Road Angel Navigator
Discussion
Ive got one, upgraded from an RA2. Some initial problems (they replaced both the unit and the Euro map sim..as you say, they are very good at customer services) and then I downloaded the latest user interface. Ive now tweaked and fine tuned it and I really like it. Yes, still picks up the camera sites (getting the direction of travel right, whereas AFAIK the Tom Toms only show the cameras as POIs and therefore not directional?)
My dad just bought a new Mercedes S Class. The satnav in it is so much more complicated than the Navigator and it made me appreciate the Navi even more (except for the nigh TV size screen in the Merc)
It was a toss up between the Navi and the TT700, which after my 'Customer Upgrade Discount' (is that an oxymoron?) meant the Navi with Euro map was about the same price as the TT700. I know a few peeps with TTs (admittedly mostly TT one/300) and most of them have had probs in one form or another, so its not like Blackspot are alone with troublesome kit.
The Navi is, I believe, a quite a bit smaller in overall size and fits in your shirt pocket easily if you're carrying it around whereas the TTS seem more bulky.
My dad just bought a new Mercedes S Class. The satnav in it is so much more complicated than the Navigator and it made me appreciate the Navi even more (except for the nigh TV size screen in the Merc)
It was a toss up between the Navi and the TT700, which after my 'Customer Upgrade Discount' (is that an oxymoron?) meant the Navi with Euro map was about the same price as the TT700. I know a few peeps with TTs (admittedly mostly TT one/300) and most of them have had probs in one form or another, so its not like Blackspot are alone with troublesome kit.
The Navi is, I believe, a quite a bit smaller in overall size and fits in your shirt pocket easily if you're carrying it around whereas the TTS seem more bulky.
A few disgruntalled (sp?) owners doesnt make the product bad. How many more satisfied customers are there that dont post a positive review? Me for one. Im not saying I didnt have problems with the first unit. I did. Blackspot replaced it within 24 hrs and its been almost fine since (has crashed on me twice in 6 months, resulting in a reboot. All hunky dory again within 1 minute). I know more than one Tom Tom owner who has had their unit replaced and/or are still having problems with it (not least that the navigation has sometimes been, err, interesting). Not knocking the TTs. My little sister has the basic one, and for her it is perfect. Horses for courses. I, IMO, prefer the RA Navigator.
For me, I wanted a unit that worked well for navigation and had the (directional) camera warnings without having to go on the internet and download the map overlays and faff about like you apparantly have to do for the TTs. Just need to plug it in once a month for the updates.
My only real gripe with the unit (and I am assuming its the same with most nav units) is the screen can be hard to see if in direct sunlight. Blackspot sent me an anti-glare screen which helps, but its not brilliant. Dont know if things will improve as the sun gets higher. Time will tell. Oh and Ive used it in France twice (Ive got the Euro map upgrade) and it worked faultlessly out there, never missing a beat (roll on Le Mans, not like it would be difficult without the Navi, just follow the sports cars? )
For me, I wanted a unit that worked well for navigation and had the (directional) camera warnings without having to go on the internet and download the map overlays and faff about like you apparantly have to do for the TTs. Just need to plug it in once a month for the updates.
My only real gripe with the unit (and I am assuming its the same with most nav units) is the screen can be hard to see if in direct sunlight. Blackspot sent me an anti-glare screen which helps, but its not brilliant. Dont know if things will improve as the sun gets higher. Time will tell. Oh and Ive used it in France twice (Ive got the Euro map upgrade) and it worked faultlessly out there, never missing a beat (roll on Le Mans, not like it would be difficult without the Navi, just follow the sports cars? )
bad company said:
I have been looking at this and the Garmin Nuvi 350. The advantage of the road angel is that I can part ex my Origin camera detector. Bit concerned about some of the comments on this product though.
TBH I dont think there are any units out there that are perfect. Its all a compromise. I chose the Navi because:
1) I needed a portable satnav (to swap between cars)
2) I wanted a DIRECTIONAL camera detector that has a simple plug in and update the latest camera data process. (It also warns you of blackspots, variable speed cameras, the timing devices that take your average speed over a set distance, Congestion charging zones and school proximity warnings)
3) Having had a RA2 previously (and knew how good the detection was) I got a customer trade up discount so the full unit (with Euro mapping) cost me about £500.
