Is this the end for satnavs without smartphones?

[Simpo Two]

As my lifestyle doesn't depend on carting a smartphone around with me I rarely use one. So when preparing for a trip through France last year I bought a Tom Tom 6100 which has a built-in SIM so it does live traffic all on its own, without a smartphone in the vicinity. An excellent result!

And once again I am reminded why I try not to engage in too much tech - because as soon as you get something working it stops working and you have to buy another one.

Got this today from Tom Tom:

TomTom said:

Changes in your TomTom device when driving in France
Dear Customer,

As part of a national plan to modernize telecommunications, French mobile operators (including Orange, SFR, and Bouygues Telecom) are beginning the complete shutdown of the 2G network.

Why this matters for your TomTom:

Your device uses the 2G network via its built-in SIM card to receive real-time updates. When you travel in France, 2G coverage will gradually disappear from March 2026 and be fully decommissioned by the end of 2026. This means that, while driving in France, your device will lose its built-in connection to real-time services such as TomTom Traffic, Danger Zones Alerts, and more.

The good news:

Your sat-nav will continue to function normally for navigation using offline maps, and you will continue to receive map updates as usual to ensure route accuracy.
Stay Connected: Upgrade your ride
To keep enjoying connected services like TomTom Traffic and Danger Zones Alerts while travelling in France, you can upgrade to one of our latest TomTom sat-navs. These new models use Bluetooth® wireless technology to connect to your smartphone for real-time updates through modern 4G and 5G networks.

We are offering you an exclusive 25% discount until 31 March 2026 on TomTom.com for your upgrade.

Visit tomtom.com, choose your new sat-nav, and use the coupon code ema2gsp2602 at checkout.

Happy driving.

The TomTom Team

So am I doomed to have to have to buy ANOTHER satnav and then carry TWO gadgets around with me because they CBA to put the live traffic gubbins in the satnav? Is there any satnav unit that can do live traffic on its own?

(I know smartphones can do satnav but I don't like them, nor do I want two brackets and two sets of wires festooning the dashboard).


For your amusement, after Tesco PAYG was closed down recently I was forced to move to a Lebara £5pcm deal. Here's my usage for month one:
Calls: 0 mins
Data: 0 Gb
Texts: 1

I don't remember sending a text so not sure where that came from.

[BertBert]

Pointless whinge imv. Just get a phone, cross out the word phone in your brain with crayon and write satnav there instead. Job jobbed

[QuartzDad]

Looks like the 6100 can get traffic updates from a bluetooth internet connection, does your phone have hotspot capabilty?

[craigjm]

moans about not wanting to carry a phone. Buys a device that acts like an ancient phone and then is surprised when its switched off. Maybe if one is so anti technology in their lives a paper map would fit the bill much better. Why not get a smartphone and remove all the apps other than the phone app and the map app and its job done.

[Mammasaid]

QuartzDad said:

Looks like the 6100 can get traffic updates from a bluetooth internet connection, does your phone have hotspot capability?

I don't think the OP believes in smartphones....

[MrBen.911]

Surely a cheap smartphone is cheaper than a satnav? Just buy a phone and don't give anyone the number, if you are worried somebody might call!!

[Castrol for a knave]

MrBen.911 said:

Surely a cheap smartphone is cheaper than a satnav? Just buy a phone and don't give anyone the number, if you are worried somebody might call!!

Do you even need a sim?

Can't he just go into CEX and get a Samsung.

or buy a map with his Greenshield stamps and use "flatnav".

[Arrivalist]

Carting a smartphone around?

Mine’s in my pocket and I only notice I have it when it rings or I need to use one of its may functions, such as Waze

Hardly carting!

[Funk]

"I want to use modern technology but I don't like modern technology. Why doesn't the 10 year old modern technology I bought last year work now?"

BertBert said:

Pointless whinge imv. Just get a phone, cross out the word phone in your brain with crayon and write satnav there instead. Job jobbed

Exactly.

You can buy a phone that'll run Google Maps or Waze with live traffic, speed traps etc for £100.

Edited by Funk on Friday 13th February 16:22

[the-norseman]

OP might be time to buy a copy of the latest AA map or who ever makes them these days.

[98elise]

BertBert said:

Pointless whinge imv. Just get a phone, cross out the word phone in your brain with crayon and write satnav there instead. Job jobbed

Agreed. Just use a phone as a Satnav.

My mother recently had to upgrade to a smartphone as her ancient dumb phone died. Despite owning a tablet she really resisted getting one as she didn't want/need apps when shopping etc.

I had to explain that its still a phone, all she has to do is ignore all the other stuff it can do.

[Simpo Two]

QuartzDad said:

Looks like the 6100 can get traffic updates from a bluetooth internet connection, does your phone have hotspot capabilty?

Thanks for the reply.

Somewhat to my surprise it has, but that would still be two boxes and two leads.

