Tom Tom 1 V's Speed Detector

cymatty · 24 May 2006 at 08:48

Hi my dad is looking at getting a speed detection system i told him he may be better off getting a Tom Tom 1,

Now as i see it there are benefits of each

Speed camera detection unit

Adv

Detects cameras both mobile and fixed

Dis

Costs per year for upgrades
One dimensional unit

Tom Tom 1

Adv

Provides Sat Nav
No annual fee?
Detects fixed Cameras an mobile sites?
Cheap to upgrade the database £2

Dis

Does it do Speed cameras as well as a dedicated uint, as that will be its primary use.

Which do you think he should get and any info would be appreciated.

Simian · 24 May 2006 at 08:56

The TTOne doesn't actually 'Detect' Spee... (sorry) Safty Cameras!... They're a 'Point of Interest' database (like the nearest - McDonalds, BP Garage, National Trust Site etc...) with all (or most!) cameras listed by their GPS location...

The database relys one us (the punters) logging them and uploading their positions to the website (for which you get unlimited Free Updates for life!! not £2/month)... It won't 'Detect' new cameras!...

I think the current database has 3000+ cameras but with more being added, and Mobile/temporary Roadworks ones popping up all over the country, you can't 100% rely on it!...

I've got a TTG500 with my £2 download installed and I'm now waiting to find one not on the database so I can get it for free!!!..

If you want just 'Detection' of cameras a Road Angel/Snooper is probly your best bet!...

Sim

OllyM · 24 May 2006 at 09:13

Road Angels don't 'detect' cameras either, they have a database similar to the TomTom POI database.

I'd go for the Tomtom, I've got the database on mine and haven't come across more than one (new) camera that wasn't on it, and it appeared with the next update.

thebrasso · 24 May 2006 at 09:23

I don't see the point in speed camera detectors (i.e. a device which has receptors which will tell you when a speed trap is pointing the beam at you) because by the time the device tells you this, they have got an accurate read on you anyway.

Those devices use a gps database of all fixed cameras and speed detection areas, just like a Tom Tom unit would.

I use the pocketgpsworld database, £20 a year and it seems reliable.

I'd go for the Tom Tom One, definitely.

[SKR]Phoenix · 24 May 2006 at 09:24

Check out the Snooper Indago. Proper Sat Nav, Proper GPS Camera alerts. There's a good demo on the website. Sat nav isn't quite as good as TomTom, but it does cover Ireland and still offers post code searches.

You do have to pay £50 a year for updates, but they have a dedicated team that goes out and checks every new camera reported within 48 hours, including temporary ones. It also does proper warnings, letting you know the speed limit and type of camera in both graphic and voice form.

I have both Indago and TomTom and if you don't want two devices, i.e. TomTom and an Origin, Indago is the way to go.

schnipps · 24 May 2006 at 09:25

OllyM said:
Road Angels don't 'detect' cameras either, they have a database similar to the TomTom POI database.

I'd go for the Tomtom, I've got the database on mine and haven't come across more than one (new) camera that wasn't on it, and it appeared with the next update.

Another vote for the tom tom, i havent come across a camera that wasnt on the POI aswell. Just make sure the database is up to date, i just update mine every 3 months or so.

Rotty · 24 May 2006 at 09:26

I have both a Origin B2 and a TT510 in my car , for cameras there is no comparision the B2 wins hands down

more reliable database
only notifies of cameras in your direction
advises if over speed limit
knows difference between speed and traffic light cameras
better handling of specs cameras
less false alerts because of removed roadwork cameras
less false alerts for cameras on nearby roads

cymatty · 24 May 2006 at 09:27

[SKR]Phoenix said:
Check out the Snooper Indago. Proper Sat Nav, Proper GPS Camera alerts. There's a good demo on the website. Sat nav isn't quite as good as TomTom, but it does cover Ireland and still offers post code searches.

Looks good however £400. :eek:

OllyM · 24 May 2006 at 09:33

Rotty said:
I have both a Origin B2 and a TT510 in my car , for cameras there is no comparision the B2 wins hands down

more reliable database
only notifies of cameras in your direction
advises if over speed limit
knows difference between speed and traffic light cameras
better handling of specs cameras
less false alerts because of removed roadwork cameras
less false alerts for cameras on nearby roads

Mine knows the difference between traffic light and speed cameras?

I guess you're using the built-in database that now comes with the x10 models...

theboyrob · 24 May 2006 at 09:34

Road Angels 'do' detect mobile laser cameras as it has two built in detectors, one at the front and one at the back.

