Satnavs - do people still use stand-alone?!

ActiveCampers

ActiveCampers

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Seeing the TomTom Raffle, (thanks Phil), I'm just curious, do people still use Stand-alone sat-navs any more?
I was very much a TomTom fan and had dedicated unit for years and produced many POIs, but phones nowadays are so much better hardware. TomTom Go with global maps, live traffic/cameras etc, is £15/year for Android at least - and we can use the same system on both of our phones - so single cost. Maps all off-line too, and with google and OSMAnd, maps and POIS all offline too.
(Both car and van have built in satnav, but only ever use that as backup).
With 2.4A USB charger the phones get charged as well as routing.
Just can't see where the "physical" satnav units have any benefit anymore?
 
ActiveCampers said:
Seeing the TomTom Raffle, (thanks Phil), I'm just curious, do people still use Stand-alone sat-navs any more?
I was very much a TomTom fan and had dedicated unit for years and produced many POIs, but phones nowadays are so much better hardware. TomTom Go with global maps, live traffic/cameras etc, is £15/year for Android at least - and we can use the same system on both of our phones - so single cost. Maps all off-line too, and with google and OSMAnd, maps and POIS all offline too.
(Both car and van have built in satnav, but only ever use that as backup).
With 2.4A USB charger the phones get charged as well as routing.
Just can't see where the "physical" satnav units have any benefit anymore?
Click to expand...
Absolutely do :)
I have a Garmin Camper 660 now - but it does also give me a Reversing Camera feature so saves a separate monitor for that (so standalone but multi-purpose). Also shows me the actual speed (the speedo underreads now with the bigger tyres) which is handy
I also have a Garmin 2595LM Standalone that I used previously in 3 different vans - I prefer the Garmin system to the others (Also still have a TomTom One XL that I got in Heathrow Duty Free back in 2007 and a Garmin Vista I bought in 2002! need to find a new home for the TomTom really! The Vista handheld is now totally outclassed by a smartphone though and is pretty pointless nowadays)

But back on topic.... my car has the Android Auto feature on the radio so I can plug the phone in and use the google sat nav system with the main radio screen which is handy.

Google via Andriod Auto vs Garmin dedicated .... not bothered either way, but I prefer both to using a phone screen.
 
Yep. use mine every day. I go to very remote areas for my work and use latitude/longitude co-ordinates on my Tomtom. I'm sure there'll be an app that does the same thing but I like the size of the satnav.
 
ActiveCampers said:
Seeing the TomTom Raffle, (thanks Phil), I'm just curious, do people still use Stand-alone sat-navs any more?
I was very much a TomTom fan and had dedicated unit for years and produced many POIs, but phones nowadays are so much better hardware. TomTom Go with global maps, live traffic/cameras etc, is £15/year for Android at least - and we can use the same system on both of our phones - so single cost. Maps all off-line too, and with google and OSMAnd, maps and POIS all offline too.
(Both car and van have built in satnav, but only ever use that as backup).
With 2.4A USB charger the phones get charged as well as routing.
Just can't see where the "physical" satnav units have any benefit anymore?
Click to expand...
Well you are lucky, mine stops when my other half falls asleep.
 
Yes, I'd be lost without my TomTom. :) (Pun intended.)

My camper has a built in SatNav but I've developed a long standing trust with my standalone device because I'm used to it's ways.

In the future I may log stopovers into the van's device as a way of tracking a route taken, but otherwise, I'll continue sticking to TomTom.
 
Yep, Lane navigation at complicated junctions is great other reasons as well eg where it is fixed on windscreen and no issues with incoming phone calls etc

BUT I use maps.me for recording POI's (mainly overnights) on my phone and for walking routes in towns
I use maps.me for planning on my 10in Tablet better than TomTom
 
Yes, we have a tomtom truck which is really good for himself to follow directions but on the 'odd' occasions when he goes off route I use my iPad for google maps.
 
Yes , use a standalone Garmin Camper satnav, also have Garmin Glo unit which I use with my ipad , works with OS maps and maps.me.
 
Most of the replies above don't really justify a separate device.... I was seeing why people had separate device rather than a PROPER satnav on the phone - like TomTom on Android , £15/year inc. all up to date maps. Most of the "needs" above, the GPS lat/long, does lane assistance, all offline, (live traffic and cams need online), can position anywhere with a holder, and can display current speed and over speed - all the same as a stand alone unit
TomTom on Android is vvvv similar to TomTom stand alone unit - just a huge amount cheaper.
That's what I meant, not just using a "phone and an app" :)
Just can't see why you'd buy extra hardware?
(OK - if you prefer Garmin, or revering camera (neat!) - then yeah - guess that's an answer! )
 
Nope. I use a Windows Lumia 950 XL phone and off line maps from 'Here'.
I've used it all over Europe including the Canary Islands without too many issues.
It gives speed, warns of speeding, time and distance to destination etc, etc, etc.
Free world wide maps updated for life were included with the phone. Like all similar devices it occasionally has disagreements with the driver but I feel strongly that these things are there to supplement common sense so haven't yet driven into a bog or off a mountain or got jammed under a low bridge.
That's correct.
I said "yet".

Colin ???
 
We still use a standalone Garmin Camper, chosen primarily for screen size so that both driver and passenger can see and interact with it. Things have moved on since we bought it some years ago, and I would certainly look at using satnav software on an iPad next time round, although it would have to be capable of loading POI's etc.
Dave
 
Our Tom Tom is built into the van. Cheap to keep up to date and easy to put pois in.
 
Yep. Yes we have data and use Maps.me for planning but I still prefer a dedicated satnav.
 
I have a couple of Tomtom 1 XL v4 somewhere but have pretty much moved to phone apps, Copilot for the main one and Map.me for POI storage.

CoPilot is pretty good, I have it on all my devices (one cost) it does all I need, we were in Wakefield at the weekend and I needed to get back to the car, maps.me is useless unless you can find the place and put a pin in, and it seems to get worse with each update, that last one adding a cost :(:(:( I remembered that CP also can be used for walking or cycling so it saved the day, and a ticket, TomTom app I despise, as I do most of the rest as either not fit for purpose, or simply don't work or rubbish on storing POIs.


I might be keen on the Garmin streetpilot if it ever comes to Android https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/apps
 
I’ve tried using smartphones ( both android and iOS) as a satnav but find they are slow and clumsy. I much prefer a dedicated unit, we have a Garmin Dezl 770
In my last car I had a built in sat nav but even when it was updated, the mapping was still out of date and many new roads simply didn’t show up.
I also tried using a smartphone for gps navigation when walking but it was pretty useless just when it was needed most, so bought a dedicated hiking gps.
The phones great for making phone calls though.......
 
Yes.

I used to be a TomTom fan having had several of them from the very start but when the last one ( GO 720T ) went dicky i had a try with NozaTec.

It was ok for a while and i had the reversing camera set up as well but it failed big style in France at the worst possible time.

I then went for the Garmin Camper 760 LMT-D and is definitely the best one i`ve ever owned by some considerable margin.

Had it now for several years and i`m more than happy with it, it`s very easy to update, install our POI`s and to use.
 
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