Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: hercules on 30 September 2012, 11:52:37
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has anyone used them ie navfree and is it anygood :)
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I have tried it on my old 3G-S, its shite, as are all Sat Navs on mobile devices.
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Well they are recommending to google or Nokia as their maps are pants
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I have tried it on my old 3G-S, its shite, as are all Sat Navs on mobile devices.
I disagree on the Nokia side of things theirs is really good :y
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Navfree works, and works well enough, once you get used to its clunky interface.
It constantly displays small ads at bottom, so if you haven't got a data package, turn off data!
Its free, try it. I've used it before, and it does what it says. Like all navigation devices, might not always pick best route, but you only need it for the last mile anyway.
All portable devices are poor, phone GPS is even poorer, due to compromises in design, resulting in poor reception. And no portable device works well in "difficult" areas - cities, woods, tunnels etc etc.
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Well they are recommending to google or Nokia as their maps are pants
That has precisely 9/10ths of buggerall to do with satnav ???
iOS 6 mapping is poor, esp compared to earlier Maps app based on Google's data, but every satnav app will have its own maps.
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I have tried it on my old 3G-S, its shite, as are all Sat Navs on mobile devices.
On the few occasions I have needed it, Google Maps has never let me down.
Granted it doesn't have anywhere near the features that my TomTom 910 had, but I don't need to know the locations of things like speed cams in order to get to my destination.
The only potential drawback of Google Maps is you need a reasonable sized data allowance to use it (500MB per month is more than enough for me though).
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Navfree works, and works well enough, once you get used to its clunky interface.
It constantly displays small ads at bottom, so if you haven't got a data package, turn off data!
Its free, try it. I've used it before, and it does what it says. Like all navigation devices, might not always pick best route, but you only need it for the last mile anyway.
All portable devices are poor, phone GPS is even poorer, due to compromises in design, resulting in poor reception. And no portable device works well in "difficult" areas - cities, woods, tunnels etc etc.
Ad Free Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigtincan.android.adfree&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDNd) sorts that out.
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I have tried it on my old 3G-S, its shite, as are all Sat Navs on mobile devices.
On the few occasions I have needed it, Google Maps has never let me down.
Granted it doesn't have anywhere near the features that my TomTom 910 had, but I don't need to know the locations of things like speed cams in order to get to my destination.
The only potential drawback of Google Maps is you need a reasonable sized data allowance to use it (500MB per month is more than enough for me though).
Thats the killer, esp if you use it often, with "online" mapping systems. Also, not an option for iOS6 users, due to crApple making a faux par. Serves the fanboys right for being stupid enough to upgrade :P
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Navfree works, and works well enough, once you get used to its clunky interface.
It constantly displays small ads at bottom, so if you haven't got a data package, turn off data!
Its free, try it. I've used it before, and it does what it says. Like all navigation devices, might not always pick best route, but you only need it for the last mile anyway.
All portable devices are poor, phone GPS is even poorer, due to compromises in design, resulting in poor reception. And no portable device works well in "difficult" areas - cities, woods, tunnels etc etc.
Ad Free Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigtincan.android.adfree&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDNd) sorts that out.
Its an iPhone thread ;)
Think there are similar for jailbroken iPhones, or could implement it in /etc/hosts, but its not enough of an issue (in this case) to worry about.
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I've experimented quite a bit with Mobile Sat Navs, as I was keen for it on the bike. I was/am still hoping to do blasts around Euroland. One ability of the expensive Garmin bike units is to plan ahead, design a route on a PC, researching where is best to go, sights roads ect, and plot it in. As it won't be a direct or fast route, it has to be manually plotted.
But they are super expensive, around £400 :o
I tried Navigon, even made a how2 on the GS forum: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260843&highlight=custom (http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260843&highlight=custom)
But all of them suffer with GPS positioning, as the surface to get a signal is small. On camping road trips with mates off in Cornwall or Wales, it really struggles at times.
Often in Scotland and Applecross area, I had zero signal, so data based maps are useless.
I've used TomTom on my iPhone while in Greece/Portugal on holidays, they work to a degree, found it very useful in Portugal for finding a supermarket. But it struggled in Greece, though the maps were a bit crap. I'll continue to use it for trips abroad, but in UK i'll either use a dedicated unit or map print out.
