Best possible navigation solution (gmaps/TomTom/Garmin)

Tim182 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 20, 2010 Posts: 4

Hi all

I would really appreciate it if you could please help me find the right navigation solution. At this point I am not even sure if this even exists...

Requirements:
- up to date European and preferably world maps (must be lifetime)
- excellent live traffic (must be lifetime)
- best possible speed camera database
- only one device (ie dedicated gps with phone and cameralert is not an option)

I have looked at the TomTom 5100 which seems perfect except for the cameras as it doesn't allow for custom pois for the PocketGPSWorld database. The TomTom built in database also seems inferior (is this still true??). It also is lacking cameras for Switzerland but I think I could live with that. I am curious how bad the TomTom database really is...

Garmins seem like a good alternative given custom POIs. However, I am concerned about the quality of their live traffic. TomTom offers live updates over 3G which surely has to be superior to Garmin's old-school radio receiver.

Currently I am using Google maps with cameralert which works really well. Great traffic and up to date maps, also the best camera database. I have however moved to iPhone on which cameralert no longer works properly. This leaves me with having to use an iPhone for navigation and android for cameras - not ideal.

It seems that the ideal solution would be a new TomTom with lifetime maps and live traffic which also accepts custom POIs but this doesn't seem to exist!

A few questions:
- is Garmin traffic really that bad?
- are TomTom cameras that inferior to PocketGPSWorld?
- how does the cyclops database on garmin compare to PocketGPSWorld?

Any insights and suggestions would be really appreciated!!

M8TJT · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 9:16 am Post subject:

You are very unlikely to find a device that will satisfy your requirements. If you do, please let us all know what it is.
Garmin Traffic: Not as good a google maps on my PC, but not too bad. Can't compare with TT because I don't have one.
TT Vs PGPSW: No comparison. TT are many times reported to have long delays adding/removing cams, especially SPECS.
Cyclops v TT cameras???? The sample Cyclops database that I have on mine does not show mobiles. Not sure if the paid for one does or not?

I (and others) find Garmin routing suspect. They tend to take you along very narrow back roads when there is a 'better/wider' route. I had this Tuesday in Kent.

Having cams in Switzerland is illegal so Swiss cams are not included in TT. Not sure about Garmin though, but you can put the PGPSW database on them which can optionally include CH cams.

Never having had a TT, I can't draw a comparison, but for just plain navigation, I find iGO based software pretty unbeatable both for original routing and ease of adding unlimited (more than 20) way-points to modify the route. And they can also auto arrange them as the shortest rout to visit all way-points, pretty damn useful for delivery drivers etc. On Garmin, I have not found a way to do this and you seem to have to shuffle them around on a list manually (unless someone knows differently). I found this out on my trip into Kent and had to put way-points into my route to make it go the way I wanted and found it not easy unless you happen to know the names that the device has given the way-point.

My ultimate choice, if it existed would be iGo based nav with PGPSW database (this is possible) but with a decent traffic solution.

Tim182 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 20, 2010 Posts: 4

Thanks, that is really useful. Maybe, the only solution then is to use a TomTom with live traffic and run cameralert on a separate device. Really not ideal but I don't see any other way at the moment...

Garmin live traffic and routing doesn't seem up to scratch at all and TomTom cameras seem pretty bad.

gazza70 · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 129

I'm running the tomtom go500 and I've loaded and run pgpsw camera database on my phone, at least if you don't need to use the satnav then you can still have camera warnings

DennisN · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:05 pm Post subject:

gazza70 · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 129

I used to use a inforad speed camera locator until they decided to drop using PGPSW database in 2012 , I'm not sure who's they use now but their claiming they now have the best camera database,
dont know what planet their on claiming that as some of the camera locations aren't even on their database.
It must be the same clowns that tomtom use

sussamb · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:46 pm Post subject:

Garmin digital traffic is excellent I find. While you get the occasional routing glitch I find my 2508 generally picks the route I would choose. You're also offered a choice of up to 3 so at least can pick the one you prefer.
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