn't know at least half the route was there. Luckily there were two of us in the car, so much use was made of the more modern road atlas. Other than that, it's been a pretty good travelling companion over the years.

Looking at Amazon just now, Wooly, I'd say the TomTom Start Europe (£89.99) would be the way to go. A friend of mine bought a (more expensive) XL version, which just gives you a wider screen - not particularly useful IMHO, as you are interested in the vertical image of where the road is going next, rather than seeing what's off to the side.

The TomTom Start2 is slightly more expensive, but would spell out which lane to get in before junctions - which could be helpful. Again, I wouldn't think the XL, or widescreen, versions were worth the extra.

Others will no doubt extol the virtues of rival makes, but this is the only one I have used so I can't comment on others.

Angela
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[quote user="woolybanana"]No further forward then!!![/quote]

Précisément; I should reiterate as mentioned in previous posts that I have not, nor intend to pay to update TomTom's poor maps at their ripoff costs. I've been more than out of date since initial purchase 3 years ago which in a few key areas have included major motorway amends, their map making leaves a lot to be desired. As for the comments about pocket gp's and I-phone app's, I have an Iphone and found similar problems with maps, gps signal and complications of use in a car so that's a no-go. 
Sat-Nav is good for route planning, voice directions, heads up display for next turnings and usefully, journey timings; pity that I can get a more accurate A3 ringbound Map from Michelin for 12quid every year. I like sat nav for giving me an autopilot direction on routes across UK and France, until it gets lost and shows me to be in the middle of field whilst I'm actually approaching a major motorway interchange wondering what has changed; or telling me I can shave 5k off a journey across local territory and sending me through a farmyard scattering Farmer and geese and disappearing down a green lane only to reappear on the road we had left 3minutes before. Sometimes these things stir the blood to excitement Coops and sometimes not[:)]. The most dramatic of these escapades was taking the shortest route to La Brande which took us through Grignols, via some unbelieveable green lanes so narrow that reversing or turning round was out of the question only to turn a corner to a magnificent vista and find ourselves slip-sliding down a steep 1in 2 gravel track a kilometre long with a sheer drop on one side and steep bank on the other, both hands on the wheel I didn't have chance to take any pics! having got down onto the level, stunned, we got through the village only to be directed through an incredibly ancient village on approach to a Chateau then round a bend and finding ourselves climbing back up another Forest track with the same drop on one side and bank on the other. Fortunately for me my passenger was speechless, though she may have passed out I'm not sure, a Renault Trafic is not the best off-roader.

Hence my fantasy that a different make of Sat-Nav may have better detailed maps and choices of routes, though if in doubt, do nowt and I continue in my quest . . . [B]

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[quote user="just john "]

 As for the comments about pocket gp's and I-phone app's, I have an Iphone and found similar problems with maps, gps signal and complications of use in a car so that's a no-go. 
Sat-Nav is good for route planning, voice directions, heads up display for next turnings and usefully, journey timings; 
Hence my fantasy that a different make of Sat-Nav may have better detailed maps and choices of routes, though if in doubt, do nowt and I continue in my quest . . . [B]

[/quote]

But i-phones are not all the same, which version, the speed of the processor and the chipset used for gps has changed dramatically in both phones and satnavs. The google maps/navigation on android (HTC Desire) is very good, I tested it along side my TT 730. Quite why teleatlas maps are so behind when google is so much more up to date and has satellite overlays and street view to offer is a mystery.

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[quote user="Sunday Driver"]I do tend to keep it switched on because of the lovely German bird who does the voices......[:-))] [/quote]

I have chosen to be spoken to by a gentle female Irish burr.  When she says the word "rrrrowndabowt", I try to mimic her unsuccessfully.  My choice was influenced by her being called Cathy. [Www]

I love my TT for showing me around the short cuts of Bordeaux until my namesake takes me across the huge and congested Aquitaine Bridge and straight back over it again to get from Bordeaux Centre to Blanquefort.  I have fallen for that trick of hers not once but twice.

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I have a TT which I have found to be pretty good. But, I have just changed my mobile to a Nokia smartphone (the E5-00) which has Ovi-Maps gps/navigation built in for life. The maps are updated regularly for free. I've tried out the navigation in walking mode using the 3d map option and it was very good (also 2D, satellite and terrain options). I've yet to try the driving navigation as I'm waiting for my car holder. If you were going to use the Nokia Ovi-maps regularly as your car gps system then one of their models with a full sized screen would be better although I hate tactiles so have chosen a different model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp2dg9UqOp4&feature=related for a cheesy video demo !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgslaO_cIQw for a more funky demo
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Very funny[:D][:D]

I just remembered another good one my tomtom instructed me to do, you'll love this one, it's part my fault part TT's.

On our 1st trip to France we cot off the ferry at Boulogne and followed it's instructions.  All was well until we realised it was taking us into Paris.  It was raining and we didn't have a map.  I am sure most will know the road markings almost disappear in Paris under 1" of rain water and they don't have cats eyes so we had no idea which lane we were in.  We bungled our way into Paris after missing an exit ending up in tunnels so we lost signal only to re gain it to be told turn left in 10 meters, we always seemed to be on the other lane so could not make the turning.  I said to Julie, jokingly, we will be at the Eiffel Tower in a minute.  Then, 5 minutes later there it was[8-)] Then the Champs Elysees.  Oh how we laughed, not really.

I think driving can be stress full, I also think a TT can reduce the stress greatly.  Only problem is it seems to store all that saved stress somewhere and unleash it on you all in one go just to keep the cosmic balance or something.

Still wouldn't be without one though.

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[quote user="crossy67"]  I also think a TT can reduce the stress greatly.  Only problem is it seems to store all that saved stress somewhere and unleash it on you all in one go just to keep the cosmic balance or something.

Still wouldn't be without one though.
[/quote]

Absolutely agree,

[quote user="Cathy"][quote user="Sunday Driver"]I do tend to keep it switched on because of the lovely German bird who does the voices......[:-))] [/quote]

I have chosen to be spoken to by a gentle female Irish burr.  When she says the word "rrrrowndabowt", I try to mimic her unsuccessfully. [Www] [/quote]

I've downloaded Austin Powers or is it Mike Myers, just for the funny comments, especially ''congestion charge ahead, damned evil cunning'' sadly his humour hasn't worn off yet[:$]

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