Last time I went somewhere I'd not gone to before, I just wrote down key junctions for motorways & roads, just before I left I checked Google Streetview to see what buildings to look out for.
Worked a treat going into central Bristol to pick up MrsT :)
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I've used TomTom on my iPhone while in Greece/Portugal on holidays, they work to a degree, found it very useful in Portugal for finding a supermarket. But it struggled in Greece, though the maps were a bit crap.
A lot of people immediately thing TomTom when thinking of satnav. I quite like the product, aware of the restrictions and limitations of portable units, but their maps outside of what was "Western Europe" are very, very poor IMHO. For Greece and Cyprus, I use iGo on the iPhone - clunky interface compared to TomTom (might be my familarity with TT though, having used it for over 10yrs now), but superior mapping.
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I've used TomTom on my iPhone while in Greece/Portugal on holidays, they work to a degree, found it very useful in Portugal for finding a supermarket. But it struggled in Greece, though the maps were a bit crap.
A lot of people immediately thing TomTom when thinking of satnav. I quite like the product, aware of the restrictions and limitations of portable units, but their maps outside of what was "Western Europe" are very, very poor IMHO. For Greece and Cyprus, I use iGo on the iPhone - clunky interface compared to TomTom (might be my familarity with TT though, having used it for over 10yrs now), but superior mapping.
Yeah I found that out hard way, when in Greece it sent me down dirt tracks. ;D
Still, nothing handles like a hire car :D
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Navfree works, and works well enough, once you get used to its clunky interface.
It constantly displays small ads at bottom, so if you haven't got a data package, turn off data!
Its free, try it. I've used it before, and it does what it says. Like all navigation devices, might not always pick best route, but you only need it for the last mile anyway.
All portable devices are poor, phone GPS is even poorer, due to compromises in design, resulting in poor reception. And no portable device works well in "difficult" areas - cities, woods, tunnels etc etc.
cheers i can give it a go for nowt :y
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Nokia drive never let me down.
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just been to pick the wife and kids up and gave it a go,faultless im quite impressed and for free :y
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TBH, I've found TT on the iPhone pretty good. But then mine is the bought app with full HD traffic and I have no data restrictions ;) It's certainly as good as the stand alone units ;)
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TBH, I've found TT on the iPhone pretty good. But then mine is the bought app with full HD traffic and I have no data restrictions ;) It's certainly as good as the stand alone units ;)
Can't agree. The app is as good, but the iPhone's GPS receiver (like all smartphones) lacks the sensitivity of the portable units, which themselves are pretty poor.
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TBH, I've found TT on the iPhone pretty good. But then mine is the bought app with full HD traffic and I have no data restrictions ;) It's certainly as good as the stand alone units ;)
Can't agree. The app is as good, but the iPhone's GPS receiver (like all smartphones) lacks the sensitivity of the portable units, which themselves are pretty poor.
It's not had extensive testing but I've yet to have an issue (tunnels excluded) that hasn't been corrected within 15 seconds. I know I have mine set to triangulate mobile signal to aid in GPS reception and the most up to date iOS and TT Software. Perhaps the GPS receiver was improved on the 4? :-\ Mine's also mounted in the centre of the dash, high up next to the CID (if that makes any odds)
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TomTom on the iPhone (for me, anyway, with an iPhone 4) gets a lot better in terms of GPS reception & speed when I stick the phone in the proper TomTom cradle - since the cradle has a GPS receiver in it..
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I drive around the highways and byways and backroads of the UK on a daily basis for work.
I used to rely on my TT but, TBH, now use the freebie satnav app with iPhone. I have a large data dowload allowance so the free pop ups are simply an annoyance but frankly, for convenience and availability of device on the hurry up, I have no complaints. Pick your own route over the longer distances rather than rely on the device though.
That said, I type in the postcode to get an idea of where I'm heading then switch the app off and rely on the mark one eyball and a swatch of common sense to get me there or thereabouts. If needed, the app does the biz for the last mile or so.
Its very limited when out in the country hinterlands but that is more of an issue with wider ranging postcodes than the app. As a backup for such scenarios I use memorymap (not cheap if legal) as it gives Ordnance Survey mapping for the whole of the UK and gives pinpoint position for yourself which is especially handy if lost in the hedgerows!
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Herc. As you say, Nav free is very good for a free ap. within the limits of a mobile if course.
