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Post by jayjay on Apr 4, 2008 19:38:39 GMT
Am pushing the boat out a bit this month!
I'm so sick now of my little garmin i3 - hard reset twice, got nowhere. it's set to UK, set to UK voice... It will not do what I need it to after spending literally days and weeks trying everything suggested by everyone and anyone.
After another two hours messing about last night and a further hour or so this morning - I bought a Tom Tom One v3 - so there! I did think about upgrading to a newer Garmin - a few versions later and you get the opportunity to plan a route on the computer and download and save as a named route...
I tried this on my computer (and it works great, the mapsource) only to find the i3 has no facility/cannot download a route like later versions. So an hour of map planning and I couldn't download it to the darned thing!
My son can have the Garmin, he's a lorry driver and needs motorways!
So sod the blinking thing! We'll see what the Tom Tom can do. Have been assured that it has the option to avoid motorways! And A roads as well, if you so desire. Just motorways will do - that was the prob with the G, it 'avoided highways', including the A roads and nothing I did would persuade it to do otherwise.
Am planning a trip to Scotland next month and not via the motorways, so I need something.... Yes, I know there's maps, and I always have them as a back up but it's a fag having to watch out for signs, make sure you're on the right road, blahblahblah. I'd rather just have something that tells me where I'm going and where to turn, as avoiding motorways (by necessity in my little van) usually takes you on the A roads through cities.
So wish me luck with the new model! Anyone else got a Tom Tom?
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Post by niloc on Apr 4, 2008 22:39:23 GMT
I have a Tom Tom Mk2 and wouldn't be without it. It will avoid toll roads and Motorways and I find that the fastest route is probably better than the quickest for my 20ft van. Found this out in Wales on the road with the best scenery, but touching both hedges and minmal passing places.
Have just downloaded France for this years trip. I tried a sat nav running through a laptop before and it found sites that I wouldn't have come near on the Caravan Club French sites book. But the whole set up was messy and meant the computer was on the floor between the front seats running off an inverter.
You should find all the Caravan Club sites already on there.
Touch wood, I have used mine almost daily for over a year.
Niloc
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Post by niloc on Apr 4, 2008 22:40:54 GMT
Correction, I meant the Fastest route is better than the Shortest for my 20ft van
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Post by playallday on Apr 4, 2008 23:05:08 GMT
Hi Jayjay.
You'll love it!!
I have had a Tomtom for a couple of years now. It is the best gadget I have ever bought. I tested it exhaustively around familiar routes to make sure I was happy that it knew what to do when I deliberately took a wrong turn and now I trust it completely. I don't look at the screen, I just sit it on the passenger seat and this clever, calm lady tells me how to get anywhere I want to go!! Brilliant!! My stress levels are at zero now when I have to find my way anywhere!! Worth every penny.
I always use the 'avoid motorways' setting. The 'shortest route' setting seems to be the one which can causes problems and I avoid this setting unless I am on foot. I carry her with me if I am in a strange town and she can always find her way back to the van, which is a joy as I have no sense of direction!!
It also has a very comprehensive 'help' section and if you break down it tells you exactly where you are if you need to call the AA etc.
I never leave home without it. I love it!! I hope it serves you better than your previous sat nav.
