Sat Nav Yes/No

[MikeB_374236518]

Coming back from holiday and not using a map I went wrong twice on roads I sort of know, A303. So I thought I would get a sat nav which will also help Sheila as she finds it difficult to read when moving. So I trotted off to Halfords and was shown a number of devices, I said that when towing I need to check and alter the rote, which didn't seem easy to do. Take from here PO9 6DF to Kimmeridge BH20 5PG, on Google maps the route goes through Bournmouth, Wareham and up a 5 in one hill, which is easy to change. I don't know if the sat nave route will be the same. The bloke I talked to said you could download the Google route to the sat nav, I couldn't find out how, I found this in help "This service allows you to search for a business address and transfer it from the Google Maps website to your Garmin device." I couldn't follow the first step of the instructions, any way I don't want business address, just the route.

How do other caravaners manage?

 

[Reg]

I'm no satnav expert but I have a Medion which seems to do all I want. If I am traveling a route and want to go a different way then it just re-calculates.

I generally research long trips on google maps and can replicate the route onto my satnay...... manually!

Works OK for me but I do believe there are better satnavs out there than the Medion.

Wouldn't be without one.

 

[Chris_374413356]

I have a TomTom, firstly I think you need to keep the maps up to date and secondly use with great caution, other than that I think they are great.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mike,

Sat Navs are amazing pieces of technology, but as yet they have not been fully developed into a tool that is 99.9% or better reliable. There are three issues that I have found that can be annoying, but now I know about them I can usually work round them:

The first is out of date maps - Most of the major manufactures offer map updates (at a cost) so you can keep them up to date.

Most routing software does not differentiate between types of road and the vehicle you are driving, BUT if you are driving properly you will be aware the a suggested road is inappropriate, and you simply drive past it and the SAT NAV should recalculate automatically. (There are some recent commercial models that do account for the vehicle size, but these are quite expensive.

Some sat Nav allow you to enter points of interest (POI's) My PDA based unit slows right down and has made me miss a turning if too many points are included. Be selective about what information you want on your journey.

If you use a Sat Nav to plan a journey, most will allow you to view a route listing. this will allow you to see if it is going to take you to any difficult areas.However you can usually add 'way' points to a a route and use them to ensure the Sat Nav avoids know bottle necks.

Fortunately most towns and cities don't seem to move very much, so it is still quite easy, even using out of date road maps, to make a list or mental note of the major places you need to head for or pass. The roads in Britain are also quite well signposted, so for most of a long journey you don't really need a Sat Nav,

Where they really come into their own is when you have to travel through a town or city, where the Sat Navs ability to know where you are, and to be able to give you timely clear warning of an aproaching turn or lane change is very useful especially when travelling without a map reading passenger.

Sat navs are a tool, not a complete solution, a great help in some situations. Always have a back up paper map or instructions.

I personally find it very satisfying to b able to use an ordernance survey map and tehamount of detail it has is quite amazing, stuff that a sat Nav will never tell you.

 

[WilliamLX]

Sat Navs are only really useful for finding specific addresses in areas that you are unfamiliar with. For example when I took the caravan to the CC Edinburgh site, my Sat Nav was a life saver, I doubt that I would ever have found the site without it. However I have never felt the need for one for the majority of long distance journies, for example finding Edinburgh from Stranraer was no problem, only when arriving at Edinburgh and needing to find the road in Edinburgh that the site was on did I find any need for the Sat Nav.

However be aware that even the so called up to date maps are not 100% accurate or up to date. My brand new Garmin with the latest map totally misdirected me in Liverpool when trying to get to the Liverpool to Belfast ferry terminal. In all honesty I have found the Sat Nav to be better for solo driving as it often tries to direct you down very narrow roads that are not ideal for caravans.

 

[Reg]

One of the good points about my Medion is that if I select fast route using motorways options it will keep me on major roads (until the last and first bit obviously).

The downside is the distance traveled will be greater than if a short route or economical route option is selected. This has never let me down when towing (so far).

Problem with the Medion is that the update maps are very expensive so I sometimes find myself driving across a field (according to the satnav not in reality) and the screen text is too small.

Still wouldn't be without it and I can't recall having to use a map.

 

[Gareth111278]

I have a Tom-Tom & find it great for finding caravan sites & attractions whilst on holiday, there's no sudden last minute turns or crawling allong looking for an entrance. I think it makes things safer.

Another good thing is the ETA function, the Tom-Tom is VERY accurate when set a 50MPH limited speed, I can shave maybe 5 minutes off a 100 mile run if i get clear roads but no more.

I also love the "distance & time remaining" fuction too, It allows me to find LPG stations that are within range of my tank & to be able to answer the 'how-many-more-miles-is-it?' from the back seats!

I'd say GET ONE NOW!!!

 

[MikeB_374236518]

Thanks for all your replies, but I notice nobody has mentioned down loading a route from Google maps, can this be done or have I been told porkies?

 

[Reg]

You can't do it on the Medion but then why would I want to?

I do check the route on google if its a long distance but I have to make the changes on the satnav manually.

 

[Dustydog]

My Tom Tom One is so stupid I shout at her rather than the Maimsahib. This saves a lot of domestics and means I get my dinner cooked!

Use the Sat Nav purely as a secondary guide and at all costs do not believe any detours when towing.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Di3]

Mike B

I'm not a techy person but have a Tom Tom, it's been a god send for me, had it originally for work as would download google maps but when driving solo very difficult to follow and was always ringing my husband saying I'm on this road but can't find ? he would normally look up on google and 9 times out of ten would say your on the right road but going in the wrong direction, but then I am a woman of a certain age and sense of direction was never my strong point - unless is was to find the city centre shops!!, have downloaded the camping and caravan software which gives info to get the their sites,also update it on line once a month which updates any changes made by other users. Hope this helps

Di

 

[JTQ]

MikeB asked: "I notice nobody has mentioned down loading a route from Google maps, can this be done or have I been told porkies?

I cant answer the question directly but can see this would be a big advantage.

I use Google to check the criticality of dubious bits of routes and site access as well as getting some preview of a sites potential to please us. If I could then directly transfer the route to my vehicles Satnav it would be nice, but I cant.[Denso SatNav]

What I do is determine the critical waypoints to dictate the route from Google and input these.

 

[JTQ]

MikeB asked: "I notice nobody has mentioned down loading a route from Google maps, can this be done or have I been told porkies?

I cant answer the question directly but can see this would be a big advantage.

I use Google to check the criticality of dubious bits of routes and site access as well as getting some preview of a sites potential to please us. If I could then directly transfer the route to my vehicles Satnav it would be nice, but I cant.[Denso SatNav]

What I do is determine the critical waypoints to dictate the route from Google and input these.

I have to enter everything manually; I cant connect to a PC and inject it all at a touch of a button as I can with my hiking GPS; big pity as that is so convenient.

 

[MikeB_374236518]

MikeB asked: "I notice nobody has mentioned down loading a route from Google maps, can this be done or have I been told porkies?

I cant answer the question directly but can see this would be a big advantage.

I use Google to check the criticality of dubious bits of routes and site access as well as getting some preview of a sites potential to please us. If I could then directly transfer the route to my vehicles Satnav it would be nice, but I cant.[Denso SatNav]

What I do is determine the critical waypoints to dictate the route from Google and input these.

Thanks everyone for your help, I'll go back to Halfords and have a better idea of the questions to ask.