considering taking the plunge from tomtom to garmin

tonygold · Frequent Visitor Joined: Jul 14, 2006 Posts: 417

fed up of all the charges for live services and map updates so have decided i would try the garmin nuvi 2548 with w european maps. comes with free map and digital traffic at £179 exclusively at halfords.
could someone who has experience of this type of unit answer a few questions as the guys in my local halfords seem clueless.
1. can i create my own POI categories on the garmin. i have around 120 customers i call on that i have set up on my tomtom xl live?
2. if so, would i be able to transfer over my tomtom poi directly to the garmin or would it all need entering again?
3. can the garmin operate with a 'silent voice' so that i only hear the camera warnings?
4. is the in-car power adaptor just a thin cable like the tomtom one as i have mine attached discreetly under the interior trim leading from my cigar lighter under the arm rest (bmw 320d) to the air vent mount and if there was any bulky bits of the lead this would not be possible.
5. should this have been posted on the garmin section of the forum!!!!

many thanks.

sussamb · Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:55 am Post subject:

1. You can set up categories either in favourites, or in POIs using POI Loader.

2. Never done it but see here http://www.gps-data-team.com/convert.php.

3. I don't believe so normally, though I seem to recall someone managed this by loading a 'silent voice file' onto their Garmin.

4. You'd need to check with Halfords. Previous traffic cables were fairly thick beasts as they contained the aerial and traffic unit. Some later models now have that built into the GPS itself.

5. Wouldn't do any harm!

cjay2412 · Lifetime Member Joined: Jun 30, 2008 Posts: 102

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CXSNG30/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00CXSNG30&linkCode=as2&tag=cheaphighstre-21

tomtom also do lifetime maps and traffic

sgould · Frequent Visitor Joined: Oct 05, 2004 Posts: 1320

I've used Tomtom on their own units and also on my iPhone.

I have recently moved to a Kenwood in-car system. I don't know if the in-car and the Garmin stand alone are the same, but on the basis of two months use. The tom tom is better for my purposes.
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Kenwood DNX-4210DAB with Garmin maps

BigJohnD · Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:27 am Post subject:

Kremmen · Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:52 pm Post subject:

4) My supplied traffic cable was actually quite thin. However, I've hard wired mine via a third party transformer so I'm not reliant on a ciggy lighter.

In place of the traffic cable I'm using my smartphone bluetooth link with the Garmin Smartlink app.
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Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
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Car Average MPG :

MaFt

sussamb · Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:10 pm Post subject:

OP hasn't returned to this since his original post in June ... Wink

technik

sussamb · Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:48 pm Post subject:

I've just bought the 2508 ... also very pleased with it and I agree, the traffic IS impressive Very Happy

gazza70 · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 129

I'm also looking at the new Garmin range with the dab traffic, does anybody know if it is as good as tomtom live traffic ,I have a dab radio fitted to my car and I have never had traffic information come through over night . I would be interested to here what the traffic info on the Garmin's like for night time and week end driving .

sussamb · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 1:20 pm Post subject:

See post two above yours .... seems to imply it's as good.

I used my new 2508LMT-D with digital traffic this week while away on holiday, and it was very impressive, even at one point warning me about narrow lanes due to construction work but saying there was no delay ... and indeed there wasn't.

dales

BigJohnD · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 3:44 pm Post subject:

I have the Garmin Nuvi 2548LMT-D from Halfords.

I can hopefully answer a few questions if asked.

I've no experience of Tomtoms other than in a hire car in Australia a few years ago.

I've had IGO8 (excellent!) running off an SD Card on an old Mio 320 (initially great but starting to fail) for a few years, which is my benchmark.

Digital Traffic Info.
It seems to work OK, giving advance info of traffic holdups on the journey. I've not yet encountered the need for a detour. The big issue is the quality of the traffic info rather than the SatNav's system. Two local hold-ups - both week long road works with traffic lights and minor diversions - did not seem to be listed.

The cable from the 12V socket to the 2548 is quite long and thick as I believe it's the aerial for the traffic info.

Message to Mods:
I expect this info/review ought to be in the Garmin Section.
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