Jean
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Post by jayjay on Apr 5, 2008 9:52:36 GMT
Thanks to you both for replying! It's made me feel a whole lot better now. ;D Welcome to the site, Niloc! There are so many out on the market - all with pros and cons - I didn't know if I'd bought the right thing (still not sure!). Anyway it was on special offer on Amazon for £115 with free delivery, so I took the chance and ordered one. Best thing about Amazon is that there's never a quibble if you send something back, they refund more or less straightaway, so I was covering my back so to speak! I'm very sorry that the Garmin has to go... loved the little thing. But since upgrading to a new map version the 'avoid motorways' has gone, replaced by 'avoid highways' and even though set to England UK and English UK voice, it still includes A roads in that avoidance setting - fine if you want to use B roads all the time, otherwise not!  I'm gutted in one way that I've had to buy a new one, yet also elated that I no longer will have to struggle to get where I want to go on the A roads with my little Garmin. To get to Wolverley for example (only 60 miles), I had to follow the map route on google, then input 5 different destinations so that it would follow the route/roads, then pull over when I had reached my first destination and go find the second, etc. Imagine that all the way up to the Highlands!! Just the first leg of the journey up to Carlisle involves going through Wolverhampton, Wigan, Preston, then A6 to Carlisle, can't imagine trying to go through all that trying to read a map and look for road numbers! Then on the next leg, Glasgow - arghhh! Nightmare! so many many thanks for your imput on this subject! ;D |
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Post by niloc on Apr 5, 2008 16:54:55 GMT
Hi Jayjay This is an interesting site for additional POI downloads: www.poihandler.com/ Also, the MMM website forums have some in depth discussions on what you can put on a Tom Tom. |
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Post by playallday on Apr 5, 2008 17:08:45 GMT
What a brilliant site!! I have just had a look and it lists all sorts of camping stops in France, which will be great for my 'French Adventure' All I need to do now is work out how to download them, but that is usually just following instructions so I should be OK without an IT degree!! So not only will I NOT be lost in France, I will always be able to find the nearest stopping place! That's me sorted ;D
Thanks Linoc
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Post by Dabs on Apr 5, 2008 21:42:07 GMT
Just the first leg of the journey up to Carlisle involves going through Wolverhampton, Wigan, Preston, then A6 to Carlisle, ;D Jayjay Im puzzled why you would go through Wolverhampton from Cheshire to get to Carlisle  Good them Sat navs eh!!! Dabs |
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Post by jayjay on Apr 6, 2008 9:50:13 GMT
Just the first leg of the journey up to Carlisle involves going through Wolverhampton, Wigan, Preston, then A6 to Carlisle, ;D Jayjay Im puzzled why you would go through Wolverhampton from Cheshire to get to Carlisle Good them Sat navs eh!!! Dabs ;D ;D Doh! I meant Warrington! LOL!! See what I mean - I need a sat nav! |
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Post by playallday on Apr 6, 2008 14:47:23 GMT
Well, they both begin with 'W' lol. That's my problem, too. I once bought a train ticket for Newcastle to go to a friend's wedding in Nottingham!! Luckily enough the mistake was discovered in time!
I forgot to mention in my post about Tomtom...one of the great things in 'Help' is that if you ask, it will tell you where you are. I use this if I am parking the van in a strange town as I then just enter that position when I want to get back to it and that lovely lady takes me there!
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Post by jayjay on Apr 6, 2008 18:52:11 GMT
Oh hehehe! I've been amusing myself today listening to tomtom voices - some are really funny.. don't know if I'd want to listen to them all the way to the Highlands though! www.satnavvoices.com/index.php?ln=en&pg=9Go here and listen to Jo and Twiggy - will have to have that one! ;D |
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Post by dancer on Apr 6, 2008 19:23:41 GMT
A 2 IN 1 SAT NAV. I AM GOING TO SOUND LIKE A BIG HEAD NOW (SORRY) I BOUGHT A NAVMAN ICN 520 A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, EVEN THOUGH I DONT NEED ONE, BOYS TOYS AND ALL THAT, I WAS A TRUCKER FOR SEVERAL YEARS SO I KNOW MY WAY ROUND THE UK, BIG HEAD I KNOW, SORRY. ANYWAY THE NAVMAN IS A VERY GOOD SAT NAV I HAVE ADDED A LOT OF EXTRAS AT NO COST, IT HAS ALL UK & EUROPE SPEED CAMERAS, ALL UK, EUROPE & AMERICAS FULL STREET MAPS, AND EVERY SINGLE CAMP SITE IN THE UK, AND THOUSANDS OF POI, AND AT THE PRESS OF A BUTTON IT TURNS INTO A TOM TOM WITH ALL THE THE TOM TOM FEATURES AND MORE, LOADS OF CELEB VOICES. IF YOUR CONSIDERING BUYING A SAT NAV, THEN HAVE A LOOK AT NAVMAN.
STEVE
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Post by snobbyafghan on Apr 7, 2008 8:38:39 GMT
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Post by jayjay on Apr 7, 2008 10:16:50 GMT
thanks for the link, Doug! Very interesting info. ;D
Steve - I thought about a Navman myself. Both have been recomended. Just went for the TomTom on the strength of reviews - and also the price. I also didn't want anything that was too complicated on the download side and liked the mapshare what-not. ;D
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Post by jayjay on Apr 13, 2008 9:52:21 GMT
Hi again! Can anyone tell me (Dancer?) if the TomTom has a facility to audibly let you know if you have made a wrong turning when it's navigating?
