Should I move from old Tomtom to 65 MT-D + reversing camera?

[filbert42]

I have an ailing Tomtom 1000 Go Live that is starting to misbehave (refusing to connect to the traffic servers is the worst issue). I'm not keen on the current crop of Tomtom devices due to the vast range of features that has been dropped. So I'm looking at a Garmin - probably the DriveSmart 65 MT-D - but I might opt for the smaller model.

My main concern is the traffic system which seems to be very different from Tomtom's. How effective is it. I do rely on it on the occasional long trip.

I'd also like to add a reversing camera to my vehicle and the Garmins support this without needing a separate screen, which is also attractive.

How do the two traffic systems compare in practice and does the reversing camera work well?

I'd be grateful for any thoughts.

[sussamb]

Can't comment on TT but my Garmin traffic, even in France, is generally very accurate.
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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[Kremmen]

I prefer Garmin because they are still open to third party speed cameras. I would never buy a TT because they have gone down the Apple route of lockdown in some features.

As far as traffic is concerned, both units get their trsffic from roughly the same places but TT have an advantage as they also include Vodaphone data who monitor mobile phone movement and can detect jams earler, by how much I don't know.

But, as already posted, my Garmin traffic has also always been perfectly OK and certainly far superior to TrafficMaster RDS.

The ability to add the PGPSW database to my Garmin far outweighs the traffic difference.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

[filbert42]

Thanks for the info - sounds like I'll be going Garmin. I do use POIs and the ability to choose the icons to go with them.

I'm going to have one last attempt to get the TT sorted but I'm not optimistic.

I think I might start a separate thread about reversing cameras, it's probably not a good idea to try to cover two issues in one thread.

Thanks again..

[M8TJT]

[Privateer]

Hi filbert42,

I must admit that I don't use my Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D much if at all these days. When I first had the Garmin, I ran it alongside the TomTom GO iOS app.

I found the routing of Garmin to be just wrong when compared to what I was used to with TomTom. I think TomTom's IQ Routes is better than Garmin's trafficTrends™.

I found Garmin's traffic was generally less accurate than TomTom's traffic. One occasion, when I'd just got the Garmin, I was returning home from Cornwall and just about to get onto the A30 when the TomTom warned me of a delay and the Garmin didn't. I ignored the TomTom and got caught in a tailback for over an hour.

I rely on my own custom POIs, which you can't use with the standard TomTom GO iOS app itself, but you can with a third-party app called POIViewer. I keep all of my custom POIs in Excel spreadsheets for universal use (Garmin and TomTom) and then extract the data for either make.

I use an iOS app called POIViewer which is a POI manager, you search for your POI(s) in POIViewer and then it sends the POI's destination to the TomTom GO iOS app.

The only problem is that you don't get POI icons on the screen - but it is something that you get used to.

For PGPSW camera warnings, I use CamerAlert in the background. Android users will probably use SpeedTrap Alert instead.

Please note that this is purely my own findings and what works for me may not work for you. Also, Garmin may well be better nowadays. But as a TomTom user, I suggest that you borrow a Garmin first or buy one that you can return and test it well for a week or so.

Sorry, can't comment on the reversing camera.

Regards,
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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

[filbert42]

[Privateer]

[filbert42]

Thanks again.

I have used the mobile TomTom app in the past when visiting my brother in Canada - as a cost effective way of getting maps for that country rather than buying them for my device. I didn't like it that much, for setting the journey up, at least. I guess navigation was OK and that's the main thing.

[Kremmen]

I've been spending the last 6 months or so doing some work in Reading and I've had occasion to travel to the various DIY outlets and a few other places in an area I'm not that familiar with.

I can't fault the routing. It certainly hasn't sent me down any side streets.

It's a matter of using some common sense. Garmin, apparently, tries to route you down the actual shortest route at times and it apparently, in rural areas, uses some single track roads. I have to say apparently because it's not happened to me on my routes.

If you know you are still some distance from your destination then ignore turning off an A or B road and let it recalculate.

In days gone by I've had Tomtom's try to take me off a motorway, down the off sliproad, back up the on sliproad to the same motorway.

I won't argue that TT routing may be less prone to taking you off main roads but you lose the PGPSW database and fully customisable POI's.


The other difference is traffic. From what I've read here, TT's have a traffic distance cutoff of about 100 miles, but it could be slightly less. That means if you plot a route of over 100 miles then any far off roadworks or delays won't be factored into the route. Normal traffic will of course probably change by the time you get there.

Garmin will show you the traffic situation for the whole route and that may make a considerable difference......
...... do you use the M1 or M6 for example. Maybe one of them have major roadworks beyond TT's suggested route.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

[Privateer]

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