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monkeys Occasional Visitor

Joined: Jun 29, 2006 Posts: 23
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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject: best sat nav 4 hgv:?????????? ???????????????? |
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Hello peeps im looking for a sat nav to use in a hgv.
I know of the low bridge poi’s available on this sight and want to get a system that works well with that and can be set to give an audible warning of the on coming bridge.
I want one that will be able to store as many poi’s as possible, as I want the most comprehensive list of low bridges possible.
Ive read in a thread that a system that allows you to change the speeds on the roads and setting it to the quickest journey avoids you being taken down dodgy narrow roads so a system that would allow this would be great.
Also as an after thought if it could show a birds eye view of the map instead of the 3d view then all the better.
If there is a sat nav system that could do all this does any one know which one it would be?
Or if anyone knows of a good sat nav for hgvs any suggestions would be most help full.
Many thank! |
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monkeys Occasional Visitor

Joined: Jun 29, 2006 Posts: 23
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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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! Oh nearly forgot it must have a full post code search ! |
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alix776 Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: 03/05/2003 14:45:49 Posts: 3999 Location: leyland lancs ENGLAND
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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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most navigation packages have full postcode search
nothing contains and will avoid full bridge heights though you can be warned about bridge heights with robin waltons free database
most that include 3d also have a birds eye veiw
some all in ones do claim to have truck routing but this usually means it adjusts the arival times.
100% of satnavs either all in one fitted or pocketpc/smartphone packages are designed for cars, not trucks so never think that you can just put in the informtaion and let it take you there.
personally for day to day and for a known bench mark i use tomtom on a pda/phone it will usually get me the way i want to go with a little help from a waypoint sometimes.
the new mio pnd's i would recomend as they run iGo's application and with a little playing aroud with the slider you can get it to give some exelent routing.
the same can be said for navman though this will be more hit and miss as there are more slide bars to move
tomtom is you go for a ttone either the mk1 or the new v2 set it to limited speed at 54 mph.
garmin set it to truck and fastest and block unpaved roads usually gives the same routing at tomtom in limited speed mode.
destinator i havent tried as yet on a pnd or pocket pc so cant comment
medion gopal does produce some good routes but lacks some feartues i personally consider essential for hgv use so cant recomend it in this instance
via michelin having only seen it demoed i cant say i was impressed with it it does seem very basic
copilot
this does claim to have road speed options but but in the first release for smartphone it didnt seam to work and i have really had chance to test the updated version yet i beleive that it is better with the current patch (ponderous jump in if this is wrong) as ive only used it on smartphone i cant say it its better on pocketpc
each of the above programs has its own little oddities that need working round
it really depends on what type of work you are doing and where you are going ie uk only, uk the odd eurpean trip or frll on euro work, _________________ currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .
Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl |
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gangalee Occasional Visitor
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 45 Location: West Midlands
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Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 1:09 am Post subject: |
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For the record I can report that I purchased the Garmin Street pilot 2720 2 weeks ago & it has been used exclusively in my truck since I bought it. I sold my laptop & pocket PC on eBay to help fund the purchase. I was wondering if I had done the right thing but I can report that I have no regrets, as the 2720 is a phenomenal peace of kit. I can honestly say that it has got to be the closest thing to the perfect sat nav on the market at present.
My original mandate was to find a machine or software that could meet the following spec.
1. Import speed camera data, & see graphical representation of them on the map.
2. Import other custom poi’s i.e. low bridges, truck stops, ect & see graphical representation of them on the map.
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You can import custom POIs and safety cameras from industry-standard CSV & BMP files with Garmin’s poi loader
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3. All Poi's to be alerted with wav files or equivalent. (Custom sound for each section)
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The cameras are alerted with an “attention tone” & the speed is displayed on the screen, if you are exceeding the limit by a previously determined margin the “attention tone” is repeated rapidly until you comply with the speed limit. You can turn warnings off/on for different types of poi.
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4. Adjustable/Customisable route generation to prefer certain types of road.
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Custom road preference allows user to prioritize choice of back roads or major highways
or avoid certain types of road. You also have a choice of vehicle types truck, car ect.
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5. Block roads/area feature (that stays blocked until you unblock it)
5b. Avoid poi feature (ability to avoid selectable poi on-route i.e. low bridges ect)
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This feature is very useful as it allows you to avoid a section of road by selecting a start & end avoid point. For example-: you have a low bridge poi loaded; you are routed under a low bridge, you simply select the bit of road just before & after the bridge as start & end avoid point respectively & the route generated will avoid that section while still complying with customisable route generation. You can switch these “avoid sections” on or off or delete them. Another feature allows you to block whole areas.
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6. Multiple waypoints feature (chosen by point clicking on the map)
7. Preview route feature (so you can check the route before you travel)
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Up to 50 stored routes; each stored route can contain multiple VIA points, which can be auto-arranged to minimize trip distance, up to 254 waypoints per route, unlike the intinery feature in some software’s you can see the whole route including the waypoints before you set off
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8. 7 digit post code search, search by road name, area,
9. Ability to switch re-routing off if not required.
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Yes the 2720 has both these features.
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But you may ask What DON'T I like about the StreetPilot 2720?
1. The 2720 has on the odd occasion failed to audibly warn about speed cameras even though the speed camera icon is on the map.
2. I don’t think the text to speech feature is used to the best of its ability; When giving directions the text to speech feature calls out the street name i.e. “Turn right into Burton road”. If the road is classified the classification number should precede the name of the road ie. “Turn right into A38 Burton road” as this is the way roads are signposted.
3. Another gripe also concerns the use of the text to speech feature; it could be used to call out the camera speed when approaching speed cameras & to announce directions on motorway signs.
4. The 2720/2820 does not work with 24volt power. You will need a 24v to 12v voltage dropper to enable it to work in your 24 volt truck socket. This is suprising that it’s the only streetpilot that does not have dual 12/24 volt power.
Despite its shortcomings The Garmin Streetpilot 2720 is Awesome, easy to use & is a high quality GPS unit that has redeeming features like Navteq mapping & a decent trip-o-meter. Nice one Garmin. _________________ Gangalee
LGV Class 1, Garmin Streetpilot 2720
Mapsource 2010
Lowbridge-Speed Camera Data |
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monkeys Occasional Visitor

