I got the Navman F20 UK version last year and have since bought the France maps for £49 which will be used for the first time this year. I believe that the F20 Europe version is main roads only whereas buying the UK version then the maps for individual countries you will visit gives you door to door navigating. The F20 is simple to use and program, smashing clear screen and mapping, good clear male or female voices, good POI's, online udating is easy and it has never sent me wrong yet. Its a great SatNav if you dont want to spend out too much money and you can build up your library of street level mapping according to the countries you will visit and leave off those you wont.
The big problem with all of them is that they are not caravan friendly. You can't set it to totally avoid minor roads. I do have a TomTom Navigator 5 (software for PDA) and it's great, but when towing you need to check the route very carefully as you'll sometimes get directed down tiny roads.
Yes, there is a "fastest route" option which favours main roads, but it doesn't rule out roads which are unsuitable for large vehicles or caravans. Looking at the number of these units being used now, the manufacturers really need to sort this out.
There was a rumour sometime ago that TomTom were looking at an HGV option which was going to address the problem of large vehicles and presumably would be useful to those of us who tow, but I've heard nothing definite about it.
Got a Navman F20 Europe, very good piece of equipment, it is at the bottom of the spec range but does not skimp on the Navigation stuff (which is after all what it is there for) so not bluetooth or camera or MP3 play but i want it to get me from A-B and back and correct me if i go off course etc it copes impecably.
As for the Europe bit it IS street level and post code searchable for all of Europe (if you need this don't get F20 Uk then buy the maps this can be expensive (about 50 quid per map per country so all europe = £££££ the europe map is £100 so F20 UK (about 120 plus europe maps-at least 220 poss more if you buy each country separate) F20 Euro-170.
one good feature this has is the park and petrol buttons- press these and it shows you where the nearest on is, very handy. the pre loaded POI's also work similar and include cash points cinemas, swimming pools etc etc. also handy.
The big problem with all of them is that they are not caravan friendly. You can't set it to totally avoid minor roads. I do have a TomTom Navigator 5 (software for PDA) and it's great, but when towing you need to check the route very carefully as you'll sometimes get directed down tiny roads.
Yes, there is a "fastest route" option which favours main roads, but it doesn't rule out roads which are unsuitable for large vehicles or caravans. Looking at the number of these units being used now, the manufacturers really need to sort this out.
Not sure if this is going to help but have you thought about using Microsoft Autoroute?
You could do detailed route planning to avoid minor roads then download the route to your PDA
The big problem with all of them is that they are not caravan friendly. You can't set it to totally avoid minor roads. I do have a TomTom Navigator 5 (software for PDA) and it's great, but when towing you need to check the route very carefully as you'll sometimes get directed down tiny roads.
Yes, there is a "fastest route" option which favours main roads, but it doesn't rule out roads which are unsuitable for large vehicles or caravans. Looking at the number of these units being used now, the manufacturers really need to sort this out.
Not sure if this is going to help but have you thought about using Microsoft Autoroute?
You could do detailed route planning to avoid minor roads then download the route to your PDA
there is a program called ITN converter which you can download at http://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1492 will allow you to plan a route in autoroute, save it as an axe file, then you shut down autoroute ( this bit is important ) and import the file into itnconv. It outputs a file that you can import into a tomtom and open as an itinerary.
------------- I've taken a vow of poverty, to annoy me send money
I have a Navman F20 and it's very good. I have the UK version with the French maps on an SD card and I'd recommend it to anyone. Very easy to use straight out of the box.
It has full postcode + Points of interest (POI)
POI gives you the ability to download aires, campsites etc directly onto your sat nav and they are available on a number of brands.
I did an update on my TomTom last year before taking off to France (downloaded the latest maps)...unfortunately, as we soon found out on leaving Caen, nice Mrs TomTom was franticly trying to direct us down several roads that hadn't been finished yet. We could even see the diggers and trucks working on the roads...but no road connection from our roundabout.
So this year, we have a new French Road Atlas...and the TomTom for backup!
------------- 'I liked freezing my n*ts off so much, I bought the company'
Not sure if this is any help, but I've paid a visit to the local Halfords this morning, picking up a promo leaflet on current offers. They have a TomTom One Europe Travel (with EU & UK street level mapping pre-installed), including a free carry case & safety camera database for the princely sum of £199.99.
I use a TomTom One GB for work occasionally as I trek throughout this sceptred isle and I have no complaints as to it's accuracy.
There is quite a bit of freebie stuff in t'internet land that you can get for TomTom. My current voice is Justin Moorhouse, the guy who played 'Young Kenny' in Phoenix Nights. Very amusing he is, too.
-------------
You can lead a horse to water, but I'm off to the pub!
We have a mio p550 pda. Once it has found and locked onto a satellite we have had no problems ( now seems to be a bit slow now). When towing we just select lorry or bus in the preferences.
It came fully loaded with UK and full european maps and a very good list of poi's
------------- Watermouth Cove - Easter
Carsington Water - May
Sandringham - June
Dockray Meadow -August
Coniston Park - August
Quote: Originally posted by Bill Lord on 09/7/2007
Quote: Originally posted by dave-t on 08/7/2007
Quote: Originally posted by Andy R on 08/7/2007
The big problem with all of them is that they are not caravan friendly. You can't set it to totally avoid minor roads. I do have a TomTom Navigator 5 (software for PDA) and it's great, but when towing you need to check the route very carefully as you'll sometimes get directed down tiny roads.
Yes, there is a "fastest route" option which favours main roads, but it doesn't rule out roads which are unsuitable for large vehicles or caravans. Looking at the number of these units being used now, the manufacturers really need to sort this out.
Not sure if this is going to help but have you thought about using Microsoft Autoroute?
You could do detailed route planning to avoid minor roads then download the route to your PDA
there is a program called ITN converter which you can download at http://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1492 will allow you to plan a route in autoroute, save it as an axe file, then you shut down autoroute ( this bit is important ) and import the file into itnconv. It outputs a file that you can import into a tomtom and open as an itinerary.
Wow, that is exactly what I need - thanks for the tip. It's things like this that make this forum so great. Thank you!
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Topic: Sat Nav
