Chinese Truck Sat Navs - Beware

[GJH]

A number of members of a motorhome forum are owners of NozaTec units bought from Navibuzz. We recently discovered that they are not keeping to their promise of supplying lifetime map updates. The latest "set" for the UK only has the .fbl file instead of all five.
I understand that older versions of the other files will work with the later map file but it's worth checking what is downloaded before deleting the old ones.
A number of us have contacted Navibuzz but they seem to be disinterested.

Also, a friend was bought a new XGody 718 Truck Satnav for Christmas and discovered that only the set of four "normal" mapping files were installed on it. There was no .ftr file, making it useless for large vehicles.
If anyone has an XGody 718 or 704 it is worth checking that you have a full set of files.

Graham

[alix776]

I don't think we have seen or used these ones but personally. If you want to go through something official and have a smartphone or tablet have a look at aponia truck nav eu mapping is very reasonable and it does cover IOS Andriid and windows phone 8-10. Mapfactor is also available the HGV part using tomtom mapping is £50 from memory.

Usually if something seams very cheep there's a very good reason it is
_________________
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

[GJH]

Thanks Alix.

I had a quick look but need to look in more detail as I couldn't see, at first glance, whether the deals include lifetime map updates or whether it is possible to add sets of user POIs.

The cheapness of the Chinese offerings is more in the hardware (generic tablet rather than specifically designed for sat nav), rather than the mapping, but that isn't the problem.

Prices of the Chinese offerings have dropped recently (not surprising I suppose given world economics) so the Aponia prices seem to be around the same level as the Chinese offerings when many of us bought them.

Graham

[M8TJT]

It seems that these satnavs run iGO or iGO Primo. It is possible to easily add the PGPSW cam database to them. Look for the iGO instructions on the download page.

[GJH]

I had a look at both Aponia and Mapfactor, using a destination that I normally use to test routing.

Both took me down a road (B6105) which I would avoid in a large vehicle (and which is avoided by both the iGo software on the Nozatec and the Garmin software on the Camper 760 using the same truck settings).

The road is passable by large vehicles but I've had some near misses when driving a car with large vehicles (even other cars) coming the other way

So, thanks but not for me

Graham

[alix776]

What routing points are you using as I've not had many problems like that how ever my setting are for a 60ft artic
_________________
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

[GJH]

My settings are for a motorhome, 6.75m long, 2.5m wide and 3m tall. I suppose the iGo and Garmin software tolerances are just that bit more sophisticated.

Artics (and coaches) do use the road but it can be a bit hairy in places when two vehicles meet each other. We once followed a Polish truck down the road and after a while he pulled in to turn round at a farm entrance.

I've often wondered why they still use that road since the advent of truck sat navs so perhaps the answer is in the programming of some offerings.

Graham

[M8TJT]

It's probably because apart from the el cheapo Chinese truck satavs, the likes of TT and Garmin truck satnavs are considerably more expensive than the car version for some fairly inexplicable reason.

[alix776]

Garmin and tomtom are expensive because you pay for the brand too I only used a mobile phone based for about 3-4 years now there much cheeped as you already have the hardware. And it's as reliable and as good a quality routing than much more expensive dedicated units
_________________
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

[GJH]

I've had correspondence elsewhere which virtually proves 100% that the Chinese devices are not (as so many of us thought) cheap because of cheap hardware but cheap because the software is pirated.

My Nozatec is going in the bin as I don't knowingly run pirated software.

Graham

[alix776]

Considering igo is the best part of £60 for eu car data on ios then I'm not exactly shocked if that is that case
_________________
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

[GJH]

[GJH]

I've heard, today, of another Xgody 718 unit being delivered to the purchaser with no .ftr files installed or available for download.

This was even after the purchaser questioned the seller and qualified his order with the agreement that .ftr files would be preloaded.

The problem also seems to be affecting some UK resellers who source machines from Shenzen in bulk and didn't even realise that the file sets were incomplete).

So, prospective purchasers beware and make sure you can return the unit for a full refund if the lack of .ftr files makes it useless as a large vehicle sat nav.

Graham

[alix776]

Just to add copilot for android and ios have just laughed a caravan motorhome version
_________________
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

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