T.B. you really need to upgrade your steam powered iPhone.
No issues here at all on a 4.
Aaron, your mate will be pleased to know;
Tomtom menus are now modifiable. So the post code option can now be moved to the TOP of the list if he wishes. ;)
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T.B. you really need to upgrade your steam powered iPhone.
No issues here at all on a 4.
Still has a poor receiver ;)
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T.B. you really need to upgrade your steam powered iPhone.
No issues here at all on a 4.
Still has a poor receiver ;)
It may be poor, but it's adequate for most situations if you let it use the mobile/data system to improve accuracy ;) :y
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T.B. you really need to upgrade your steam powered iPhone.
No issues here at all on a 4.
Still has a poor receiver ;)
It may be poor, but it's adequate for most situations if you let it use the mobile/data system to improve accuracy ;) :y
AHA. ...tight arse admin. AGAIN. ;D
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T.B. you really need to upgrade your steam powered iPhone.
No issues here at all on a 4.
Still has a poor receiver ;)
It may be poor, but it's adequate for most situations if you let it use the mobile/data system to improve accuracy ;) :y
That doesn't improve accuracy. Its a system called A-GPS, and its only purpose is to reduce fix time. It does nothing at all to improve receiver sensitivity.
The GPS in the phone (any phone) is a compromised design. Always will be.
I'm sure its more than adequate in the flatlands of East Anglia. Take it to the mountains of Snowdonia, the forests around Cinderford, or along the Aston Expressway ;D
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Can any satnav navigate the Aston Expressway?
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Can any satnav navigate the Aston Expressway?
.. and why exactly would you want it to? You want to go there? ;D
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Can any satnav navigate the Aston Expressway?
The PFL CARiN was superb at it. The FL Siemens is quite good as well. All portable units are utter shite. Did I mention that portable units are shite? If I didn't, portable units are shite.
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Can any satnav navigate the Aston Expressway?
.. and why exactly would you want it to? You want to go there? ;D
Sadly, some of us have to go there to keep your Internet working. Some idiot decided that sticking a major PoP site there was a good idea >:(. Still, I have worse places to go, as people think its a good idea to stick major Internet nodes inside the London Ringroad and inside the Mancs Ringroad, both are not conducive to rear tyre durability.
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Can any satnav navigate the Aston Expressway?
The PFL CARiN was superb at it. The FL Siemens is quite good as well. All portable units are utter shite. Did I mention that portable units are shite? If I didn't, portable units are shite.
shite? Nooohoho. Not as accurate maybe. But an awfull lot more portable. With a bloody site more usable interface. ;)
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shite? Nooohoho. Not as accurate maybe. But an awfull lot more portable. With a bloody site more usable interface. ;)
Not to mention that you only need to buy one of them, you can move it and all your contacts from car to car, share itinerary files with people, get hold of up-to-date maps and old TomToms can be picked up as cheap as chips.
The GPS chipsets are so good these days that there's no real advantage to having an external antenna over a dashboard mounted box IMHO. Only time I lose signal is in a tunnel, generally, and I can only recall one tunnel where there's been a road junction inside it.
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shite? Nooohoho. Not as accurate maybe. But an awfull lot more portable. With a bloody site more usable interface. ;)
Not to mention that you only need to buy one of them, you can move it and all your contacts from car to car, share itinerary files with people, get hold of up-to-date maps and old TomToms can be picked up as cheap as chips.
The GPS chipsets are so good these days that there's no real advantage to having an external antenna over a dashboard mounted box IMHO. Only time I lose signal is in a tunnel, generally, and I can only recall one tunnel where there's been a road junction inside it.
Indeed. TBH, even the TT on the iPhone 4 (I know that's a bit advanced for you as a mobile Kev ;) :D) has proven reliable so far, no matter what someone else thinks ::) Plus the HD Traffic function has proven itself a very good replacement for Trafficmaster and much more accurate :y
In France, the portable TomTom I was using was perfect (apart from POI inaccuracies, which is down to whoever input them ;)) and the TMC worked :y Which is more than can be said for the TMC on the NCDC :-X ::)
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.... I know that's a bit advanced for you as a mobile Kev ;)...
To quote one of the grumpy old men, I believe, although I might be wrong:
"Do you want to be able to watch TV on your mobile phone?"
