tom tom vs origin b2/speed detectors

[chris m]

hi all,

does anyone out these use the speed camera detector add-ons for tom tom?

a quick search on the internet suggests the tom-tom camera DB is pretty dodgy & tom tom better for navigation rather than speed cameras. (seem to need tom tom plus, which is very expensive p.m. for someone like me who navigation needs are limited)

- Anyone with real experience?

- Anyone use both!

- anyone got the perfect device that does both well?

Thanks :drive:

chris

[Robin427]

The origin unit is excellent for speed cameras - you can buy an addon unit I believe that allows you to utilise the feed from the GPS for a PDA based NAV system, but I haven't done that.

I use Girlfriend Mk. 2.1 for navigation - easy to move from car to car and also feeds me crisps whilst driving

[bitsilly]

I use both. The B2 is super and I love it simply because it warns you of speeding cameras etc and once or twice has saved me from laser gun vans. I recommend it to anyone who drives responsibly and does not deserve to be caught out doing 31 at 3am in a deserted airfield. It also tells you the speed limits which I usually find missing when a camera is about.

The TomTom I bought to replace the BMW sat nav when I changed cars. It has rave reviews but so far I find it rubbish. I got the 700 so I could use it in Ireland and that was worse than rubbish. Driving from Cardiff to Southampton it wanted me to use the M25.

I am still reserving my final judgement but now suspect the entire Tomtom marketing team do nothing but bias website reviews. The graphics are good, the voice irritating (wait till she keeps saying roundabout) and it is very easy to use.

I also read that the data base the tomtom traffic service uses is rubbish and not up dated often enough so they are looking to change but I have no experience of it so far.

I have the B2 hard wired in out of the way. The Tomtom stays in the boot until I need it as it is a thief magnet. Unless it gets any better soon you could probably find a few on the hard shoulder for free. I think Londoners find them good for city traffic.

[Wilburn]

I have a tomtom go 700 (built in hard disk with street level maps of the Whole of Europe) and I have the speed camera data base from http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/tomtom-plus.php

Approx £20 per year for the speed camera database, so far it works fine, no probs, it is updated approx every month with new camera locations.

Paul

[wilf]

I use both an Origin Bluei and a Tom Tom one.

There is reasonable convergence between the Tom Tom speed camera database (downloaded from Pocketgposworld for £2 pa) and the Bluei.

Bluei has the edge for things like specs cameras, TomTom tells me about locations for mobile scameras, which Origin does not.

Both databases are updated by members of the public notifying - so no reason for them to become different, IMHO.

Road Angel do a unit which combines speed camera detector and sat nav, but I have no experience of it.

With TrafficMaster YQ, TomTom, and Bluei, my dash top is getting crowded!

[Clive]

Originally Posted by wilburn

I have a tomtom go 700 (built in hard disk with street level maps of the Whole of Europe) and I have the speed camera data base from http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/tomtom-plus.php

Approx £20 per year for the speed camera database, so far it works fine, no probs, it is updated approx every month with new camera locations.

Paul

I too have the TT go 700 and the speed camera location seems to be excellent, but mine only seems to give an audiable warning when I have a planned route programmed. (Maybe I'm doing something wrong) I used it to go from Perth to Stoneleigh and it took me straight to the main entrance. I could not believe how many speed cameras there are in Coventry! No wonder you need detectors south of the Border!
Cheers Clive.

[tonym]

Clive, when you set the "noise" for the warning there's a tick box saying something like "warn when on route only" (not exact words, sorry) make sure this box is UNTICKED and you'll get the warnings all the time. you'll have to go through all your speed warnings though if you have them seperately
hth
:thumb:

[chris m]

Originally Posted by Robin427

I use Girlfriend Mk. 2.1 for navigation - easy to move from car to car and also feeds me crisps whilst driving

similarly, I have wife 1.0; the difference is that crisps are not quite so forthcomming!

Seriously I dont really need sat nav, but a combined device seems more sensible, havent decided yet at all;

[Clive]

Originally Posted by tonym

Clive, when you set the "noise" for the warning there's a tick box saying something like "warn when on route only" (not exact words, sorry) make sure this box is UNTICKED and you'll get the warnings all the time. you'll have to go through all your speed warnings though if you have them seperately
hth
:thumb:

Hi Tony
Many thanks, I'll try that. I've always had the"Warn only if POI on route?" box checked as I thought it only warned you of cameras on your side of the road ie. the direction you are travelling in. I'll try it the next time I'm near a camera. (The closest is about 25 miles away!)
Cheers, Clive.

[bitsilly]

Have read that soon the laser detector part of B2 may have to be removed as could soon be illegal. If that happens and Tomtom updates their database as frequently as origin then I could see no point in having both except B2 can be quietly fitted on RHS of steering wheel nearly out of sight, Tomtom is a tad more in your face.

What about geting a B2 and combining the satnav with a stereo?

Or buy a George Bush mask and have fun requesting the photographic evidence!