Avtex Caravan Club satnav

JD6620
JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
100 Comments
edited January 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

Does anyone use the new Avtex sat navs?  If so are they any good? and are they worth the rather high price tag?  I have always used a basic Tom Tom for all my touring needs which has served me well, but I'm quite interested in this new Avtex version.  

Comments

  • rogher
    rogher Forum Participant Posts: 609
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    edited January 2016 #2

    I don’t use the new version, but it must be better than the Ventura. If you have a working TomTom, I’d stick with that, though. Ask yourself what you are hoping to gain by buying the alternative and then look very closely to see how well it would provide
    such over what you already have. If you’re keen to get the club sites, you can add them as POI onto TomTom very easily. OK, it won’t include a picture and (out of date?) description but most of the time you’ll be using it for navigation. You can also add bridge
    restrictions to TomTom if you want.

  • TheAdmiral
    TheAdmiral Forum Participant Posts: 506
    edited January 2016 #3

    Don't waste your money, buy a map

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 670 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #4

    Definatley buy a good quality map/s

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,395 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #5

    Maps are ok but if you want to ease the burden, especially in built up areas, I prefer a sat nav. Whats not to like about taking advantage of todays technology?

    peedee

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited January 2016 #6

    Basic Sat Navs are brilliant.

    As a land surveyor I spent all my working life shunning them even though I did as much as 50K miles a year in the UK. Then more than 10 years ago I retired and was presented with one.....just upgraded to another basic one.

    Been all over Europe the UK and Scandinavia with never a problem and the pleasure of driving through the Cities of Europe without a hiccup......Caravan and Motorhome.

    I remember cities like Brussels and Paris in the 60s and 70s when we would always get lost!

  • captainslogg
    captainslogg Club Member Posts: 52 ✭✭
    edited January 2016 #7

    If its the same quality as their now withdrawn TV aerial I wouldn't bother

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #8

    Although it has the Avtex name on it, it is a Garmin. I would be interested as well in what people think of this satnav. Telling members why bother just get a map is not helpful. The question was has anyone experience of the CC satnav?

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 670 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #9

    Although it has the Avtex name on it, it is a Garmin. I would be interested as well in what people think of this satnav. Telling members why bother just get a map is not helpful. The question was has anyone experience of the CC satnav?

    No No No

  • rogher
    rogher Forum Participant Posts: 609
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    edited January 2016 #10

    I have used several Garmin GPS devices for walking and think they are very good. I’ve not tried any of their SatNav devices, though, which are a completely different animal. Snooper had poor software. Both systems get their data from Here maps (was Nokia) so the detail should be much the same as Snooper.

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #11

    Although it has the Avtex name on it, it is a Garmin. I would be interested as well in what people think of this satnav. Telling members why bother just get a map is not helpful. The question was has anyone experience of the CC satnav?

    No No No

    What on earth does No No No mean! Is that your idea of being helpful?

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #12

    I have used several Garmin GPS devices for walking and think they are very good. I’ve not tried any of their SatNav devices, though, which are a completely different animal. Snooper had poor software. Both systems get their data from Here maps (was Nokia)
    so the detail should be much the same as Snooper.

    Thank you for your comments, I can now do some research into the mapping, I hadn't thought of who does the mapping.

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #13

    Thank you Rogher for your input, I have checked out the mapping and after a great deal of searching Here Maps do both devices. Starngely, I am still drawn to the Avtex Garmin. Although I do use a satnav, i still check things out on a map.  I will have to
    have a good think about it. Thanks again.

  • rogher
    rogher Forum Participant Posts: 609
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    edited January 2016 #14

    The use of Here maps appears to pretty common. But it’s not so obvious when you look at the interfaces. In effect, Here provides the data and it’s the software that presents the map. I also think that there may be different levels of detail available.

    My next SatNav is likely to be a Pioneer, which also uses Here, and I confess to being a little apprehensive about the quality of the data that Here provides. I bought Snooper for the large screen and the “My Speed” facility that gives you the local speed
    limit. Sadly, I’ve found the speed limits to be hopelessly innacurate on the continent in spite of using up to date maps. I cannot blame the software for that, but it could be that Snooper do not purchase the same quality of data (maps for Pioneer are a subscription
    service).

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #15

    After reading the reviews on here about the Snooper, I decided not to buy one. But, the Garmin I feel is a better product, I would like to know what members who have bought one think of it.

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
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    edited January 2016 #16

    Hi Ian, though not an Avtex, I have used a Garmin nuvi in the 2500 range(sorry can't remember the correct number) For the past four years. It has lifetime maps and trafficwhich I upddate  when Garmin send me an alert. The initial registration was a bit of
    a pain as the first update took about five hrs, since then all updates have been less than an hour. I've added all the CC and CCC sites with poi downloads from both clubs. Used with a good road atlas it has never let me down or taken me down narrowing lanes.
    I use it every trip, even trips I've done before. One of my better buysSmile.....Cool

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #17

    Hi Ian, though not an Avtex, I have used a Garmin nuvi in the 2500 range(sorry can't remember the correct number) For the past four years. It has lifetime maps and trafficwhich I upddate  when Garmin send me an alert. The initial registration was a bit of
    a pain as the first update took about five hrs, since then all updates have been less than an hour. I've added all the CC and CCC sites with poi downloads from both clubs. Used with a good road atlas it has never let me down or taken me down narrowing lanes.
    I use it every trip, even trips I've done before. One of my better buysSmile.....Cool

    Thank you Brian, I will check out the Garmins. I have a 2 year old TomTom 1005, but not really happy with the way it likes to take the longest possible route!

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
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    edited January 2016 #18

    Ian, can you not select quickest route in place of longest route, don't select shortest route as this can get you in trouble........Cool

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #19

    Brian, I have the choice of Fastest, Eco or Shortest. I have always used fastest, that way it is suppose to keep you to major roads. I was once coming back to gateshead from Shropshire and it directed me onto the M6, I ended up going south for 20 miles before
    it put me onto the M1 North! That's when I lost faith in it! And I know you should check out your routes on a map, but sometimes it is not practical.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #20

    Brian, I have the choice of Fastest, Eco or Shortest. I have always used fastest, that way it is suppose to keep you to major roads. I was once coming back to gateshead from Shropshire and it directed me onto the M6, I ended up going south for 20 miles before
    it put me onto the M1 North! That's when I lost faith in it! And I know you should check out your routes on a map, but sometimes it is not practical.

    sometime it really s providing the fastest route....a classic example is from the southampton area back to the centre of somerset where we live....it will always tey to get yo onto the m3 as quickly as poss, to get to the A303 and then west....

    however, whilst saving perhaps one minute, its many a mile further.....so, as i check the route prior to leaving, i ignore this and use the A36 instead.....

    keep it on fastest, just have good look at the planned route....you can vary it a bit...

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited January 2016 #21

    Thank BB for your input. I am still plucking the courage up to purchase the CC Avtex Garmin unit!