Fiat Coupe Club UK
Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator
Posted By: Anonymous
Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 18/03/2006 06:20
Anyone got any experiences of either/both? I'm looking to get a satnav system and had initially thought of the Road Angel, but reviews on
pistonheads seem to suggest the TomTom is better. What put me off the TomTom initially is the supposedly inferior mapping (Road Angel uses NavTek) and the apparent lack of post-sales support.
At the moment my choice is between TomTom 500 with the speed camera sites added (£300 + 50 quid) and the Road Angel with added laser detector (for £469 all in).
Any views appreciated
Posted By: bockers
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 18/03/2006 09:49
Quote:
At the moment my choice is between TomTom 500 with the speed camera sites added (£300 + 50 quid) and the Road Angel with added laser detector (for £469 all in).
Any views appreciated
Why the extra £50. You can get a full years update cover for £20 from here:- PocketGPS
Also note the new Tom Tom units are due out so the old ones will be available at a substantial discount. New TOM TOM series
I cannot compare against Road Angel but am very impressed with Tom Tom mapping and directions. I have the PDA option and there is also a version for some smart phones. Have a look at this thread also :- SatNAv
John
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 18/03/2006 15:01
Or just buy a PDA and do the updates yourself when and as they come out(maybe daily??) and then get an independant jammer/detector device for near enough the same money
or consider a PDA/Phone option like the MDA and such like
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 18/03/2006 16:19
I have a TomTom 500, and have been very pleased with it. It's Bluetooth handsfree feature has been useful, too.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 18/03/2006 23:47
My local Maplin in Inverness had one on special the other day. Can't remember the make, but it ran windows software allowing you to link it with your PC. I'm not sure if it was a proper PDA or not, as I don't really know much about the things. But it seemed like a nice piece of kit.
It was reduced from 499 to 249, which seems a real good price. I was in Halfords after Maplin and saw it for full price, so it must be a genuine bargain.
......I've just checked Maplin and Halfords websites, but no sign of it on either, which seems really strange...
Posted By: phil_20VT
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 18/03/2006 23:55
You can pick up an acer PDA with built in GPS for a little over 200 quid.
However my dad got one and ive stuggled to get tom tom 5 working on it, so he had to stick with the destinator software it came with.
They all do the same job though with POI's you can set as speed camera files.
Im currently using an IPAQ pda with tom tom and would definatly recommend a simialr set up, however the stand alone tom tom unit in my opinion is superior due to general ease of use.
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 19/03/2006 04:28
I have Tomtom Mobile for Windows mobile phones, and although not able to compare it to other systems, I think it's great.
Saves me having to carry an extra piece of kit (PDA or stand-alone unit).
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 19/03/2006 15:38
I concur, tomtom in general is top piece of kit. Teleatlas mapping my have been less satisfactory, but the newer tomtom versions seem to have addressed most of the problems i'd found (M6 toll, A43, Isle of White). Tomtom maps look much better on screen than anyone elses, IMHO, and all of the devices are nicely modifiable. I would suggest having a look on pocketgps, link above somewhere. It's a corking site, with particularly good reviews.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 21/03/2006 00:36
Ive also got Tom Tom Mobile 5 for my Orange SPV C500 phone and its quality. Think you can get the Tom Tom software and the Tom Tom bluetooth GPS receiver all in for £180 - although I got the software cheap off ebay and bought a seperate GPS reciever (not a Tom Tom one) - £70 all in!! Bargain!
Also you can update the software and customise it with celebrity voices, speed camera updates etc
Posted By: GraemeC
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 21/03/2006 01:58
I have TomTom 5 set up on a T-Mobile Compact MDA using a generic bluetooth GPS and its excellent
Software and GPS from e-bay - total spend £50
With the newer versions of TomTom you cannot add your own customised warnings for speed cameras, however pocketGPS has a 'hacked' TomTom voice solution, so now I also have speed camera warnings which tell you what kind of camera is coming up (red light, SPECS GATSO etc) and what speed you should be doing!
I am also looking at getting some OS maps, then I'll never get lost whilst out walking/biking either (actually used TomTom to find my firms office in Birmingham couple of weeks ago after dropping the car at Motormech - you can plan walking/cycling routes with it also)
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 21/03/2006 02:03
I'm using Tomtom mobile 5 on an SPV C500 too (with the speed camera database).
Am I the only one who bought it legit??
Where are you getting the OS maps from Graeme? Im looking for some too.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 21/03/2006 02:27
Cheers for all the replies. A lot of people seem to be going for PDAs. I have tried a Dell before with the TomTom software and I have to say I found it really poor (fiddly to use especially on the move, and kept on crashing due to conflicts with Windows and whatever else was loaded on there).
