Best Sat Nav/GPS camera location combo
Discussion
okay, ive been using an old TomTom system on my PDA for a few years... and now ive got the new car i fancy one of the new TomTom all in one style nav systems...
However, i have noticed Road Angel navigator - which includes a GPS speed camera warning - and while i could download the camera POI on my existing TomTom, i dont know the extent on the all-in-one capabilities..
So, my question is, has anyone used the Road Angel navigator? is it worth it?
I have heard some TomTom's act as a bluetooth handsfree kit as well - which ones? that would be a nice addition.
However, i have noticed Road Angel navigator - which includes a GPS speed camera warning - and while i could download the camera POI on my existing TomTom, i dont know the extent on the all-in-one capabilities..
So, my question is, has anyone used the Road Angel navigator? is it worth it?
I have heard some TomTom's act as a bluetooth handsfree kit as well - which ones? that would be a nice addition.
Oooh, can of worms time 
Those of us with RA Navigators (mostly) love them. The early ones had problems not locking on to satellites and 'crashing' but this seems to have been addressed with the most recent software updates.
Those who use Tom Toms (and yes Ive seen plenty of 'My Tom Tom's broken' on here, but they seem to overlook that) prefer their machines.
My sister has a Tom Tom One/Go (not sure) and I found it fiddley to use (being unaccustomed to the operation) and I found the POI download (£2 a pop) a bit of a PITA compared to the Navigators virtual plug and play (all IMO of course).
Also I believe the Tom Tom POI/camera database isnt directional as it is on the RA.
The RA is pricier to buy and you do need a £4 subscription to keep the camera database bang up to date
The newer RA Navi 6000 is cheaper (and slightly smaller in overall size..screen the same) than the original Navi but IIRC there are some features not available on the 6000 that are on the original Navi.
HTH
Those of us with RA Navigators (mostly) love them. The early ones had problems not locking on to satellites and 'crashing' but this seems to have been addressed with the most recent software updates.
Those who use Tom Toms (and yes Ive seen plenty of 'My Tom Tom's broken' on here, but they seem to overlook that) prefer their machines.
My sister has a Tom Tom One/Go (not sure) and I found it fiddley to use (being unaccustomed to the operation) and I found the POI download (£2 a pop) a bit of a PITA compared to the Navigators virtual plug and play (all IMO of course).
Also I believe the Tom Tom POI/camera database isnt directional as it is on the RA.
The RA is pricier to buy and you do need a £4 subscription to keep the camera database bang up to date
The newer RA Navi 6000 is cheaper (and slightly smaller in overall size..screen the same) than the original Navi but IIRC there are some features not available on the 6000 that are on the original Navi.
HTH
Edited by FUBAR on Monday 11th September 12:40
I'm looking at these at the moment... another good option (similar to the RA) is the snooper indago (sp?)... its the same thing with a sat nav and gps speed camera locator. priced around the same as the RA equivalent, but having spent a while on internet sites looking at reviews i reckon the snooper sounds better.
I think the best advice is to go and have a look at them all in a shop and see which you personally like (before buying them cheaper off tinternet)... thats what i'm going to do before i invest a few hundred of my hard earned pounds!
Gez
I think the best advice is to go and have a look at them all in a shop and see which you personally like (before buying them cheaper off tinternet)... thats what i'm going to do before i invest a few hundred of my hard earned pounds!
Gez
as an afterthought... i can't remember which one it is, but i think that one of them might collate the information form other people's stored locations of new cameras to help update their datatbase meaning that as long as few users have passed a new site and stored it (and synchronised their data) before you, then you should get a relatively good up to date database of the new camera locations.
