Talk to me about TomTom (or other Sat Nav)

Matblack · 20-11-2007, 15:42

I'm going to get a stand alone TomTom unit, I don't like using the mobile as a sat nav unit any more. Its too small, its not loud enough and its hard to find somewhere to position it properly, it also restricts my options on phones.

So the plan is to buy a stand alone unit but I am a little confused as to which to get, do I go for a Tom Tom or not? If I go for TomTom do I get one which will connect to the phone and use the traffic service, is it worth the extra cost? I'd quite like something which does traffic cameras too :/

MB

Mark · 20-11-2007, 17:09

I believe the vast majority (if not all) the current TomTom range will do speed cameras. Not sure about the traffic service or how useful it is though.

Desmo · 20-11-2007, 18:39

Traffic is still a bit hit and miss apparently. I had a month trial on the last TomTom setup and I really didn't know whether to trust it or not :/

The official Speedcam updates will cost you money unless you want to download from the net, but all of the TomTom's will work with this.

As for what one to get, I have no idea. There seem to be so many different variations about now, I don't have a clue what does what.

LeperousDust · 20-11-2007, 18:49

If you just want basic routing get any, the top models 720 920 have map share hard drives for music bluetooth profiles etc... then 910 (older 9 series version) same without mapshare but it's likely that will be updated soon as...
For generic hands free bluetooth stuff and few cool features 5 series is excellent value for money. Best thing about the 9 series is it talks the road names out to you too! Calculates everything MUCH faster (better hardware) but i'm not sure if its worth the extra (at least not to me). For general not much use a to b stuff and no need to hands free through tomotm (ie your radio or headset does that) get the cheapest second hand unit you can is my best advice

Summary:
They all route the same, the more you pay the quicker they do it, and you get a few extra bells and whistles that sat navs don't "really" need but are cool if you want to spend the money...

Justsomebloke · 20-11-2007, 19:03

I can find out from to Actual users if you like mate. One of my mates got his 350 quids out the other day & upgraded from the 1 to the latest one. He is a mad white van man & uses it daily. Not the cleverest spanner in the box either so if he can use it anyone can.
My other mate has the 1 but he thinks it's ****e. He has a bit of nouse about him much like myself

& is more akin to taking is own detours.
I think it would depend how much you would Actually use it but then you ricch boys have enough spare dough so wtf treat yourself.

One tip though is to carry baby wet wipes in the car to wipe the Sucker mark of the screen when you remove it. Thieves use the sucker mark to let them know what cars to rob/break in to.

Fayshun · 20-11-2007, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by malc30

One tip though is to carry baby wet wipes in the car to wipe the Sucker mark of the screen when you remove it. Thieves use the sucker mark to let them know what cars to rob/break in to.

Malc giving out the same advice as the Old Bill! Whatever next?

Zirax · 20-11-2007, 19:37

I would go for the 910 or 920. The road names feature is great. Instead of "take the second exit" where you are left with the question of "is it counting that bus exit as an exit", it will say 2nd exit A414 towards X. I used to commute from Kidderminster to Chelmsford often and that would knock hours off a horrendous journey.

A good example is going from yours back through the tunnel. Using the traffic it will re-route you off the m25, bypassing 5-6 miles of queueing traffic and drops you down on the ramp right beside the crossing booths.

The traffic is ~£40-50 per year but its worth every penny.

The pocketgpsworld maps end up on bittorrent so there isn't a need to subscribe, but that £40 for traffic includes cameras. Another nifty feature is "quick sync". If you are going to be using the unit, sync it with your pc and it will download where all the satellites are for the next 24 hours. So when you switch it on, it syncs very quickly

LeperousDust · 20-11-2007, 19:48

As i said 910/920 are the best, but even after you pointing that out Zirax, it wouldn't convince me to pay more really. The quick sync is that really just 910/20 territory? Traffic comes with all of them, same service with all of the devices, and the road feature is good i agree, but its still more of a gimmick only rarely truly handy. I now move from Edinburgh to Liverpool on and off and granted i know the way without tomtom so i don't actually use it anymore, but when i did need it road names aren't such an issue. A quick glance at the map and road layout checking where the arrow is pointing will more than suffice for myself.

910/920 by far the best, but i still ask are they really worth the extra features? Map share is the latest greatest i actually DO want. To get this you need the 720/920, not sure if the 520 is even out and if it uses the newer series 7 OS. So for best feature price i'd say 720, bells and whistles and if you don't worry about the money 920 (maybe 910 if you slightly worry about the money

). 5xx or whatever secondhand XL GO whatever you can find if you just want a bit of navigation help. Becuase lets face it, us men are great without sat-nav so why admit defeat and buy the best

Zirax · 20-11-2007, 20:01

I am tempted by the 920 for the updating maps. Its also for street level mapping in Europe, no idea if the others do it. Oh, and you get a bluetooth remote which is cracking to update routes / replan without having to reach forward and touching the unit. Without looking at the screen, tap, right, right, tap middle (on the remote) will manually force a traffic update.

