Garmin780 or Tomtom go camper max. (1 Viewer)

[Fidge]

I'm looking to replace my current sat nav, which can no longer be updated, and these are the two I've been looking at. Fed up of looking at reviews (not sure I trust them) so thought I'd ask the people who are actually be using them

 

[Guigsy]

If you want to know what TomTom looks like, try it on your phone. It's the same software.

 

[iandsm]

I'm looking to replace my current sat nav, which can no longer be updated, and these are the two I've been looking at. Fed up of looking at reviews (not sure I trust them) so thought I'd ask the people who are actually be using them

I did have a Garmin 770 which was OK and it did lots of things the Tomtom camper can't do. However I have changed to a Tomtom as I think the routing is slightly better and the traffic info is way better than on the Garmin. The newest Tomtom has a faster interface which is good but you have only have limited free services whereas the older version has lifetime traffic. It's a difficult choice and if you can it might be a good idea to go into Halfords or somewhere they are on display and have a play. If you buy through Amazon you can always sent them back if you don't like them.

 

[Jaws]

I'm looking to replace my current sat nav, which can no longer be updated, and these are the two I've been looking at. Fed up of looking at reviews (not sure I trust them) so thought I'd ask the people who are actually be using them

I use them both.
I use the garmin to navigate and the TomTom is dedicated to finding gas, diesel etc etc
I tried using the TT for navigation but it has quirks that I do not like ( such as put in no tolls, and if you make a mistake and end up on one the TT will presume tolls are ok, where as the Garmin will get me off the toll asap )
Of course the Garmin has its own quirks but it has never cost me time or money

 

[WallaceandGromit]

Always had tomtom since they came out then a few years ago had a Garmin considering they supply aviation and marine nav systems thought the Garmin camper was awful and went back to tomtom

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[suavecarve]

I ve got both when the Garmin had a hiccup last year.
It may be because we had teh Garmin first that I am used to it more, but if only allowed one it would be Garmin over TomTom and quite easily

 

[Roby2008]

Had the Garmin camper nav, it did its stuff, was easily updated and the camp site/camper parking was useful, used it for 5 yrs (sold it with the MH as I had it hard wired in).
Still actually preferred the look of the graphics on the TomTom but that's just personal.

 

[Fidge]

Thanks everyone I've used tt for a few years so I am used to them but as there seems to be so little between them I think it might come down to price!

 

[LesW]

However I have changed to a Tomtom

A couple of questions.. how do you create custom routes, and how do you update maps..?

 

[Larrynwin]

I always use Garmin, easy interface and routing and frequent free updating . Remember with all navigators best to know your route as not always perfect.

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[Nigel Crompton]

Garmin, but only because I prefer the user interface over TomTom's

 

[DJA]

Hi LesW

You can create routes using the TT My Drive website or the My Drive App and save the routes in the TT PND's My Routes folders which sync back to the TT servers and these then appear on all your PND's or the Go Mobile App when they are logged into your TT Account. It should be noted that any route created this way when selected on a PND or the GO Mobile App will be a fixed Route on the devices and will not be influenced by Traffic information but are a breadcrumb route. If however you create a Route on a PND or in the App you can then save that route, including any waypoints you have included in the My Routes folder of the device you have created the route on. These routes will not be synced to your account so will not appear on any other devices you have using the same account. When you select the on device created routes they can be influenced by current Traffic data if you want. It should be noted that the very latest TT units do not have the facility to add extra memory as they have 32gb of inbuilt memory. If you want to add a third party route then you import it into your My Drive account then it appears on the devices. I you decide to delete a route from your My Routes folder then you can do it on any device and it will be deleted from all the others.

Regarding the updating of the TT devices the most recent units have free weekly map updates that you can download when the unit is attached to wifi with full map updates about every 4 weeks. The slightly older models have Quarterly Map updates again when the devices are connected to your Wifi source. On the latest units you don't need to download the whole of Europe but just the maps you need. So for example if you based in Birmingham and only go as far as Brittany provided you have downloaded all the maps for the route between you Start and destination then that's all you need.

If you get one of the latest TT Camping devices they come with 6 preloaded POI folders but you cannot add your own folders. You can however save favourite places in the My Places folder in your account either using your device or the My Drive website or the Go Mobile App and these then appear on all the devices

 

[iandsm]

A couple of questions.. how do you create custom routes, and how do you update maps..?

Just aS DJA says.

 

[DJA]

Hi LesW

Further to my earlier post I would add the following. I have got both Garmin and TT units and whilst the Garmin units do what they say I always use the TT units as I have usually found their Routing to be better and their Traffic definitely superior. As someone once said that when using a TT unit and stuck in a long line of traffic they decided not move forward every time the traffic moved a few yards. They sat for a time and then moved forward when the gap was significant. They noticed that if they stopped for a while the TT unit would suddenly show the gap in the traffic.

 

[LesW]

Hi LesW

Further to my earlier post I would add the following. I have got both Garmin and TT units and whilst the Garmin units do what they say I always use the TT units as I have usually found their Routing to be better and their Traffic definitely superior. As someone once said that when using a TT unit and stuck in a long line of traffic they decided not move forward every time the traffic moved a few yards. They sat for a time and then moved forward when the gap was significant. They noticed that if they stopped for a while the TT unit would suddenly show the gap in the traffic.

