Discussion:
Best/Worst car satnav systems.
(too old to reply)
Bertie Doe
2009-01-26 18:28:31 UTC
Permalink
Hi there

I'm looking to buy a satnav and I've a couple of questions for existing
users.
There are a large number of satnav providers, do they all use the same
reception technology i.e. is the reception in built-up areas in large
cities, likely to be the same?

What happens when the maps go out of date, is there a cost, or is it a case
of buying the latest model, say every 3 years?

I've seen a couple of different models domoed on one of the shopping
channels. The road test seems to be rural, which makes be suspicious of
urban reception.

The ones that are supplied with a re-chargeable lithium battery, have a
short life of about 2 hours usage - can they also be powered direst from the
cigarette lighter.

I'd appreciate any info you have, good or bad. Thanks in anticipation.
Regards.

Bertie
DubDriver
2009-01-27 23:36:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bertie Doe
Hi there
I'm looking to buy a satnav and I've a couple of questions for existing
users.
I only have experience of TomTom so answers refer to that make ...
Post by Bertie Doe
There are a large number of satnav providers, do they all use the same
reception technology i.e. is the reception in built-up areas in large
cities, likely to be the same?
New models are much better than they used to be, no problems even in central
London
Post by Bertie Doe
What happens when the maps go out of date, is there a cost, or is it a
case of buying the latest model, say every 3 years?
They charge for updated maps
Post by Bertie Doe
I've seen a couple of different models domoed on one of the shopping
channels. The road test seems to be rural, which makes be suspicious of
urban reception.
The ones that are supplied with a re-chargeable lithium battery, have a
short life of about 2 hours usage - can they also be powered direst from
the cigarette lighter.
Yes. I run mine plugged in all the time except for short runs.
Post by Bertie Doe
I'd appreciate any info you have, good or bad. Thanks in anticipation.
Regards.
Cheapest prices here
http://find-tomtom-deals.co.uk/
Bertie Doe
2009-01-29 00:16:14 UTC
Permalink
"DubDriver" < wrote in message
"Bertie Doe" < wrote in message
Post by Bertie Doe
Hi there
I'm looking to buy a satnav and I've a couple of questions for existing
users.
I only have experience of TomTom so answers refer to that make ...
Post by Bertie Doe
There are a large number of satnav providers, do they all use the same
reception technology i.e. is the reception in built-up areas in large
cities, likely to be the same?
New models are much better than they used to be, no problems even in
central London
Post by Bertie Doe
What happens when the maps go out of date, is there a cost, or is it a
case of buying the latest model, say every 3 years?
They charge for updated maps
Post by Bertie Doe
I've seen a couple of different models domoed on one of the shopping
channels. The road test seems to be rural, which makes be suspicious of
urban reception.
The ones that are supplied with a re-chargeable lithium battery, have a
short life of about 2 hours usage - can they also be powered direst from
the cigarette lighter.
Yes. I run mine plugged in all the time except for short runs.
Post by Bertie Doe
I'd appreciate any info you have, good or bad. Thanks in anticipation.
Regards.
Cheapest prices here
http://find-tomtom-deals.co.uk/
Thanks DubDriver, TomTom was one of the ones I was looking at. It's good
news that they work in major cities - that's were they're invaluable.

You say they charge for updates, but don't they have TomTom Community, were
users get free map updates? TIA.

Bertie
DubDriver
2009-01-29 11:24:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bertie Doe
"DubDriver" < wrote in message
"Bertie Doe" < wrote in message
Post by Bertie Doe
Hi there
I'm looking to buy a satnav and I've a couple of questions for existing
users.
I only have experience of TomTom so answers refer to that make ...
Post by Bertie Doe
There are a large number of satnav providers, do they all use the same
reception technology i.e. is the reception in built-up areas in large
cities, likely to be the same?
New models are much better than they used to be, no problems even in
central London
Post by Bertie Doe
What happens when the maps go out of date, is there a cost, or is it a
case of buying the latest model, say every 3 years?
They charge for updated maps
Post by Bertie Doe
I've seen a couple of different models domoed on one of the shopping
channels. The road test seems to be rural, which makes be suspicious of
urban reception.
The ones that are supplied with a re-chargeable lithium battery, have a
short life of about 2 hours usage - can they also be powered direst from
the cigarette lighter.
Yes. I run mine plugged in all the time except for short runs.
Post by Bertie Doe
I'd appreciate any info you have, good or bad. Thanks in anticipation.
Regards.
Cheapest prices here
http://find-tomtom-deals.co.uk/
Thanks DubDriver, TomTom was one of the ones I was looking at. It's good
news that they work in major cities - that's were they're invaluable.
You say they charge for updates, but don't they have TomTom Community,
were users get free map updates? TIA.
Bertie
They charge for 'proper' map updates, you get 4 map updates per year for I
think around £30.

By "TomTom Community" you are probably referring to Map Share:

From their website ....

