Built in Sat Nav but I still need camera database - help

Staffsman

I have just ordered a new car for delivery end September. it will come with Sat Nav. built in. I currently use a Tom Tom unit with PGPSW databases. As I understand it I will not be able to download the database to the new Land Rover unit but I still need the camera information.
I know I could keep using the TT but I really don't want to. I don't often need the sat nav but I need to know where the camera are.
Is there a usable alternative? Something that can give me camera warnings without the maps? It will have to be reliable of course and to be able to download the same databases as I do now would be ideal

I should add that I don't have any type of phone capable of GPS or the like. I would need a stand alone unit

Any ideas anyone?

Ray

PaulB2005 · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject:

Staffsman · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 4:03 pm Post subject:

PaulB2005 · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject:

Staffsman · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject:

Horatio · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 10, 2006 Posts: 35

First, I'll answer the original question.

Yes, there are devices such as 'Snooper', but many suffer from the same problem as TomTom - i.e. they cost 3 figures to buy, so you'd be an idiot to leave them on show on your dashboard. I believe some of the cleverer ones can be remotely locked out if stolen, but is that going to stop some feral teen from putting your window through and grabbing the expensive looking device in the first place?

Maplin occasionally do cheaper, more basic GPS camera warning units. I bought a couple a while ago on offer at around £25 a pop. They looked that cheap and nasty too, and while that's no guarantee that nobody will nick them, I was always happy to leave them on the dashboards of both our cars. They were better than nothing, but the database was very poor compared to the PGPSW one. It knew nothing of mobile or roadworks cameras, and wasn't even aware of some permanent SPECs installations (e.g. on the 50mph stretch of the M60 near Stockport.)

And now a rant Smile

3K for a factory system? Why are these things getting more expensive rather than cheaper? The CD sat-nav was a £1,500 option on my 2002 Laguna, the DVD navigation was free on my 2005 one, and a £1,000 option on my 2010 one for the same system that was in the 2005.

Fortunately, on the current car, the DVD navigation is an upgrade, and you get TomTom as standard if you're not prepared to pay the extra. I really can't comprehend why more car manufacturers haven't stumbled across this bit of genius: Build a TomTom (or other PND) derived system into the car properly, so that the only way a thief can practically steal it is to take the whole car. It's cheap and cheerful compared with most CD/DVD based systems, to the point where it's a few hundred quid as an option rather than a few thousand. The map upgrades don't cost three figures either. It's an all-round win situation (except possibly for the people who develop OEM sat-nav systems.)
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TomTom GO700
Renault Carminat TomTom
TrafficMaster YQ2 (now forcibly retired, and sadly missed.)

Staffsman · Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 2:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your reply, and do feel free to rant, I love a good rant. The 3k is for the 'better' model and includes leather, heated and powered seats, front parking sensors and a cold climate pack which gives me a heated windscreen etc. I didn't buy this model for the sat nav it just happens to be there. So.....to look on it in a positive way I get the leather, elec. seats, climate pack and they throw in a free sat nav!

I do agree with you that built in sat navs are far, far too expensive and I have no idea why, but at least it will be less likely to be nicked. I have now come across a couple of camera only units which are relatively small and more portable than the TT but the costs of renewing the databases are prohibitive.
So I still don't know what I shall do.

Ray

Horatio · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 10, 2006 Posts: 35

Kremmen · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:24 am Post subject:

I'm still running a TalexLite alongside my built in Honda/Alpine SatNav.

I've got it situated in a position that I can just drop a duster across it and it looks like the duster is just sitting on the dash as I have the power lead concealed and the Talex is quite thin.

If you get the Novus equivalent then the updates are free. The downside is that the database is not as accurate as here.

If I'm doing a journey outside of my local area I still get my old original TT1 out and update it's database from here, just to be doubly sure.
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Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
Car Average MPG :

Staffsman · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 12:20 pm Post subject:

I have taken a quick look at the Maplin site but the unit apparently doesn't cover mobiles and they are the ones that can catch one out, particularly if in an area I don't know.

Ray

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1936

Staffsman, the Inforad is cheap, portable and supports the PgpsW database. Earlier models got good reviews but received a bit of criticism for sound levels. I think later models may have addressed this problem.

Search this web-site forum and you shall find lots of comments.

Hope this helps.
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Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

Staffsman · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 1:06 pm Post subject:

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1936

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