Which Sat Nav to buy next?

[LesW]

Forget it.

Buy a map.

The people who say they are impressed with their satnavs have just paid £300 for it.......well,you would ,wouldn’t you?

Absolutely the biggest waste of money you could ever find. Forget it. Live life,use your eyes and your brain,with a map.

Perhaps yours was faulty..

 

[Mark and Mindy]

Google maps for us, plus the Zenec sat nav was programmed with the van sizes when we bought the van, we don't use it for directions but do have the sat nav on in case we miss something and try to squeeze through or under something we shouldn't. We don't have issues on any street as a general rule but being 5.4m makes life quite easy.

 

[cmcardle75]

The problem is that Google Maps on Android Auto is such much better than any standalone system. It is always up to date. It knows that 30 minutes ago someone broke down and is causing a blockage. It just doesn't know whether you can squeeze under that 2.5m bridge yet. They just need to fix this. Maybe make it a subscription feature, I don't care. It's algorithms are better than everyone else's and I wouldn't mind paying!

 

[RubyOptics]

I always struggle with why people need 'updates' so often ? It isn't as though they build new roads that quickly.

You should come visit Poland some time... The amount of EU money that has been put into new highways in the past 3 years is simply staggering.

 

[Camdoon]

I use Waze and Google maps. Waze warned me about a broken down vehicle on a right hand bend (with the driver bashing something while on the carriageway) allowing me to move out which started a French flashing frenzy behind me. The only time in France when a driver has apologised when he realised what had happened. We had a large road re-organisation around us 6 months ago and car sat navs have not even updated to reflect that. Waze was working properly the morning the changes happened. For 3 months you could watch foreign drivers struggling with their maps.
As for Garmin, had all the dimensions installed and it tried to take me across a 2m wide bridge. The same month it wanted to make me a 3 point 320 degree turn to go down a road to save 30m when I could see from its map the turning was bogus and not even sensible in a car. It then froze on a motorway requiring a boot which is what it got.

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[bobnick]

Have to say we do carry maps. They are much better if you want to plan a A to B route, then put the way points into your Sat Nav.

Love some of the Australian Sat Navs, "You have reached your destination, grab your sunny lock up and don't let the seagulls pinch your chips"............and lot's of other dittys.

 

[Pausim]

The problem is that Google Maps on Android Auto is such much better than any standalone system. It is always up to date. It knows that 30 minutes ago someone broke down and is causing a blockage. It just doesn't know whether you can squeeze under that 2.5m bridge yet. They just need to fix this. Maybe make it a subscription feature, I don't care. It's algorithms are better than everyone else's and I wouldn't mind paying!

I agree. We use Google and Apple CarPlay. I also use Waze with CarPLay because it puts your speed on the screen and sounds a gong when over the speed limit, this helps with Fiat’s unreadable speedometer. I too would be happy to pay Google for extra map features.

Buy a radio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto instead of a standalone navigator is my advice. TomTom is soon to be launched as a CarPlay app and I am thinking many others will follow, the writing is on the wall for standalone navigators.

 

[sgl5gjr]

I've been using Tom Tom Go app.... On "fastest" option you get the main roads to places rather than silly lanes....plus if you are lazy like me, I plan routes to destinations on the laptop & they sync on the app ... couple of presses on the screen and we are off....live traffic too & can automatically reroute if you set it ( I don't).... Planned a couple of routes which I chose to check on Google earth for road width/access/ bridges.... Only one was a low bridge....£12.99 annually with weekly map updates & live traffic....works for me...but as I always say. ...yer pays yer money & takes yer choice.... Glad to see lots of options in the thread rather than one sided

 

[StefanoFerrari]

I tried the NavMii app on a trip to Cornwall last month. Thought it was ok until it tried rob take me down a 6’6” wide footpath and then a dead end road. If I hadn’t known the roads and followed the sat nav I would have been well and truly stuck.
Just bought a cheap Ohrex truck nav but not tried it on the road yet. It doesn’t have up to date traffic though.

 

[LesW]

the writing is on the wall for standalone navigators.

They are the lifeblood of many satnav makers, they will be about for many years.

Lots of cars and motorbikes do not have inbuilt units, I would never purchase such a device anyway, why would I, when I can take my Garmin Zumo 660 with me to use in/on any vehicle including a bicycle, it's also an MP3 player loaded up with about 600 songs, plus a photo album too.

Stand alone units are much more versatile than built in items.

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[Dibspl]

We have an Aguri 720, free lifetime Updates but their customer service is beyond excellent. We had a 2 yr old sat nav and on doing an update abroad we managed to corrupt one of the files. They reinstalled it foc and returned it but the screen was damaged on return by the courier. Without question, a brand new one with new free hard case was sent by dpd two days later. I would fully recommend just because of their excellent aftercare

 

[Pausim]

They are the lifeblood of many satnav makers, they will be about for many years.

