SmartSt V3 Software Anygood?

Monkey_Man · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:41 pm Post subject: SmartSt V3 Software Anygood?

I have a ICN630 and was wondering if it was worth upgrading to V3 from V2. I didn't really like the V2 software that much because it seemed to take me down narrow little lanes even when it was set to quickest route, there were other issues like saying turn left at islands when it was clearly a right turn and generally it was quicker to just look at a map.

My question is has this been sorted in V3, is it still going to send me down narrow lanes all the while. Also can you download speed camera locations to it?

Thanks.

Tim Buxton · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:56 pm Post subject:

The iCN version of V3 has much better user-adjustable options as far as routing goes. It has sliding bars for Quickest-Shortest, Motorway use and Urban road use. Tweaking these three bars to get your own preferences may take some time, but is probably worth persevering with. As to the roundabouts, there are still some anomalies, generally where the data is wrong. Give me an example with a start and end point and I'll tell you what instructions V3 (not the iCN version but the data is the same, I think) gives.
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Tim

Monkey_Man · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:27 pm Post subject:

That sounds good if its like MSautoroute with preference bars. I can't think of any exact route just at present (haven't used it for a while). But so even if the direct route was down a narrow lane would it take you the long way round (which is sometimes quicker/easier) on major roads if the preferences were set right?

Tim Buxton · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:47 pm Post subject:

I'm sure that the default settings will take you the longer (probably quicker) way round. I've actually tweaked my settings away from "Quickest" and knocked "Motorway Use" down a couple of notches, too, as I have found a happy (for myself) balance based on roads I'd use in my own locale. Away from areas that I know, I tweak them back again to keep to major roads more often.
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Tim

Monkey_Man · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:59 pm Post subject:

That sounds great. :D Think I will give it a go. Any word on the speed camera locations as well. I saw something on this site below about it, it says "FREE SPEED CAMERA DATABASE DOWNLOAD" next to V3.

http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/allprods.php?category_id=138&PHPSESSID=891094c638fa4a9a48ff8b5449b55068

Tim Buxton · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:20 pm Post subject:

You can import any POI database in .csv format. You DO have to follow the instructions here about how to edit the file though, with particular reference to using Notepad to do the editing, not Excel.

If you want, email me with a rough location near you where there are cameras (speed or redlight) and I'll send you a screenshot or two of them. Bear in mind that this would be a shot of the PiN/PPC version, so it wouldn't be quite the same as on an iCN, but the basic functionality is the same.
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Tim

Monkey_Man · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:56 pm Post subject:

Hey thanks that would be great. E-mail sent. :D

Mojo · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:42 am Post subject:

Does the V3 software learn the routes you take which might deviate from the suggested route and remember it later on?

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:03 pm Post subject:

No.
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Tim

Monkey_Man · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info Tim, just brought it on ebuyer. Should get it this week. Merry Xmas

sfi1 · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:46 pm Post subject:

Monkey_Man, let us know how the routing is in V3. I have had the same awful routing as you with version 2 and hope that V3 is much better.
I wonder if they've actually improved the routing algorithm or just given us more options to overcome its shortcomings !

Monkey_Man · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 5:33 pm Post subject:

BACK 8O . I've been using it for a couple a months and it is a lot better than V2 but there is still defiantly room for improvement.

First off the bad. In the routing menu there is an option for avoiding unsealed roads, on the map these are marked in solid black. However very few of the unsealed roads by me are marked which makes it a pretty useless feature.
The best thing about V3 is this menu

These are the settings I have found are the best to avoid tracks and narrow lanes. The middle bar seems to be most effective for altering this, it doesn't just control motorways (or freeways) as stated, it also keeps you on more main roads when adjusted to the right. I always keep the top bar on quickest and the bottom bar doesn't seem to do much where ever I set it.
With it set as shown above it seems to avoid most narrow roads but sometimes on a long journey it does tend to go too far off course where there aren’t many decent roads, and after viewing the route, I sometimes move the middle bar to the left by one notch. It’s not quite up to MS auto route routing but it’s a lot better than v2. I've hardly been sent down any narrow roads apart from when out in mid Wales where there isn't a lot of choice sometimes. The fact you can view the route and adjust it before moving off is a big step forward.
Another great feature is custom points of interest, using the speed camera data base on this site, it alerts you where virtually every camera is and so far has saved my arse at least once.
Another good feature is nearest point of interest located, great for when you need petrol fast.

sfi1 · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 6:22 pm Post subject:

Sounds like an improvement over V2. You say that you can make the adjustments and view the route before starting off but does it deviate from this route when you come to drive it which V2 always seemed to do taking you down narrow roads (and worse) which you weren't expecting or wanted.
Does it recalculate the route merely by changing the settings on the routing screen or do you have to recalculate the route again ?.
It would be good if it could do this on the fly as you would be able to adjust these settings and see the difference it made to the route.
I don't know if V3 has it but the ability to save individual routes with corresponding routing options as set on that screen (and possibly avoid areas) would also be very handy.

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 2:41 am Post subject:

Andycambs · Regular Visitor Joined: Jan 02, 2005 Posts: 68

I have my route options set as above - however the choice of route offered for one trip was a little suspect.
I wanted to plan a route from Peterborough (PE1 3) to Cricket St Thomas in Somerset. (TA20 4). Using MSN maps - the route was planned as via Northampton, Oxford, Andover, and on towards Chard. The journey time quoted as 3 hours 16 minutes and 213 miles.
Using V3, the route was via nearly an hour longer at 4 hours and eight minutes, and a distance of 225 miles travelling via M4 which seems a longer way around!

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