Workarounds for CoPilot's problems.

PONDEROUS · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:51 am Post subject:

Alix776

This thread is about workarounds and as much if not more about other issues as well. That has come about because people introduce side issues as the debate goes on, and it applies equally other threads. I share your frustration, but the only way to improve the situation is through the forum's structure and management. As it is probably going to remain open for users to continue adding their thoughts in ways that don't necessarily match the thread's heading, maybe there needs to be an alphabetical index so that topics can be found more easily??

As I have suggested before, it is always open to anyone to start a new thread with a precis of all workarounds known to them, and to invite others to add to it, while at the same time appealing to them to exclude other issues. The workarounds would need to be completely successful or, if not, the limitations would need to be described. The entries would also need to be unambiguously and clearly writen, if the desire to keep it uncluttered was to be realised.

Having said that, here are my observations on the current workaround-related issue, raised by Topgazza.

There are those of us who can rarely take advantage of desktop planning.

I often have to set the PPC to find 30 or more routes a day, and I cannot predict in advance where I want to go. As each route may be 60% or more longer than necessary, I have to add waypoints, which frequently malfunction. Route optimisation should help, but it too is faulty. This seems to be beyond any workaround, but I'd be pleased to hear of one.

As with the desktop PC, a satisfactory route can certainly be planned on the PPC by entering more and more waypoints until it finally accepts the proposed route (as described elsewhere on this forum). I suppose that could be called a workaround, but it costs a great deal of wasted time.

topgazza · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 1:35 pm Post subject:

I have 30-40 trips saved in my CP5 program and all have been transfered by drag and drop through "My Computer" to the Co Pilot "save" folder my CF card on my PDA, attached via Autosynch natch! Select new trip and saved trips and there they all are

Is that what you mean Skip?
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TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

nikpro · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 42

Funny that people here have been having a go at TomTom 5; I just borrowed one and I think it's good - knocks the socks off CoPilot.

So here is the ultimate Workaround for CoPilot; go buy TomTom 5 !

HellFire · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 25, 2004 Posts: 126

I’m not 100% but I thought in some post that someone said the TT5 maps was about 4 years old as they said a road has been closed that amount of time but TT still thinks it is still open

topgazza · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject:

nik, its like all these things. Ones man meat is another mans doner kebab. Fact is TT5 AND CP5 have problems. TT5's seem to be around the features and some routing issues. The fact that a number of people reverted back to TT3 indicates the frustration...of some, if not a lot of folk. A consistent issue with both companies is the shockingly, truly shocking support or even response to any query. Thats why people bitch

CP5 is appalingly bad at routing hence the suggestion or workarounds. Unfortunatly when you start taking about reprogramming the plot has been well and truly lost. IMO my, sort of, workaround of simply not bothering to do a route on the fly but use the PC to plan ( a feature that TT does not have and trusting the routing becomes a great leap in faith) is great for me and works very, very well. TT is better thats for sure in this area. Workarounds would be great if CP5 actually paid attention and removed the need for them.
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TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

nikpro · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 42

i aree; the beauty of CP5 is the ability to plan on the desktop.

Most of the complaints for TT5 centre around traffic - which I don't use but the roads are more up to date where I live. The road I live on has been constructed 8yrs and it is not on CP5 yet is on TT5.

The company that sort traffic out for TT5 are also going to be doing CP5 so there's not much hope there then!

topgazza · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

I think the issue of missing roads or dead ends that aren't dead ends in the program are just a fact of life with any routing software. Some maps are just more up to date/more accurate depending on where you live. If you are travelling to an area you don't know then you wouldn't know about any such problems so you always have to go on trust. My areas fine as well but I don't need to know that Smile

Its also a lot to do with what you are used to in software. I've got used to CP5 and understand where it is weak. I'd love to try TT5 but the extra cost for me just can't be justified. Hence the support in getting ALK to do something
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TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

BMWBiker · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 2:23 am Post subject:

Madashell · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 1

I wish I had read the notes on this forum before buying cp5 on the strength of the review. I think a warning should be apended to it.
After downloading the patch that silenced the voice prompts and spending a couple of hours waiting on the support lines and failing to resolve the issue, the latest disks they sent (as a desperate last hope), failed to load onto the Ipaq sd card. I'm not sure have the patience of you guys to persist with something that is so patently flawed, but I did part with my cash in good faith.
Has any one succesfully loaded the .48 european version?
Has any one squeezed a refund from ALK?
I resolve to make one more attempt at loading to the Ipaq 2210 sd card and one more phone call.
A friend has naveman and has had excellent support and swears by it. I hoped the better maps on CP and the PC option would ease my busy life.... I dream of days before CP when my old Garmin simply did what it was designed to!

Bazzer · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:

After 4 months of total frustration with CP5, I am now an extremely happy person.

What has changed to make me so happy ?

I've returned it to my retailer and they have refunded it for me !!

Yippee !!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Now, all I've got to decide on is what to replace it with Question

Any suggestions. Don't anyone dare say CoPilot 6 !!

Baz

iankb · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:34 am Post subject:

Get ready to find a new list of bugs. Wink

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Ian

iPaq 2210
Globalsat BT-338
Seidio G2500 Amplified Vent Mount
CoPilot 6, GPS Tuner 4.2, Navio 3.01
BMW 330ci Sport

topgazza · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:00 pm Post subject:

I know it depends on the seller but there is clear prima facia facts that make a refund a given under UK consumer laws. Maybe if enough got that ALK would sit up take notice when a load of key suppliers stop ordering stock due to the number of returns?
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TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

iankb · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:52 pm Post subject:

Have you thought that maybe a significant number of people are quite happy enough with CoPilot, or see the competition as no better, such that they have no wish to return it.

It's obvious that different people have significantly different requirements and/or expectations out of a navigation product, and that the accuracy of map data and routing may vary significantly between areas, but that doesn't make the product unusable for everyone.

Local routes will always be questionable, since the map data does not included the subtle variances of traffic density, school runs, road humps, traffic lights, etc, but then all products will suffer from that for many years to come.

I now get 100% accuracy on known speed cameras, know that I'm always going in the right direction, get good warning of turns, and get a good estimate for ETA. That's good enough for me.
_________________
Ian

iPaq 2210
Globalsat BT-338
Seidio G2500 Amplified Vent Mount
CoPilot 6, GPS Tuner 4.2, Navio 3.01
BMW 330ci Sport

topgazza · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:03 pm Post subject:

You can include me in that first statement Ian. Doesn't mean the product is anywhere near as good as it should be though, accepting that all of them are flawed in one form or another. That doesn't mean its OK for ALK to be complacent. Some of the workarounds being suggested are quite serious changes to the program as opposed to the colour of the roads or the font. The support is easily the worst of the bunch and theres no workaround for that.

I am happy with my CP5 but I wll support those significant percentage who have taken the time to voice the shortfalls from around the world.
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TomTom 720

Nokia Lumia 800 with Nokia Maps, iPhone 4S with Apple Maps (sigh)

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