(before the 355f jumps in) It ISNT perfect (2 sd cards and 1 unit later) but the customer care is excellent and the product ticked all the boxes I wanted/needed.
Go down your local Halfrauds and check a few units out
>> Edited by njw 77 on Saturday 29th April 14:29
355f said:
look at the snooper indago
its light years away from the RA navigator
How do you upgrade the camera database on the Indago? Is it by subscription or free? And is it full European road mapping? Or just major roads? Just that I notice it only has a 256mb sd card?
Looks a nice neat unit.
All of the systems with revenue camera detection are updated over the Net, usually with a subscription after the first free six months. The question I haven't seen asked is: how do you update the mapping data? The major players all use Navteq, and I have been told that you simply buy new info from Navteq. Having spoken to them they know nothing about this. They mainly supply CD updates for up-market in-car systems. Nevertheless one company assured me that you upgrade the SD card via the internet ... interesting!
My earlier views about the RA Navigator have not changed despite our now being on replacement unit five or six (I've really lost count)- and this after seven months use. Yes, the Blackspot people are helpful, but the units keep freezing - and trying to perform a cold boot when you're on a motorway is not clever. Oh yes, don't wear polaroid shades - they play all hell with the Navigator display.
Has anyone yet any info on the new Evesham Bluemedia BM6300 TMC? I went into an Evesham store to enquire... I'd have done better going into MacDonalds! Anyone know what operating system they use? I've had one suggestion that it's Linux.
Chris A.
My earlier views about the RA Navigator have not changed despite our now being on replacement unit five or six (I've really lost count)- and this after seven months use. Yes, the Blackspot people are helpful, but the units keep freezing - and trying to perform a cold boot when you're on a motorway is not clever. Oh yes, don't wear polaroid shades - they play all hell with the Navigator display.
Has anyone yet any info on the new Evesham Bluemedia BM6300 TMC? I went into an Evesham store to enquire... I'd have done better going into MacDonalds! Anyone know what operating system they use? I've had one suggestion that it's Linux.
Chris A.
Perhaps it's bad form to follow up your own posting ? Whatever.
The latest (six/seven?? And that in 7.5 months) Navigator replacement failed yet again - same faults. It's now going back to Networx Automotive who have agreed a direct exchange for a Snooper Indago.
I did ring Evesham to try to find out more about their Bluemedia BM6300 TMC. They weren't much more helpful than the local Evesham store! Subsequently I read the review on their site; the FM receiver is a separate unit needing its own connexns, and you end up with wires all over the dashboard ... no thanks!
Black Spot say that they are bringing out their own 'traffic management' version of the Navigator 'some time in the future', and that it will use the mobile phone system instead of FM. I wonder what the ongoing cost will be - the BM6300 TMC at least has a life-time licence for the Trafficmaster RDS service.
Chris A.
The latest (six/seven?? And that in 7.5 months) Navigator replacement failed yet again - same faults. It's now going back to Networx Automotive who have agreed a direct exchange for a Snooper Indago.
I did ring Evesham to try to find out more about their Bluemedia BM6300 TMC. They weren't much more helpful than the local Evesham store! Subsequently I read the review on their site; the FM receiver is a separate unit needing its own connexns, and you end up with wires all over the dashboard ... no thanks!
Black Spot say that they are bringing out their own 'traffic management' version of the Navigator 'some time in the future', and that it will use the mobile phone system instead of FM. I wonder what the ongoing cost will be - the BM6300 TMC at least has a life-time licence for the Trafficmaster RDS service.
Chris A.
ChrisA. said:
Perhaps it's bad form to follow up your own posting ? Whatever.
The latest (six/seven?? And that in 7.5 months) Navigator replacement failed yet again - same faults. It's now going back to Networx Automotive who have agreed a direct exchange for a Snooper Indago.
I did ring Evesham to try to find out more about their Bluemedia BM6300 TMC. They weren't much more helpful than the local Evesham store! Subsequently I read the review on their site; the FM receiver is a separate unit needing its own connexns, and you end up with wires all over the dashboard ... no thanks!
Black Spot say that they are bringing out their own 'traffic management' version of the Navigator 'some time in the future', and that it will use the mobile phone system instead of FM. I wonder what the ongoing cost will be - the BM6300 TMC at least has a life-time licence for the Trafficmaster RDS service.
Chris A.
Thats more than just bad luck Chris. The Indago does look good. Is it a subscription service for the camera database?
