Home PageFacebookRSS News Feed
PocketGPS
Web
SatNav,GPS,Navigation
Pocket GPS World - SatNavs | GPS | Speed Cameras: Forums

Pocket GPS World :: View topic - Go730 - Terrible map spoiling a good device?
 Forum FAQForum FAQ   SearchSearch   UsergroupsUsergroups   ProfileProfile   Log in for private messagesLog in for private messages   Log inLog in 

Go730 - Terrible map spoiling a good device?
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> TomTom Portable Navigation Devices
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
pEst_29
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Sep 06, 2006
Posts: 59

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:56 pm    Post subject: Go730 - Terrible map spoiling a good device? Reply with quote

I've bought this satnav a couple of weeks ago. The only one I had had before, for 2 years, was the Garmin i3. I drive mostly in London.

Although I'm quite pleased with some qualities of this Tomtom, mainly how quick it is getting a signal and the speed with which it calculates/recalculates routes, the map is just... awful!

In 2 years with the i3 I remember a couple of map errors IN TOTAL. With the 730, I get, literally, minimum that many every 45 minutes or so that I drive (to different places)! 2 to 3 errors every time! No wonder they need us to correct the map ourselves! Not that it helps much, because even with user corrections, it's still all over the place! This map has things wrong that my 2 year old Garmin got right!

I have used the latest map guarantee yesterday, btw, only to find out, to my disappointment, that this version of the map, which was released last month, still doesn't have the new layout of the Aldgate giratory, which was changed in September! Such a major part of this city's road system, so-called the gateway to the East End, Whitechapel road becoming a 2-way street, and 2 months after that change Tomtom's still unaware! Even with user corrections! Which by the way are very hard to do for this specific case (I won't bother) because there's 2 many side streets and you have to repeat the correction for every little stretch between those streets, plus, the actual layout of the roads and pavement has changed so there's really no way to do a proper correction.

And also after this map update, all errors I previously noticed remain!

Does anyone else have a similar experience with using these maps, compared to using Navman's or Garmin's?

I'm quite glad it recalculates in no time after I go out of the route, and it always as a signal, as that's what was driving me nuts in the lousy i3, but damn, I miss that 2 year old Garmin map now!!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PaulB2005
Pocket GPS Moderator
Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006
Posts: 9323
Location: Durham, UK

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Me too.... Crying or Very sad

Hi and welcome.

I don't have much experience with TomToms but I'll agree with your findings with the maps. I got my i3 3 years ago and in the 2 years i used it i only came across 1 or 2 errors.

Since Feb 2008 i have owed a Nuvi 760T with the 2008 maps and recently got the 2009 maps. And it's been a pain. I've been routed through a pub car park and then through a brick wall. I've been guided down bridle paths with bollards to stop cars and through "gated communities" which have no through access. Loads of addresses don't come up on the map - i.e. a road might allow you to set number 9, 11 or 13 as the destination but not 10 or 12. A new road in Epsom is still shown as the proposed layout from 5 years ago and not the actual layout it eventually took over 2 years ago. Various turn restrictions are missing.

It appears the Map Makers just employ people to literally trace roads off Google Earth and then sell the results as maps and map updates. I refuse to believe they actually go out and check the roads other than when conducting a PR exercise in "this is how we make the maps, honest, straight up, guv" Wink

What's even worse is Garmin never appear to be bothered by the quality of the maps they are being provided with when i quiz them on it. When i pointed out there is still a POI on the latest Garmin maps for a cinema near me that was pulled down 8 years ago, they said "Tell NavTeq". I wouldn't mind but none of the changes I've submitted over the last 2 years have made it into the maps......

Might send a letter to NavTeq in the new year....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
pEst_29
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Sep 06, 2006
Posts: 59

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow really, I wasn't expecting that! So it looks like I'd be as screwed if I had bought a Garmin as I am with the Tomtom! It's not Tomtom's maps vs Garmin's, it's the good quality of old maps vs. the sloppiness of new ones! hmmm

Another error I have in this map is that the development where I live was built about 2 years ago, yet it's number's still not found on the map, so basically, my flat doesn't exist :-D
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PaulB2005
Pocket GPS Moderator
Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006
Posts: 9323
Location: Durham, UK

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I read the TomTom forum every day and find the problems with the Maps and MapShare amazing.

The maps and routing are the single core function of the device and it seems their development takes a back seat to everything else. Even the things such as MapShare which are supposed to help patch up the flaky maps are too restrictive or just fail to function.

I'm tempted to switch to TT next time i need an upgrade but a quick read of the days TT Forum postings turns me away from them again....

If i didn't need one for work i believe I'd simply not bother with a Sat Nav any more.....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mikealder
Pocket GPS Moderator
Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 14, 2005
Posts: 19638
Location: Blackpool , Lancs

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Please bear in mind that maps from either company (NavTeq or TA) will not contain road changes for a considerable time, it takes them months to update data let alone drive around the streets (which they do) whilst recording data.
These days changes should be filtered through to end users faster, for example the TomTom Map Share system will very quickly identify any road change due to the number of submissions from users - this can be used to deploy a mapping vehicle (now they own the mapping provider).

