In car navigation available in the UK?

[+Delta68]

Our TomTom XL died while in Portugal earlier this year so I am looking to replace it.

However, it looks as though none of the current TomTom models will take 3rd party points of interest. (Why are improvements always a step backwards? )

 

So, what can I use instead?

Ideally I want it to have mapping for the whole of Europe - like our old one did and must be able to take POIs generated from the GSAK Macro.

 

Thanks

 

Mark

[+Happy Humphrey]

Garmin's Nuvi series still allows GSAK downloads. Mine (2447 LMT, bought June 2014) has lifetime map updates for Europe and is very impressive.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Happy Humphrey

[+Delta68]

Thanks, I'll have a look

[+speakers-corner]

Garmin's Nuvi series still allows GSAK downloads.

 

Didnt know this, we have a nüvi 2595 with lifetime map updates. You can also enter coordinates as well. We like it and use it a lot. There are at least 4 updates a yr.

[+Happy Humphrey]

I use a GSAK macro to create the file which loads onto the Nuvi using POI Loader. It seems to work fine with the new models as well as the older ones.

[+colleda]

We bought a nuvi52 last June when in London. Works fine with GSAK POI. Lifetime maps too.

[+dibbler69]

I have a Tomtom via only got it a couple of weeks ago and you can load the tomtomgsak poi to it. You just do it via a webpage.

[+The Blorenges]

I have an XL and it's great but no longer supported as far as maps are concerned. So I treated myself to a Go500 about 6 months ago (it was on offer). Wasn't impressed at all! You couldn't enter locations with coordinates or add POI files. But I liked it because it did live traffic (free) and has lifetime map updates. The coordinate issue was sorted by TT with a software upgrade but it took a lot of discussion from disgruntled people in the TT forums to achieve that. As for POI capability... I don't think that will happen.

 

The whole Go series seem pretty useless from a geocaching point of view.

 

Chris

[+Delta68]

Yeah I saw on the TomTom forums that the GO series were useless. I had looked into the Via series as they seemed to be the closest match to our existing XL but the Via is also discontinued and I couldn't find anywhere which stocked the model I wanted.

 

In the UK we've been making do the built-in TomTom in my Mazda6 but it really is a pain to use. I can enter co-ords manually but I have to type the whole lot right from 'N' every single time. It's not possible just to tweak the last few digits nor add POIs

 

Mark

Edited August 28, 2014 by Delta68

[+stevo185]

I have a Tomtom via only got it a couple of weeks ago and you can load the tomtomgsak poi to it. You just do it via a webpage.

 

I've got 40000 caches on my Via, and can navigate to coords or a specific cache. Put them in using the GSAK macro, then 'My Tomtom'

S.

[+castagnari]

I have a Tomtom via only got it a couple of weeks ago and you can load the tomtomgsak poi to it.

 

I'll second that, tomtom macro - straight to tomtom

Edited August 28, 2014 by castagnari

[+Delta68]

After some deliberation, I've settled for a Garmin Nuvi 2598LMT-D

 

One of the reasons I've opted for Garmin is that if the unit dies in the same way as the TomTom did (I'm no expert but I suspect it might have got fried by a voltage surge in the Portuguese hire car), I presume/hope Garmin will exchange it for a £30 fee as they do with handheld GPS units.

 

TomTom want £70 to just look at it

 

Thanks for the suggestions

 

Mark

[+Happy Humphrey]

I'm sure you'll be very happy with it once you've got used to the interface. Looks a sound choice. Register it on the Garmin website to make things a bit easier. Don't forget to buy a micro SD card for the POI files so you'll have no worries about the number you download.

 

After a quick check, it looks like the macro you need is the one here:

Nuvi_GPX_v2.Gsk

 

...I'm still running an ancient version but it still works with the latest Nuvi.

 

Basically it creates files in a folder you specify, and then you load to the Nuvi using the free POI Loader software.