Tom Tom and Garmin Mapping

[Bill Ord]

Hi,

My current sat nav mapping is in need of updating, I use Copilot. The cost of a new system is now so cheap that I decided to look at buying a new system with western European mapping. I checked in my local branch of Halfords in Banbury and was surprised to find that the mapping for France is still showing the old road numbers; they haven't changed where N roads have become D roads which is pretty much 90% of them. I've e-mailed Tom Tom to ask if they have updated their maps as Halfords claim that the mapping installed is 2008/9 and will not change till April next year and so far have had no reply. Has anybody recently bought a Tom Tom or Garmin and can they tell me if they mapping is up to date. From a practical point of view the navigation will be fine but it's a little disconcerting nowadays to turn into a road and finding the number on the sign doesn't correspond with your sat nav instructions.

 

Bill Ord

[JohnP]

I have the latest maps (2008 version) on a Garmin 760. On the maps the road numbers in France have not been updated.

Although the numbers in France are changing in many cases there is some resemblance to the old numbers. Eg the N10 may now be D410.

Travelling through France in late May, I found that providing the map is accurate the number changes made little or no difference to my journey on roads mainly off the Autoroutes.

[Basil]

Using Tom Tom with the latest v7.20 map last time away was fine, there is now a V8.0 which is on the latest models but that is more to utilise IQ routing and the next full update is reportedly September. Some of the numbering on the Tom Tom mapping has already been updated, probably due to the continuous updating process that occurs with TomTom users.

The mapping is currently well up to date as it even had new roundabouts showing that had signs up at them saying they had only opened with a this years date. I have owned/ used Navman, Garmin and now Tom Tom and IMO the Tom Tom is the best I have used and with the instant updating facility has to be the most up to date with mapping changes.

 

Bas

[Elliot]

I use Tom Tom on a daily basis in the UK and used it across France last year, no problems. I have V 7.2 and find it works for me. It is kept updated and have never found any problem concerning the updates. I have only ever had Tom Tom so I cannot comment on other Sat Navs. Being bias I say go for Tom Tom

[Randonneur]

We used to have a Mio 269+ but now have a TomTom One XL Europe which is kept up to date on a weekly basis. I much prefer the TomTom but have found recently that whenever we put "fastest route" in (when using it fairly close to home) it always wants to take us on small country roads. Because we know the area we ignore it but a newcomer to France might find these road a bit tight, you have to use your common sense. Most of these country roads are fine for a dustbin lorry so should be ok for a motorhome.

 

We always use the SatNav when we go out, even in the car, as it then keeps an eye on our speed and any speed cameras lurking about.

 

Our TomTom bought last Christmas has Western europe Mapping V710.1561 with the Software application

V8.010

[Peter42]

Randonneur,

I understood that using a navigation ( or any other) system to pinpoint speed cameras in France was illegal. Is this not so?

[Randonneur]

On Satnav devices that have "Safety cameras" built in its ok, but we have never been able to clarify this as all the large Supermarkets and electrical stores sell Radar Detector devices.

 

Have a look at this link:

 

http://www.darty.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DartySearchEngineView?storeId=10001&crit@=gps&_mar=Alertegps

 

This is, I think, the sister store to Comet in France.

[Bill Ord]

Hi,

Thanks for the update. It seems from what you're saying that the mapping is not 100% upto date as far as road numbering goes but as I said originally it doesn't affect functionality.

 

Bill Ord

[potjoe]

I got new cd from Garmin webb site for free just looked on there webb site put in order ,cd in the post 1/2 weeks got to be good!.

[JohnP]

Caljoe

 

Whilst the Garmin map disc may be free, you may have to pay for an unlock code in order to use it.

Worth rechecking on the Garmin website.

[potjoe]

When i got the cd it had the code with a ref to MY Garmin code,when you buy a new Garmin it as a code with it.All i did was put the cd in my PC cable to sat nav and put in the code and it then did a total down load,it took about 1.1/2 to 2 hrs to do it .

