smartnav too expensive

theloft · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:29 am Post subject: smartnav too expensive

I am a newbie and really need some of your expert advice. My car which I purchased 2nd-hand last year, has SmartNav factory installed. (no screen). This had speed camera audible warnings which was excellent. Going on our first trip for some while I asked and obtained the one month free trial which they give to new users. Once the month was up, they also disconnected the speed camera warning. The cost of SmartNav is prohibitive for me as the annual cost for the speed camera alone is more than the cost of a portable SatNav. We are OAPs so cost is an important factor. I would like to buy a portable SatNav with postcode search & speed camera warning, which is reliable and which I do not have to pay for updates each year. Is there such an item and if so please recommend.

sweepdog · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 14, 2007 Posts: 51

You can have a PAYG option - 25p per route I think - which is not bad for very occasional use to a new location. Be aware though, if you go off route without rejoining the planned route, you will be charged for a new route to be downloaded. This also includes when satnav tells you if there is traffic ahead and has found a better route

I can come home one of 3 ways from Cheshire - either up the M6, or round the M60 clockwise or anti c/w. I got p'd off with the number of times it would take me towards one route, only to be told 5 minutes into my journey that there were delays ahead and it had found a better route. Why it didn't see those delays at the start is beyond me

mikealder · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:43 am Post subject:

For a Sat Nav unit I would take a look at the TomTom One UK or Europe (the only difference is the map installed when purchased) - shop around and they can be picked up for around £150.
As for Speed Camera warnings, the device will come with TomTom's own database pre-installed and a one month free update, after that you have to pay. Cost being an issue you should look into using the Speed Camera database from this site as it costs less than half the TT subscription (£2 PCM or £19 per year).
The only way to get a free database for life (available from PocketGPSWorld) is to be the first to submit a fixed camera addition or deletion - once this change has been independently verified by the site you are credited with a life time free membership - but you must be the first to submit the location - Mike

theloft · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 2:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks to mike & sweep. The per journey cost has gone up to 89p, which I could live with as we don't make tha many journeys, but this does not include the camera warnings, which cost I think £140 per year.
They call it the SafeSpeed Option.

DennisN · Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:

Would that be "Safespeed" spelled g-o-l-d-m-i-n-e?
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

sweepdog · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 14, 2007 Posts: 51

pppnick · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 17

Safespeed also only alarms on fixed site cameras.
When I queried why Smartnav didn't pick up the ave speed cameras on the A2/M2 around the M25, I was told that they were temporary cameras for the roadworks.
The roadworks are expected to be there for at least a year - a funny sort of temporary to me.

The touch screen cannot be slid out when the car is parked - a theft magent for all passsing scumbags

As a freebie on my new car, it'll be there for a year and then ripped out.

sweepdog · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 14, 2007 Posts: 51

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