Blats Using Sat Nav

[SootySport]

All looks too complicated to me, I just get in the car and drive. If it's in Essex I know most roads and don't get lost. Anywhere else I take a basic roadmap.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I don't even use a Satnav...

BUT...

I'm going to buy one for work. But the TomTom XL is getting patchy reviews on Amazon with reports of difficulty with updates failing, taking waaaaay too long to find a satellite or two, a crap website (haven't actually looked at it myself yet) and even worse customer service. TomTom was my first choice, but now I'm looking at Garmins but I just don't know what to do...

Much like yourself I'm not a TomTom fan, I've always used Garmin handheld GPS's for walking and personally always prefered their products. Unfortunately my current satnav didn't do route planning.

After a brief bit of research over the weekend I found that within my price range the Nuvi 2415, 2515, 2445 and 2545 all had a Trip Planner function and can handle the gpx files (the garmin equivelent of itn's), In the end I settled for the Nuvi2415 currently £119.99 in my local Argos.

I created a short route on Tyre last night, downloaded it and went out for a drive this morning and all is good

Hopefully now I won't have to worry about trying to keep up on the Essex Blat's.

[Bob Bobbleton]

Daft question, can you hear the directions in a westy, I'm looking for one that ideally :

Is loud enough and/or

Has a headphone capability

Can use itn files or similar

Looking to pre plan home-le mans- Monaco- Bilbao- home

Know roughly the routes etc

Cheers Bob

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I was using it in the tin top today since it was raining hard but the loudest volume setting would be high enough to make your ears bleed

With the old one in the westfield I could always hear it fine when slowing for juctions, any other time I just looked at the screen to read the distance to the next turning if I knew there was one coming in a few miles.

[pete g]

^{i have a tom tom and its very good i like the eta the best but what i dont like is the battery goes flat when not in use and then takes ages to boot up .wont startup unless the battery is charged.which is some times 30mins to 40mins of driving}

[greenwood03]

in terms of hearing them on the move, depends where its mounted and how much wind noise you have. I have mine under the bubble of an aeroscreen directly behind the s/wheel. Most days i can hear that up to 65mph ish, but because of the siting that isnt the be all and end all as i can easily view it. My TTom does have an output though for headphones as it can double as a music player....its an old version 910 with a 20gb hard drive and has EU mapping.

As for battery life. personally i'd never rely on a sat nav to run for anytime from its own battery.....

As far as TT's go many of the brand new ones dont have ITN planning, if brand new is on the agenda tbhen you'll need to check very carefully, of just pick up a refurbed/second hand unit.

[pete g]

battery life is good if charged .what i meant was when its no used it goes flat even when turned off.

[Blatman]

After a brief bit of research over the weekend I found that within my price range the Nuvi 2415, 2515, 2445 and 2545 all had a Trip Planner function and can handle the gpx files (the garmin equivelent of itn's), In the end I settled for the Nuvi2415 currently £119.99 in my local Argos.

Saw a Nuvi or two in Tesco's next to the Garmins. The Nuvi model on display had a bigger screen than the similarly priced Garmin and TT's on display, so it immediately registered in my brain to look it up on t'internet when I got in. Good shout...

[Mark Stanton]

I've used a Tom Tom for years and currently have a 120 with live service and full euro maps - found it to be an excellent piece of kit - never had any problems with software updates or finding satellites when starting up :)

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

My iPhones Tom Tom app was updated yesterday, not had a chance to try it yet, but one of the new route planning options alongside fast routes, Eco routes etc. is wiggly roads! Supposed to deliberately pick the more windy, twisty, B roady type routes!