satnav for london

garnhamr

garnhamr

garnhamr

Associate
Joined
3 Sep 2010
Posts
132
Hi,
Are there any decent cheap satnavs specifically for london?
I might end up working as an electrician there so it needs to be good but i have almost no money.
I'm not really sure if you buy any satnav and then download a map for london or if i should buy one thats 'good for london' :/
 
Sat Nav is absolutely terrible in London, it always takes you a direct route through all the traffic when there are many other ways you could go reducing travel time by a hell of a lot.

If you have no clue where you are going then ok it does it's job and gets you there, but it never takes you the quickest way.

Someone should design a SatNav for London which uses all the "shortcuts".
 
Just grab a TomTom One. They suffer as much as the rest when you're around the taller buildings in the City. Also get a decent size A-Z as a backup as attempting to find a turning in london traffic with a satnav that's showing a death spiral can, potentially, distract you enough to have a prang.
 
tomtom iq routes work pretty well in london, unless I've taught mine all the little side roads and short/long cuts.

doesnt work very well around the bank area due to tall buildings etc... rest of the time its cool
 
Jez said:
The same could be said about any large town or city anywhere in the world.
Click to expand...

True, I've only noticed it in London (and ocasionally in Birmingham) as when I drive in Paris or New York I have absolutely no clue if there is a quicker route or not, however for the most part I am on foot but when in London I am in my car :(

Either way, I wish someone could design a Sat Nav which took all the locally known short cuts.


EDIT:
Will Gill said:
tomtom iq routes
Click to expand...
Sounds intriguing, does that learn your routes then? Does it share with all TomTom users or just stay on your personal Nav?
 
NVP said:
Sounds intriguing, does that learn your routes then? Does it share with all TomTom users or just stay on your personal Nav?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing it does, i update it all the time so I'm guessing it either learns from me or all the other people that use the same 'knowledge'.

works pretty well though and sends me on a different route depending on the time too which I like
 
Oh it uses time as a variable as well, that's a great idea. I wonder if they'll release something like that for Google Nav.
 
NVP said:
Oh it uses time as a variable as well, that's a great idea. I wonder if they'll release something like that for Google Nav.
Click to expand...

Sometimes it goes crazy and totally loses the plot, like telling to drive all the way up picadilly and back again when I'm literally just parking outside my destination, but I'm presuming thats it losing a sat or two and it guessing my poisition incorrectly.

gets my vote though I really like it, the lane management thingy is nice too.
 
lane management thingy? It tells you which lane to keep in? I get that on mine at junctions, like "keep left at fork" or "stay in right lane", but only at junctions.
 
NVP said:
lane management thingy? It tells you which lane to keep in? I get that on mine at junctions, like "keep left at fork" or "stay in right lane", but only at junctions.
Click to expand...

sounds like it, on big motorways (specifically in Paris!!) where there are like 8 lanes it keeps the route through the correct lane, very handy where "stay left" doesnt quite cut it!
 
Sounds good, I hope google fix up and introduce these things into their nav, I can't be bothered taking the tomtom with me unless I go abroad.

I'm assuming these features are only on new TomToms, I may have to upgradefrom the 910 whatever it is.
 
If your going to be working in London then I would advise just getting the train / tube in tbh.

Driving in WILL take longer if your working normal mon / fri 8 - 4 as the traffic is pants.
Plus by the time you factor in petrol, congestion charge and general wear and tear im sure the train would be cheaper.

Nearly all sites have site box safes for putting tools in, so you don't have to lug them in and out every day; just once in on Monday, and home on Friday.

My satnav ( Google maps on Android phone) works ok in the city and bank area (contarery to the post above) but struggles in the west end (well regent st, shaftesbury ave etc)

But generally the tall buildings really screw up satellite reception.
 
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