The dreaded “what sat nav” question

[GeordieNomad]

Just booked my 2009 Ducato in for a cruise control and new Pioneer 250 Apple play etc..No sat nav with the Pioneer so looking for an alternative. A quick search reveals a multitude of choice, all claiming to be the best and a search on here is equally inconclusive.

Is there such a thing as the ‘perfect’ sat nav or do i just stick to Google, Waze, Apple Maps etc….

 

[PaulC70]

Waze on my ipad on the dashboard for me, occasionally google maps if waze is acting up.

 

[Guigsy]

Google Maps here with an a-class.

 

[GeordieNomad]

Waze on my ipad on the dashboard for me, occasionally google maps if waze is acting up.

This is what’s confusing me Paul. I am sure you’re telling the truth but there’s plenty who hammer Waze or Google. I guess its just peoples own experiences…

 

[meanders]

It's what works for you, but all to be taken with a good dose of common sense and use of one's eyes.

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[robnchris]

Which ever Sat Nav you choose we would suggest that you always check routes with a good old fashioned map, so you don't get any nasty surprises.

 

[Guigsy]

Which ever Sat Nav you choose we would suggest that you always check routes with a good old fashioned map, so you don't get any nasty surprises.

I find it's best to check with a nice modern scan through with StreetView.

 

[PaulC70]

This is what’s confusing me Paul. I am sure you’re telling the truth but there’s plenty who hammer Waze or Google. I guess its just peoples own experiences…

Must be because Ive been using Waze for about 3 years now both in car and motorhome with no issues other than the aforementioned occasional issue when it has a brainfart and thinks Im still at the previous days location, but a quick IT "switch it off and on again" usually does the trick.

I prefer waze as its better at the speed cam locations, but like google as you can get it to highlight things like petrol stations etc en route.

I see no point in a dedicated satnav, I use my eyes for low bridges and roads that are too narrow, no problems yet.

It's what works for you, but all to be taken with a good dose of common sense and use of one's eyes.

 

[Armytwowheels]

This is probably not what you are looking for as you are installing a radio already, but just in case, I put this up for sale yesterday.

Snooper SMH-550DAB Satnav and Multimedia Receiver

This is a brand new SatNav/Radio, still boxed and in the wrapper. It was a direct replacement for one that went wrong. We were going away and didn't have time to wait for the exchange, so had to purchase a SatNav locally. This is now surplus to...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Richard n Ann]

Google maps and navigation for me. Free and always up to date with street view, traffic, millions of points of interest and user reviews. I tend to use signposts and just rely on navigation for the last mile though.

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[Burgo]

Google maps is fine for main roads, but has caused us a few near misses in Spain & Portugal. The issue is that at the beginning or end of a journey it routes you onto the main roads with no regard to width or height restrictions. As long as you keep an eye out its OK, but we've had to do quite a few 17 point turns or "the reverse out of shame". Satnavs that allow entry of height & width would be a “must have" for me.

 

[Dolmen]

I love google maps now that my van has apple play, very clear and so easy to use. There are two big downsides (for me) 1. Detailed junction information is not shown rather relies on very clear voice guidance. 2. There are no warnings of low bridges so you need to be aware. There are no warnings of narrow roads, however, no sat nav can do anymore than let you know if a road has an official width restriction put on it, if there is no official classification all sat navs assume they are OK

 

[Verteuil Man]

An AA Road Atlas and a wife.

 

[NigelNovice]

I fitted a double DIN Android head unit in my Ducato based MoHo, I run Sygic truck and caravan on it as it allows MoHo dimensions to be entered and also set it to avoid ULEZ zones and Tolls

 

[Guigsy]

Google maps is fine for main roads, but has caused us a few near misses in Spain & Portugal. The issue is that at the beginning or end of a journey it routes you onto the main roads with no regard to width or height restrictions. As long as you keep an eye out its OK, but we've had to do quite a few 17 point turns or "the reverse out of shame". Satnavs that allow entry of height & width would be a “must have" for me.

I've suffered more pain from poor mapping than width restrictions. I travelled around Europe for 6 months and only hit one well sign posted width restriction. Even in Norfolk and Cornwall, I've found the better mapping in Google beats the ropey data in TomTom, Sygic and Road Lords.

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[Guigsy]

I fitted a double DIN Android head unit in my Ducato based MoHo, I run Sygic truck and caravan on it as it allows MoHo dimensions to be entered and also set it to avoid ULEZ zones and Tolls

Note for those not familiar. An Android head unit means it runs Android like a phone. Sygic Truck is a phone app. These radios tend to be from Chinese brands.

Android Auto (and Apple Carplay) is a feature of a head unit (like Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, some Fiat factory fit radios) that means it acts as a second screen for an attached phone. Some apps are Android Auto capable so they can use your head unit's screen with a specific interface that's for drivers. Sygic Truck cannot do this. Annoyingly the car version of Sygic can. TomTom with appropriate paid add-ons is the only Android Auto app that I'm aware of that is also vehicle dimension aware... Personally I'm not a fan.

 

[daveclare]

Combination of Garmin and Google now and again. Google only for main roads. It's been pretty dangerous for us when abroad. Especially where what looks like an A road terminates into a very narrow single track, with no warning.

Garmin has it's issues and has the occasional hiccup. We also have a tomtom for the motorbike and scooter. Which is similar to the Garmin.

In two years we've done 30,000 miles, mostly abroad. About 25k with the Garmin.

 

[GeordieNomad]

Confused as ever….

 

[Guigsy]

If you want to use your radio with an attached phone, you don't actually have much choice. Try Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps and see how you get on.

 

[mitzimad]

we had garmins and tom toms but for the last five years just a phone and google maps we did have it on our chinese android radio but its to slow now so just use the phone weve never had a dedicated truck one and weve managed fine using eyes and common sense

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[Cheese Monster]

I have used MyRoute-app for years to plan motorcycles trips. They are now developing a navigation app that runs on your phone with car play if you want it. At present it doesn't have vehicle width-height-length but that's coming so is tyre pressure monitoring.

Until recently I used a Garmin Camper GPS but gave up with it after 4 years of frustration. I still use a Zumo XT on my motorcycle but plan everything in MyRoute-app.