Garmin satnavs

[Simpo Two]

The satnav forum seems to have gone so hopefully this is the next best place.

It's time to replace my ageing TomTom One with something bigger and newer. I had a Garmin with a car rental and was very impressed with it so am looking at Garmins with lifetime maps and traffic.

After much browing on Amazon and Garmin's own website I think I've got my head round most of the options and was about to make a decision...

https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/catalog/product/co...

Just one stumbling block - does anyone know the difference between 'Traffic compatible (routes around traffic with a receiver and subscription)' and 'Lifetime traffic updates (receive free lifetime traffic updates)'?

If I want to dodge traffic jams do I need a subscription? And if so, what is the ordinary 'traffic' for? All the satnavs selected do both, so I'm confused...

[marshalla]

"Lifetime traffic" means a subscription to the traffic service is included. Without that it either doesn't route around traffic, or relies on public broadcasts rather than a dedicated service.

http://www8.garmin.com/traffic/ gives a bit more info. about the services.

[Simpo Two]

marshalla said:

"Lifetime traffic" means a subscription to the traffic service is included. Without that it either doesn't route around traffic, or relies on public broadcasts rather than a dedicated service.

Thanks - but why do they break it into two rows? All the models selected have 'lifetime traffic', which to me means you get traffic alerts for ever without paying any extra.

marshalla said:

http://www8.garmin.com/traffic/ gives a bit more info. about the services.

The middle one is out as I don't use a smartphone. Other than than I can't see any real difference between Traffic and Digital Traffic. Is the latter better in reality or is it simply for people who think anything digital is more desirable?

This is the problem - there are several overlapping services all of which are marketed as fantastic, but are all different, and then the marketing department renames them all as well! It's impossible, just by reading, to distinguish them into good, better, best.

[marshalla]

Simpo Two said:

The middle one is out as I don't use a smartphone. Other than than I can't see any real difference between Traffic and Digital Traffic. Is the latter better in reality or is it simply for people who think anything digital is more desirable?

Look at the coverage lists.

ETA - it might help if I link to the UK site rather than USA : http://www.garmin.com/en-GB/traffic

Edited by marshalla on Thursday 7th January 11:47

[Simpo Two]

marshalla said:

Look at the coverage lists.

I saw those on my original researches, and FM (ie not digital) has many more countries covered. That said I don't anticipate using this abroad, only mainland UK. So as far as the UK is concerned, is traffic data reception the same as for radio channels? As far as radio goes, I'm perfectly happy with FM.

[marshalla]

Simpo Two said:

I saw those on my original researches, and FM (ie not digital) has many more countries covered. That said I don't anticipate using this abroad, only mainland UK. So as far as the UK is concerned, is traffic data reception the same as for radio channels? As far as radio goes, I'm perfectly happy with FM.

I think the difference may be the rate at which the various channels get updated. Since FM & DAB use public broadcast, they're likely to be a bit slower than an on-demand data "pull" over the mobile network.

That said, I've had a unit with the FM traffic data for several years now and it seems to do a pretty good job of avoiding major problems on the roads which are covered (it uses data from the Traffic master blue camera network).

[Simpo Two]

marshalla said:

I think the difference may be the rate at which the various channels get updated. Since FM & DAB use public broadcast, they're likely to be a bit slower than an on-demand data "pull" over the mobile network.

Thanks. There's no mobile network involved (no smartphone) so if FM and DAB have the same data pull then I'll probably stay with FM. The roads most likely to be affected by jams etc are motorways and A roads so covered by the blue cameras.

Suddenly there's no mention of speed cameras. Presume these are included?

[marshalla]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks. There's no mobile network involved (no smartphone) so if FM and DAB have the same data pull then I'll probably stay with FM. The roads most likely to be affected by jams etc are motorways and A roads so covered by the blue cameras.

Suddenly there's no mention of speed cameras. Presume these are included?

FM & DAB are technically "push" since the network sends the data to all devices at the same time. They should be using the same data.

Separate subscription for cameras on mine (which I haven't taken up) - or add a POI database. Mine has a speed limit warning built-in anyway.

[Simpo Two]

marshalla said:

Separate subscription for cameras on mine (which I haven't taken up) - or add a POI database. Mine has a speed limit warning built-in anyway.

