Sat Nav's, which one?

BillyPants

Guest
My beloved TomTom GO 730 has finally kicked the bucket. I loved how I could drag and drop POI's onto the internal memory, how you could set another route easily without having to clear and stuff first, how you could speak to it too, and it was pretty accurate.
So I need a new SatNav and the only stringent requirement is that it needs to be able to take my old POI's and Favourites. I've tried the Start 25 and hate it with a vengeance. Half the time it simply didn't work!

Can anyone recommend a model for me?
 
I'm currently running a Tom Tom 730 truck alongside a Garmin Nuvi 2545LM. The Garmin wins hands down for me. Easy to load POIs, sensible routes, free updates for life, better European coverage. Others may/will disagree but I prefer the Garmin.
Pat
 
Had Tom Tom and now Garmin. Garmin wins hands down for me, wouldn't go back to Tom Tom.
Still considering upgrading to the camper version when pennies available.
 
BillyPants said:
My beloved TomTom GO 730 has finally kicked the bucket. I loved how I could drag and drop POI's onto the internal memory, how you could set another route easily without having to clear and stuff first, how you could speak to it too, and it was pretty accurate.
So I need a new SatNav and the only stringent requirement is that it needs to be able to take my old POI's and Favourites. I've tried the Start 25 and hate it with a vengeance. Half the time it simply didn't work!

Can anyone recommend a model for me?
Click to expand...

I have used comparable T/Tom and Garmin units side by side locally just to test them out , the Garmin won hands down and some of the routes T/T wanted to take me on was frightening .
 
I bought a ProNav, it's great - I have used it for target practice with the old 22 and bought a TomTom from fairytooth. He's the man to talk to.
 
I prefer TomTom, I have a GO730 running Truck software and it doesn't send me anywhere I cannot go, when you say it has 'finally kicked the bucket' what exactly has gone wrong with it, they can usually be repaired and with the latest software on can be as good as a new one but a lot cheaper
 
tezza33 said:
I prefer TomTom, I have a GO730 running Truck software and it doesn't send me anywhere I cannot go, when you say it has 'finally kicked the bucket' what exactly has gone wrong with it, they can usually be repaired and with the latest software on can be as good as a new one but a lot cheaper
Click to expand...

Nah it's buggered. I was replacing the battery and the screwdriver slipped and dug a component off the board. Oops!

I was playing with a Garmin in Tesco tonight, but it was in demo mode as you can't get a signal in there, so it's difficult to compare. Can Garmin's import the old POI's?
 
Stick with your Tom Tom..

I use a variety of Sat.Nav's whilst at work, and apart from Tom Tom they're all rather 'Naff'. Wouldn't touch Navman with a barge pole and Garmin aren't much better.

If you want a system that's cheap, low featured and ergonomically lacking then Navman will fit the bill. If you're looking for a quirky, cheap, low featured and ergonomically lacking system, then look no further than Garmin or a whole myriad of other 3rd division alternatives.

I have travelled ~ 100,00-120,00 mls/yr in connection with my job and can say without doubt that Tom Tom's, and especially the Go Live 1005 is a fantastic piece of kit and bonus of bonus, it utilizes a very efficient suction-mount which the Sat.Nav attaches to magnetically, hence you can remove the Sat.Nav. from its mount frequently & efficiently with no physical wear or loss in suction, also the electrical connections are magnetic, so 'double bonus'. In addition it has 'Live Traffic' information and can be loaded with your own P.O.I's and Favourites which is not always the case with some 'other' makes/models.

There are newer Tom Tom's available also, but all I'd say is go for Tom Tom, and look very carefully at the mount, is it proven and pretty permanent, can you detach the Sat.Nav. easily, quickly and without wear to it or its electrical connections. Does it present 'Live Traffic' information and I.Q. Routes (routes adjusted historically for time of day/traffic density & flow) If the answer to all of those questions is "Yes" then go for it .

Enjoy !

Captain Biggles :plane:
 
You have to use common sense when using sat navs,if a road that the sat nav wants you to take looks iffy,especially if Inn your camper or large vehicle don,t use it, the sat nav will soon compute another route quickly, my Tom Toms are just standard ones,not for lorries or bigger vehicles and with common sense I have had no problems at all, all over Europe too,it amazes me that some folks have sat navs and have no idea how to operate them, I have met lots of folk like that,they seem to think that the sat navs can think for themselves,which of course they can when set up and programed properly,and that is the trick.
 
BillyPants said:
Nah it's buggered. I was replacing the battery and the screwdriver slipped and dug a component off the board. Oops!

I was playing with a Garmin in Tesco tonight, but it was in demo mode as you can't get a signal in there, so it's difficult to compare. Can Garmin's import the old POI's?
Click to expand...

POIs can be converted from one format to another, see
For your new Garmin, download the free POI Loader and Garmin BaseCamp, which allows you to view the maps installed on a Garmin SatNav on your PC screen and switch to Google Earth view amongst other things. You might want to uncheck the optional downloads when downloading Google Earth.
 
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I finally ended up with the free NavMii on my android tablet and I love the combination. It works really well and while you have to pay for extra maps, such as if you go to France, they're cheap, so this is my sat nav setup now.
 
I use an Android app called CoPilot on a tablet. Tom Tom PoI files can be dropped straight in to the relevant folder, added to a category and you're in business.

The advantage is that when the device dies or you replace it, the app can be transferred to your new phone or tablet.
 
We use Sygic mapping & navigation on three of our Galaxy Tab4 tablets, two 7" and one 10".

Been out in Europe with it and round the UK, no problems. I don't use POI's so can't comment.

Peter
 
I've tried a few over the years.

My experience with Tom Tom was that it used foot mapping and its navigation for routing was good. What I didn't like was their prices and value, & they wanted to charge extra for everything and extra subscriptions, while map updates were way too pricey. Their charges put me off.

As they use the same mapping (Teleatlas I think?) as TT but different software then as a navigation device I found my Navman (Mio is the same thing) to be much better than TT or Garmin actually. Multiple route options, better route recalculating, more accurate guidance, the lot. BUT it's downfall was rubbish software interface with the PC to update it that I could not get to work so getting POI's on it was a fail. A shame because it was great to use for its primary purpose. It got nicked, and I still miss it.

I currently run a Garmin. I have never liked their overly simplistic lack of personalisation - it limits being able to use a satnav to its best advantage IMO. Also in terms of navigation and routing... It gets the job done but the mapping fails to tell you to give way at lots of junctions where both the others would far more accurately, and it's recalculation engine is bloody rubbish - it's a one trick pony compared to just about anything else IMO. Considering Garmin are supposed to be leaders in GPS it just shows what good marketing and distribution can do for a mediocre product IMO.
BUT... Where Garmin scores is in its free updates, it's ease of connection and use with Garmin software and how easy it was to put POI's on it.

I wish I still had the Navman as well as the Garmin. The Navman would always be my go-to device for actual general routing and guidance every time, and I could then just use the Frankly very average Garmin just for WC POI's.

Oh yes. At one time I used Satnavs that ran Igo software and TeleAtlas mapping. I found both to be really good to use, right up there with the Navman, maybe even shade it. If (IF) This combo could be found on a device that also had all the great interface benefits of a Garmin, then that'd be great product IMO. I have no idea if such a thing exists though unfortunately.
 
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