"Nope... for the same reason that I don't want to p*ss in my tumble dryer." ;D
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.... I know that's a bit advanced for you as a mobile Kev ;)...
To quote one of the grumpy old men, I believe, although I might be wrong:
"Do you want to be able to watch TV on your mobile phone?"
"Nope... for the same reason that I don't want to p*ss in my tumble dryer." ;D
:D :D :D
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So Mr Wood is carrying two devices around instead of 1. Whyzatden? :)
When I leave the house it's, do I have;
Testicles spectacles wallet and watch.
Or the MODERN DAY version;
Keys, Phone(with terwat Nav) wallet. Anything else can be bought, found, acquired along the way.
Why have an extra lump of a Tomtom to carry about/leave in the car to be broken into?
Get it all on one device. Sorted! :)
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Ahh, but (on a good day) I can remember how to get to work without a terwat nav, and can do so without networking socially, so often leave the phone behind too. I often forget my wallet too, as a matter of fact, and then have to break into the building as that's where my door pass lives. Often I have to creep home on vapours since I have nothing to buy fuel with. :-[
See? All I really need is my car keys. :P
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Ahh, but (on a good day) I can remember how to get to work without a terwat nav, and can do so without networking socially, so often leave the phone behind too. I often forget my wallet too, as a matter of fact, and then have to break into the building as that's where my door pass lives. Often I have to creep home on vapours since I have nothing to buy fuel with. :-[
See? All I really need is my car keys. :P
But surely you need your phone as well in the winter months :-X ::)
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Ahh, but (on a good day) I can remember how to get to work without a terwat nav, and can do so without networking socially, so often leave the phone behind too. I often forget my wallet too, as a matter of fact, and then have to break into the building as that's where my door pass lives. Often I have to creep home on vapours since I have nothing to buy fuel with. :-[
See? All I really need is my car keys. :P
But surely you need your phone as well in the winter months :-X ::)
Nope. Never needed to make a call (apart from when the retarded bitch in the Megane left me with a wheel hanging off one wishbone). Did experience some "interesting" handling characteristics with the banana shaped chassis, but it made it home.
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Ahh, but (on a good day) I can remember how to get to work without a terwat nav, and can do so without networking socially, so often leave the phone behind too. I often forget my wallet too, as a matter of fact, and then have to break into the building as that's where my door pass lives. Often I have to creep home on vapours since I have nothing to buy fuel with. :-[
See? All I really need is my car keys. :P
But surely you need your phone as well in the winter months :-X ::)
Nope. Never needed to make a call (apart from when the retarded bitch in the Megane left me with a wheel hanging off one wishbone). Did experience some "interesting" handling characteristics with the banana shaped chassis, but it made it home.
Whaaaat, not even a phone in the head unit...? Bah, blumin technofobe... :D :D :D :D.
;D
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Whaaaat, not even a phone in the head unit...? Bah, blumin technofobe... :D :D :D :D.
;D
What is this "head unit" of which you speak? :-\
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Whaaaat, not even a phone in the head unit...? Bah, blumin technofobe... :D :D :D :D.
;D
What is this "head unit" of which you speak? :-\
Somethign the dimwit who built your car forgot. Now who did build it. Ah yes, erm ;D
So now you have to listen to the missus instead ;D
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Whaaaat, not even a phone in the head unit...? Bah, blumin technofobe... :D :D :D :D.
;D
What is this "head unit" of which you speak? :-\
Somethign the dimwit who built your car forgot. Now who did build it. Ah yes, erm ;D
So now you have to listen to the missus instead ;D
That probably depends how fast he goes ;) ;D
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Whaaaat, not even a phone in the head unit...? Bah, blumin technofobe... :D :D :D :D.
;D
What is this "head unit" of which you speak? :-\
Somethign the dimwit who built your car forgot. Now who did build it. Ah yes, erm ;D
So now you have to listen to the missus instead ;D
That probably depends how fast he goes ;) ;D
If he can't drown out the screams, its not fast enough...
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Whaaaat, not even a phone in the head unit...? Bah, blumin technofobe... :D :D :D :D.
;D
What is this "head unit" of which you speak? :-\
Somethign the dimwit who built your car forgot. Now who did build it. Ah yes, erm ;D
So now you have to listen to the missus instead ;D
Wrong. I listen to the bark from the throttle bodies. :-*