Anyway, work have bought 12 TomTom Go 500s for £300 a pop so I've got one of them
. Used it this evening and it's pretty good. Dead easy to use. Sound quality is excellent, especially when using as a handsfree via Bluetooth, which surprised me. Couple of missed mini-roundabouts on the way home (limitation of the mapping) but otherwise routed well.
Posted By: GraemeC
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 21/03/2006 02:28
hi zak
you can pick up OS maps from e-bay - have a look
here at the memory maps (you'll have to work out what region you are
)
TBH I never spent that much time looking into these, but they actually look fantastic - see
hereI am going to have to get some for the summer
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 21/03/2006 03:03
Slightly off-topic but I can whole-heartedly recommend Pocket Navigator by Memory Map (for OS) - I had these on my PC PDA, the OS maps for greenlaning and walking, I even used the marine charts when boating.
Quality stuff
I particularly like the 3D fly-through on routes, you even get aerial photographs for National Parks, so you can view the actual scenery on a 3D fly-through and not even have to go there for real and get all cold & wet
Posted By: GraemeC
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 21/03/2006 15:57
Quote:
you can view the actual scenery on a 3D fly-through and not even have to go there for real and get all cold & wet
LOL
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 22/03/2006 20:00
I'm really getting old or out of touch now. What the hell are PDA`s?
I was looking at getting a cheap radar detector after reading the thread started by yellafella until I started reading all this thread.
Would someone be kinda enough to fill me in on what I should be getting so that I have. Directions,Speed cameras, mobile warnings etc?
I`m really confused now
I know it doesn't take much more I really am now
Oh and I need to be able to download foreign roads as well
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 24/03/2006 03:28
Looks good Graeme! But not sure if I'll be able to get them to work with my C500 Windows Smartphone and Tomtom !?
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 24/03/2006 03:40
Quote:
I'm really getting old or out of touch now. What the hell are PDA`s?
I was looking at getting a cheap radar detector after reading the thread started by yellafella until I started reading all this thread.
Would someone be kinda enough to fill me in on what I should be getting so that I have. Directions,Speed cameras, mobile warnings etc?
I`m really confused now
I know it doesn't take much more I really am now
Oh and I need to be able to download foreign roads as well
PDA is a Personal Digital Assistant, sometimes known as a pocket PC.
The options you have are to get a PDA with the navigation software and GPS receiver (Global Position System) already installed.
Another option is to buy a PDA, then buy the navigation software and GPS receiver seperate, then install the software to the PDA and connect up the GPS.
The third option is to get a mobile phone which supports navigation software. You then buy the navigation software and GPS receiver.
Another option is to buy a car stereo with satallite navigation built in.
There may be other options but I can't think of any at the moment.
On most of the above options you can install 'Points of interest' e.g museums, pubs, landmarks etc. You can also get hold of a file of speed camera's and install these as 'points of interest' on your device. You can set warnings so your device makes a particular noise as you are approaching the 'point of interest' (camera).
Hope this clears things up a little.
Let us know if you have any more questions.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 24/03/2006 04:04
LOL anymore questions
So the TomTom and the Road Angel is what exactly?
Ok lets try it this way. I got no protection from any speed traps or Gatso's unless I stick to the speed limit
Got no one telling me the directions I need to go except myself
Going to France in Summer, would like directions as driving to St Rochelle
Would like something that is easy to hide or carry with you which doesn't cost a bomb
What should I get?
Posted By: bockers
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 24/03/2006 12:01
Graham
It depends on if you think you would use the PDA other than as a Sat nav and what phone you have
If you are not going to change your phone then you have two options.
1. Buy a cheap PDA and Bluetooth mouse inc software. Tom Tom 5. Total cost circa £200
2. Buy a Tom Tom "one" and French Maps. Total Cost circa £300.
both options alow you you have the sat nav speed warnings on with the unit out of site and are highly portable, i.e Battery powered.
John
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 24/03/2006 17:08
Take a look here for optons too:
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.ukThen ask more questions if you need to.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 24/03/2006 17:25
Well my PDA has decided to not work anymore unless connected to the mains (not even 12v adaptor)
So its not exactly portable any more
So I'm prob going for a Garmin i3 - simple SatNav and you can download speed camera POI's for free I believe.
Cheapest ATM is Halfords £129 + a free £10 voucher.
That'll do me (and you Graham I reckon)
Edited: I see you want French data too Graham, not sure about that on the Garmin. It's usually quite an expensive upgrade for Euro maps, whatever system, so if its a one-off trip, use an old fashioned map
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 24/03/2006 22:26
Quote:
Take a look here for optons too:
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk
Then ask more questions if you need to.
OMG. Was that link suppose to help me?
Still completely confused.
