Knowledge Input Please!

[SidewaysFeltham]

Suggestions as to best retro-fit SatNav including full European maps.

I don't need bells and whistles, audio commentary essential, 'cos I need to drive through crazy places surrounded by idiots on self-immolation pills with nowhere to park up, at times...

Anyone's personal experience and suggestions most welcome and useful.

Thanks, Peeps.

[wnut]

iPhone perhaps?

Works just fine for me.
No map updates, no expensive dealer servicing.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by wnut

iPhone perhaps?

Works just fine for me.
No map updates, no expensive dealer servicing.

The trouble with using a phone is you are paying network charges all the time the sat nav is on.
My old Tom Tom works OK, the only problem is if I try and update it it wont then find a home address, which was a bonus when my wife took it last as she couldn't get home from Lowestoft, it's been quiet here for the past 18 months.

[grantp]

I have HERE maps on a couple of phones. (Windows phone for a business use, Android for personal).

No network charges as you can download the maps you need to the device assuming you have enough memory available.

HERE used to be a Nokia included service but I think is now available across platforms individually since Microsoft took over the Nokia Lumia phone brand.

The navigation is pretty good. Some oddities but that seems normal. Map updates available for download when you need them. Traffic info with the journey plan and execution if you want it (selected locations around Europe presumably) but live traffic would, of course, require data connectivity.

[GORDON STREETER]

My old Tom Tom is still working ok but I haven't updated it for years, it still gets me to places all over western Europe with a few glitches, like telling me to turn right on a dual carriageway because the road was altered 5 years ago and I once drove into a muddy farmyard when going to a wedding, the farmer said "that's always happening" as the post code was the same as the church 3 miles away !

[Truckosaurus]

Garmin with lifetime map updates.

[JimW]

TomTom (which had lifetime maps when I bought mine) works well for me. Only down side is the update process which is buggy and very, very slow.

Either TomTom or Garmin stand-alone devices will be much better than what is available on a smartphone. But the phone has been a useful backup on occasion.

Regards

Jim

[NICK ALLISON]

A Map?

[JimW]

A vital piece of equipment for planning and error correction! No so much use if you don't have someone to read it.

"While espousing new equipment, make sure to retain the old where still useful."

Jim

[Armco Bender]

Garmin is the go here as theres a local group who do free open source maps for them.They update them weekly with every new street & road on them.
I update one for a friend who drives a concreter mixer truck,he loves it as it has all the new subdivision streets on it before they even get named.

[SidewaysFeltham]

Many thanks for the input, chaps. (And perhaps, Chapesses).

Some years back, I was going to a meeting with the Non-Exec Chairman of my software company, in his sparkling new top-end Lexus; which enjoyed the very latest built-in SatNav.

As we galloped along a brand new link road to Chelmsford (Essex) over what had been fields not long before, the SatNav became very, very confused!


Seems on balance, Garmin is the way to go.

Apols for not reverting before: have been at out French home, wherein the Boss insists I do not have a PC and broadband as "You won't get any work done!"

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by JimW

TomTom (which had lifetime maps when I bought mine) works well for me. Only down side is the update process which is buggy and very, very slow.

Yep, exactly my experience. Also got maps for life (of the device, though, not me).

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Garmin is the go here as theres a local group who do free open source maps for them.They update them weekly with every new street & road on them.
I update one for a friend who drives a concreter mixer truck,he loves it as it has all the new subdivision streets on it before they even get named.

You've only had one new road in the last 30 years. What do they add weekly? Update the positions of the sheep?

[Armco Bender]

What do they add weekly? Update the positions of the sheep?

Yes,when I'm driving I make a lot of ewe turns.

You've only had one new road in the last 30 years.

So honoured were the people of Tauranga by your last visit that we are upgrading the road to the speedway in preparation for your next visit........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfX-skRSYx8

[Tim Falce]

I thought you only had two roads in NZ, one on the north island and one on the south, do you think you could all cope with an extra one, you might lose the three or four cars on them.

[Armco Bender]

The South Island road needs a bit of work...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQeyyMUI77g