TomTom questions
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Discussion

Mobsta

Original Poster:

5,614 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
Seem to remember them being very highly spoken of, but last I read SatNav reviews (back in the 1800's) the TomTom's didnt offer safety camera alerts, I dont think. But most people seemed to prefer TomTom IIRC.

Just doing some browsing through this forum, and have come across a few comments about their scamera alerts not being any good. Just how bad are they?

Was planning on buying a new TomTom tomorrow, had decided on the 740, but keep seeing pocketGPSworld mentioned here. Can one get Scamera updates for the TomTom via pocketGPS software somehow? Is this a hack, or is there a legit way of getting the updates installed on the TomTom, or have I got the wrong end of the stick? Id do more reading before posting, but being in a hurry to make the right decision thought Id post before going back to do some more reading.

How bad are TomTom camera updates - Looks like the 740 comes with updates - or does one only get them with the £8 monthly subscription? Also, does the £8 monthly fee include map updates?

Apologies for the flood of novice-esq queries, many thanks in advance for any help offered.

Kinky

39,906 posts

292 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
You'll find better info here on the PGPSW site: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Cam...

Thats what I run on my TT and works a treat.

K

Mobsta

Original Poster:

5,614 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
Kinky said:
You'll find better info here on the PGPSW site: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Cam...

Thats what I run on my TT and works a treat.

K
Excellent!
Ive just found this:
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/uksafetycameras-tomt...
(installation guide)

Seems the data is just engineered to be extracted into the tomtom.
Quick question: Of the three installation types, has anyone had any issues with the largest type (on a new tomtom or the 740) which differentiates between camera types and also notes the speed limits which apply? (Just wondering out loud why they made three installations, some more compact than others)? scratchchin

Mobsta

Original Poster:

5,614 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
And does one need to install the file again for updates?
And erm... does the TomTom still give its own warnings, or do these files replace those of the TomTom.

Mobsta

Original Poster:

5,614 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
Original question - just how bad are the TomTom scamera alerts do they suffer primarily due to mobile cameras? If their own database is 98% accurate, surely that would be good enough in the real world? scratchchin

waremark

3,296 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
With Tomtom Live, as offered for £8 per month after a free 3 month trial period, you should get a very high quality database - I think it is supposed to be the Road Angel database? - and one option is to be warned for mobile cameras only when another user has reported that that particular site is live. However, my son is currently using Live, and he says he does not get any warning of average speed cameras.

The standard Tomtom database for £20 pa does not warn for mobiles, but as a casual user I don't find it too bad - it does warn me of most fixed cameras.

Mobsta

Original Poster:

5,614 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
waremark said:
With Tomtom Live, as offered for £8 per month after a free 3 month trial period, you should get a very high quality database - I think it is supposed to be the Road Angel database? - and one option is to be warned for mobile cameras only when another user has reported that that particular site is live. However, my son is currently using Live, and he says he does not get any warning of average speed cameras.

The standard Tomtom database for £20 pa does not warn for mobiles, but as a casual user I don't find it too bad - it does warn me of most fixed cameras.
Thanks.
When you say he does not get any warning for average speed cameras, we're referring to SPECS here, right?
ie not supported, or just not very good?

Does anyone else have opinions on their camera database?
Reading the pocketGPS site, it seems the setup procedure is quite lengthy - does this process only need to be done once in the beginning, and not after each download of new updates? Im guessing yes(?) seems like a basic file association needs to be made... From what Ive read tonight, it sounds like its worth the hassle of using the third party pocket GPS data... is the general consensus here then?

mmm-five

12,077 posts

307 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
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What 'set-up' procedure are you talking about on the PocketGPS site. There's no 'easy' way via TomTomHome or direct via the TomTom itself though.

You register, subscribe & pay and download the file. The downloaded file is unzipped and you copy the relevant files to the map folder of your TomTom device via your PC/Mac.

If you subscribe to one edition of the database then you have to pay when you want to download a newer version. If you subscribe annually then you have to pay once a year and simply log in each time to download the latest version.

The new TomTomLive 'safety' camera alerts, are for when one user sees a new mobile/temporary camera. They simply press the screen to mark the position, and this gets distributed to other Live members in the same area within a few seconds. If the camera goes away and no new reports for it come through then the updates stop and no warning is sent. If someone else sees the same camera and presses their warning button, then the notification goes out again.

Mobsta

Original Poster:

5,614 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
What 'set-up' procedure are you talking about on the PocketGPS site.
The setup procedure requires you manually configure every camera type and warning time by hand when you install the database, on the tomtom itself, using the menu interface... or so their website said. They had a chart which indicated how many seconds notice you would need depending on the speed you were traveling. This info was displayed once you had chosen your GPS type.

mmm-five said:
You register, subscribe & pay and download the file. The downloaded file is unzipped and you copy the relevant files to the map folder of your TomTom device via your PC/Mac.

If you subscribe to one edition of the database then you have to pay when you want to download a newer version. If you subscribe annually then you have to pay once a year and simply log in each time to download the latest version.

The new TomTomLive 'safety' camera alerts, are for when one user sees a new mobile/temporary camera. They simply press the screen to mark the position, and this gets distributed to other Live members in the same area within a few seconds. If the camera goes away and no new reports for it come through then the updates stop and no warning is sent. If someone else sees the same camera and presses their warning button, then the notification goes out again.
How are other TomTom users notified of cameras? What I mean is, how does the data move from one sat nav device in-car to the next device in another car?

waremark

3,296 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th November 2008
quotequote all
Mobsta said:
How are other TomTom users notified of cameras? What I mean is, how does the data move from one sat nav device in-car to the next device in another car?
The 540/740/940 have internal simcards, and thus have constant (or maybe every 2 minutes) 2 way communication.

Edited by waremark on Friday 21st November 01:10

blueST

4,778 posts

239 months

Monday 24th November 2008
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I use the TomTom database all across Europe and it's been absolutely fine, very few cameras didn't appear. It doesn't do mobile sites, but I didn't expect it to. The only drawback I can see is that the alerts are not directional, i.e. if your traveling on the opposite carriageway to the one the camera is aimed at, you still get the alert.

Specs are covered too in my experience, along with red light cameras.

heebeegeetee

29,829 posts

271 months

Tuesday 25th November 2008
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I've downloaded mobile sites, inc likely van locations onto my TT1, at a cost of £1.99, updateble at the same cost whenever i want. This was from one of the GPS/satnav sites, but it was so long ago when i did it, that perhaps this service is no longer available?

Mind you, when you have downloaded every fixed and mobile site known to man, the bloody thing never stops bonging, somewhat negating the usefulness of this feature. smile