Blackspot Road Angel Navigator

norm2002 · Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: Blackspot Road Angel Navigator

Hi

I'm new to all this but I can't see that anyone's mentioned this one which was announced a few days ago and should be available this week. It is expensive but I came across it because I was looking into replacing my Road Angel which was stolen when my car was broken into. Like TomTom it has 7 digit postcodes but concentrates more on the camera database than any of the others - after all that is Blackspot's specialty. It even tells you the speed limit when you approach a camera.

A bit annoying the detailed specs, like screen size and resolution, don't seem to be available. It looks like it uses NavTech.

Any thoughts from you experts - apart from the obvious that it is more expensive than most?

Regards

clivers · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:36 pm Post subject:

Its on blackspots site

http://www.blackspot.com/products/roadangelnavigator/index.html
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Ipaq 3970, Ipaq 2210 X2, Smart ST V1, Tomtom V3+V5, CoPilot V5, AA Navigator, Tomtom Bluetooth GPS, Navman 3450i Jacket, Navman Bluetooth GPS, Holux GM270, Fortuna GPS-PocketXtrack
, Tomtom GO V5 Classic, Road Angel Classic.

clivers · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 10:42 pm Post subject:

Oh dear

Looks like co-pilot is the application that it uses...

From my experience with co-pilot i would give it a wide birth

http://www.blackspot.com/products/roadangelnavigator/screenshots.html
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Ipaq 3970, Ipaq 2210 X2, Smart ST V1, Tomtom V3+V5, CoPilot V5, AA Navigator, Tomtom Bluetooth GPS, Navman 3450i Jacket, Navman Bluetooth GPS, Holux GM270, Fortuna GPS-PocketXtrack
, Tomtom GO V5 Classic, Road Angel Classic.

Tyke · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:48 am Post subject:

I have just received my Road Angel Navigator. So far I have been reasonably impressed with this unit, which replaced a Navman 650 and a Road Angel. Here in the Midlands the mapping has been accurate so far, and the routing has worked fine. The screen is not as bright as the navman, but I am still waiting for the anti-glare sticker to be sent, which should improve things. Rerouting is as quick as the Navman, and it appears to have more detailed mapping. For example it picks up slip roads on the approach to roundabouts, which the Navman did not. The inbuilt speaker is noticeably inferior to the 650, but still perfectly audible. I have had a few problems with the time taken to get a satellite lock, but this woiuld also happen with the Navman. I am hoping that as this appears to run as a sort of pocket PC, that it will be possible to customise the POIs etc. The device appears in Windows XP as a Mobile Device, and the system files can be viewed in explorer. Build quality is Ok, not as sunstantial as the Navman, but the unit will fit in a pocket!
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Regards
Tyke

Darren · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:21 am Post subject:

We have asked for a review unit but Blackspot's PR have been singularly useless in responding despite Blackspot themselves promising they would.

We do aim to cover all the major options but if they can't be bothered to supply a review unit then we can't be bothered either.

A shame as it looks quite good, particularly the speed camera implementation. But it's not cheap and it faces stiff competition at that price point.
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Darren Griffin

Tyke · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:47 pm Post subject:

As the Navigator does seem to be using some version of Co-Pilot, is it likely that I can load custom POIs onto it? I would be interested to know what mapping is used (I know it is Navteq) as so far it has been very good.
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Regards
Tyke

alix776 · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject:

from what ive seen it looks like cp5 but without the live features but i have only seen it on a box and on the web
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currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

Wrongstuff · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 15, 2005 Posts: 7

Bought a Road Angel Navigator two weeks ago, returned it today to supplier, actually crashed while demostrating problem to supplier.

First off screen is dreadful, almost impossible to view in daylight.

GPS performance abysmal, lock on can take 2mins or 20mins even when outside with a clear 360deg view. and don't what ever you do move position as it would just refuse to get a GPS position lock and if you did the map position would not update. Go under the tinest of bridges or tree lined road and goodbye signal.

Touch screen buttons are too small, very difficult to type without use of stylus

Uses Windows CE, which my bruv who works in IT calls Windows crap edition or complete with errors, used to crash at least twice a day, which req full reset.

It has a strange power switch arrangement. Underneath it has tiny slide switch which should remain on ( believe me you will need fingers the size of a five year old to operate it) and on the front is a sby button, now the only way to charge the battery is via the car (No AC charger supplied). If it is fully charged and put in sby the battery goes flat in about 24hrs and the whole process of initialization has to start again.

The unit including the mount have a last about five minutes feel to them.

Supplier had none on sale, but did put my box on all the others that had been returned.

Replaced it with TTG 700 which is absolutely brilliant.

Tyke · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:02 am Post subject:

Have to agree about the GPS performance, the lock takes absolutely ages, and forget about moving..you will never get a lock. As you say once you have a lock you can't rely on keeping it, and I keep getting re-routes for no reason. The screen is a lot better with the plastic cover on, but still not as good as Navman. The only plus is the mapping which appears to be very good. Where did you purchase your unit, as I am thinking of returning mine.
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Regards
Tyke

Wrongstuff · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 15, 2005 Posts: 7

Hi Tyke

Mine came from Halfords, which made the return easy.

I bought the RAN to replace an old Garmin Streetpilot with seriously out of date maps, which although was slow to calculate would lock on to it's GPS position in at the most two minutes. It could be turned off in Scotland and restarted on the M25 and it would just take a couple of mins, oh, and you could be moving at seventy+, never once misbehaved. Last week with the RAN I drove twenty miles with an open horizon and it never achieved GPS lock. The other amusing thing was having a position lock and it all working, turn it off and then back on again and watch the fun start.

I appreciate whatever you buy that there can be problems with individual units, I have been lurking on the TTG forum and some folk have had similiar problems. but I reckon that there is an issue with the GPS performance of the RAN, shame really as the idea is a good un.

Tyke · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:38 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info. Took mine back to get a refund too. As you say, great idea, lousy execution!
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Regards
Tyke

NorthBoy · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 08, 2005 Posts: 21

I'd recommend the BM6300 from Evesham (www.lowestonweb.com). It has all of the features of the RAN, but costs just £299.99!!!!

It is a dedicated sat-nav system with integrated speed camera alerts. Great product. Check out the reviews on the website.

It's also available from Staples and MotorWorld stores.

Cheers

Chris

Darren · Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject:

big_phil · Banned Joined: Sep 20, 2005 Posts: 2

I see people generally don't have a great deal of positive comments for the Road Angel Navigator - I am no different. I was holding out for the new Snooper Indago because I have always used Snooper and I wish i had! The R.A.N does not allow you to use it as a speed camera detector unless you set a route so the device can navigate as well! How annoying when on a journey I already know!!! The R.A.N cannot be used without the power lead trailing to the cradle so the speakers work meaning rechargeable battery is poinltless!! Combine that with a cheap plastic feel and average speed camera database, you can see why my money is back in my pocket and the R.A.N is back with the local shop!
My advice: hang on for the INDAGO, i am!

DriveSmart · Regular Visitor Joined: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 60

We have disussed giving away our database info as its free anyway for Drivesmart users but you would get every man and his dog leeching and using it to make profit.
I can talk from experience that a huge ammount of work goes into the database and also keeping it uptodate.
It also goes against all the hard work that the users have contributed by providing data for free for the benifit of everyone.
I will be discusing with Darren some ways to protect the IP of the database so people can easily be identified who are selling devices with the PocketGPS camera data installed for commercial gain! Evil or Very Mad

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