SatNav sales in decline, John Lewis not stocking them anymore. (1 Viewer)

[Hughman]

I use a Garmin satnav which I like, but it does pick weird routes sometimes, compared with Google Maps on the phone. My concern about using the phone all the time is data consumption - am I right in thinking having the phone navigating permanently will eat data, with associated potential bills, especially abroad. I'll be very happy to be wrong on this

 

[Minxy]

we have tom tom go on the head unit in the van works as well as a stand alone tom tom we had sygic on free trial and it got us lost twice in france and again in germany so we went to tom tom @£15 a year subscription which compares well to buying a stand alone with a lifespan of 5 years

Yes, we're going to give TomTom a go on the tablet again, silly not to at that price, but will wait until nearer our next holiday before doing so as we don't need it at home, just for foreign holidays.

Sygic had a couple of hissy fits whilst we were away, one of them was that for some reason wanting to take us off the motorway, round the town bypass on the other side, then back on the motorway ... no idea why as the motorway route was much shorter, so we stayed on the motorway (non-toll) and sailed through without a problem ... I think it did it just to keep us on our toes!

The problem with Sygic is you are limited in the POIs you can put on it, you can't add aires etc easily, if at all (hubby's not had the patience to work it out yet as it will be very laborious if he can find a way to do it!), whereas the TomTom app is much, much easier and quicker to add your own POIs to, however Sygic does have some features which are better than the old TomTom app version so we're hoping the latest version is better.

 

[Minxy]

I use a Garmin satnav which I like, but it does pick weird routes sometimes, compared with Google Maps on the phone. My concern about using the phone all the time is data consumption - am I right in thinking having the phone navigating permanently will eat data, with associated potential bills, especially abroad. I'll be very happy to be wrong on this

That's always been one of my concerns as we don't have a lot of data on our phones so don't have a sat nav system that needs it turned on, hence Sygic - not sure about Google maps but I suspect you'll need internet and therefore use your data allowance.

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[Richard n Ann]

That's always been one of my concerns as we don't have a lot of data on our phones so don't have a sat nav system that needs it turned on, hence Sygic - not sure about Google maps but I suspect you'll need internet and therefore use your data allowance.

It does use data faster than browsing use, but today we have the H+ or 4G network with cheap generous data allowances that work across Europe at no extra cost. There really is no excuse to be stuck in the dark ages.

"Network coverage issues!" I hear the Luddesdown shout, no you can't blame that because the map is pre downloaded miles before you get there, so if navigation freezes which it very rarely does, you simply switch to overhead view.

 

[PhilG]

Satnav is garbage... give me a map. Especially the ones with 'traffic updates'.. Did my trip back from Belgium last weekend on road signs.. 2 hrs 15mins , on the way, 3 hours 45 including a lap round Brussels that nobody would ever do.

 

[cantonalegod]

All singing, all dancing Kenwood in the MH...still use the old TomTom.

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[John&Kate]

Goooooooooogle is the winner for me, thinks your in a car which is fine as I use it for the route, then I READ ROAD SIGNS on my approach to junctions and roundabouts.

I like to know where I am going and not rely on being told where to go and when to get into a certain lane or take the 3rd exit ???? I mute my volume and always watch the road and Google maps is my route planner to give me the end to end detail.

We have travelled France last 2 years using Google, and being over 3.5T in weight I became instantly aware that I am restricted in some towns and as I read the road signs I do not fall into a trap of "I was following NAV".

Dont worry about using data, get a proper mobile plan and utilise the device, saves having a phone and a NAV in the windscreen, just use one device and if your stereo head unit has Bluetooth you can receive calls also !! Android (Google) is a brilliant tool.

Oh and Kate is always at my side following the MAP ..

 

[Techno]

Iphone X is my next upgrade

 

[pappajohn]

Don't be fooled by TomToms free maps for life offer.
It's well known this means until they decide not to write new map software for a given model but I found out mine (GO500) will expire in 2019....it will be exactly 5 years old.
My last one (GO910) was 9 years old and never had a map update and I never got lost once.
New roads don't simply start and end in the middle of nowhere, the are extensions of existing roads and if followed will come back on the map screen.
If you need to turn off a new, unknown road signs are still used extensively to direct you....and get you back on the map.

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[magicsurfbus]

And the world is flat


Sorry couldn't resist, I know where you're coming from..

I've just been out to a restaurant and I was the only one in there who didn't take a mobile phone out at any point. It's like a disease.

 

[The Nomad]

That's always been one of my concerns as we don't have a lot of data on our phones so don't have a sat nav system that needs it turned on, hence Sygic - not sure about Google maps but I suspect you'll need internet and therefore use your data allowance.

Not sure if you've understood.
Mapping and Sat nav applications such as Maps.me on your phone/tablet do not need to be online to work nowadays.
They can be used without any phone signal or internet/ data usage; they use satellite positioning, so are totally free, they don't eat any data from your mobile phone airtime provider.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Not sure if you've understood.
Mapping and Sat nav applications such as Maps.me on your phone/tablet do not need to be online to work nowadays.
They can be used without any phone signal or internet/ data usage; they use satellite positioning, so are totally free, they don't eat any data from your mobile phone airtime provider.