My little Garmin used to say 'recalculating' if I had turned too soon, too late or not followed the instructions on roundabouts, etc. Although I found this extremely irritating, it was useful (especially in Wales) when it was best to turn around and go back rather than let it recalculate a route that took you ten miles out of your way to get back to the point where you went wrong.
I took it up to the vets and on the way back I deliberately went a different way home, rather than what it was telling me to do. It immediately planned a different route, but it didn't tell me it was doing so. (the garmin would have said, 'recaluclating' the minute I made that first wrong turn.) Is this facility on the TomTom and do I just need to change the settings? Or am I asking too much?
thanks for any replies. I've read the manual (downloded pdf) but I can't see anywhere I can set this particular thing.
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Post by niloc on Apr 13, 2008 11:41:20 GMT
Hi jayjay
I think it will only tell you if you are going away from the destination, ie 'Turn around when possible'.
Colin
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Post by jayjay on Apr 13, 2008 17:02:07 GMT
Hi jayjay I think it will only tell you if you are going away from the destination, ie 'Turn around when possible'. Colin Hi colin, thanks for that. Just wondered - like I said earlier, the recalculating was irritating but useful sometimes. Maybe that's why you can't set this one to avoid motorways and avoid u turns at the same time... Garmin did that as well. |
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Post by playallday on Apr 13, 2008 19:35:07 GMT
Hi again! Can anyone tell me (Dancer?) if the TomTom has a facility to audibly let you know if you have made a wrong turning when it's navigating? . Hi Jayjay, Yes Tomtom recalculates a route if it is appropriate and tells you to turn around if it isn't, which sounds like your Garmin. If you can't take a turn and it doesn't say "turn around when possible" immediately, you know that it has recalculated the route without it telling you. I bought mine a couple of weeks before I went to Spain a couple of years ago and spent the time before we left driving around places I knew and deliberately taking wrong turns to find out if I could trust it and I trust it completely. I don't know if it is universal in all systems, but I love the fact that when I get to a roundabout, it tells me which direction I am heading AND which exit to take, so you don't get 'wrong-footed' Jean |
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Post by dancer on Apr 13, 2008 21:58:48 GMT
hi jay jay, i cant add any more to the comments, colin and jean have said everything, anyway part of the fun in driving is getting lost sometimes.
steve
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Post by playallday on Apr 14, 2008 9:39:41 GMT
anyway part of the fun in driving is getting lost sometimes. Having no sense of direction whatsoever and being 'map illiterate' I frequently used to lose my way which I find stressful, not fun!! I was always afraid to explore interesting looking lanes in case I got lost. With my Tomtom, I am confident that I can explore and always know where I am!! And the ease of navigating through strange towns without having to look at the signs...I could go on forever..Tomtom has definitely made journeys a real pleasure for me. |
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Post by viv on Apr 14, 2008 21:32:41 GMT
Hi All
We too have a Tomtom and are very happy with her. She is called 'FLO' and I agree that she makes driving much more pleasurable.
We still take a map with us as we like to see where we are and what else may be around, but for travelling to a destination she is brilliant. A few errors but on the whole no major problems.
If we leave home to go anywhere that could remotely use the M25 she always tries to take us there, instead of using local roads, but we know what she is up to now so we ignore her attempts to get us onto the dreaded giant car park!!!!
You won't regret your purchase Jayjay.
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Post by playallday on Apr 14, 2008 23:31:25 GMT
Hi All We too have a Tomtom and are very happy with her. She is called 'FLO' I just call mine Tomtom, even though I use the female voice.....we should start a 'Whar's yours called?' thread for Sat navs!!  I love that you know she knows her stuff and won't shout at you if you take a wrong turn!! |
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Post by jayjay on Apr 15, 2008 9:26:42 GMT
Been out and about with mine and trust it a bit more now... it even knew that they had put in a mini roundabout half way down a main road in my village! Pretty impressive I thought.
Made me laugh - I've downloaded the 'Jo and Twiggy' one - it said 'Go straight across the roundabout.. not literally though - we mean go around the roundabout then straight on, don't drive over the flowers and stuff!' I can see that particular voice being amusing on long journeys anyway.
Just hope I'll be able to hear it in my very noisy van! It's ok in the car.
Playall day - I also find it stresses me as well when I get lost - not part of the fun for me either, Dancer! ;D
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Post by dancer on Apr 17, 2008 15:51:37 GMT
I do agree that sat navs are very good and driving can be very stressfull especially when you dont know where your going, and it does make driving easier not having a map book on your knees when your driving, if i had to rely on my wife for directions i would never get to my destination, (sexist comment sorry). I like my sat nav and i admit it is useful but i would never depend on it.