I selected the shortlist from Garmin's own website and selected 'safety cameras'. So in theory they should all do it. And now that I get to the final cut, that parameter has disappeared. Once again, just as I think I've worked it out, it throws a googly at me...

There are too many models, too many options and the marketing/presentation thereof would confuse Stephen Hawking.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 7th January 20:30

[waremark]

I think DAB gives much more frequent updates of more detailed data. My unit has lifetime digital, and does not include camera updates, Even after buying these things it is difficult to work out what is going on.

[Elderly]

Simpo Two said:

It's time to replace my ageing TomTom One with something bigger and newer. I had a Garmin with a car rental and was very impressed with it so am looking at Garmins with lifetime maps and traffic.

...

Ah - Garmin v. TomTom (see Nikon v. Canon )

I've only had experience of Garmin (I initially chose them for reports of MUCH better customer service). My first one was 5 years ago and had RDS traffic and my latest one (18 months old) has 'Digital' traffic, and on UK main roads the latest incarnation regarding traffic info. is much better.

However, I do have reservations about Garmin's routing; If you don't know where you are going
it is great, BUT, on so many occasions where I know of what I think is a better route and choose to ignore the satnav, it quickly re-calculates and confirms that the time to arrival is in fact quicker my way.

[Simpo Two]

Interesting, thanks folks.

Elderly said:

However, I do have reservations about Garmin's routing; If you don't know where you are going it is great, BUT, on so many occasions where I know of what I think is a better route and choose to ignore the satnav, it quickly re-calculates and confirms that the time to arrival is in fact quicker my way.

I found the TomTom to be the same.

Garmin's service does seem to be good; I asked them about the speed camera aspect and they replied:

'The Safety Cameras are built into your device when we manufacture it, however the length of time between the manufacture and you actually purchasing the device means the Safety Camera data may not be the latest version.

There are 2 different options for the Safety Camera updates that we have available. The first is a Free Trial for 30 days which enables you to update the Safety Cameras on your device free of charge for 30 days.

The second is a 12 months Safety Camera Subscription. This update will allow you to update the database as frequently as possible while the subscription is active. The cost of this 12 month subscription ranges between £15-£25 depending on the region you wish to update.

If you are looking to update the Safety Cameras for the Full European region, you can also update with a Onetime update at a cost of £12.99.'


So there doesn't seem to be a 'lifetime cameras' option.

[Toffer]

This may be helpful John?
Mercedes S Class has a straight-talking smooth sounding lady, who sometimes says odd things...map presentation is instantaneous and route calculations rapid. Map updates are expensive (£150 for a DVD).
Audi A6 has a business-like lady, who sometimes provides just too much detail for obvious turns. Maps and visual directions are the best of any I have seen. Maps are on a memory card. I guess the VW family all use similar systems (not sure though).
Garmin has a slightly robotic sounding voice presentation (can be irritating), great maps and rapid route finding, tried and tested in many countries I have visited. Sometimes takes a couple of minutes to find satellites. Updates are brilliant, mine has lifetime map updates that allows a couple of updates each year and when you plug the SatNav into the PC it is instantly recognised by Garmin.
I have used Tom Tom SatNav with a number of hire cars and personally prefer Garmin, but that is probably due to my familiarity with their operating methodology.
Good luck with your search for SatNav nirvana...

[Simpo Two]

Thanks Chris - in fact I tried two Garmins (always get these things from Amazon!). The cheaper one had analogue traffic and failed to find a signal in a whole 30 mile journey, so it went back. The other one had digial traffic which did find a signal, but out of four journeys, twice it missed junctions (trying to direct me through the armco well after the slip road had passed) and failed to warn of a fixed speed camera that had been there for 15 years.

I concluded TomTom was better, but unless you cart a smartphone about (I don't) you have to spend £180 to get traffic. So in the end I decided I didn't really need one, and will make do with the clunky 10y/o one in the Jag, and Google Maps to be sure!

[wildatheart]

These units that pull traffic info over DAB or FM - does this mean these don't have a build in SIM card and they are receive only, they don't transmit to log onto a network?

[marshalla]

wildatheart said:

These units that pull traffic info over DAB or FM - does this mean these don't have a build in SIM card and they are receive only, they don't transmit to log onto a network?

Yes. They don't disclose anything about your location, speed etc., they just receive data from the broadcast network.