Justsomebloke · 20-11-2007, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fayshun

Malc giving out the same advice as the Old Bill! Whatever next?

They maybe where i heard it from mate. It certainly isn't through experience as i haven't had a motor for a couple of years up until recently & have never owned a satnav. It stuck in my mind though & is well worth passing on. Same sort of thing applys to milk being delivered after you have all left for work or the paper boy not pushing your paper All the way through the letter box. Neither good

20-11-2007, 15:42	#1
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Talk to me about TomTom (or other Sat Nav) I'm going to get a stand alone TomTom unit, I don't like using the mobile as a sat nav unit any more. Its too small, its not loud enough and its hard to find somewhere to position it properly, it also restricts my options on phones. So the plan is to buy a stand alone unit but I am a little confused as to which to get, do I go for a Tom Tom or not? If I go for TomTom do I get one which will connect to the phone and use the traffic service, is it worth the extra cost? I'd quite like something which does traffic cameras too :/ MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

20-11-2007, 18:49	#4
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	If you just want basic routing get any, the top models 720 920 have map share hard drives for music bluetooth profiles etc... then 910 (older 9 series version) same without mapshare but it's likely that will be updated soon as... For generic hands free bluetooth stuff and few cool features 5 series is excellent value for money. Best thing about the 9 series is it talks the road names out to you too! Calculates everything MUCH faster (better hardware) but i'm not sure if its worth the extra (at least not to me). For general not much use a to b stuff and no need to hands free through tomotm (ie your radio or headset does that) get the cheapest second hand unit you can is my best advice Summary: They all route the same, the more you pay the quicker they do it, and you get a few extra bells and whistles that sat navs don't "really" need but are cool if you want to spend the money... __________________

20-11-2007, 19:03	#5
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	I can find out from to Actual users if you like mate. One of my mates got his 350 quids out the other day & upgraded from the 1 to the latest one. He is a mad white van man & uses it daily. Not the cleverest spanner in the box either so if he can use it anyone can. My other mate has the 1 but he thinks it's ****e. He has a bit of nouse about him much like myself & is more akin to taking is own detours. I think it would depend how much you would Actually use it but then you ricch boys have enough spare dough so wtf treat yourself. One tip though is to carry baby wet wipes in the car to wipe the Sucker mark of the screen when you remove it. Thieves use the sucker mark to let them know what cars to rob/break in to. __________________

20-11-2007, 19:48	#8
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	As i said 910/920 are the best, but even after you pointing that out Zirax, it wouldn't convince me to pay more really. The quick sync is that really just 910/20 territory? Traffic comes with all of them, same service with all of the devices, and the road feature is good i agree, but its still more of a gimmick only rarely truly handy. I now move from Edinburgh to Liverpool on and off and granted i know the way without tomtom so i don't actually use it anymore, but when i did need it road names aren't such an issue. A quick glance at the map and road layout checking where the arrow is pointing will more than suffice for myself. 910/920 by far the best, but i still ask are they really worth the extra features? Map share is the latest greatest i actually DO want. To get this you need the 720/920, not sure if the 520 is even out and if it uses the newer series 7 OS. So for best feature price i'd say 720, bells and whistles and if you don't worry about the money 920 (maybe 910 if you slightly worry about the money ). 5xx or whatever secondhand XL GO whatever you can find if you just want a bit of navigation help. Becuase lets face it, us men are great without sat-nav so why admit defeat and buy the best __________________

20-11-2007, 17:09	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I believe the vast majority (if not all) the current TomTom range will do speed cameras. Not sure about the traffic service or how useful it is though.

20-11-2007, 18:39	#3
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Traffic is still a bit hit and miss apparently. I had a month trial on the last TomTom setup and I really didn't know whether to trust it or not :/ The official Speedcam updates will cost you money unless you want to download from the net, but all of the TomTom's will work with this. As for what one to get, I have no idea. There seem to be so many different variations about now, I don't have a clue what does what.

20-11-2007, 19:37	#7
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	I would go for the 910 or 920. The road names feature is great. Instead of "take the second exit" where you are left with the question of "is it counting that bus exit as an exit", it will say 2nd exit A414 towards X. I used to commute from Kidderminster to Chelmsford often and that would knock hours off a horrendous journey. A good example is going from yours back through the tunnel. Using the traffic it will re-route you off the m25, bypassing 5-6 miles of queueing traffic and drops you down on the ramp right beside the crossing booths. The traffic is ~£40-50 per year but its worth every penny. The pocketgpsworld maps end up on bittorrent so there isn't a need to subscribe, but that £40 for traffic includes cameras. Another nifty feature is "quick sync". If you are going to be using the unit, sync it with your pc and it will download where all the satellites are for the next 24 hours. So when you switch it on, it syncs very quickly

20-11-2007, 20:01	#9
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	I am tempted by the 920 for the updating maps. Its also for street level mapping in Europe, no idea if the others do it. Oh, and you get a bluetooth remote which is cracking to update routes / replan without having to reach forward and touching the unit. Without looking at the screen, tap, right, right, tap middle (on the remote) will manually force a traffic update.