"With TomTom Map Share, you can correct errors on your map and share
those corrections with other people in the TomTom Map Share community,
as well as receiving corrections made by others.
If you find a street that has recently been blocked to traffic which was
open
before, you can use Map Share to correct your map and then share the
correction with other Map Share members.
You can use Map Share to send and receive map corrections during the first
year after the map's release date. This means that one year after the
release
date, you will no longer be able to send or receive map corrections for that
version of the map - You will still be able to make corrections to your own
map
for use on your own device.
You choose the type of corrections you want and each time you connect your
TomTom GO to TomTom HOME, the map is automatically updated.
Note: TomTom"

"There are two types of map correction:
. Corrections that are immediately shown on the map. These include,
changing the traffic flow of a street, blocking or renaming a street and
adding or editing POIs.
This type of change is immediately shown on your own map. You can hide
these corrections at any time in the Map Share preferences menu.
. Corrections that are reported to TomTom but not shown immediately on
your map. These include, missing streets, errors in motorway entrances
and exits and missing roundabouts.
This type of correction is investigated by TomTom and once verified, is
included in the next map release. These corrections are therefore not shared
with the Map Share community."
Bertie Doe
2009-01-29 21:50:42 UTC
Permalink
"DubDriver" < wrote in message
Post by DubDriver
They charge for 'proper' map updates, you get 4 map updates per year for I
think around £30.
From their website ....
"With TomTom Map Share, you can correct errors on your map and share
those corrections with other people in the TomTom Map Share community,
<snip>

Thanks DubDriver, I guess if you do a lot of driving, it's woth the
quarterly updates. Another option would be to wait a couple of years, then
pay for updates.

Bertie
BrianE
2009-01-30 10:24:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bertie Doe
"DubDriver" < wrote in message
Post by DubDriver
They charge for 'proper' map updates, you get 4 map updates per year for I
think around £30.
From their website ....
"With TomTom Map Share, you can correct errors on your map and share
those corrections with other people in the TomTom Map Share community,
<snip>
Thanks DubDriver, I guess if you do a lot of driving, it's woth the quarterly
updates. Another option would be to wait a couple of years, then pay for
updates.
Bertie
I bought a Garmn 205W for just over a oner. Came with free map updates
for a year.

Its slightly 'twitchy' at times but does the job quite well.

B.
Bertie Doe
2009-01-30 21:22:56 UTC
Permalink
"BrianE" <wrote in message
Post by Bertie Doe
"DubDriver" < wrote in message
Post by DubDriver
They charge for 'proper' map updates, you get 4 map updates per year for
I think around £30.
From their website ....
"With TomTom Map Share, you can correct errors on your map and share
those corrections with other people in the TomTom Map Share community,
<snip>
Thanks DubDriver, I guess if you do a lot of driving, it's woth the
quarterly updates. Another option would be to wait a couple of years,
then pay for updates.
Bertie
I bought a Garmn 205W for just over a oner. Came with free map updates for
a year.
Its slightly 'twitchy' at times but does the job quite well.
Some are portable, which is handy if your on walkabout. How much are the
updates after the first year?
Bob Martin
2009-01-31 07:53:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bertie Doe
"BrianE" <wrote in message
Post by Bertie Doe
"DubDriver" < wrote in message
Post by DubDriver
They charge for 'proper' map updates, you get 4 map updates per year for
I think around ￜ30.
From their website ....
"With TomTom Map Share, you can correct errors on your map and share
those corrections with other people in the TomTom Map Share community,
<snip>
Thanks DubDriver, I guess if you do a lot of driving, it's woth the
quarterly updates. Another option would be to wait a couple of years,
then pay for updates.
Bertie
I bought a Garmn 205W for just over a oner. Came with free map updates for
a year.
Its slightly 'twitchy' at times but does the job quite well.
Some are portable, which is handy if your on walkabout. How much are the
updates after the first year?
I bought a Garmin 250 from Amazon about a month ago. It entitles me to free map updates
for 60 days, which I think is only designed to cater for if you buy one with out-of-date maps.
The cost of map updates is only a little less than a new unit, so I think I would prefer to buy
a new unit! (That's full European maps; for UK only the price difference would be greater.)

BTW the 250 is small and light and has a pedestrian mode. My primary use for it is navigating
round unfamiliar cities on foot.
BrianE
2009-01-31 09:48:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bertie Doe
"BrianE" <wrote in message
Post by Bertie Doe
"DubDriver" < wrote in message
Post by DubDriver
They charge for 'proper' map updates, you get 4 map updates per year for
I think around £30.
From their website ....
"With TomTom Map Share, you can correct errors on your map and share
those corrections with other people in the TomTom Map Share community,
<snip>
Thanks DubDriver, I guess if you do a lot of driving, it's woth the
quarterly updates. Another option would be to wait a couple of years, then
pay for updates.
Bertie
I bought a Garmn 205W for just over a oner. Came with free map updates for
a year.
Its slightly 'twitchy' at times but does the job quite well.
Some are portable, which is handy if your on walkabout. How much are the
updates after the first year?
Yes its portable but I don't know how much the updates are.

I did a fair bit of research online and TBH the new ones are all pretty
decent and cheap now.

I like the 205W as it has a wider screen.
James R
2009-02-01 21:04:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bertie Doe
Hi there
I'm looking to buy a satnav and I've a couple of questions for existing
users.
There are a large number of satnav providers, do they all use the same
reception technology i.e. is the reception in built-up areas in large
cities, likely to be the same?
Yes, all hve a built in receiver unless otherwise specified.
Reception varies between units and is affected by weather and surroundings.
Post by Bertie Doe
What happens when the maps go out of date, is there a cost, or is it a
case of buying the latest model, say every 3 years?
What happens when anything goes out of date?
Post by Bertie Doe
I've seen a couple of different models domoed on one of the shopping
channels. The road test seems to be rural, which makes be suspicious of
urban reception.
Why? Do you know how they work? The sky is only ever up.
Post by Bertie Doe
The ones that are supplied with a re-chargeable lithium battery, have a
short life of about 2 hours usage - can they also be powered direst from
the cigarette lighter.
Most are.
Post by Bertie Doe
I'd appreciate any info you have, good or bad. Thanks in anticipation.
Regards.
Bertie
I like TomTom but their customer service is rubbish, so will be buying
a different model next.

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