Joined: Jun 29, 2006 Posts: 23
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Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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Hi gangalee
So far it’s between garmin or a tomtom that im going to spend my money on, has robins low bridge poi’s got no problem downloading to the garmin?
Does it have a memory card you can up grade to a bigger one?
That’s interesting that you can avoid low bridges can you only do that as your confronted with them or can you set it to do that before you start your journey? |
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gangalee Occasional Visitor
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 45 Location: West Midlands
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Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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So far it’s between garmin or a tomtom that im going to spend my money on, has robins low bridge poi’s got no problem downloading to the garmin?
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Loading poi’s using garmin’s poi loader is a breeze, just make sure you have your files appropriately named i.e. poi.csv-poi.bmp (it’s the same set up for the tomtom).
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Does it have a memory card you can up grade to a bigger one?
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No, it has 750 Megs of user-map memory which as far as I’m aware cannot be upgraded,
But I have the speed zoned cameras, bridges, truck stops, service stations, rail head container ports; Docks & Container restitution ports loaded no problem.
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That’s interesting that you can avoid low bridges can you only do that as you’re confronted with them or can you set it to do that before you start your journey?
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I always plan all my unknown journeys before I set off, as I am planning I always scroll through the route after each calculation to make sure there are no nasty surprises on-route. If the last calculation is not satisfactory i.e. low bridge or unclassified/unknown road, I will add waypoints or block roads until I am happy with the route generated. When I am happy with the route I proceed on my journey with peace of mind. You can see why features 4-7 inclusive are important to me. I also compare the route generated with the AA truckers atlas to make sure. The 2720 has a icon on screen which will set the map to "north up" to make comparison easier. _________________ Gangalee
LGV Class 1, Garmin Streetpilot 2720
Mapsource 2010
Lowbridge-Speed Camera Data |
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alix776 Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: 03/05/2003 14:45:49 Posts: 3999 Location: leyland lancs ENGLAND
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Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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tomtom has similar feature enabling you to block roads unfortunatly they dont stay permanently blocked _________________ currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .
Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl |
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gangalee Occasional Visitor
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 45 Location: West Midlands
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Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:01 am Post subject: |
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PPS
Check out http://www.gpsnow.com/gmsp2720.htm for an independent comparison table & info on Garmin 2xx0 range. _________________ Gangalee
LGV Class 1, Garmin Streetpilot 2720
Mapsource 2010
Lowbridge-Speed Camera Data |
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monkeys Occasional Visitor