What I can gather is the TomTom is just the basic system. Everything else I am after I have to pay for. Cameras £39.95 a year. French map £39.95. British Isles £69.95 and so on...Subscribe to this, subscribe to that.
There must be a cheaper alternative? I can't use my mobile as I'm useless with that as well
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 25/03/2006 03:50
No, you don't need to subscribe. For example, I've got a SPV C500 mobile phone with Orange. I bought TomTom Mobile (
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/tomtom-mobile-5-for-smartphone-gb-description.html ) and thats all!
I have a fully functional satallite navigation system. No more money to pay.
I downloaded a speed camera database for free from the internet and installed in the above. So whenever I'm approaching a camera I get an audible and visual notification.
If I wanted to use this in France, I would need to buy the French maps from TomTom.
You can get all of the above in one neat package, with European maps already included, like this one: "TomTom GO 700 brings seamless door-to-door planning throughout Europe"
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/tomtom-go-700-description.htmlAs mentioned earlier, you could go for a PDA system instead.
Does that make any sense?
Do you have a preference to the type of system you would like?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 25/03/2006 16:08
Zak I did warn you that I am useless about this stuff.
Just viewed the link of what you have. That looks pretty good but here's the thick bit... What has the phone got to do with it?
Makes no diffference as I don't have any of those phones
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 26/03/2006 02:25
Graham, I was just showing you my system so you could gain a little more understanding of the variety of systems available. The phone runs the navigation software, just like a PDA can run it too.
What do you think of the other all-in-one option (nothing else needed) that I linked to above :
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.u...92f5860509d7a92I was in Comet today and they had all the systems on display. It may be worthwhile going to Comet and get a sales rep to show you the systems. Once you've identified a system you like then search the web for the best deal.
It was all very confusing.new to me when I decided I wanted a sat nav system, but a few days of research and reading forums soon cleared it all up.
It may look too complicated at the moment, but soon, after doing some research it will become crystal clear.
Let me know on this thread or PM me if you have any more questions
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 26/03/2006 03:56
Thanks Zak. I will goto Comet and bend a kids ear
Then I`ll be back here with no doubt more questions
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 28/03/2006 16:48
Did you reach any conclusions yet Graham?
I recommended the Garmin i3 (£129 Halfords) to a customer, he bought one, and loves it
Downloaded the speed camera sites FOC easily too.
I like the fact that you can also run it on AA batteries, so you can walk about with it too (nice & small unit)
Looking at
www.garmin.com/uk, I think it comes with Europe base maps too, so you should get at least main roads for your France trip.
Edit: just picked mine up @ Staples £119.99
Posted By: zak
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 28/03/2006 19:02
Looks like a bargain if it comes with European maps!
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 28/03/2006 19:49
I Just been to Comet and looked at the TomTom 700. All in package. They were charging £349.99 but you still have to suscribe for the traffic updates and speed cameras
Let me know how you get on with your one Richard
Posted By: bockers
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 28/03/2006 20:36
Well yes but its only £19 a year. Not bad I think.
You have mentioned hiding the unit out of site. With the Tom Tom and Garmin solutions you HAVE to have the units in the line of site of the satelites. i.e. on the Dash.
With a PDA/smart phone solution you can plce your the bluetooth wirless mouse in the clip behind the mirror, hidden. The phone or PD Unit can then be in your pocket.
John
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 28/03/2006 21:13
Quote:
Looks like a bargain if it comes with European maps!
Yep got my £120 Garmin i3 up and running. Loads of built-in POI's and the one-off speed camera database from pocketgpsworld costs £2. (or £20 a year )
As well as full UK on the 256mb card, it has the Garmin European base-map pre-installed which covers:
Quote:
Standard map coverage includes:
A. Iceland, Great Britain, Baltic States, Denmark, Germany, Benelux, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Southern Africa (up to S20 Latitude).
Oceans, rivers and lakes (greater than 30 square miles)
Principal cities and some small cities and towns
Major motorways and/or interstates and principal highways
Political boundaries (state and international borders)
Major Airports
In addition to the standard map coverage, these areas also include:
Lakes greater than 5 square miles, major streams and rivers
Small cities and towns
This little unit is sooo much better than my old PDA-based thingy. When you park up, just pull it off its mount and bung it in the glovebox.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 29/03/2006 00:32
Quote:
You have mentioned hiding the unit out of site.
Sorry John. I meant hiding the unit when your not in the car. Either small enough to fit in the glovebox or to carry with you.
Richard: Let me know how you have got on with it after a week please
Posted By: bockers
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 29/03/2006 00:38
Ah in that case Tom Tom one or Garmin i3, although the magazine review I read said that this was too slow.
John
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Satnav: TomTom 500 vs Road Angel Navigator - 31/03/2006 02:24
PM sent yellafella