Which Sat Nav

[Tony Santara]

I've never felt the need for sat nav in 45 years of truck driving but this motorhoming is a differant ball game some camp grounds can be difficult to find so question is which one do i want .... you tell me :thumb:

 

[pharvey1]

I would say Tom Tom, or Tom to his mates..... simple and easy to use, update etc and can pick up at a good price these days. Looks like you can get some real wizz ones, but my Tom Tom One seems find.

However when planning your getaway, why not have a look at the site on Google earth, interesting to usem you can see access roads, locality etc and also pick up on the things never mentioned like a nearby industrial estate, railway line etc.

 

[Road Runner]

Tom Tom Tony (hey that rhymes)

Best get safety/speed cameras after hearing of you blasting down the motorways

Being serious now I would go the Tom Tom route.

 

[keith]

I've never felt the need for sat nav in 45 years of truck driving but this motorhoming is a differant ball game some camp grounds can be difficult to find so question is which one do i want .... you tell me :thumb:

Just got a Garmin Nuvi 250 & so far so good.

Got me to Grange Park last weekend when I hear others came various different ways

 

[Don Madge]

I've never felt the need for sat nav in 45 years of truck driving but this motorhoming is a differant ball game some camp grounds can be difficult to find so question is which one do i want .... you tell me :thumb:

Hi Tony,

I managed 55 years before having a sat nav and now I've got a Garmin 350. I found with advancing years it's a big help in finding places in urban areas especially when going solo.:thumb:

There's a big bonus as well, it don't cry when I shout at it.

Don

 

[potjoe]

i`ll go with Don on this one

:thumb::thumb::thumb: Hi,we have the 350 as well best money spent,you can also down load POI`s like cc&club sites, Air`s in France also ones for Gremany buy the camper stop book put poi on to SD card load it in the sat nav and away you go.john

 

[keith]

Hi Tony,

I managed 55 years before having a sat nav and now I've got a Garmin 350. I found with advancing years it's a big help in finding places in urban areas especially when going solo.:thumb:

There's a big good bonus as well, it don't cry when I shout at it.

Don

Your a bully Don.

 

[Don Madge]

:thumb::thumb::thumb: Hi,we have the 350 as well best money spent,you can also down load POI`s like cc&club sites, Air`s in France also ones for Gremany buy the camper stop book put poi on to SD card load it in the sat nav and away you go.john

Hi John,

That's way above my pay scale. I load them one at a time.

Don

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[Tony Santara]

Thanks freinds looks like a 2 horse race

 

[A and K]

Hi Tony,

I'd definately recommend TomTom. We have the Go 910 and are really pleased with it.You are spoilt for choice with the amount of POI's to download. I've downloaded many including all the French aires, the Stelplatz in Germany, Caravan Club sites and also C L's, low bridges and many, many more things!!
You just need to use common sense when using it (if the road looks too narrow-Don't go) and cross check with an atlas when planning your route.:thumb:

 

[dewaltman]

sat nav

angie and keith can you tell me how to find and download the information you have downloaded on to your tom tom ie aires,sites and low bridges etc
ps not an expert on pc thanks for any help you can give me

 

[A and K]

Hi dewaltman,
Here are a couple of sites I've used where you can find free TomTom downloads: Link Removed and also Pocket GPS World. Also you can google for free TomTom downloads.

For the caravan club POI's I used :jollyinteresting.

For the French aires I used www.camping-car.infos.com.- on the first page click on cliquez pour enter (in the middle of the page) then on the next page on the left side click on synchronisation coordonnees GPS and then on the next page at the bottom click on Fichierzip pour TomTom.

Also now you can download quite a few from your TomTom home when you connect your TomTom to it.

This is the way I've downloaded to my TomTom;(here I'm using the french aires as an example)


First of all create a new folder on your PC and call it TomTom POI's.

Having sourced the web site - CCinfos - click on 'cliquez pour entrer' and then on the left side column you will see 'synchronisation coordonnees GPS'. Click on it and scroll the resulting page to find 'Fichier Zip' in green print. Click on TomTom 'Fichiers pour TT (.ov2)' and when file download prompts, click 'save' and save it to your readily available folder.
Go to the folder and locate the 'zipped' file = 'Aires-CCinfos-TomTom'. Open this file. Under 'folder tasks' on left side, click on 'extract files'. This produces 'extraction wizard' with file option to save to (TT POI's as above). Click 'next' and then 'finish'.
Return to your TT POI's folder where you will now find a 'new folder' containing the 'unzipped' files which you require for transfer to TT.

Open this folder, reduce it and move to one side of your screen (A).
Connect TT to your PC. Now go to 'my computer' - locate TT icon and click on the icon. On the resulting page, open the folder 'Western Europe Map' (or whatever). Reduce the size. You now have two reduced pages on your screen.

Go back to the donor page (A) and click on 'edit' then 'select all'.
Nearly there - drag the selection onto the map page and the job is done.

After disonnecting TT from the PC, leave it for a few minutes to enable the download to 'sort itself' before switching off.

I hope this makes sense,
Good luck :thumb: (it's quite easy once you've done it a few times)

Angie

 

[dewaltman]

sat nav

thanks angie i will try tomorrow to late tonight

 

[Thepips]

Hi Tony,
I don't know how urgent your requirement is but the next generation of satnavs are starting to arrive. TeleAtlas mapping now has the optional data on road restrictions. There are already a couple of them out that really do avoid low bridges and weight limits. Can't be long before the rest follow suit.

Regards
Doug

 

[Supertractorman]

Tony,

There is now one on the market for Commercial vehicles that has low bridges, weight restrictions etc, and I think if I was getting one I could use it in the M/H and Coach. A bit more expensive just now but it will come down in price.

