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tonygold Frequent Visitor
Joined: Jul 14, 2006 Posts: 417
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 3:31 pm Post subject: advice for a disgruntled tomtom user please |
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i've had enough now of the poor service from tomtom so i would consider a garmin, but i don't know where to start. my requirements are:
- up to £150
- UK and europe (to include spain and france and usa if poss)
- free map updates
- free accurate traffic updates from inbuilt sim card (if done, don't want trailing leads to an antenna) mainly within M25 area of greater london
- free speed cams (or the ability to install pgpsw ones onto it)
- ability to create my own poi categories (customer database of around 150 needed)
i did try a nuvi model a few years ago but couldn't get on with it at that time but perhaps things have moved on a bit since then. i suppose i'm just ingrained in the tomtom ease of user interface? |
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Kremmen Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7040 Location: Reading
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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The current range of Nuvi's, apart from the NuviCam and the 3598 and maybe some others, have the traffic via the power lead which also acts as an aerial.
I think the Garmin site does say whether the traffic receiver is in the unit or not.
As I posted earlier, look for the LMT-D suffix and pick one in your price range.
They are different but they accept the PGPSW cams. Now is probably a good time to get a 2015 bargain as the 2016 range will be out soon. _________________ Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :
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walkerx Lifetime Member
Joined: Oct 21, 2009 Posts: 491 Location: South Yorkshire
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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I'm sure the 3598 had the chunky box which was used for aerial and power.
But you definitely can't beat Garmin for the ability to use 3rd party poi along with PGPSW cameras.
You can use 3rd party poi on TT's mobile application but it is not supported and you cant see on the map. To get PGPSW cameras working you need CamerAlert running in background though. |
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Kremmen Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7040 Location: Reading
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 5:02 am Post subject: |
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On a Smartphone, yes.
I'm hesitant to fully reccomend Garmin because we get the occasional routeing issue posted where a similar TT has got it right.
I don't use my Garmin for navigation so I can't comment on that side of things. _________________ Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :
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Privateer Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: 30/12/2002 17:36:20 Posts: 4912 Location: Oxfordshire, England, UK
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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Slightly off topic for a moment
Kremmen wrote: | I don't use my Garmin for navigation so I can't comment on that side of things. |
Would I be right in thinking that you use your Garmin with your Garmin CSV to GPX Converter utility for just Speed cameras? If that's the case, what do you use for navigation?
Back to topic and the OP's question.
If you have a smart phone, have you tried TomTom app? Yes I know that it's still TomTom but certainly on the iOS iPhone you can use TomTom Western Europe or Europe with PocketGPSWorld speed camera database and of course CamerAlert for warnings running in the background. POIs show on the map and you can navigate to them as well. You can load your own third party POIs as well. If you need to add POIs whilst out and about, you can use the POIViewer app.
You could also try the new TomTom GO Mobile app but on the iPhone that app is pretty basic at the moment - TomTom say that they are developing the app to add features, but it's still early days.
Regards, _________________ Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D |
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Kremmen Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7040 Location: Reading
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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My Honda has a built in Alpine unit.
I use that because it's integrated so mutes the radio when it's issuing commands.
You are right though, I do use the Garmin purely for the cameras and the better traffic as my built in only has TMC RDS traffic. _________________ Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :
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Privateer Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: 30/12/2002 17:36:20 Posts: 4912 Location: Oxfordshire, England, UK
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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Ah that explains it!
I find that the TomTom Traffic is pretty good too.
I understand that you use your Honda's built in Alpine unit because it mutes the radio when it's issuing commands. However although I haven't used a Garmin unit and only very occasionally use Navigon Europe app I would have thought that your Garmin would have been better for routing, traffic, POIs, up-to-date maps, etc than a built in unit.
BTW, I drive a couple of noisy Land Rovers and have the radio/iPod playing quite loudly to compensate for the noise so I tend to hear the instructions but quickly sneak a peek at the screen for a visual confirmation of the instructions.
Regards, _________________ Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D |
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Kremmen Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7040 Location: Reading
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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I could use the Garmin but I'm used to the Honda unit. The Honda SatNav volume is also on the SVC circuit like the main audio so gets louder and softer the faster and slower you go.
It has a lot going for it. Even has voice and steering wheel controls, plus the next navigation point is echo'd on an eye level HUD so I don't have to look at the main unit.
It's so good that Honda ditched it last year in favour of an Android headunit which now has a locked down Garmin SatNav. No chance of customisation and only RDS traffic, plus it doesn't link to the HUD. _________________ Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :
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marksfish Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Jun 25, 2005 Posts: 802 Location: Sandy, Bedfordshire
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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I ditched TT last year for a Garmin, purely for the POIs, and also use it in Southern Spain. I find the digital traffic very hit and miss. Many times recently roads have been reported closed that are open and being caught in long queues that are non existent on the unit.
Google maps seems to be a good alternative for traffic, if you have the data.
Mark _________________ Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe |
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sussamb Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Mar 18, 2011 Posts: 4456 Location: West Sussex
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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Any particular area where you have issues? I've never really had an issue with Garmins traffic. _________________ Where there's a will ... there's a way. |
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marksfish Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Jun 25, 2005 Posts: 802 Location: Sandy, Bedfordshire
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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I travel the country (mainly M1, M6, M62, A1, M25). Pretty much everywhere is not particularly good. TT TMC was better (when it worked) than Inrix
I can't rely on it to be accurate, preferring to wait and see if it is reported on the matrix before making a decision. _________________ Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe |
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sussamb Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Mar 18, 2011 Posts: 4456 Location: West Sussex
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 2:24 am Post subject: |
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Is that via cable or using the smart phone link? I've never yet had an issue using Garmin traffic via cable though I believe others have had issues using the smart phone link. _________________ Where there's a will ... there's a way. |
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Kremmen Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 7040 Location: Reading
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:39 am Post subject: |
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I find the TA cable Inrix traffic to be hit and miss as well at times.
During the summer I often do a return run to Slough from Hayes as the morning peak is developing. The M4 going into London is just starting to jam back to the Heathrow junction on my return journey.
Often my built in Honda Alpine unit TMC RDS will show the jam whilst the Garmin traffic bar is showing all clear. Then after about 5 minutes, when I'm in the jam the traffic bar will turn yellow or red.
Being as I'm on my own I can't open the Inrix app on my phone and report it sooner as I suspect many other Inrix app drivers can't either.
The big bonus with the Garmin digital traffic is that it covers considerably more A and even B roads than RDS. RDS is motorways and major A roads only. _________________ Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :
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marksfish Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Jun 25, 2005 Posts: 802 Location: Sandy, Bedfordshire
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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sussamb wrote: | Is that via cable or using the smart phone link? I've never yet had an issue using Garmin traffic via cable though I believe others have had issues using the smart phone link. |
Using the cable. I tried the smartphone traffic, but don't really have the data to use it constantly. _________________ Garmin Drivesmart 51 LMT-D Europe |
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tonygold Frequent Visitor
Joined: Jul 14, 2006 Posts: 417
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:45 am Post subject: |
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marksfish wrote: | sussamb wrote: | Is that via cable or using the smart phone link? I've never yet had an issue using Garmin traffic via cable though I believe others have had issues using the smart phone link. |
Using the cable. I tried the smartphone traffic, but don't really have the data to use it constantly. |
how much data do you reckon it consumes as this was puzzling me if i was to have it on say 6 hours a day? |
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