Road Angel Navigator 9000 Reviewed

zedder · Lifetime Member Joined: Apr 21, 2008 Posts: 11

(@ HummerUK - where did you get it at that price?)

i've been considering getting a Navigator 9000 but would appreciate people's views.

I've currently got a TomTom v2 with update to date maps, PGPSW database and TomTom camera database on it.

However, there are some great advantages offered by the Navigator 9000 - HummerUK pointed out most - but i like the idea of realtime updates of cameras and travel, the tracking facility and receiving texts (although can they be sent directly to the unit or via their website only?).

From the sounds of it, the satnav isn't up to much and the GPS reception not too great - i suspect the TomTom One is probably better in that respect. But are there any other products that could suit? Have Road Angel addresses any of the problems with the product?
Any other thoughts?

Thanks

HummerUK · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject:

The near real-time traffic update and safety cameras are nearly its only good points.

Granted you can mark your own black spots for future auto reference.

But to do this you need another person or risk killing yourself as you have to be approaching the spot, doing more than 4 mph, on the correct screen (not while navigating a route) to mark any such hazard.

Navigation mode SUCKS with most roundabouts being shown in the advance graphic with all the exits shown bunched between the 7 & 12 position rather than their real positions e.g. 12,3,9 o'clock.

You can see this bug in the review on this website and image from that below. The required exit is at the 3o'clock position but the top left graphic advising you of the junction layout shows it at 11o'clock.

Route recalculation SUCKS and it seems to rather than re-calculate the whole route it tries to just get you back on the original one even when it is totally illogical.

The same applies if it tries to avoid a traffic jam either real or in it's imagination.

Dash board mount was okay but device now rattles making a sound like someone sending a morse code message.

Support, well that SUCKS also with no solutions offered to ANY problems.

Still, I suppose if anyone is stupid enough to steal it, one could use the tracking option to track it down Smile

My product scores are as follows...

2/10 for satnav functions
6/10 for traffic data
2/10 for dash mount
1/10 Roadangel support
2/10 User friendly menus
2/10 map accuracy
1/10 for value

I admit I still use it in the car but not to navigate, with it just on the map screen to warn of black spots, cameras (fixed & vans) and traffic.

I use my Garmin StreetPilot 2610 to navigate.

EDIT:
SMS can be sent direct to unit from a mobile (device has a number on the orange network). However you have to cancel navigation to read it and finding the menu to read it while driving again will likely cause you to crash!

HummerUK

Milemonkey · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:49 am Post subject: Sick as a pig.....

Hi.. I have just found this site and boy do I wish I had a few weeks earlier!
I have just bought a RA navigator 9000 and boy what a letdown.... Having used it for 2 weeks, I now hate it with a passion. At first I thought "it's new and I have to get used to it" but I can honestly say it is rubbish!!!!
It picks out some strange routes.. the map is not as upto date as it should be, still shows roundabouts where underpasses are.. the menus are fiddly and a lot of button taps needed to do anything with it.. can't alter warning distance for camera vans, 250mtrs is the default setting and I can see further than that!! The traffic re route is pretty poor, re routes too late and then sent me through the traffic jam!! Shows traffic on other side of the road when its clear? If I miss a turn to change my route because I know a way that is shorter, has no traffic and is on an "A" road it take an age to work out when to stop telling me to U turn.. With it in RA mode the camera warning works when you are near a camera site, just like it does with the RA plus but with it in navigation mode you would expect it to only go off if the camera is on your route, not so, up pops warnings of 30mph fixed cameras on motorways!!!!!! The list just goes on & on.............
Only got it because I have a RA plus and had a Tom Tom one, got fed up having to hook up/remove 2 gadgets everyday and the RA plus with the camera & laser detector worked really well. As you should be able to tell by now " I ain't impressed"......

Darren · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:00 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear that, perhaps you might like to try our alerts on your ONE?
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Darren Griffin

HummerUK · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject:

I used my one for the first time in months yesterday after my TT520 led me down the garden path with their latest maps and software...

It did get me home and today I thought I would see if they have launched an upgrade for the units poor software....

It would seem the answer is no Sad

I got my unit to attach via Activesync so the file system was visible and then tried the RA9000 upgrade program which reports "There Is Currently No New Update Available For Your Unit"

I see the price is now £229.99 and no new models on their website.

As the unit needs a sub I feel a fair price for such a heap of unsupported junk would be under £100.00.

BTW My one reports the following under System Info
Firmware Version 5.21
OS Revision 5.0 (1.4.9)
Shell Revision 4.39c
System Memory 77%
SD Free memory 644112 K
Last Updated 15/11/08
Subscription 3 x ticks

HummerUK

Milemonkey · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:42 pm Post subject:

Just an update about my RA Navigator 9000... It's gone back to where it came.. Sent it back just before the end of the 1st month I had it, after it crashed several times. Also got a refund for the subscription. I am now using a tom tom go 520T with my RA +.. Am a happy bunny.

chris_debian · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 23, 2008 Posts: 29

Hi, all.

I really wanted one of these, as it has OTA updating.

I wanted this because I use Linux on my PC at home, so can therefore not take advantage of updates mechanisms that run on Windoze, such as TomTom's software.

Can anyone answer these two questions?

a) Has the 9000 improved to the point where it is worth buying?

b) Does anyone know of a satnav unit that does not require you to have M$ Windoze to update, or indeed has OTA updates?

If not, it seems my only option is to get a TomTom and bin it when it becomes unusable due to lack of updates.

(If any satnav companies are reading this, there are 100,000's of people running Linux or Unix that would buy your products, if you supported them).

Any help would be really appreciated.

Many thanks,

Chris.

Darren

chris_debian · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 23, 2008 Posts: 29

Darren,

Can you tell me more, this sounds perfect?

I have an old TomTom with an SD card, and that does mount as a drive. Any more advice would be really appreciated.

Cheers,

Chris.

Darren · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:27 pm Post subject:

It's really as simple as that, if you browse our install guides an example of which is here, (although they pertain to windows) the installation is the same, download the database, unzip, copy files to the map folder on your mounted device.

Configuration is done on the device itself. Our database is updated weekly and on a TomTom you can add real voice alerts also available from us.

Subscription is £16.99 per year and if you submit camera reports you could earn yourself a lifetime subscription.
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Darren Griffin

chris_debian · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 23, 2008 Posts: 29

Ahh, this is just the camera updates, I was looking for mapping updates, too. Happy to subscribe, just can't use the HOME software.
Thanks,

Chris.

Darren · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

chris_debian · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 23, 2008 Posts: 29

Thanks for your help, Darren. From reading about the Navigator 9000, I really thought the mapping was updated, too. Their sales blurb says that all updates are done OTA and that you don't need to connect to a PC. Now I'm really confused.

Looks like I'll buy a TomTom and bin it when it gets too inaccurate :-(.

thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Cheers,

Chris.

Darren · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject:

Garmin sell maps on CD, another option to consider? The only other route is of course to seek the assistance of a PC/Mac owning friend when you need to buy a new map?
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Darren Griffin

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