I'd go with the RA Navigator (original) if you want a higher end product or the 6000 for a basic one which doesn't cost too much. As for the differences I've explained it before but to save you using the search here it is copied and pasted:
Firstly the biggest difference is the functionality of the mapping. The 6000 is basic where you put in a destination and it tells you where to go. The Navigator allows you to view your journey turn by turn and avoid specific parts of that journey if you so wish, and allows you to choose to optimise your journey if you have multiple destinations, e.g. you can say you want to end at one point via here, here, and here and the Navigator will calculate an optimised route for you. On the 6000 though to avoid a part of Road you have to choose a diversion based on a given distance for a Road block, e.g. 1/2 mile, 1 mile or 3 miles and it looks at your journey and guesses where that Roadblock could be. Which to be honest isn't the easiest thing to use. The only other way to avoid a specific Road is to know an alternative yourself and put in a destination to go via. They're the main differences I can work out so far.
Before moving on to an all in one I had an original TomTom Go which I put the cameras on to and found their database to be lacking so tried Pocket GPS and that wasn't much better, hence changing to the all in one. While looking I went around and tested a few in shops and narrowed it down to the RA Nav/6000 and Snooper Indago but after seeing a demo of the Indago I was put right off, due to the airport tannoy impression it does every time it tells you a direction. The sales guy was a bit crap and probably didn't know how to turn it off but told me you couldn't so it was out of the 2 RA products. After visiting a halfords and Motorserve I decided who better to talk to the RA themselves so on the phone I got and they explained all the features of the 2. I'd definately recommend speaking to them and even their support is top notch when I had a few problems. The only reason I ended up buying the 6000 is because it was such a good price and did all the things I wanted, plus it left me with a bit of money to spend on the car whats more important than that.
Anyway hope that helps
Firstly the biggest difference is the functionality of the mapping. The 6000 is basic where you put in a destination and it tells you where to go. The Navigator allows you to view your journey turn by turn and avoid specific parts of that journey if you so wish, and allows you to choose to optimise your journey if you have multiple destinations, e.g. you can say you want to end at one point via here, here, and here and the Navigator will calculate an optimised route for you. On the 6000 though to avoid a part of Road you have to choose a diversion based on a given distance for a Road block, e.g. 1/2 mile, 1 mile or 3 miles and it looks at your journey and guesses where that Roadblock could be. Which to be honest isn't the easiest thing to use. The only other way to avoid a specific Road is to know an alternative yourself and put in a destination to go via. They're the main differences I can work out so far.
Before moving on to an all in one I had an original TomTom Go which I put the cameras on to and found their database to be lacking so tried Pocket GPS and that wasn't much better, hence changing to the all in one. While looking I went around and tested a few in shops and narrowed it down to the RA Nav/6000 and Snooper Indago but after seeing a demo of the Indago I was put right off, due to the airport tannoy impression it does every time it tells you a direction. The sales guy was a bit crap and probably didn't know how to turn it off but told me you couldn't so it was out of the 2 RA products. After visiting a halfords and Motorserve I decided who better to talk to the RA themselves so on the phone I got and they explained all the features of the 2. I'd definately recommend speaking to them and even their support is top notch when I had a few problems. The only reason I ended up buying the 6000 is because it was such a good price and did all the things I wanted, plus it left me with a bit of money to spend on the car whats more important than that.
Anyway hope that helps
I've had the Snooper Ingago for the last 3 months and cannot fault it at all,
It gets signal almost instantly, is so accurate its uncanny, the screen is very clear and easy to read with just a quick glance,
not had any problems with the voice in fact its one of the best I've heard (the worst being my old Origin B2!)
I love the metal construction and the stubby antenna which even works through a heat reflective screen whicj shows how good it is,
Personaly I would'nt touch the RA Navigator I've heard nothing but bad news about them, and the user reviews on here alone are not good...
www.pistonheads.com/reviews/reviews.asp?c=53&id=531
If I lost my Indago tomorrow I'd go straight out and get another, its that good,
It gets signal almost instantly, is so accurate its uncanny, the screen is very clear and easy to read with just a quick glance,
not had any problems with the voice in fact its one of the best I've heard (the worst being my old Origin B2!)