[Basil]

Bill Ord - 2008-08-01 3:23 PM

 

Hi,

Thanks for the update. It seems from what you're saying that the mapping is not 100% upto date as far as road numbering goes but as I said originally it doesn't affect functionality.

 

Bill Ord

Edited I thought this one got lost!

[Basil]

Bill Ord - 2008-08-01 3:23 PM

 

Hi,

Thanks for the update. It seems from what you're saying that the mapping is not 100% upto date as far as road numbering goes but as I said originally it doesn't affect functionality.

 

Bill Ord

 

Don't forget that if you so desire you can alter the map numbering on your own maps yourself with Tom Tom and your alterations can be uploaded for the benefit of other users when you download your daily updates. Effectively you don't have to wait for updated mapping to make minor alterations such as this.

 

Bas

[little-jack]

Not only are sat navs not completely up to date with new road numbers, The roads themselves have not all been renumbered yet, and not all the road signs necessarily been changed, however as mentioned elsewhere, the old number, or part of it have in most cases been incorporated in the new number and usually possible to work it out- if you have time as the number flashes past!.

The 2008 AA France Road Atlas shows most of the new numbers.

 

little jack

[Abb]

I have been travelling, holidaying, working in France for the past 20yrs and I never took notice of the road numbering. I do what most French do;

look at the map,find out all the towns, villages that one is going to go through and follow the directions from one town to the next till the final destination.

For exemple from Cherbourg to Bordeau, I would plan my route and follow the direction to Rennes then Nantes then La-Roche-Sur-Yion and finally Bordeau. I find it very easy to do so because historically the road-signing has always favoured 'direction to towns and villages' more than road numbering and exit numbers. In rural France it's a necessity to navigate by town names and villages, in some cases there are no road numbering at all, just signposts to the neibourghing towns and villages.

Another complication is that some roads have several numbers and names. Roads could be classifyed as European road (E-road), as well as national roads (N-road) or departmental road depending whether the local goverment is a 'Prefecture' or 'Sous-prefecture'. It's never black or white,It's a mess; Anyway it's my way of navigating in France. But whatever one does it is wise to take a GPS.

[mirage]

As far as I understand it you may have maps/sat nav which show the position of fixed speed cameras in France (most French road maps do anyway) but RADAR DETECTORS are not allowed, and this includes just having them in the vehicle let alone using them.

[Peter42]

mirage - 2008-08-05 9:16 PM

 

As far as I understand it you may have maps/sat nav which show the position of fixed speed cameras in France (most French road maps do anyway) but RADAR DETECTORS are not allowed, and this includes just having them in the vehicle let alone using them.

 

Thanks for that, Mirage, Once again I have got the wrong end of thestick!

[Randonneur]

I totally agree with Abb's post, we very rarely look for road numbers, always follow the town/village names as directions. We also go from town to town directionwise on the map it is much easier, if there is a by-pass then use it if not go through the town, most places have signs that say "toutes directions of autre directions" so that you are not taken through the very busy parts.

 

As for the Radar Detectors, see my post further up this thread re the detectors being freely on sale at Supermarkets etc. There is nothing to say that these are illegal.

[Keith T]

Wespent some 7 weeks in France May-July, and used a Garmin 760, which we had only bought 2 days before setting off...so all was new to us. Initially I also worked out our routes from 'paper' maps, but found the Sat Nav OK, although not too easy to work out my 'preferred' route, rather than the direct ones. Also I found that the programme required very specific info which we did not always know.

However, as mentioned above, we also took very little note of actual road numbers,and indeed it's quite difficult to find them on many sign posts. So, yes, we too look for 'place' names, and very often go by the long distance signage, which is usually quite helpful..

[phantom]

Hi all

just bought a Garmin Nuvi 200 ( our first sat nav) - told it was the best for Irish roads but not sure if we can download software to make it a motorhome/lorry. Any one have any advice or do you recommend a different product? What campsite downloads can I use? All new to us.

 

Thanks