I had better stop there before i get in to trouble.
dancer
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Post by jayjay on Apr 17, 2008 17:49:31 GMT
I agree with all you say, Dancer! Easier than reading a map though - although I always take one with me and usually have a list of all the major roads/towns along the route. Paranoid, that's me!
A freind of mine is such an excellent map reader/direction giver that she beats the satnav every time! I hate getting lost, especially in towns and cities that I don't know, and I get really stressed. That's gone down an awful lot since I had one.
I first bought it as I had to take my Mum and Dad to Liverpool Airport - fine on the way there - Dad was reading out the directions.. coming home was a different matter - then I had to go and fetch them home a week later. That's when I bought a satnav and was amazed how easy it could be!
Although you have an unfair advantage, having been a trucker - lots of practice!
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Post by dancer on Apr 17, 2008 22:57:04 GMT
Thanks jay jay i was getting to regret what i had previously said did`nt mean to offend anybody, or put anybody down especially you, and it was great to meet you at wolverly i have real respect for you traveling all over on your own, keep going on the way you do and you want need that sat nav you will know what roads lead where.
dancer
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Post by jayjay on Apr 18, 2008 7:54:19 GMT
Hi Dancer - no you didn't offend anyone! I wondered what you'd said that made you wonder if you had, but reading back thru this thread, I can't see anything! Just different views on a subject, that's what makes this forum so valuable!
As for travelling on my own (in the van), I've only done it once! That was to Wolverley! Just 60 miles away, LOL! Been out for day trips with the dog but that doesn't count.
Been to Aberywstwyth, but had the middle son in the van, although he doesn't drive, he's pretty handy.
Since then Winter came and the van needed work doing and so on.. so went nowhere until Wolverley.
...So getting up to Aviemore (approx 300 miles) will be my big test, two overnight stops on the way as well, with only the dog and sat nav for company.
Not that I mind my own company and I have to prove to myself that I can do it.
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Post by playallday on Apr 18, 2008 12:07:40 GMT
Like you I've only been away for a couple of days at a time and most of those trips have been an 'extra bedroom' when visiting friends. I'll be off on my 'big trip' on 2nd June and I'm actually going over to Dunkirk in the van with a friend this Monday for a few days...my friend was planning a day trip to Belgium to buy some tobacco and I offered to do it in the van as long as we could do the Dunkirk route and an overnighter. This means that I can make sure everything works and I will have someone with me when I check out EHU thingys (I've not used one before) and maybe find a campsite for the first stop on my trip..I will be arriving in France at 5am so don't want to do much driving on the first day. If you find any of your gadgets worth their weight in gold, do post it on here...like you, I love my gadgets. I am planning quite a few stops on France Passion sites and therefore must be self sufficient so I'm having a cigarette lighter fitted to my leisure battery so that I can use my 12v adapters without using the car battery.  Are you getting as excited as I am? |
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Post by Graham on Apr 18, 2008 12:20:33 GMT
I've been following this thread with interest because we also have a Satnav, its a Tom Tom One, we've tried it a few times and to be honest we don't like relying on it completely.
When we are going directly to a campsite we like to take motorways and good A roads but we have found that the Tom Tom will take us off an A road down a narrow country lane and then join back up with the A road further along the route simply because it is a slightly more direct route. Whereas we would rather have stayed on the A road even if it meant going a mile or so further in distance.
So now we use the Satnav but Pauline sits with a map on her knee and if the satnav wants to deviate when we don't think its necessary we ignore it and it recalculates the route.
Does anyone else have this problem or are our settings wrong or something? We have it set for the fastest route.
Graham
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Post by dancer on Apr 18, 2008 12:41:57 GMT
Hi graham, my sat nav does the same thing takes you on country roads and narrow lanes when there is no need to.
I remember going to Cerne Abbas last year and it directed me through the village and narrow lanes and i had instructed it to take me on the main roads, after i had seen the giant i turned round and went my own way, it was quicker, so i presume most if not all satnavs do the same.
I always have a map book with me as well, would`nt be without it.
We are planning a trip to France this year only round the Normandy area really looking forward to it, no idea what i need as regards ehu, documentation, ferries ect. anybody got any advice?
I will have a good read through some of the comments on here sure i read something on here.
dancer
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