Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Nov 9, 2023 15:52:08 GMT 1
After two unsuccessful attempts at finding the company that emptys our fosse (because all other communications were down) I thought its about time to ditch our old TomTom gps. Clearly we need one that can keep itself up to date with changes of roads, junctions, and maybe even be better at finding satellites.
So silly me goes to Google thinking I should start by finding a review site and then go shopping with a short list of models. Pretty much all the search results bring up gps trackers and gps watches and Apps for smartphones. The nearest I can find is handheld devices for backpackers, etc. Don't they make a simple GPS to use in a car these days, or are we all expected to have them factory fitted in our cars already? They can be found on ebay, etc. but there is no way to get detailed info about features, coverage, updates, etc. Obviously the manufacturers websites would have us believe theirs is the best on the market and that the latest model (most expensive) knocks spots of all the previous models. We can only assume they were crap.
Even if we won the lottery this week we wouldn't be buying one of the newfangled computers on wheels so I would still need to find a GPS that plugs into the car fag lighter socket.
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Post by elsie on Nov 9, 2023 16:15:13 GMT 1
It would probably be better to get a smartphone and use a GPS app on that. Most new cars now link to Apple Play and Google Auto to display on the screen in the car. Most GPS built-in to a car only have updated free for a few years and only updated occasionally. After the few free years the charge for updating can be significant.
There are several free GPS apps for smartphones (e.g. Google Maps and Waze for Android phones). Their maps are updated much more frequently than the standalone GPS and new functions are added. If you have a data connection you will get re-routing if there are problems along the original planned route.
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Post by houpla on Nov 9, 2023 17:04:20 GMT 1
Interesting post, A! I went to update our old TomTom this week, only to receive a terse message telling me that (supposedly 'for life') updates are no longer available. The subliminal message being 'you're a dinosaur and you ought to have a newer car with integral GPS'. Well sod that! I do have a smartphone and have used Google Maps in the past, which incidentally is much, much more comprehensive and accurate than the TomTom, but boy does it eat into my very limited monthly data allowance. I'm sure that there must be some way of programming it to work 'offline', but not figured it out yet Meanwhile, I still use the old TT for radar detection purposes and Dog knows there are plenty of them to detect in the Dordogne!
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Nov 9, 2023 17:12:38 GMT 1
There is no way I am going to try to see a route on something the size of a fag packet and using an App on a smartphone as I travel guarantees personal tracking data is handed to Google on a silver platter. I know you people are offering advice with the best of intentions but no way am I getting involved with the smartphone disease.
Thankyou but no thankyou.
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Post by houpla on Nov 9, 2023 17:18:17 GMT 1
Sounds as though your best bet is a re-conditioned TomTom with the proviso that it's not being palmed off because of very limited update life.
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Post by lapourtaider on Nov 9, 2023 19:19:41 GMT 1
Try one of these GPS Poids Lourds 7 Pouces Europe 52 Carte Système de Navigation Automatique à Ecran Tactile Utilisation dans Poids Lourds et Voiture amzn.eu/d/50Qjjhm
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Post by elsie on Nov 9, 2023 19:21:01 GMT 1
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Post by jeliecrack on Nov 9, 2023 20:55:36 GMT 1
you could always buy a map😃
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Post by houpla on Nov 9, 2023 21:03:28 GMT 1
It's as well to be aware, though, that 'lifetime updates' means the pre-planned lifetime of the gadget, not the user
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Post by lurcher on Nov 9, 2023 22:11:57 GMT 1
My old Volvo does not have a satnav and I received one from my wife about five years ago and it has proved to be a great asset when driving in UK and France. My son guided her to buy the one with the largest display and I am grateful that the six inch screen is just bid enough for my old eyes. It is a TomTom 620. I have no other experience so can’t compare it with others. I considered myself a very good map reader and was never daunted by new routes and places but the satnav is far superior. It gives fine detail with clear, accurate voice instructions given in good time. I would not want to be without it now. The only downside is the somewhat unreliable fixing system to the dashboard. I have returned to the car to find it, and its support fixings, sitting in the passenger foot well.
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Nov 9, 2023 22:18:02 GMT 1
Try one of these GPS Poids Lourds 7 Pouces Europe 52 Carte Système de Navigation Automatique à Ecran Tactile Utilisation dans Poids Lourds et Voiture amzn.eu/d/50QjjhmGreat size. Affordable price. Details a little sketchy about the length of time updates will be available. Do HGV models just show routes that avoid low bridges and weight limits? If it is specifically designed for commercial vehicles I would like to know more details. A generic brand from China? I'm thinking that it is stuffed full of extras and still offered at a low price. I've instinctively gone to yellow alert.
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Nov 9, 2023 22:23:21 GMT 1
you could always buy a map😃 I have a full map atlas of France but the scale is pretty useless for finding smaller towns and not at all useful for finding a specific address. I occasionally need to find an address and buying a map would delay my departure until I find a shop open that keeps maps. They used to be found easily but not so easy now that most people have a smartphone surgically attached to their hand.
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Nov 9, 2023 22:26:31 GMT 1
Thanks for the review sites Elsie. Just what I was looking for.
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Post by lapourtaider on Nov 9, 2023 23:10:36 GMT 1
Try one of these GPS Poids Lourds 7 Pouces Europe 52 Carte Système de Navigation Automatique à Ecran Tactile Utilisation dans Poids Lourds et Voiture amzn.eu/d/50QjjhmGreat size. Affordable price. Details a little sketchy about the length of time updates will be available. Do HGV models just show routes that avoid low bridges and weight limits? If it is specifically designed for commercial vehicles I would like to know more details. A generic brand from China? I'm thinking that it is stuffed full of extras and still offered at a low price. I've instinctively gone to yellow alert. With the truck GPS, you enter the size and weight of the vehicle, so a car doesn't get routed off unsuitable truck routes. I bought a cheapo Chinese one for work about 10 years ago and still good now. I don't bother updating as I normally check out routes on up to date maps first and use the GPS for final destination.
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Post by sw31girl on Nov 10, 2023 9:05:40 GMT 1
Have you thought about getting a smartphone that’s larger than a fag packet. I understand your reluctance of using google maps on a small phone. Sometimes we use google maps on the iPad if we suspect a problem with the car’s gps system.
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