Yes worth noting. I've got the maps.me and offline maps apps. Very good for free but Google maps has the edge, and it has live traffic info of course.

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[Minxy]

Not sure if you've understood.
Mapping and Sat nav applications such as Maps.me on your phone/tablet do not need to be online to work nowadays.
They can be used without any phone signal or internet/ data usage; they use satellite positioning, so are totally free, they don't eat any data from your mobile phone airtime provider.

Yes I know, I was referring to the Google maps query earlier.

 

[vwalan]

just use paper maps . either use a biro or a pencil to mark poi. if you use a pencil its easier to rub them out if you change your mind ten or so years later.
i do find my 1974 map of spain isnt so good these days with them motorways cutting up the nice local roads . but never mind i do have a mapamax of spain and portugal.
and a 2002 map of europe that sort of works .

 

[Richard n Ann]

just use paper maps . either use a biro or a pencil to mark poi. if you use a pencil its easier to rub them out if you change your mind ten or so years later.
i do find my 1974 map of spain isnt so good these days with them motorways cutting up the nice local roads . but never mind i do have a mapamax of spain and portugal.
and a 2002 map of europe that sort of works .

And of course the sextant compliments them perfectly

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[vwalan]

And of course the sextant compliments them perfectly

had loads of fun with one of them when at school the maths teacher had one and if you hurried up your work he sent us out with questions about height of the buildings .
he didnt know my dad was ex navy and had one at home .
i have travelled all over the place a compass and a good map or even just the compass works . a map of the sahara is hopeless just throw a bucket of sand on the floor and spread it out . hee hee .
australia america works just the same way.

 

[Crazylegs]

Goooooooooogle is the winner for me, thinks your in a car which is fine as I use it for the route, then I READ ROAD SIGNS on my approach to junctions and roundabouts.

I like to know where I am going and not rely on being told where to go and when to get into a certain lane or take the 3rd exit ???? I mute my volume and always watch the road and Google maps is my route planner to give me the end to end detail.

We have travelled France last 2 years using Google, and being over 3.5T in weight I became instantly aware that I am restricted in some towns and as I read the road signs I do not fall into a trap of "I was following NAV".

Dont worry about using data, get a proper mobile plan and utilise the device, saves having a phone and a NAV in the windscreen, just use one device and if your stereo head unit has Bluetooth you can receive calls also !! Android (Google) is a brilliant tool.

Oh and Kate is always at my side following the MAP ..

Pretty much agree with everything you say, gps devices are a guide not an instruction, we also have the volume off makes for a much more harmonious exit as your leaving a town following signs for your destination whilst the bloody gps wants you to take a residential street with sleeping policemen to save100 mtrs! Another tip, disable the height an width facility and again use your eyes.

 

[The Nomad]

Yes worth noting. I've got the maps.me and offline maps apps. Very good for free but Google maps has the edge, and it has live traffic info of course.

Maps.me now has a live traffic info option too.

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[tjay]

I have co pilot on my Ipad and my phone, love it !!

 

[Neodave]

Just got new Fiat M/home with built in Tom Tom sat nav which takes you off at every junction on the motorway and back on again, it must be to break the monotony and stop you falling asleep. Don't take any notice of course because I still use my old reliable, full of POI's ,TomTom 5200 for sound effects. Same applies to whatever system is built in to my VW car it doesn't take you off the M/way but certainly not as reliable as my stand alone. I had Co-Pilot many years ago on a hand held computer when a 1gb SD card cost me £170. I liked the system and may give it another go on a tablet now SD cards are a little cheaper.

 

[Minxy]

Co-Pilot was the first ever sat nav system we had, it was on a data reader/mini computer or something, can't remember what they were called, cost us a packet at the time but was great until it decided to have a hissy-fit just before we got to Paris and the only way to get a code to sort it was to ring the UK ... it would probably have cost as much as the flipping unit!!! Great system though and good mapping, not sure what today's offering is like.

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[Neodave]

Never trust a Sat Nav not to get you in trouble, a few years ago a tugger friend of ours got off the boat at Bilbao and set course for La Manga via Madrid.. He got a bit worried when he finished up in the centre of Madrid and had to get a Taxi driver to lead him out. Daftest part was he did exactly the same the following year, don't know if he got the same Taxi Driver though. Personally I always check the paper map plan my route and then enter plenty of via point to make sure the sat nav goes where I want it. Can still get in trouble now and again though.

 

[PJGWiltshire]

Oh how the worm has turned. When they came out they were the best thing since sliced bread. Now the good old sat Nav will be put to bed due to Apps the smart phone and inclusive Data use abroad

As Peter Kay would say, Garlic bread, Garlic bread ' its the future.

 

[iandsm]

Never trust a Sat Nav not to get you in trouble, a few years ago a tugger friend of ours got off the boat at Bilbao and set course for La Manga via Madrid.. He got a bit worried when he finished up in the centre of Madrid and had to get a Taxi driver to lead him out. Daftest part was he did exactly the same the following year, don't know if he got the same Taxi Driver though. Personally I always check the paper map plan my route and then enter plenty of via point to make sure the sat nav goes where I want it. Can still get in trouble now and again though.

Says much about your tugger friends understanding of how his satnav works and his ability to program it, possibly it could have been an RTFI fault

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