Joined: Jun 29, 2006 Posts: 23
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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alix776 wrote: | tomtom has similar feature enabling you to block roads unfortunatly they dont stay permanently blocked |
Hi ive checked out the garmin it does look good (expensive tho ) so does the tom tom let you look through the route it calculates and gives you the option to avoid the poi’s in the same way as described by gangalee with the garmin??
If so witch tomtom do you think would be the best for hgv?? |
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gangalee Occasional Visitor
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 45 Location: West Midlands
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:11 am Post subject: |
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Hi ive checked out the garmin it does look good (expensive tho)
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Yes it does seem like a lot of money, but one week with a good agency will pay for it, no problem!
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So does the tom tom let you look through the route it calculates and gives you the option to avoid the poi’s in the same way as described by gangalee with the garmin??
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I only have experience of TomTom Navigator 5 on a PDA; yes you can preview the whole route; you can block whole roads, but not sections of them. & you can only have one waypoint per route. + The tomtom ‘forgets’ blocked roads when it is switched off.
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If so witch tomtom do you think would be the best for hgv??
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I think the top end of the TomTom range is the TomTom Go 910 (someone jump in here if I am wrong) but the TomTom One has had some good reviews.
On my travels I have noticed that as many as 50-60% of Agency Truckers now have satnavs stuck in the window. At a glance I would say most are using TomTom Units but how they cope on a day-to-day basis is unknown.
Could some of you Truckers post your satnav unit/experience here so we can get a clearer picture of whose using what? & “your on the road” experience? _________________ Gangalee
LGV Class 1, Garmin Streetpilot 2720
Mapsource 2010
Lowbridge-Speed Camera Data |
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wallbanger Occasional Visitor

Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 3
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Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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As a trucker using a garmin nuvi 300, I find it annoying when it wants to take shortcuts through housing estates and country lanes. although I have it set on truck mode. garmin is good for cars not much good for trucks. |
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Big_Russ Occasional Visitor

Joined: Sep 26, 2006 Posts: 12
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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i've been using my TomTom One V2 for a week now and I have to say its been great, i've got the speed cam and bridgeX POI's installed and jobs a good one!
as most people will tell you a certain degree of common sense is necessary as these sat navs can try to take short cuts which you can't take so just drive past any road you dont like the look of and it'll re-route you :D _________________ TomTom One V2
BridgeX
Speed Cams
Class 1
I think we got a convoy here!
Keep On Truckin' Baby!
10-4! |
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gangalee Occasional Visitor
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Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 45 Location: West Midlands
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:11 am Post subject: |
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To see which sat-nav is best for lgv navigation, I suggest we conduct an experiment, which we could do via this thread. We could plot a few virtual test routes from-to various parts of the country using the various sat-navs we own, & compare the routing via here. We would need to find routes that represent typical situations that truckers would encounter. It could be a route that gave problems previously or a made up one (please no company names)
Of course this depends on if your sat-nav will allow you to set the start point without actually being at the start location.
We will need to set some standard map criteria-:
Let’s assume that we all have a bridge map (or all) loaded which can be found at-:
http://www.willow-house.co.uk
http://www.amngps4.wanadoo.co.uk/poifil.htm
http://www.lowbridges.com/
Let’s set some standard truck criteria-:
We are 14’9ft (4.50m) high, pulling 38 tons on a 40 foot solid box trailer.
If you have any test route suggestions I would be more than happy to partake in this experiment. _________________ Gangalee
LGV Class 1, Garmin Streetpilot 2720
Mapsource 2010
Lowbridge-Speed Camera Data |
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monkeys Occasional Visitor

Joined: Jun 29, 2006 Posts: 23
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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wallbanger wrote: | As a trucker using a garmin nuvi 300, I find it annoying when it wants to take shortcuts through housing estates and country lanes. although I have it set on truck mode. garmin is good for cars not much good for trucks. |
hi does your garmin have the ability to set the speeds limits on the roads?
if it has you have to change the speed limits on those types of roads to stop it doing this.... |
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wallbanger Occasional Visitor

Joined: Apr 13, 2006 Posts: 3
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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the garmin doesn't have any speed limits on roads, unlike the tom tom.
the tom tom is useless for truckers as well. setting speed limits on the tom tom is likely to take you off the motorway. the best sat nav for truckers in my experience is the navman it is cheap, simple, and has a urban road, more or less slider. when set to less urban roads, it stays on the motorways and main roads more. i've tried it and it works. |
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