FWIW (anyone else?) my Nav has been struggling to find a sat lock when first turning on recently. Called Blackspot, the chap said to turn the unit off rather than standby if leaving it off for more than an hour. Works a treat again (just a pain in the arse seeing as I have no nails)
Well, the Snooper Indago replacement for all those defective Road Angel Navigators arrived on Saturday morning exactly when the nice people from NetworX Automotive said it would. First impressions very good, it's a really neat good-looking unit.
As soon as we took it out to the car it positively grabbed the satellites in no time at all! Initial road-testing was, and continues to be, very satisfactory. I can now see why so many postings have showered praise on this device.
The manufacturers tell me that they are actively working on a system of upgrading the mapping software, they suggested that it might be covered by the subscription for upgrading the revenue camera data ... nice idea, but I can't see their bean-counters agreeing to that :-)
Shame about the Road Angel; Black Spot were very helpful but you can only go so far when an expensive product continually fails to deliver.
BTW. Did anyone catch the Trevor Macdonald programme the other evening with the road test between car using satnav and car using maps? Some test! The car with the map had a separate navigator, and the driver using the satnav seemed determined to misuse it! Some test!
Chris A.
As soon as we took it out to the car it positively grabbed the satellites in no time at all! Initial road-testing was, and continues to be, very satisfactory. I can now see why so many postings have showered praise on this device.
The manufacturers tell me that they are actively working on a system of upgrading the mapping software, they suggested that it might be covered by the subscription for upgrading the revenue camera data ... nice idea, but I can't see their bean-counters agreeing to that :-)
Shame about the Road Angel; Black Spot were very helpful but you can only go so far when an expensive product continually fails to deliver.
BTW. Did anyone catch the Trevor Macdonald programme the other evening with the road test between car using satnav and car using maps? Some test! The car with the map had a separate navigator, and the driver using the satnav seemed determined to misuse it! Some test!
Chris A.
Does the indigo have the following:
1) the ability to receive traffic updates and route you around problems
2) directional scamera warnings
3) a display showing your speed and the speed of the road you are on
4) scamera warnings which don't go potty when you are below the speed limit?
Thanks
miles
1) the ability to receive traffic updates and route you around problems
2) directional scamera warnings
3) a display showing your speed and the speed of the road you are on
4) scamera warnings which don't go potty when you are below the speed limit?
Thanks
miles
I was a very happy user of the RA 2 for almost 2 years so much so that after the initial 6 free months I subscribed for 2 years to the updates.
Recently the RA packed up intermittently and one has to either tap on the front screen or plug/unplug it for 20 times managing not to move the plug on the back when the RA comes back to life.
Reading that there is only a 1 year warranty for a £300 devices (that was the price I paid at the time) I realized how cheaply made this device is.
There is no point to call the RA firm because it will refer to the 1-year only warranty.
So?
So this ruled out another purchase from a company with such "policies". Simple.
I then put an order for the Snooper Indago: initially I wanted the RA Navigator for speed cameras and Sat Nav together...
I feel hard done by Blackspot.com and while the database seems ok, my trust and confidence in the firm has been definetely killed.
The Snooper offers a TWO year warranty extended to FIVE when one subscribes to the update.
A device can break down, fair enough. But where is a really good protection of the customer in this case?
Consumers will vote with their wallets: either Blackspot will offer a genuine warranty or... else
Will come back on the Indago as soon as I get it and I start to use it.
A67
Recently the RA packed up intermittently and one has to either tap on the front screen or plug/unplug it for 20 times managing not to move the plug on the back when the RA comes back to life.
Reading that there is only a 1 year warranty for a £300 devices (that was the price I paid at the time) I realized how cheaply made this device is.
There is no point to call the RA firm because it will refer to the 1-year only warranty.
So?
So this ruled out another purchase from a company with such "policies". Simple.
I then put an order for the Snooper Indago: initially I wanted the RA Navigator for speed cameras and Sat Nav together...
I feel hard done by Blackspot.com and while the database seems ok, my trust and confidence in the firm has been definetely killed.
The Snooper offers a TWO year warranty extended to FIVE when one subscribes to the update.
A device can break down, fair enough. But where is a really good protection of the customer in this case?
Consumers will vote with their wallets: either Blackspot will offer a genuine warranty or... else
Will come back on the Indago as soon as I get it and I start to use it.
A67
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