Tele Atlas versus Navtech with Navman SmartMap 2

[kevmac YTY]

So now we know that Navman are switching to Tele Atlas maps for the SmartMap2 software upgrade on the ICN 630 in January.

My question is this: How good is Tele Atlas compared to NavTech?

Here in Ireland Navtech cover the major cities like my home town Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway pretty well but outside of these areas there is no mapping except for main arterial roads.

So if I upgrade in January will I get the same excellent city mapping and poor rural maps or will there an improvement (or then again a disimpovemen,t as I can't find any info on whether TeleAtlas have mapped Ireland)

[Dave]

Well in the UK, NavTech maps appear to be more consistent in having newer roads, but TeleAtlas seems to support better routing algorithms and POI's.

[anglefire]

According to the Tele Altas website, there appears to be little good street coverage of Ireland, except Dublin and Belfast.
Whats more worrying is that the coverage in mainland Europe seems to be just as limited unless you get each country separately - at about £100 per country. I can't see Navman giving away the software covering the whole of Europe like is available now from Navtech.

I was told sometime ago about an update to the current software as well as a new system - both to be out by September. But as I think Dave has already said add 6months and you're normally about right - so that means it should ship in March? I certainly hope not. Its a good product shame its not the features of the competition!
_________________
Mark

Website

The answer is 42. Now what is the question?

[kevmac YTY]

Thanks for the feedback.

Well, I'm happy with Navtech's major Irish cities' mapping which includes Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Galway and Limerick so I will be very hesitant to use the next upgrade if TeleAtlas, don't at least equal, Navtech.

Sure, I will miss out on the new 3D map engine and other interesting tweaks but what's the point if TeleAtlas's map are minimal?

[Dave]

I have TeleAtlas maps on the PC so if there's a particular city you'd like to see coverage on, I can always post several images.

[ICNman]

Hi Dave,

I just wanted to know if i could just install the new Navman ICN630 V2 software and not the new Tele Atlas maps that will come with the upgrade.
And if I do install the Tele Atlas maps will I be able to delete them and reinstall the Navtech maps.

Cheers Dave.

ICNman

[Dave]

This was one question I had raised with Navman but still have yet to have a response back.

My guess is you will still be able to use SmartST V1 on the iCN630 if you wish, or you can use SmartST V2 but I doubt you'll be able to interact the V2 program with V1 maps. There's going to be quite a lot of changes in the V2 program that will require the maps to be formatted in specific ways and will be looking to do specific things with the maps like change to 3D mode, so I doubt you'll be able to use V2 program with V1 maps or V1 program with V2 maps.

I think it will be an either V1 or V2. However, I can't comment for sure until I receive a response from Navman on this.

[gambitgander]

Heard back from Navman. The versions are not inter-changeable, but you can roll-back the software to V1.

[ICNman]

[ICNman]

[ICNman]

Hi guys,

I don't know what to say. I think I'll start by saying that I'm not very happy with the Tele Atlas maps. The old Navtech maps search system was second to none in my opinion, even though it didn't have the postcode search feature. You simply had to enter the name of the road and you'd get the one you want in the list with the name of the town right next to it, and after you've finished, the correct address would be displayed. But not here. I was putting in a few addreses of various places I visit every now and again and was totally apalled by the inaccuracy of the information displayed. I had tried many and it would not recognise areas like chingford in essex along with Ilford and Ashford in Middlesex. It would have the correct name of the road but the town would be completely wrong. I had to resort to the postcode option every time I wanted to enter an address, and the correct road would be available in the list. But after you select the road, the incorrect town would be displayed in the full address bit in the end.

Also when I was running the unit on auto-simulation, the tracker kept going of the road and onto another. I have never experienced this kind of behaviour before.

I would suggest that you all try entering a few full addresses far and near and see if you experience the same problem.

And has anybody else tried running the software on auto-simulation?

iCNman

[ICNman]

Guys,

Sorry if you think I'm taking this too far but please understand this is serious. Below are just a few of the addresses which I'm having problems with. The system does not recognise these addresses by entering the details bit by bit. It only works with the aid of the postcode search.

Please note that these are just a few of almost all the Driving Test Centres that I've tried, and I have never had any problems with the Navtech maps in regards to this.

Pinner
Car Test 16 week(s)
221 Tolcarne Drive
Pinner
London Middlesex HA5 2DZ

Wood Green
Car Test 17 week(s)
The Gatehouse Woodhall House Lordship Lane
Wood Green
London London N22 5JW

Chingford
Car Test 14 week(s)
Doric House
127 Station Road
Chingford Essex E4 6AD



iCNman

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