That will not stop progress which is probably why TomTom is writing a compatible app. They will make their money from the software instead.

Stand alone units are much more versatile than built in items.

I do not agree, my iphone goes on my e-bike. I can plan routes on my iPad or phone and then just plug it into my CarPlay head unit and everything comes up on the screen.

 

[kevenh]

That will not stop progress which is probably why TomTom is writing a compatible app. They will make their money from the software instead.

Yes. Lots of manufacturers have stopped being box shifters and monetise their software instead.
My little Pug 108 has car play so i look forward to a Garmin app coming
But our older Pug Boxer based motorhome is still doing well with an ancient Nuvi sat nav - ‘got to love lifetime maps

I do not agree, my iphone goes on my e-bike. I can plan routes on my iPad or phone and then just plug it into my CarPlay head unit and everything comes up on the screen.

I don’t want to assume that e-bike equates to sedate but I wouldn’t trust the longevity of a phone based sat nav on my MTB or road bike
My dedicated GPSr is waterproof at IP67 rating and survives hitting tarmac at speed (all done to gather data for this post & not operator error with how I fitted it that day)

 

[DJA]

I've been using Tom Tom Go app.... On "fastest" option you get the main roads to places rather than silly lanes....plus if you are lazy like me, I plan routes to destinations on the laptop & they sync on the app ... couple of presses on the screen and we are off....live traffic too & can automatically reroute if you set it

I assume from the above that you are using the Android Go App version something like version 1.18 as the IOS App has never been able to Sync routes from My Drive. Be aware if you update to the latest Android App which is now replacing the Old App you will lose the ability to Add POI files or Sync Routes from My Drive. As I understand it the Syncing facility will likely be added to the new app by the end of this year or early next year. Keep an Eye on the Tomtom Forum and you will see what changes are taking place including that the IOS App could be getting the Syncing of routes as well.

 

[DJA]

i look forward to a Garmin app coming

It is interesting that Garmin do not have a Navigation App and I have not seen anything to suggest they are proposing to release one.. Google are opening up the Android Auto function to allow other than the Google and Waze Nav apps so that later this year or early next others like Tomtom and Sygic etc will be allowed to offer an Android Auto compatible App. Regarding Apple CarPlay that offers the ability to use many different Apps including the Tomtom one which is now CarPlay compatible and I find very good. It still has a little way to go to offer all that a PND can offer but the signs are it will be fairly similar by early 2021with the ability to sync routes created on PC's or in a Phone App. Like the PND units you can run the App without a route defined on it and it will warn you about cameras.

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[pandas]

Our Tom Tom trucker has lifetime maps. I use this for issues with bridges etc. However I mainly use google maps through CarPlay on my Panasonic radio/entertainment gizmo.

 

[ceejayt]

Truck satnavs will take you miles out of your way to avoid, what to me are pretty towns and villages, via motorways and dual carriageways, fine if you enjoy that, but not for me.

I use Garmin units.

Running truck satnav of some kind and google maps at the same time gives the best result IMHO (although does mean some decision making from time to time and either solution, or both, can be wrong).

 

[SpeedyDux]

It is interesting that Garmin do not have a Navigation App and I have not seen anything to suggest they are proposing to release one.. Google are opening up the Android Auto function to allow other than the Google and Waze Nav apps so that later this year or early next others like Tomtom and Sygic etc will be allowed to offer an Android Auto compatible App. Regarding Apple CarPlay that offers the ability to use many different Apps including the Tomtom one which is now CarPlay compatible and I find very good. It still has a little way to go to offer all that a PND can offer but the signs are it will be fairly similar by early 2021with the ability to sync routes created on PC's or in a Phone App. Like the PND units you can run the App without a route defined on it and it will warn you about cameras.

Garmin navigation is available as an (expensive) option on Honda cars with the CONNECT 9" touchscreen, which runs various Apps, including compatibility with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Not sure if the option involves extra Garmin hardware, or is just proprietary Garmin software that emulates a dedicated satnav.

 

[Pausim]

I don’t want to assume that e-bike equates to sedate

It does in my case and I guess that specialist rugged devices will continue to have a market.

 

[Pausim]

When I first used GPS in the 90’s on my boat I had separate units for navigation, radar, depth etc. However unit integration followed and I think the same is now happening with vehicle navigation. Why have multiple screens when you only need one integrated screen.

