Evesham BMC 6300 TMC or Tom Tom or Other - HELP!!

[Alsone1]

Hi,

I completely new to Sat Nav and have been looking for reviews around the web.

I see Max Power rate the Evesham BMC (Blue Media) 6300 TMC with Traffic Master re-routing as one of the best Sat Navs around. However, most people seem to rate Tom Tom products most highly, and these seem to be the most popular.

Herein lies the dilema.

I effectively want an all in one device - Sat Nav, Speed Warning and re-routing in the one unit.

I notice that with the Tom Tom you can only get Traffic Re-routing via mobile phone updates which worries me - it sounds slow and expensive. Tom Tom's camera database is only partial. I note as well that some people in the camera data base reported running out of memory when downloading locations from on here. As locations can only increase, this too is a worry.

I notice with the Evesham / BMC product, that although Max Power rate it highly, Personal Computer World slate some of its sister models and slate the Destinator software. It would appear not to be a popular unit at the moment, although that might be down more to its lower marketing profile than other companies.

I only really need UK maps although nothing wrong with having European as well.

So the questions at the end of the day are:

1. Which one do I go for (or should I go for something else entirely)? ie which is the best.

2. How does your camera database work:

2.1 Does it replace or supplement the manufacturers databases?

2.2 Does it work in the same way?

2.3 What advantages / disadvantages are there to using it.

Al.

[Alsone1]

PS should have said budget is £400 or under, preferably under!!

[Fatenglishbloke]

Hello Alsone1
I've been in posession of a BM6300 for around 6 months now, so here are my pros and cons -
Pros
1) Solidly built (its been dropped on concrete at least once) and neat - easily fits in shirt pocket.
2) Latches onto satellites very quickly.
3) Clear screen and loud voice.
4) 'Re-routes' very quickly (3 seconds typical).
Cons
1) The Destinator software is about as user-friendly as a rabid polecat.
2) 'Waypoint' routing system is next to useless.(Why coudn't they have a simple 'via' command like they do on the Internet routefinders?)
3) Non-interchangeable battery.
4) Naff instruction manual.
5) Unreliable when Motorways merge - doesn't always tell you which lane to drive in.
Comment - If Blue Media could be persuaded to issue a bug free, user friendly software upgrade F.O.C., then this would be a world-beater.
Sincerely hope this helps.
F.E.B.

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