Is this how it should be? Tomtom behaviour

pghstochaj · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 20, 2007 Posts: 21

Hi Everybody,

I subscribed to the database yesterday for the first time. My situation is that I have a Laguna Initiale with a very good built in sat nav system so just want a hidden device to warn me of cameras.

I tried in the past to find a solution and found very little which matched what I wanted (auto on/off with power, external antenna input, reasonable update costs and vocal warnings) but ended up with the AlerteGPS. Reasonable device but the updates do not really seem to include the UK, fantastic. I should have dropped the reasonable update costs from my requirements, but I didn't.

So I decided to replace the AlerteGPS with my old tomtom XL tucked under the dash, the downside being I have to remember to switch it on and off each time I want to use it.

The thing is, I won't ever use this for routing, just for camera warnings with the pocketGPS database. I think I have wasted my time and money however since my test this morning led to warnings all the time (I presume because I asked for things not to be on the route as I won't ever have a route).

Is there nothing I can do? I.e. is there no addin or option which allows it to only consider cameras on the approximate route/road I am on in the same way as my AlerteGPS? Is this normal behaviour and am I the only person that wants to use a tomtom as a camera device without a route all the time?

Thanks in advance.

Pocketgps · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject:

You should only get the warnings for the road you are on. Okay some times you can get adjacent road warnings but not often.

Are you sure that placing the TT under the dash it is not loosing gps lock, this would cause the map to jump about as it looses lock then re-locks and you may receive false warnings.

Oldboy

pghstochaj · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 20, 2007 Posts: 21

DennisN · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:01 am Post subject:

You don't have to use it for routing, just for cameras on route. Sounds silly, but you can achieve this by setting a route to "somewhere" beyond where you're going. If you're just going down to the shops, set a route to Birmingham or any other destination which is easy to input and is beyond where you're going. The device will recalculate as you travel and give you most "on route" cameras.

Quick solution would be Navigate to.... several destinations, e.g. Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dover, Southampton, Truro, Conway, Aberystwyth, Norwich. Then you can Navigate to ... Recent destination and select one at whichever point of the compass suits you. Use Silent Voice, of course, so that you don't get navigation instructions.
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

Darren · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:48 am Post subject:

This issue exists because TomTom don't offer directional warnings in the true sense of the word and restrict what we can offer as third party data suppliers. We have directional data and make it available for those devices that support it.

Personally I never use the 'warn on route' option and I don't find the odd few warnings that are off to the side annoying personally.

But the best thing about using a mapping unit is being able to quickly refer to the display and see what the threat is and where. This to me is invaluable.

If I get warned about cameras on the other carriageway then I can live with that.

If this is a big issue for you then small devices like Inforad's K1 are tiny, can be hidden and use bleeps for the alerts AND have directional data. Inforad use our database.

But good as they are, they'd never replace a device with a display and map for me. I like to know if the warning is a Mobile or a fixed camera and where it is on the route. It keeps me alert, reminds me to moderate my driving and ensures my observation skills are being used.
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Darren Griffin

pghstochaj · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 20, 2007 Posts: 21

Thanks for the help. I think the idea from Dennis may work, but I guess only if the cameras would be on the route. I can think of circumstances where the tomtom would keep suggesting to turn around down side roads and miss off a camera. I wouldn't know since the display is hidden under my dashboard.

Such a shame and waste of money it seems - I didn't realise that the POI system on a tomtom wouldn't act by direction but I guess I should have thought about it harder and it becomes obvious. I have tried it, but I got warnings all over the place in Manchester and didn't have chance to think about driving because of the constant warnings! The same thing happens on SPEC zones where you get repeat warnings.

I would go for a K1 but I don't like anything on the dashboard (etc.) due to theft and hassle. I would need a unit which doesn't need a screen due to vocal outputs and has an external antenna input to work under the dash.

I now think that there are only two units (both not using the PGPSW database):

Road Angel Compact
Origin B2

So I am considering these. My alerteGPS would be fine if it didn't speak Canadian, didn't tell me to fasten my seatbelt each time it received power and had UK updates.

Darren · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject:

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