Very useful information, the routing isn't really an issue for me as I generally always prefer to create my own routes using Mapsource, especially when touring Europe where there are a better 'selection' of roads to use, France in particular has a very good network of 'D' roads that satnavs rarely select when when calculating a route.

As for traffic reports, I might use Google Maps to see what's happening en route, but truthfully haven't found any that are that accurate enough to make me alter my route.

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[DJA]

Hi LesW

TT also have a facility called Road Trips where they have already prepared Routes that they and users have posted that you can download to the TT units. IE you can select a version of the North Coast 500 from a few options offered.

See https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/roadtrips/

 

[Figaro]

I've recently aquired a Garmin 780 off a funster, it only came yesterday and still getting used to it but I think google maps may have made me lazy.
With google maps I'm used to searching a destination, click on where I want to go then navigate, and off I go.
Anyone know of an easy way to transfer a poi on google maps into the Garmin, or do I have to resort to finding the gps coordinates and enter them ?
I could use the road name I suppose, but that might not take me exactly to where I want to be.
Been mostly happy with gm, but found it a bit unreliable in France last year, freezing, shutting down and doing other odd things at inappropriote times hence move to dedicated sat nav

 

[LesW]

I've recently aquired a Garmin 780 off a funster, it only came yesterday and still getting used to it but I think google maps may have made me lazy.
With google maps I'm used to searching a destination, click on where I want to go then navigate, and off I go.
Anyone know of an easy way to transfer a poi on google maps into the Garmin, or do I have to resort to finding the gps coordinates and enter them ?
I could use the road name I suppose, but that might not take me exactly to where I want to be.
Been mostly happy with gm, but found it a bit unreliable in France last year, freezing, shutting down and doing other odd things at inappropriote times hence move to dedicated sat nav

The way I do it is to click on the location in Google Maps, then copy/paste the co-ordinates onto Mapsource or into the unit itself.

Another way is to download all the sites from Search For Sites into your satnav, works a treat.

 

[SUB]

Very useful information, the routing isn't really an issue for me as I generally always prefer to create my own routes using Mapsource,

Can I ask how you're getting on with Mapscource? I'm finding Basecamp painfully slow now it's not being supported.

 

[LesW]

Can I ask how you're getting on with Mapscource? I'm finding Basecamp painfully slow now it's not being supported.

I've been using Mapsource for many years.. tried Basecamp, but didn't need all the 'bells and whistles' available ie, planned lunch breaks .

Mapsource, in my opinion after trying both, is much simpler and quicker to use.. and if you change the storage settings on your satnav to 'Mass Storage' mode (search Youtube).. it works a treat.

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[Figaro]

I've been using Mapsource for many years.. tried Basecamp, but didn't need all the 'bells and whistles' available ie, planned lunch breaks .

Mapsource, in my opinion after trying both, is much simpler and quicker to use.. and if you change the storage settings on your satnav to 'Mass Storage' mode (search Youtube).. it works a treat.

Is Mapsource an app I'd put on my android phone to use, them copy info over to the Garmin ?
Apologies for the numpty question

 

[LesW]

Is Mapsource an app I'd put on my android phone to use, them copy info over to the Garmin ?
Apologies for the numpty question

No, it's (free) program downloaded to your PC/Laptop from Garmin's website.

 

[pappajohn]

I have TomTom.......which has taken up valuable space in my glovebox for a while now since I last updated it.
It was a 7 hour update and when checked NOTHING on the UK maps had changed, only mainland Europe.
Much prefer Google maps all the time now.

 

[SUB]

No, it's (free) program downloaded to your PC/Laptop from Garmin's website.

Yep, just a shame it doesn't work with Mac

 

[Guigsy]

I've recently aquired a Garmin 780 off a funster, it only came yesterday and still getting used to it but I think google maps may have made me lazy.
With google maps I'm used to searching a destination, click on where I want to go then navigate, and off I go.
Anyone know of an easy way to transfer a poi on google maps into the Garmin, or do I have to resort to finding the gps coordinates and enter them ?
I could use the road name I suppose, but that might not take me exactly to where I want to be.
Been mostly happy with gm, but found it a bit unreliable in France last year, freezing, shutting down and doing other odd things at inappropriote times hence move to dedicated sat nav

I plan tours on the PC in Google Maps. I can check parking and tight spots in Streetview. I mark waypoints and points of interest and any plan B options. All the plan goes on a spreadsheet.

Then, each day from my phone, I just click on the link on the sheet and it opens in Maps.

Plug the phone into the Android Auto radio and I'm ready to drive. Low stress workflow.

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[Figaro]

Plug the phone into the Android Auto radio and I'm ready to drive. Low stress workflow

That's where it would fail for me, I don't have Android radio

 

[Guigsy]

That's where it would fail for me, I don't have Android radio

Or just use a cheap tablet that is dedicated to driving. The difficulty is the internet connection, mounting it securely... and the bootup time if you've not used it for a few days and the battery is flat.

 

[Figaro]

Or just use a cheap tablet that is dedicated to driving. The difficulty is the internet connection, mounting it securely... and the bootup time if you've not used it for a few days and the battery is flat.

I have been using a Samsung tablet and Google maps and found it mostly ok and great for selecting route to researched poi's already marked up.
But I do find Google maps doing odd things at the worst possible moment which was my reason for getting the Garmin 780.
I'm still finding my way around it but just looking at ways to input my gm poi's easily.
I don't think mapsource will work for me as I use a Chromebook and android tablet and phone.