New GP required - anything but garmin

stolzy

stolzy

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I've had it with Garmin. I'm now on my fourth Zumo 550 - two replaced under warranty for delaminated screen and unknown lockup, one replaced out of warranty for £120, again for unknown lockup.

The one I have now is getting full of routes and won't reset and isn't recognised by BaseCamp, so the kind robbers have offered me another replacement for £120.

Basecamp is such a piece of shit I despair of getting something useful done with it.

So what do I replace it with?
 
I recently replaced my Zumo 660 with a TomTom rider v5 (2013) after a nightmare with the 660 on my round trip to Spain. The Tomtom works well with the Tyre software which is a huge improvement over Basecamp.
The v5 seems to work as a bluetooth hub better than the 660 as well with an absence of audio dropouts and improved sound quality on phone calls.
Nice screen on the v5, my only minor complaint being the lack of on screen info configuration options.
 

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I recently read a review of the Tom Tom Rider Mark V and the magazine said it was dreadful .

Never had any issues with my Garmin 660


Sent from my iPhone using Tossertalk
 
I also have a Rider V5 (always have had Tom Toms) and also read that review. I got the impression that he used a Garmin or some other GPS and was complaining mostly about the functionality of the V5, ended review by saying that it will get you to where ever you ask it, so:nenau :nenau
 
stolzy said:
So what do I replace it with?
Click to expand...

Some maps..?

Seriously, I love using a sat nav for work, but on the last few trips in Europe I've found that I've been simply following their route, not really going where I want to go...

I guess I'd always have one in the panniers, but thinking back to pre sat nav days, the whole planning and navigation was much more fun, and I think I rode more interesting roads. It's a bit passive just following the screen...

Also, if I think of how much time I've wasted with various updates, issues, Basecamp, downloading tracks etc. it's just crazy...

Call me a Luddite, but it's maps for me, plus a 2820 for emergencies :D
 
David Nimrod said:
Some maps..?

Seriously, I love using a sat nav for work, but on the last few trips in Europe I've found that I've been simply following their route, not really going where I want to go...

I guess I'd always have one in the panniers, but thinking back to pre sat nav days, the whole planning and navigation was much more fun, and I think I rode more interesting roads. It's a bit passive just following the screen...

Also, if I think of how much time I've wasted with various updates, issues, Basecamp, downloading tracks etc. it's just crazy...

Call me a Luddite, but it's maps for me, plus a 2820 for emergencies :D
Click to expand...
O'm starting to think you're right.

But, I'd miss the sat nav when things go a bit lost and in towns and cities, so nice to be able to watch the road and listen to the voice in the helmet.

I quite enjoy planning routes on the computer, but usually have a map to hand too.
 
Get yourself an old android phone and I'll send you the apk for co-pilot live along with the instructions to install it and download All maps that you could ever need . You can import routes and do most things that a GPS . Will do . It got me to the Dolomites and back safely last year . :thumb2
 
the 660 is basically a good device, but it's hugely hindered by garmin's appalling software.

when mine dies, i suspect i'll use a smartphone based solution, and as i am totally apple at home it will probably be an iphone. might be persuaded to android though for the choice.
 
cookie said:
the 660 is basically a good device, but it's hugely hindered by garmin's appalling software.

when mine dies, i suspect i'll use a smartphone based solution, and as i am totally apple at home it will probably be an iphone. might be persuaded to android though for the choice.
Click to expand...


I gave up with my I phone GPS and gave it to the wife.Bought a blackberry Z10. great GPS (free) with voice turns, and much quicker on the move.
 
images


stolzy said:
New GP required
Click to expand...

Dr Phil Hammond may be available.

:nenau
 
I tried to go with a Phone and hiking GPS, but maybe never bought the right software (iPhone with Navigon).. .decided to buy the Zumo 350 in the end...

Basecamp is not that bad to work with.. (coming from years of experience with Mapsource)..

Not had any issues with it yet, but have read that many do... we shall see...

