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nobby

I've recently picked up a PDA navigator using Via Michelin Mapsonic. The version it came with is 2.5 and does what I want it to do.
However, on their website I was steered to version 3 which includes a post code method of arrivals/departure points. So I installed it.
Then came the funnies.
I fed in my own address and was able to give it the main post code NR20 search, followed by 2 the next part. and it then asked me for street and number. So far so good.
I then fed in the post code of the campsite we stayed at in cornwall (St Blazey Gate...Doubletrees) near the Eden Project as I just happened to have that address on the desk.It asked for the PC ie PL24, search, followed by selecting 2 as next part at which point it then expects an input of street and number. I decided to ignore that request and hit search as I had given it as much as is often in the campsite listings books, ie PL24 2 (EH) .It looked for the town centre and put the target point in the middle of plymouth!!!!!.

Do other systems with post code locators have similar problems...after all if you know the street name what do you want the post copde locator for when looking for a site.

nobby

PS I have reverted to V2.5 as despite Michelin assurances (?) I find it far more user friendly.

PPS John Lewis in Norwich is selling the complete set up for £199.99 includes the UK maps

nobby

Am I to assume that no-one else has a post code facility on their navigators?.
Please can someone tell me how their postcode is input to the machine...is it all the post code or is part of it plus street and house number?

nobby

nobbythehobby

Hi Nobby,

If others are using a full postcode search, many of them may be using the Digitools software which, thanks to intervention by the Ordnance Survey, is no longer authorised due to licensing restrictions. They may not answer!

I use TomTom 3 which has a partial postcode search and it does require address confirmation once you reach a certain number of digits. I suspect that your Via software is a partial postcode facility only (takes you to the correct area) and that is why you also require address confirmation once you reach a certain stage. If you had FULL postcode search, you should not require any supplementary input.

In theory, the postcode facility is great. However, rural postcode areas can be quite large and inexact for navigation purposes. As MH'ers, we tend to mainly go to rural areas and I have found that I in the interests of avoiding location finding errors, that I use the POI or address facilities almost exclusively. Postcode facility is no great loss to me in practice but my Daughter who travels to urban destinations on business finds it invaluable.

Stick with 'User-friendliness', especially if you can use the updated maps from any newer version.

Nobby

nobby

From one nobby to another nobby

Thanks for that...wasn't aware of the OS involvement anywhere and assumed all navs had it perhaps in there somewhere.Iif TomTom 3 has a "crippled" system as is mine then that tends to suggest it is not worth the effort.
I'll stick with v2.5 on mine....at least it does what i want in a way I can understand.
Pity though as the postcode would be handy for finding some of those obscure hidden away places.

nobby

nobbythehobby

Hi Nobby,

The OS apparently waved the big stick over copyright on the data used in the (excellent) Digitools postcode software - http://www.digitools.co.uk/home.php

Nobby