Re: OT:- Which Sat Nav System


"Big Brian" <briandotgloverspam2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:5CQFe.40819$Pf3.6401@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hi Guys and Gals
>
> I have a job which involves visiting propertys. About 20 a day. I know my
> area quite well , but 60% of address`s are in areas I am not 100% on.
>
> So , I am investing in a Sat Nav system to help me around. As I am using
> one of 4 vehicles it needs to be transportable from car to car. I have so
> far looked at a few , but seem attracted to the Tom Tom 500.
>
> Do these devices work as well as they say they do or is it all hype. I
> cant seem to get a demo unit to drive round for an hour or so to see if it
> work.
>
> How do they update , and finally , do they keep you abreats of travel and
> weather issues

Hi!
The devices, especially teh TomTom GO 500 are quite good at what they do,
they get you to your destination by a reasonable route. And are very useful
in navigating in an area you are not familiar with.

However you have to be aware of their limitations, this newsgroup and other
forums are full of people who belived all the hype and are disappointed.

Firstly is the mapping, I think it can best be described as 99%, i.e. for
the majority of the time you will be fine, but maybe one time out of a
hundred there will be a new road which isn't yet on the map, a street name
it doesn't recognise or a junction which has changed layout.

Map updates are infrequent, maybe once a year, and they are not free. As a
guide maps are currently running about 3 years behind the reality on the
ground, major roads get updated faster than that.

Travel issues, you can be notified of major incidents along your planned
route, (you need a GPRS and bluetooth enabled phone), however it won't take
into account things like taking you on the best route through rush hour
traffic. e.g. You may know that a particular roundabout is always congested
at 5pm, but it won't know that.

As for weather, TomTom does have a weather service however it's limited to
temperature and rain and a few other things, not terribly useful.

You should also be aware of other ways to get SatNav, you can get the same
TomTom software for PocketPC's and also for Smartphones.

They do have their limitations but as long as you are aware of these I
promise you won't be disappointed!




.

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