Sat-Nav.

dragon · 02-04-2012, 15:07

Thinking of buying a new sat-nav or a sat-nav app for my iphone.

Currently using navfree which isn't bad but am quite interested in the lane guidance features on the newer commercial sat-navs.

Waze is quite nice in terms of reporting traffic but it falls down badly if it loses connection to the internet as it doesn't cache the route and it's routing is a bit funny (community driven).

Thing is the question is which one is worthwhile going for and also is it better to get an APP or buy a hardware unit?

The plus side of having it on my phone is I often have the phone connected to the car stereo for listening to music, so the voice prompts should come out of the car speakers, but the downside is it can really drain the battery and the Ipod port on my car doesn't always charge the phone as fast as using sat-nav can drain it.

I've had a Garmin and Tomtom units previously (infact still got the tomtom but don't use it due to being years out of date and also the window mount thing is broken on it.)

Any particular recommendations would be appreciated.. Even considering getting a cheap android handset for google maps as i used to have one and it always used to be pretty decent.

paulius55 · 02-04-2012, 15:16

I had the same dilemma, having always had a Tomtom, which was very good, but I now have Ovi-Maps on my Nokia phone, which is free, with free map updates and free traffic information and which, in my opinion is equally as good as the dedicated unit. It reads out street names, can work off-line if you wish (without the traffic info), gives lane guidance, has speed cameras built-in and the real beauty is that I always have the phone with me and just fix it to the dashboard with a magnet mount, switch it to hands-free with auto-answer and I have everything I need. I do not know what is available for iphone or Android. I have tried Google Maps on my phone and it works, to a point, but it downloads maps as you go so needs to be online.

**Rob** · 02-04-2012, 15:22

Unless you can mount your phone where it's display is in view, is a sat nav app really usable. Whilst you are listening to directions, I find it is very useful as you approach a junction to be able to glance at the screen to appreciate which way the thing is trying to send you so you appreciate how you are going to negotiate the road ahead. On that basis I would always prefer the dedicated device.

Systems such as TomTom are well developed and with regular updates available, even allow you to keep the maps, speed cameras, etc, up to date for no too great a cost. But as a dedicated device, if you want portability, especially for walking around, then perhaps the phone app is the better option?

dragon · 02-04-2012, 15:32

Google maps/navigation has pretty reasonable route caching these days so as long as you're online when you set the destination it's usually ok depending on how far off course you go.

---------- Post added at 15:32 ---------- Previous post was at 15:23 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Unless you can mount your phone where it's display is in view, is a sat nav app really usable. Whilst you are listening to directions, I find it is very useful as you approach a junction to be able to glance at the screen to appreciate which way the thing is trying to send you so you appreciate how you are going to negotiate the road ahead. On that basis I would always prefer the dedicated device.

Systems such as TomTom are well developed and with regular updates available, even allow you to keep the maps, speed cameras, etc, up to date for no too great a cost. But as a dedicated device, if you want portability, especially for walking around, then perhaps the phone app is the better option?

I do have a windscreen mount that will clamp the phone in position, just been looking at the Garmin Nuvi range as apparently they're offering lifetime maps/traffic updates on some models.

Of course "Lifetime" actually means as long as they're prepared to support the product which could be all of 3 months or several years

**Russ** · 02-04-2012, 15:55

I've always used CoPilot on my old Android - just as good as Tom Tom and half the price at Â£25.

Pauls9 · 03-04-2012, 10:19

Another vote for Nokia Ovi Maps here. Map and voice updates are done via the PC, so no large data charges.

**Russ** · 03-04-2012, 10:33

Yep another vote for Ovi maps, a very good satnav. The only downside being you need to have a Nokia to use it

alferret · 06-04-2012, 07:33

Might be a bit late in replying as you may have got yourself sorted.
Anywho, CoPilot 8 Live for Android works well but NOT on ICS. Speed camera updates available every few months, map updating not so often. Worldwide maps as well. Full UK map download size is <300mb
If you are on Orange & have swapables as part of plan (Panther only I think) you can get Navigon from Garmin for free. Works well & has traffic alert features, no speed camera POI & the interface takes a little getting used to. Also entering your destination can be a pain, enter part of post code (NG5 7**) then scroll for road name. Full UK download size is >700mb.

Also as mentioned from PC world some Garmin devices are being offered with lifetime updates for maps & speed camera's.
Having had a Garmin sat-nav's they are OK but the cost of map updates aint really worth it Â£60+ for a year when the sat-nav only cost Â£80 in the first place.

Halcyon · 06-04-2012, 10:43

I have Garmin SatNav and quite like the 3D photo showing lanes and junctions to take as it helps you get in the correct lane.

philwhite100 · 06-04-2012, 11:06

I have the Tomtom app for my ipod touch which works just fine, obviously there is no traffic data or phone calls but it is very good. The only negative aspect is the screen size i suppose but it does work very well and the proper Tomtom mount has the GPS receiver built in with a good quality sounding speaker.

LondonRoad · 06-04-2012, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

Yep another vote for Ovi maps, a very good satnav. The only downside being you need to have a Nokia to use it

Totally agree. I just moved from Nokia to Blackberry after many years. Ovi sat-nav is the only thing I miss!!

Tim Deegan · 06-04-2012, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon

Google maps/navigation has pretty reasonable route caching these days so as long as you're online when you set the destination it's usually ok depending on how far off course you go.

---------- Post added at 15:32 ---------- Previous post was at 15:23 ----------

I do have a windscreen mount that will clamp the phone in position, just been looking at the Garmin Nuvi range as apparently they're offering lifetime maps/traffic updates on some models.

Of course "Lifetime" actually means as long as they're prepared to support the product which could be all of 3 months or several years

I have a Garmin Nuvi. It's 2 or 3 years old now, so isn't the latest model. I bought the Garmin on the advice of my dad, who used to be a flight engineer, and said that most aircraft and ships use Garmin. I use a TomTom at work, and don't find it as easy to use (although this may be because I'm used to the Garmin).

I don't know if this is still the case with newer models. But Garmin use the RDS system to update traffic congestion. And TomTom uses a phone signal (which costs). This is supposed to make the TomTom more up to date, but I have found the Garmin system excellent. It diverted me off the motorway once to avoid congestion, and was going to send me back on in another two junctions. But traffic started flowing, so it changed the route, and sent me back on the motorway after just one junction, and brought me back on just in front of the traffic jam.

I also have Nav Free on my iphone. I like the concept where users can update it. But I don't find it as user friendly. I was trying it out once when driving down the A1, and it tried sending me off the A1, and through a town. I presume this was because nobody had updated the system to give a 30mph speed limit through the town.

I have a van with Smartnav (the same company as Trafficmaster). This is an excellent system, but is better suited to commercial vehicles. The route is transmitted to the unit via mobile phone signals, and is right up to date. If you can't find the address, then you can actually speak to the control centre through the unit, and they will work out the route, and send it to the unit. The unit also includes a tracker, and there are optional extras like a fleep management system. The down sides to this system are the cost, and the fact that it needs a mobile signal to work. So we have an old Garmin as backup.

If you can get a free lifetime update with Garmin, then I would go with that one, because it can save you around Â£115.