David

 

[Terry]

Hi Tony, I now have tt but much prefered the garmin In my mind the garmin gave better Distructions not letting you, say turn left in 80 yds then 5 yds later saying you missed turn around All I want to do is go from A to B so never realy bothered with poi type things and probably do not use it fully.I may get around to it when i am bored but for now in my mind garmin rules :thumb:
terry
ps I think garmin have bought tt or is it the other way around :thumb:

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[LyndonRV]

hi tony i just brought tom tom 510 with blootooth with full europe maps irland etc brand new from ebay with full tom tom back up if it gowes wrong £150 diliverd

 

[Spacerunner]

I have both Tomtom and Garmin.
The tomtom is the 'original' and has never gone wrong in the five years I have had it. It is well looked after by third party POI authors and is very user friendly. You can also make 'itinary' routes with many waymarks.
The downside is, it makes more mistakes(?) and tends to take you down more unsuitable routes than the Garmin. The aftersales can sometimes be found wanting.
The Garmin is an all singing and dancing affair. Its bluetooth and acts as a hands free phone device. Has realtime traffic updates, MP3 player, translator, etc,etc.
It takes a more sensible approach to suitable roads, but not foolproof! Locates satellites faster and under cover. However only one waymark can be designated.
If you buy from Halfords and have a problem they will exchange for a new unit there and then no questions asked!

 

[lugnutt]

garmin for me tony ive a nuvi 670 hands free phone,mp3,photo store.audible book player,calculator,language guide,travel guide,world clock, currency converter,unit coverter,speed cams was already loaded.does what it says on the tin plus never needed add on ariel picks up sat easy evan with big overhead cab like we have, play it through the stero:thumb:

 

[potjoe]

go for the Garmin nuvi

:thumb::thumb::thumb: Had my 350 about 3 years best money i have spent,it had 2005 maps to start with but now i got an update cd Free from there webb site so now have to 2007 map up date on the 350.You can down load all the POI`s you would like onto am SD card and away you go all free. We had TT to start with BUT then sold it on ebay no thank you.
john

 

[GJH]

Tony,

There is now one on the market for Commercial vehicles that has low bridges, weight restrictions etc, and I think if I was getting one I could use it in the M/H and Coach. A bit more expensive just now but it will come down in price.

David

I presume you are talking about the Navevo Pronav, David.

I was thinking of getting one until I discovered, by phoning Navevo, that purchasers will not be able to add their own PoIs - and it will be an undefined time before the facility is available.

Graham

 

[Thepips]

Navigator 8 has truck limitations (height, length, axle and overall weight) built into it AND allows you to import your own POIs.
It's available for Windows XP/Vista, Mobile 5 for PDAs and Smartphones and ME for dedicated devices. They're available with 3", 4.3" and I'm currently testing a 7" version.
I've just done 450 miles testing it along and it performed admirably although, like most sat navs, it was keen to cut corners. The major difference being that you knew you could get though!
I love the lane lollipops showing which lane you should be in as you approach junctions, If I'm being really nitpicky I'd prefer to see them earlier than they're currently displayed.
Being a comparatively small company Mapfactor are able to take suggestions on board and come up with enhancements in very short order.
You can see the whole of the Navigator range on Directions Website but as I'm still an authorised reseller I can offer a 10% discount on their products.

Regards
Doug

 

[Tony Santara]

Ordered a "Pro Nav " from Maplins Yesterday :thumb:

 

[Reallyretired]

I recommend TomTom. I am on my second one as my first was nicked from my car. Very intuitive to use, it has a big instruction book which I've never needed to read.
It has only a few sites in UK (Caravan clb only) and in France but has loads in Spain for some reason.
I have also downloaded the free Aires in France which has proved very useful the last few weeks.

It uses a SD card, cheap and sold evrywhere, which you can replace with a bigger one so you can add in all the good places you find so you can find them again!:thumb:

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[Supertractorman]

Tony,

Pro Nav seems a good price from Maplins especially with the discount vouchers.
Can you get European mapping for it ?. Like to know how you get on with it.

David

 

[Tony Santara]

Tony,

Pro Nav seems a good price from Maplins especially with the discount vouchers.
Can you get European mapping for it ?. Like to know how you get on with it.

David

Hi David

yes mate mine came with UK & European mapping already loaded

I test drove it today in my car went staight passed the turning for my destination then i realised it was on mute couldn't hear the instructions oh:
Tried it with sound on no probs :thumb:

It also has "preffered Routes" designed for trucks takes you on wider roads and out of town centres

Hope this helps

Tony

 

[staging lady]

Tony,
We bought Tom Tom 710? after going round Cardiff three times looking for Ikea when we were staging a house. Massive row in the car on the third attempt to find Ikea. Back seat driver daughter said " It's Tom Tom or a divorce!"
Very pleased with ours called Sally Traffic.

Only time it let us down was going back to the gite from supermarket in Cahors town. I pressed shortest route instead of fastest route out of curiosity.

Big mistake. The road got smaller and smaller , more rutted gave out and finally we seemed to be driving on a sandy path. Luckily some pedestrians were near and ,saying we were lost, I asked them where we were. " Oh, madame, you are on the grande randonne 65 hiking trail"
Well I did press the wrong button....
Lucille

 

[Supertractorman]

Tony,

Thanks for that info, it sounds like a good piece of kit. I seem to be getting sent further on coach trips now, and it could be useful to have. Off to Strasbourg and Black Forest next week as a two man job for a bit of experience.:thumb:

David