Avtex Sat Nav

Srunciman
Srunciman Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited April 2019 in Club Products & Services #1

Hello fellow caravanners and Motorhome / campervaners

Help .. Can anyone help me by telling me how to input Site co-ordinates into my avtex sat nav in the correct format.. 

I am travelling to France this year, and rather than using post codes I would like to use the co-ordinates given in the ACSI book..  ie.. N52 05 31 E 06 02 05 this is in degrees minutes and seconds.. I know which section to go to in the sat nav.. and it does give me a choice of various formats to use and lets me select the one I want .. in theory! 

My problem is that the above format is not one of the options!! Maybe I am doing something wrong? I have tried in vain to find the answer in the manual etc.. and on line.. but have had no joy.

if anyone can point me in the right direction ( no pun intended!!) I would be really grateful..

many thanks ..  Sandra an extremely frustrated motorhomer.

Comments

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2019 #2

    Hi Sandra, 

    Here are examples of formats that generally work:
    Degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS): 41°24'12.2"N 2°10'26.5"E.
    Degrees and decimal minutes (DMM): 41 24.2028, 2 10.4418.
    Decimal degrees (DD): 41.40338, 2.17403.

    if for some reason you can't input in the format you have from the ACSI book, there are Google converter pages that will change what you have into what the satnav wants...

    OTOH, if you're handy with a PC, you can upload the ACSI point of interest (POI) to the unit and then navigate to one of those without the need for typing..

    good luck.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #3

    Surely ready made POI's would be the best option if they are available for the destinations you have in mind, saves a lot of manual keying.

    David

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2019 #4

    yes, David that's true, provided you know where to get them and are fully familiar with loading them onto the device...

    some are anything but user friendly...

    my old Tomtom was soooo easy, new one much harder work, progress eh?

    i see Tomtom have just released a 'new generation' of satnavs...I hope all the user complaints have been taken on board...devices great when up and running but usability nosedived a few years back...

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #5

    BB

    I am seriously thinking of moving away from TomTom to another brand because I don't like their current system of adding POI's. I suppose the widespread use of built in systems has dumbed down the need for user input and probably TomTom as a major player in the built in market don't see much to be gained from having an easy system!!!

    David

  • Biljul
    Biljul Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited April 2019 #6

    We use "Here we go" app on our phone, the ACSI app will automatically open the site as a destination when you hit the directions button. The apps. do not need a data connection-----(download the area maps onto your phone at home). Your phone needs to have location on. The Here we go app.is free to download and use. It is not specifically for large units so check your route before driving it. It has taken us through France, Germany etc.no problem. 

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
    500 Comments
    edited April 2019 #7

    We have a Tom Tom 1005 camper version (bought with a CMC discount in 2012) with lifetime UK mapping updates.  How long is a 'lifetime' according to TomTom ?  we are still pleased with it as I have lots of POIs  downloaded (easily)and are able to input our Vans dimensions to avoid nasty suprises. Only tour the UK now so European updates not required. And we feel no need to buy a 'New' sat nav.

    Will our 'lifetime' soon expire😨

    Avoid 'inbuilt' sat navs like the plague. prefer portables.

     

  • Srunciman
    Srunciman Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited April 2019 #8

    Thanks for all of your replies, I am going to see if Garmin can explain.  I could use my phone, but I bought this sat nav specifically so that I can input our Motorhome dimensions which is really helpful when driving in France & Spain as there are lots of narrow roads. 🚍🚐🙂

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2019 #9

    My TomTom based inbuilt satnav won't take POI files. It only had a one-time map update, so now it is a bit of a pricey operation to keep updating maps. Grrr. yell

  • BugsyReece
    BugsyReece Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited April 2019 #10

    Hi Sandra.

    Simple! I’ve got the same Satnav. Mine was preloaded with the Caravan Club European Sites but I wanted other stuff like you.  Go to the Garmin website. You will find the ACSI ‘POI’s there. Garmin helps you through the process. Also useful if you don’t have it is the Garmin Express software to download map uplates too.

    Bon Vacances!!

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited April 2019 #11

    You have a Garmin so load Garmin Express on your home pc and enter your model details. This will give you software and lifetime map updates which will be prompted when you synchronise.

    From the Garmin website (not Garmin Express) load the Garmin POI (Points of Interest) downloader. You may need to use the search function to locate it.

    Go to Archies website (archiescampings) and download European site POIs for Garmin. Put the file in a convenient directory location on your pc.

    Run the Garmin downloader and follow the instructions to point it to your Archies file.

    You can load to your main device or memory card.

    Start up the Garmin and look through the main menu to locate custom POIs. These will take you to the front door of nearly every campsite in Europe. It is extremely reliable to due extensive customer feedback and far simpler than using coordinates.

    I notice that previous years Archie has split files into ACSI and normal but now it’s just one file.

    Post again if you get stuck. 

  • Mick Hennelly
    Mick Hennelly Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited April 2019 #12

    Hi All. We're looking to buy a new sat nav sometime soon. Can anyone recommend a sat nav that keeps you out of trouble please? We currently have a Garmin LT760 but it has let us down several times despite the motorhome dimensions being stored. The C&M Club recommend the Avtex Tourer One - anyone used this & has any feedback please? Thanks in advance.

     

  • HT11
    HT11 Forum Participant Posts: 100
    edited May 2019 #13

    I d also appreciate anyfeedback on the clubs avtex tourer satnav please . We have a caravan. Thanks

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #14

    There has been previous correspondence on this and most people  believe that the basic mapping software (which is third party) does not have the information that will give the implied benefits of entering motorhome size etc. I don’t recall anybody claiming that the Avtex was in any way exceptional but I may be wrong.

    When I looked at the Avtex it was clear that this is basically the Garmin with additional POIs (Points of Interest) i.e site locations. In that respect you may be far better buying the Garmin and loading Archies as my earlier post suggested, bearing in mind that Archies has substantial feedback from users. Archies updates his loader files several times a year based on this feedback.

    Just my opinion. Everybody has to decide for themselves whether they think the additional cost over and above a standard Garmin is justified.

  • derekcyril
    derekcyril Forum Participant Posts: 408
    100 Comments
    edited May 2019 #15

    Does anybody use a old fashioned hgv map ? its a great back up 

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