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[SiandTra]

We have Aguri 720, used in UK, Spain and Portugal, great customer service, free updates for life and built in dash cam, love that we can program size of MH into unit

 

[Bielgeets]

Hi,

I have had mixed results with iGO maps, some good and some bad.

Could any of the XGody users comment on how self configurable it is with POI`s and the likes. I like to be able to search for POI`s near me, along a route, near a destination, etc, and also to be able to have the POI icons display on the map in real time.

TIA

User Poi of Igo must be in kml format (Extract from a Google Map like in Wildcamping.moonfruit.com)

The kml-files must be placed in the map /Igo/content/userdata/poi
The poi icons must be placed in the map /Igo/content/userdata/usericon
The name of the icon must be the same of the correspondent poi ,must be in bmp-format and 22 x 22 pix
In KML You can have a full description of the poi !

 

[DJA]

TomTom is soon to be launched as a CarPlay app

Tomtom's CarPlay compatible App haw been out for some time and works well. The display is not the same in CarPlay mode as it is on the iPhone or a PND in that the route bar is not shown. This is because the templates Apple provide upon which the Apps must be based does not allow it. Tomtom are gradually seeking to provide the Route Bar information in CarPlay. It displays cameras and can announce them including the Camera type and it counts down the yardage to the Camera, it also displays your Current speed and advises when in an average speed zone but doe snot yet display your average speed in the zone. You can create routes on CarPlay including adding stops on the way. One feature in the TT app is the ability when just using the App on the phone is to be able to select a Picture you have taken or someone sends you, which if it has the necessary location data, App will calculate a route to where the picture was taken.

 

[kevino]

We have an Aguri 720, used in UK only so far but has never let us down, free updates for life and built in dash cam, if you are using one of the club sites you can even search for that instead of using postcodes or coordinates love that we can program size of MH into unit and it can also be used as a car sat nav as well. Excellent piece of kit, in my opinion.

 

[minesapint]

At moment we have Tom Tom Go Camper which is about three years old. Used to be really reliable but lately turns on and off and map updates etc are expensive.

We are looking for a Sat Nav that we can put dimensions of MH In etc as don’t want to be sent down a too narrow road. Also would like free map updates, speed cameras and live traffic.

Any recommendations gratefully received.
Thanks

We bought a Motorhome/Lorry sat nav with forward camera built in from CM navigation. You can programme it with your vans dimensions to stop going down unsuitable roads. Excellent and half the price of others on the market, plus a dash cam built in.

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[pandas]

Tomtom's CarPlay compatible App haw been out for some time and works well. The display is not the same in CarPlay mode as it is on the iPhone or a PND in that the route bar is not shown. This is because the templates Apple provide upon which the Apps must be based does not allow it. Tomtom are gradually seeking to provide the Route Bar information in CarPlay. It displays cameras and can announce them including the Camera type and it counts down the yardage to the Camera, it also displays your Current speed and advises when in an average speed zone but doe snot yet display your average speed in the zone. You can create routes on CarPlay including adding stops on the way. One feature in the TT app is the ability when just using the App on the phone is to be able to select a Picture you have taken or someone sends you, which if it has the necessary location data, App will calculate a route to where the picture was taken.

I believe Tom Tom use Apple Maps so it should all be compatible - I will have a play as we have both

 

[OneAntOfMany]

We use the Garmin Camper Edition 660 or something - really not impressed and prefer Google maps.

I have looked at a few of the sat-navs available and they all seem to offer two route calculation methods, Fastest Route or Shortest Route. The fastest route took us off a good A road to save 10 minutes on a single track, exhaust scraping, tree scratching route.

How hard can it be to have a camper edition sat-nav with a "Main road" priority calculation method, A, then B, then C and finally the really small tight lanes. Happy for the journey to take a bit longer to avoid the stress of some back roads.

 

[Littlewheels]

Truck satnavs will take you miles out of your way to avoid, what to me are pretty towns and villages, via motorways and dual carriageways, fine if you enjoy that, but not for me.

I use Garmin units.

This doesn’t happen with the TomTom Truck you simply set the MH’s Dimensions but select the vehicle setting as Van you then get the fastest route but it misses obstacles that you need to miss, ie; low bridges ,3.5 ton limits etc.

 

[Richard n Ann]

the writing is on the wall for standalone navigators.

I've been saying the same for a few years. Tom Tom will become a software company like what happened to sega. Their hardware is just ridiculously obsolete compared to a modern smartphone.

 

[Minxy]

I have looked at a few of the sat-navs available and they all seem to offer two route calculation methods, Fastest Route or Shortest Route. The fastest route took us off a good A road to save 10 minutes on a single track, exhaust scraping, tree scratching route.

The ones I've used always have 3 routes, fastest, shortest and economy which is a mix of the two.

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