I love the metal construction and the stubby antenna which even works through a heat reflective screen whicj shows how good it is,
Personaly I would'nt touch the RA Navigator I've heard nothing but bad news about them, and the user reviews on here alone are not good...
www.pistonheads.com/reviews/reviews.asp?c=53&id=531
If I lost my Indago tomorrow I'd go straight out and get another, its that good,
mrsimba said:
I've had the Snooper Ingago for the last 3 months and cannot fault it at all,
It gets signal almost instantly, is so accurate its uncanny, the screen is very clear and easy to read with just a quick glance,
not had any problems with the voice in fact its one of the best I've heard (the worst being my old Origin B2!)
I love the metal construction and the stubby antenna which even works through a heat reflective screen whicj shows how good it is,
Personaly I would'nt touch the RA Navigator I've heard nothing but bad news about them, and the user reviews on here alone are not good...
www.pistonheads.com/reviews/reviews.asp?c=53&id=531
If I lost my Indago tomorrow I'd go straight out and get another, its that good,
It gets signal almost instantly, is so accurate its uncanny, the screen is very clear and easy to read with just a quick glance,
not had any problems with the voice in fact its one of the best I've heard (the worst being my old Origin B2!)
I love the metal construction and the stubby antenna which even works through a heat reflective screen whicj shows how good it is,
Personaly I would'nt touch the RA Navigator I've heard nothing but bad news about them, and the user reviews on here alone are not good...
www.pistonheads.com/reviews/reviews.asp?c=53&id=531
If I lost my Indago tomorrow I'd go straight out and get another, its that good,
I had forgotton about the Indago when I wrote my reply above. By all accounts a good unit, though the brief demo I had on the stand at the Motorshow didnt sway me away from the RA.
Thats the thing with PH (and I assume other forums) is peeps have bad experiences with things they write a bad report, but far too few of us with positive experiences post up the positive. Yes there where problems with the RA when it first came out, and plenty of peeps wrote up theri problems. Now the problems appear to have been addressed no one can be bothered to assess them in their current state.
'Personally' Id go for the RA Navi or the Indago (on reccomendations).
Bar the price, I dont 'get' Tom Tom. All IMHO of course
www.blackspot.com
That's their own website which you can order from and if you order before 12pm you receive next day. It doesn't matter where you buy it from I haven't found anywhere cheaper than the £250 RRP.
You get the windscreen mount/kit in the box, USB cable, manual and 6000 with stylus. Other accessories are available from them direct most importantly the vent mount which I believe is now available which I'll be ordering soon, this way thieving scum don't get to see suction marks on the windscreen as that's all it takes for them to break in.
That's their own website which you can order from and if you order before 12pm you receive next day. It doesn't matter where you buy it from I haven't found anywhere cheaper than the £250 RRP.
You get the windscreen mount/kit in the box, USB cable, manual and 6000 with stylus. Other accessories are available from them direct most importantly the vent mount which I believe is now available which I'll be ordering soon, this way thieving scum don't get to see suction marks on the windscreen as that's all it takes for them to break in.
FUBAR said:
Oooh, can of worms time
Those of us with RA Navigators (mostly) love them. The early ones had problems not locking on to satellites and 'crashing' but this seems to have been addressed with the most recent software updates.
Those who use Tom Toms (and yes Ive seen plenty of 'My Tom Tom's broken' on here, but they seem to overlook that) prefer their machines.
HTH
Those of us with RA Navigators (mostly) love them. The early ones had problems not locking on to satellites and 'crashing' but this seems to have been addressed with the most recent software updates.
Those who use Tom Toms (and yes Ive seen plenty of 'My Tom Tom's broken' on here, but they seem to overlook that) prefer their machines.
HTH
Edited by FUBAR on Monday 11th September 12:40
You ever thought that TomTom out sell RA hugley, I know no one with a RA, And I have only seen them in one shop, the fact that 6 people in the UK own a RA limits the amount of brake downs (and most that do are caused by the user!!)