If there's no satnav that can do live traffic without another gadget strapped to it (they call it progress) I'll skip that facility and just wing it.

[Pica-Pica]

I don't get the necessity for the vitriol to OP.
I only recently got a smart phone. My wife still has a feature phone. After the with drawal of the Apple iPhone 13 mini, there not many small phones about.
For OP, perhaps a tablet with cellular capability would be best.
I use my cars Sat Nav, but in my wife's Fabia (sans Sat Nav) Waze works pretty well.
You may have to go down the smartphone route, just don't use it for calls. Try it as a stand alone web device, and keep a small feature (aka dumb phone) for calls. I rarely get calls, and many people just used messaging.
Google tend to have long support periods for the operating system. If you get a smartphone, I would strongly suggest it has:

5G capability
Satellite emergency call capability
A refresh rate of 120 Hz or more

Edited by Pica-Pica on Friday 13th February 16:43

[Pica-Pica]

Simpo Two said:

QuartzDad said:

Looks like the 6100 can get traffic updates from a bluetooth internet connection, does your phone have hotspot capabilty?

Thanks for the reply.

Somewhat to my surprise it has, but that would still be two boxes and two leads.

If there's no satnav that can do live traffic without another gadget strapped to it (they call it progress) I'll skip that facility and just wing it.

Live traffic updates cannot ace local/region knowledge. I have often been directed away from or advised of hold ups that soon dissipate.

[Monkeylegend]

Just upgraded my 3g phone with Tesco's for the grand sum of £34 for a brand new 4g phone and they reduced the monthly contract from £13.08 to £9, sat nav on phone included. It would have been £10 a month without a clubcard.

I call that a result.

[Simpo Two]

Pica-Pica said:

I don't get the necessity for the vitriol to OP.

Thank you; I am continually amazed how so many people can't function without a smartphone. A busy salesman perhaps, but otherwise? Most of it can wait until you get home.

Pica-Pica said:

Live traffic updates cannot ace local/region knowledge. I have often been directed away from or advised of hold ups that soon dissipate.

Locally I'd agree (I know where I'm going so don't need satnav); the issue is for journeys to new places over unknown roads. The TomTom did a brilliant job to the south of France last year.

Monkeylegend said:

Just upgraded my 3g phone with Tesco's for the grand sum of £34 for a brand new 4g phone and they reduced the monthly contract from £13.08 to £9, sat nav on phone included. It would have been £10 a month without a clubcard.

I call that a result.

I now pay (grudgingly) £5pcm for 5Gb data, but my phone (Nokia CO2) is slow and takes ages to do anything. I don't want to spend more money on one because I won't use it, I have a desktop and laptop for internet and a proper keyboard for typing. It's not big enough to make a decent satnav anyway; the Tom Tom is designed for the job.

So the question comes back to whether any satnav can now do live traffic without a helper device, and if not, why TomTom, Garmin etc have reduced the functionality of their new products so that people with smartphones no longer need them...!

[RizzoTheRat]

Simpo Two said:

Thank you; I am continually amazed how so many people can't function without a smartphone. A busy salesman perhaps, but otherwise? Most of it can wait until you get home.

don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you can't either

Simpo Two said:

So the question comes back to whether any satnav can now do live traffic without a helper device, and if not, why TomTom, Garmin etc have reduced the functionality of their new products so that people with smartphones no longer need them...!

Basically it comes down to economics, so many people have a smart a phone that there's no money in building in features to dedicated satnavs that 99% of people don't want or need.

A smart phone is now a multifunction device, I doubt I'm alone in rarely using one as a phone. It's a satnav, messaging device, authentication device, torch, music player, payment system etc and because so many people have one, hardly anyone wants stand alone devices so few companies make them.

Your best bet is get a basic smart phone and only use it as a satnav, either whatever somewhere like Tesco has on offer, or a second hand one. If you're only going to use it as a satnav you're presumably going to have it plugged in all the time so don't car about battery life which often a problem with older phones. Data only SIMs are a thing, not sure if you can get a PAYG one though which I guess would be ideal for your use.

[Pincher]

On a similar note, you have to wonder how long it will be before in-car SatNav ceases to exist. Is there much benefit in car manufacturers including it when there is Waze, Google Maps etc on phones that integrate to the car?

[CMTMB]

Simpo Two said:

I am continually amazed how so many people can't function without a smartphone.

You're amazed, yet you appear to be one of them.

[craigjm]

Pincher said:

On a similar note, you have to wonder how long it will be before in-car SatNav ceases to exist. Is there much benefit in car manufacturers including it when there is Waze, Google Maps etc on phones that integrate to the car?

They will cease to exist when Carplay Ultra and Android Automotive get a proper foothold in the next generation of cars over the next couple of years. Will be a great benefit to anyone with more than one car or regularly hires cars because settings for lots of things beyond navigation can be carried from car to car.