For all fixed cameras it relies on a database it reads from which needs to be updated on a regular basis.

I have a Road Angel and also use a PDA with Tom Tom Navigator 5 and to be honest they are both equally as good.

I like the Tom Tom as it also stores possible mobile camera locations and warns you in good time. The Road Angel although it can detect the laser cameras, by the time it has done you would probably have been caught anyway.

[SKR]Phoenix · 24 May 2006 at 10:58

cymatty said:
Looks good however £400.

How much is a TomTom and and Origin?

I own an Origin and is it superb, but I have yet to be let down by the Indago either. Both have dedicated teams to ensure correct data. Hence, they both charge a subscription.

I will point out that they are in different vehicles though, one for work, one for play.

cymatty · 24 May 2006 at 11:03

[SKR]Phoenix said:
How much is a TomTom and and Origin?

True, but like i said it will be used mainly for speed cameras, however if the Tom Tom unit is just as useful as the Speed camera detectors then he might as well buy Tom Tom unit, as it does more than detect cameras for the same price.

[SKR]Phoenix · 24 May 2006 at 11:44

but TomTom only warns you of a point of interest. Sure, you can have it beep/chime when you get near one, but thats it. It doesn't tell you the speed limit or anything like that, which all RA/Origin's do.

If you are after mainly a camera detector, you can't beat a proper system, which Tomtom isn't.

OllyM · 24 May 2006 at 11:45

It does tell you the speed limits if you use the right database...

[SKR]Phoenix · 24 May 2006 at 12:48

OllyM said:
It does tell you the speed limits if you use the right database...

Not with voice prompts..... Also it warns you regardless of your speed, where as GPS based devices will only warn if you are above the posted limit and then count you down to the camera.

I don't care what anyone says, TomTom camera databases are a poor imitation compared to proper devices. Ask anyone that owns an Origin.

Still, get what you pay for I suppose.

Simian · 24 May 2006 at 13:12

[SKR]Phoenix said:
Not with voice prompts.....

It does if you get the rite database and a TT910 which has Text-To-Voice... You can make the TT910 say almost anything instread of Beep/Honk etc... and I believe people have found that if you have a 510/710 and slam a big enough SD card in it there is a way to get TTV working on them too!...

Check out mytomtomgo.com

Roll on Firmware v6 for the 300/500/700 then I'll give it a go!

NathanE · 24 May 2006 at 13:38

[SKR]Phoenix said:
but TomTom only warns you of a point of interest. Sure, you can have it beep/chime when you get near one, but thats it. It doesn't tell you the speed limit or anything like that, which all RA/Origin's do.

If you are after mainly a camera detector, you can't beat a proper system, which Tomtom isn't.

My TT510 tells me the speed limit... it's a little icon on the screen that is flashing. If you really really want it to read it out aloud then this can be done also by replacing the default sounds with new ones. Can't see the need for that myself though :confused:

To be honest the only feature Origin seems to have that TT doesn't is the distinction between camera's on the other side of the road. But I actually prefer the TT way instead, shrug.

Database is a database... nothing to do with TT. They just happen to ship one with it. If you don't like the database then download a better one like the one maintained by pocketgpsworld.

Rotty · 24 May 2006 at 13:51

Had a play with a Roadpilot Microgo and a Talex unit this morning , bith seem to do a good job , very impressed with the microgo

Dandle · 24 May 2006 at 15:43

Last time i went to Southampton i had both the Tomtom 5 with camera database and my RA2. Both databases were updated before the trip and the tomtom didnt have three of the cameras i encountered on the way through there(it still had some on there that had been removed as well), the RA2 warned of all of the cameras that were there and none of the others that werent. The database for the RA is miles better and updated more regularly than the pocketgps one. After having both I wouldnt rely on the Tomtom one again. Its a nice addon but not that reliable IMO.

Simian · 24 May 2006 at 16:48

Dandle said:
Last time i went to Southampton i had both the Tomtom 5 with camera database and my RA2. Both databases were updated before the trip and the tomtom didnt have three of the cameras i encountered on the way through there(it still had some on there that had been removed as well), the RA2 warned of all of the cameras that were there and none of the others that werent. The database for the RA is miles better and updated more regularly than the pocketgps one. After having both I wouldnt rely on the Tomtom one again. Its a nice addon but not that reliable IMO.

Was it the Tom Tom Database or the PocketGPSworld Database!?!...

From what I've heard the Tom Tom one is crap!.. and not worth the money/Memory space!... The pGPSw database on the other hand... I've yet to find one its not got!... (I want Free updates for life!!

)