Al...
 
araspitfire said:
Basecamp is not that bad to work with.. (coming from years of experience with Mapsource)..
Click to expand...
Sounds like damning with faint praise :-)


cookie said:
the 660 is basically a good device, but it's hugely hindered by garmin's appalling software.

when mine dies, i suspect i'll use a smartphone based solution, and as i am totally apple at home it will probably be an iphone. might be persuaded to android though for the choice.
Click to expand...
Problem is when you travel abroad the data costs, though they're a lot cheaper than they were, are still prohibitive.

Garmin's software is always apalling, its an article of faith with them.
I'm currently using MapInstall on my Mac and the interface is laugh-out-loud stupid. Like something from the 1980s.
 
And phones take reasonable photos! It is a bit like comparing the camera on your phone with an SLR. The SLR will produce vastly superior pictures and be far more versatile but only if you can be bothered to learn how to use it. A bike sat nav will be better than anything on a phone by the same conditions. If you can't be bothered to learn how it works then, of course, you will end up frustrated and most will blame the device and not their lack of knowledge.

John
 
kirky1298 said:
No data costs with co pilot live . All maps are stored on the phone sd card and phone uses internal gps not data . :thumb
Click to expand...


i think there's a few apps that load maps to the phone. no need for data charges :)


it's not my lack of knowledge, or even basecamp that bugs me really, and once the maps are loaded, i don't have an issue. it's garmins lifetime update service that boils my piss. never worked for me. ever.

on the other hand, i have it on good authority that updating one's garmin GPSmap60Csx is a piece of piss IF you don't go near garmin and get the maps from gpsunderground :augie
 
The Grey One said:
And phones take reasonable photos! It is a bit like comparing the camera on your phone with an SLR. The SLR will produce vastly superior pictures and be far more versatile but only if you can be bothered to learn how to use it. A bike sat nav will be better than anything on a phone by the same conditions. If you can't be bothered to learn how it works then, of course, you will end up frustrated and most will blame the device and not their lack of knowledge.

John
Click to expand...

Well , I beg to differ there John . I binned a TTRider in favour of the phone . Co pilot can import routes poi,s ( mine has archies campings , all bmw dealers worldwide , fuel stations , food stops etc ) it has traffic data , weather . You can play music . Take pictures . Phone . Skype , FB. I may be being a little naive , but what does a really expensive bike GPS. Have that my £20 android device doesn't ??
 
The Grey One said:
And phones take reasonable photos! It is a bit like comparing the camera on your phone with an SLR. The SLR will produce vastly superior pictures and be far more versatile but only if you can be bothered to learn how to use it. A bike sat nav will be better than anything on a phone by the same conditions. If you can't be bothered to learn how it works then, of course, you will end up frustrated and most will blame the device and not their lack of knowledge.

John
Click to expand...
If it were almost anything else, I'd agree, but this is garmin we're talking about and their software is shit.

Today Garmin told me that, unless I acquired or bought a Garmin branded usb cable then they weren't prepared to go any further with troubleshooting my problem. I hadn't realised that their usb lead was a proprietary interface and that other leads 'could supply the wrong voltage':blast
 
This news just in from MapInstall:
There was a problem while installing maps on your device. Ensure that the device is plugged in and turned on, and try again.
Click to expand...

Needless to say the device is switched on and plugged in.:mad:
 
stolzy said:
If it were almost anything else, I'd agree, but this is garmin we're talking about and their software is shit.

Today Garmin told me that, unless I acquired or bought a Garmin branded usb cable then they weren't prepared to go any further with troubleshooting my problem. I hadn't realised that their usb lead was a proprietary interface and that other leads 'could supply the wrong voltage':blast
Click to expand...

Garmin Leads always have a wonking huge ferrite on them... That would imply that the products are sensitive to electrical noise...

I'd not be too quick to diss the hardware if I hadn't used Garmin's lead.. instead, rather just grabbed up anything that fit from the crapgadget pile...

Al...
 
. . . . and all the maps on the SD card that I've spent all afternoon installing have gone.

Garmin:rocketwho
 
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