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I would be interested in anyone's experience of modern SatNavs in Hymers.
We have a Hymer CampSwing 524 (carriage built model, 2001 model) and a TomTom 700. The overcab sleeping area causes problems with SatNav reception. We use a TomTom external aerial which sits in the rooflight, and overcomes this. Its noticeable if we forget to plug it in.
Although the campervan is still going great guns, the SatNav has been flaky for a while and the cost of TomTom map updates (which never seem to include the new roads I’m actually driving on) is prohibitive.
The latest TomTom models don't have the facility for an external aerial. I've also seen that Garmin Nuvi SatNavs are getting better reviews than TomToms, and so I was wondering if anyone on the forum had experience of any recent TomTom or Nuvi models used in a coachbuilt campervan with overcab sleeping area. Ideally, I'd be interested in the views from fellow Hymer owners as these vans seem particularly thick skinned and robust, which whilst normally a blessing, is I suspect part of the problem for the SatNav.
It could be your sat nav the 700 is a very old model i have just sold mine and i had no problems re signal in several motorhomes.Also it will not support quick fix like the new ones do.
Re new maps PM me if you need any more info.
______________________________________________________________ Cheap no good
Good no cheap
I used to have a Camp 622 with an overcab bed. Experienced no troubles with a TomTom One, an XL or with my current Go 750. (used the TT1 ocasionally and recently in the old van).
______________________________________________________________ Norman ´n´ Liz
Moving on
When I had my old TomTom Classic in my Swift with a luton I had the same problem and sorted it the same way you did with the external antenna in the rooflight.
The Classic eventually 'gave up the ghost' and I got an XXL IQ Routes which worked fine with no external arial. Then I changed this (under warranty) to the START model because the XXL battery would not hold its charge and this holds the signal well once its got it. Between the two the XXL was quicker at obtaining its fix than the START.
So I think its a case of the later models having a better 'thingy' in them to find lock onto and hold the satellites.
The thingy you refer to is "gps quick fix" you have to log on with home every week or so and it will update itself. The go 700 will not support this quick fix. Even if you load it with the latest navcore and maps. I am not sure if quick fix helps to hold the signal but it certainly allows for a faster lock on.
______________________________________________________________ Cheap no good
Good no cheap
I have a Garmin 765T and have just recently experimented with an external aerial.
The aerial cost just £8-ish from China so cost wasn't in the equation at all.
Bearing in mind that my moho is a low profile and the Garmin was already making a good job of picking up satellites.
Without the aerial the Garmin was stating an accuracy of 36 feet, so not bad.
With the external aerial plugged in the accuracy came right down to 10 feet.
It was also very noticeable that the onscreen display was getting very accurate. Such things as road junctions being plotted to reflect what I was seeing through the windscreen. When the moho was abreast of a junction then the Garmin display was also abreast of the junction, and very accurately abreast of the junction.
______________________________________________________________ "On all the oceans white caps flow,
You see no crosses row on row
But those who sleep beneath the sea,
Rest in peace for your country is free".
Our T/T XXL works fine with our overcab and our old Garmin 2820 Street Pilot works slightly slower. The T/T seems to pick up a signal anywhere in the van.
Hi we have TT excel but going to invest in a snooper because can put in how long,wide high etc, done a search and Amazon comes up cheapest about 275....worth a thought?
______________________________________________________________ Margaret and Tony
Just become a member of CRAFT...Can,t remember a flipping thing!!
The past is History
The future a Mystery
The present is a Gift....
Hi we have TT excel but going to invest in a snooper because can put in how long,wide high etc, done a search and Amazon comes up cheapest about 275....worth a thought?
There will no doubt be howls of protest from Snooper owners but I am not at all convinced that they provide the security that you think you are going to get.
Having done some research there is no doubt that they work well where the road restriction/bridge height is recorded by the authorities, but the device has no way of knowing the width of a road which is not recorded.
So no real advantage over a 'normal' sat nav as the restriction will be signposted anyway.
Got to agree with Navea. The mapping companies buy their data from Local Authorities and the Ordnance Survey. The information they get covers height and weight RESTRICTIONS i.e locations where there is a specific Traffic Regulation Order in place to prevent vehicles of a certain size/weight passing a specific point. There are VERY few MH's that would fall foul of these restrictions (except some American RV's and the bigger Concordes etc)
Personally I can see no advantage in obtaining one of these HGV specific sat navs. Does anyone really think that someone has been down every road in the UK and measured its width or the height of every single bridge?? Thats the only way any satnav is going to be able to tell you that YOUR particular vehicle will not be able to get through whilst a slightly smaller one will. I would be interested to see if one of these "super" satnavs will give different routes if you input various MH sizes or whether you will just get a "standard" dont take an HGV down this road. Remember that the definition of an HGV is one where its gross weight exceeds 7500 Kg (not many MH' s do!!)
By all means buy one if you wish (its your money) but ask yourself if it will REALLY make any difference. Remember these satnavs are designed for use in HGV's. There are not that many HGV's compared to cars on the road and there are MUCH less Motorhomes than there are HGV's. So ask yourself if the satnav company is realistically going to spend huge resources making a satnav JUST for MH's ??
I have no doubt that owners of these satnavs will now tell me I am wrong, I am pretty happy that a standard satnav is more than good enough for 99% of MH's on the road. My MH is 7.5m long and 3m high and I have never had a problem getting through anywhere.
Its all personal choice but do ask yourself the above questions before spending 3 times more than you might have to.
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