I'd go for a TomTom One v2 £200 from Ebuyer, and download the camera data base from PocketGPSworld, and also the capture software so you can update there data base with new spots and get free downloads for life!
Also, if the One v2 is like the v1 getting a lock takes at most 5 seconds!
Oh, and FULL postcode/house number search.
I Cliked on the Link, the RA really has some fans!!!
Oh, the One doesn't act as a handsfree kit, but then no one on here would use a phone whilst driving anyway would they, no one is that important!
Also, if the One v2 is like the v1 getting a lock takes at most 5 seconds!
Oh, and FULL postcode/house number search.
I Cliked on the Link, the RA really has some fans!!!
Oh, the One doesn't act as a handsfree kit, but then no one on here would use a phone whilst driving anyway would they, no one is that important!
Edited by combemarshal on Tuesday 12th September 19:55
I looked at the Pocket GPS World 'map' of their camera database and I'm sure its generaly good but,
It sited two sites both less than 1/2 mile from my house as mobile sites and I have never seen a mobile camera there or ever heard of anyone who had, a client even lives across the road from where one is marked and he's never seen one there either,
Maybe there was one there once and a user 'marked' it but to get a warning there everytime would be very inacurate and it makes me wonder about the rest of the database,
and if I'm not mistaken is the database non-directional?
I like the ability of the GPS to tell me of a cameras presence and also if it is a threat not warm me if one is pointing at the traffic in the other carrageway
It sited two sites both less than 1/2 mile from my house as mobile sites and I have never seen a mobile camera there or ever heard of anyone who had, a client even lives across the road from where one is marked and he's never seen one there either,
Maybe there was one there once and a user 'marked' it but to get a warning there everytime would be very inacurate and it makes me wonder about the rest of the database,
and if I'm not mistaken is the database non-directional?
I like the ability of the GPS to tell me of a cameras presence and also if it is a threat not warm me if one is pointing at the traffic in the other carrageway
fidgits said:
The only difference i can see between the navigator and the 6000 is the full one has the docking station? Seems an awful little difference for 150 quid?
I couldnt see anything about vent mounting though?
I couldnt see anything about vent mounting though?
I was told about it while speaking to one of the sales people on the phone. I knew they were bringing it out but not 100% when it's available but I'm gonna try ringing them at the end of the month to find out again.
As far as TomTom outselling RA, they are in a way aimed at different audiences, with RA only recently coming in to the sat nav market therefore a newcomer so to speak. TomTom has been around quite a while so therefore would have the bigger market, but as a speed camera detector I believe you'd find RA are one of the top sellers. For the purpose I wouldn't go with a tomtom with PGPS database as it's not worth it as said having non directional alerts would be quite annoying. I agree with Fubar about people not giving praise when due but only speaking up when a problem is found, that's why I never believe all the bad stories told. BEst way to find out is go and try before you buy.
Furyous said:
Out of personal interest, are any of the combi units able to have a file loaded that gives low bridge sites, and even ideally, width restrictions ?
Cheers
F
Cheers
F
I'm pretty sure that you can get the Indago 'trucker version' which does have low bridge warnings etc... but i think its a fair bit more expensive.
Gez
Between the RA and Indago my preference would always be the Indago, as it uses NavTech rather than TeleAtlas mapping data, which is considered to be fair superior and in my experience with TomTom (TeleAtlas) and Garmin (NavTech) that certainly holds true.
Also worth considering are some of the Garmin units, which IMO are easier to use and better build than anything else.
Also worth considering are some of the Garmin units, which IMO are easier to use and better build than anything else.
Depends which RA you go for as the original has Navteq mapping while the 6000 has Teleatlas. I do agree though as I've tried the majority of navigators working for PC World and having to sell them all the time I can say Navteq mapping is slightly better with stored locations but teleatlas I find is better for actual road graphics e.g. it's not like a dot to dot with straight lines it's more fluid so you can get a better representation of the road you're on.
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