I would like to see concentration on accurate mapping rather than the "Eye Candy" that terain and 3D buildings offer - it serves little purpose when using a unit in a vehicle IMHO - I would go as far as saying such "features" could also be considered as a driver distraction, waste of storage space and processor power - Mike
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail MSN Messenger
Trevor1234
Frequent Visitor


Joined: Apr 30, 2005
Posts: 810
Location: Milton Keynes

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 7:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi PaulB2005
Come off it. I personally find my Tomtom absolutely brilliant. No, its not perfect but as a navigation aid it takes some beating.
Three things are undeniable

1. One will never get lost.

2. One will always get to one’s destination.

3. Driving through London with a map balanced on one’s boney knees can not compete with my device.

Believe me, I have driven with no problems at all to addresses in France that I would not even contemplated driving to without my 720.
_________________
Tomtom Go 720.
Navcore 9.510
Central and Western Europe v855.2884
GPS World Traffic cameras
Home 2.7
iPhone 3G
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Zebb
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Aug 28, 2008
Posts: 55

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Trevor1234 wrote:
Hi PaulB2005
Come off it. I personally find my Tomtom absolutely brilliant. No, its not perfect but as a navigation aid it takes some beating.
Three things are undeniable

1. One will never get lost.

2. One will always get to one’s destination.

3. Driving through London with a map balanced on one’s boney knees can not compete with my device.

Believe me, I have driven with no problems at all to addresses in France that I would not even contemplated driving to without my 720.


Re No. 2
Reminds me of the Steven Wright comment;
"Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time"

Or an infinite amount of fuel and time and a perfect vehicle.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PaulB2005
Pocket GPS Moderator
Pocket GPS Moderator


Joined: Jan 04, 2006
Posts: 9323
Location: Durham, UK

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't get me wrong. I still believe Sat Nav is brilliant and much better than balancing a map on one knee, but i use my Sat Nav daily to navigate to addresses for work.

Whilst it doesn't get me lost it does

- send me the wrong way down one way streets
- ask me to make illegal turns
- send me up inaccessible paths and bridle ways
- send me through non-existent roads (i.e. the brick wall in the pub car park)

Yes, the updates do take time to filter through to the maps but some of these errors are more than a few months old. Some are many, many years old.

I know a Sat Nav is only a guide, but the number of times i have to deal with these sort of issues, gets frustrating.

Errors with a dataset as large as a routable UK map always will occur and i accept that. However there seems to be a marked difference in the number of errors i encounter using my i3 with it's 3 year old maps and my Nuvi with it's 3 month old maps. The newer maps are definitely worse.

I'm intrigued as to how a routable road through a brick wall was added to the maps. Whilst someone may not have gone to the location to add the road it got there somehow. I suspect they are being lazy and just tracing probable roads off Google Maps initially and only visiting sites if an error report is made.

I've driven routes of 300 miles across the UK and it's got me to remote locations without a problem, but it amazes me when driving around some towns how bad the maps can be sometimes.

When you use it day to day it gets very frustrating and as this is the core function of the unit it's very off putting when it's implemented badly....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Trevor1234
Frequent Visitor


Joined: Apr 30, 2005
Posts: 810
Location: Milton Keynes

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just be thankfull that the major airlines do not usr Tomtom on auto pilot.
_________________
Tomtom Go 720.
Navcore 9.510
Central and Western Europe v855.2884
GPS World Traffic cameras
Home 2.7
iPhone 3G
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
philpugh
Lifetime Member


Joined: Dec 28, 2005
Posts: 2003
Location: Antrobus, Cheshire

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Trevor1234 wrote:
Just be thankfull that the major airlines do not usr Tomtom on auto pilot.


No - all airlines rely on people on the ground to guide them through the difficult part of the airways! The GPS systems are used like hand held walking units - to plot straight lines between waypoints when outside congested airspace.

Mapping, by it's very nature, is out of date as soon as it commited to any media
_________________
Phil
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Calomax
Lifetime Member


Joined: Sep 30, 2005
Posts: 988
Location: St Martin's, Guernsey

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think you're being just a little harsh. In my experience, paper road atlases are usually just as far out of date.

A few months ago there was an article on this forum describing how TeleAtlas makes the maps. It made me appreciate just how accurate the maps really are.
_________________
TT Go Essential
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jmcmtank
Lifetime Member


Joined: Feb 19, 2007
Posts: 48

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My personal pet hate; 'Squinty' bridge open to vehicles. Monday, 18 September 2006
Confused
Still not on map.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
pEst_29
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Sep 06, 2006
Posts: 59

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jmcmtank wrote:
My personal pet hate; 'Squinty' bridge open to vehicles. Monday, 18 September 2006
Confused
Still not on map.


Shocking... what DO they update on the maps???
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
falkirk81
Pocket GPS Verifier
Pocket GPS Verifier


Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 1649
Location: Newcastle, England, UK

PostPosted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jmcmtank, did u report the bridge as open? or report it as a new road to teleatlas/ tomtom?
_________________
Tomtom GO 1005 LIVE

iPhone 12
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jmcmtank
Lifetime Member


Joined: Feb 19, 2007
Posts: 48

PostPosted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 12:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

falkirk81 wrote:
jmcmtank, did u report the bridge as open? or report it as a new road to teleatlas/ tomtom?

I report it fairly frequently, it's a big problem as there are limited crossings of the river available. OK I'm not stupid and can just ignore the satnav but it must be hell for visitors to the SECC.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message







Posted: Today    Post subject: Pocket GPS Advertising

Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> TomTom Portable Navigation Devices All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Make a Donation



CamerAlert Database

Click here for the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database

Download Speed Camera Database
22.104 (23 Oct 24)



WORLDWIDE SPEED CAMERA SPOTTERS WANTED!

Click here to submit camera positions to the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database


12mth Subscriber memberships awarded every week for verified new camera reports!

Submit Speed Camera Locations Now


CamerAlert Apps



iOS QR Code






Android QR Code







© Terms & Privacy


GPS Shopping