CAMC Edition of Avtex Tourer Sat Nav
I recently bought the subject Sat Nav device based on the adverts that appeared in the CAMC magazine. I bought it as I thought it would provide me with the best routes to the CAMC sites bearing in mind we are towing a caravan. I also selected the Plus version for the integrated Dash Cam.
Last week was our first caravan outing of the year, we went to Chatsworth Park which is a favourite of ours and not too far from home. Whilst I know the route well I thought that I would try out the CAMC App on my new Sat Nav. I was quite impressed with the ease of loading the destination and all went well until we approached the first gate into the Chatsworth Estate - guess what the Sat Nav wanted to take us in there and not the Camp Site, I was shocked but thought I might have selected something other than the CAMC Site address, so when we were settled on our pitch and out and about in the car I tried using the CAMC App again but from a different direction - guess again what happened, it took me into another gate into the Chatsworth Estate and not the Camp Site - by now I was a little angry.
The adverts in the CAMC Magazine promoting the device clearly state that it:
“will guide you to your destination avoiding height etc”
and it has:
“Three Exclusive Caravan and Motorhome Club Data Bases”
Clearly neither the manufacturers nor The CAMC have validated the routes and I have been told quite bluntly by the online retailer Prima Leisure that “Avtex, PRIMA or the Club do not claim that the sat nav will use the Club’s recommended approach to sites, as stated in the product description”.
I find this response incredible, why do the adverts fill the consumer full of promise and then not deliver and why does the advert NOT state that the device will not follow the CAMC’s recommended approach to their sites - it’s totally wrong.
I have completely lost faith in the device but I have been told that I cannot return it as it has been used - again it is totally wrong as it does not perform as the advertisements claim it should.Has anyone else had similar experiences?
Moderator Comment - Moved from the Story Section
Comments
-
The points you quote from the advertising blurb aren’t actually incorrect, Brathie. Misleading, yes, but not incorrect. It omits the obvious.
It will guide you to your destination but your destination is the postcode rather than the club site. It has also got the databases so no mis-description there.
It’s a pity you didn’t see the earlier discussions about this satnav but I wonder if there’s a case for approaching Advertising Standards or Trading Standards?
0 -
No idea, DD. I just use it in conjunction with the club’s site directions.
It's an overpriced gimmick in my opinion but was a standard fitting in our MH and also doubles up as a screen for the reversing camera which is equally ineffective.
0 -
Brathie
The best Sat Nav in the world will struggle in some circumstances and this is why the Club always suggest using the manual directions in the Site Directory for the final approach to a site. If the co-ordinates used in the POI's (which I assume you used rather than a post code?) are the same as those listed in the Site Directory they will take you to Baslow but with the site off of public roads it's doubtful that it is possible to take you direct to the entrance of the site because this is about a mile down a private road. My Tom Tom with Camper Maps installed allows me to look at the destination once I have planned a route which I find very useful as it is often the destination where there problems occur. Is this an option on the Avtex? Sat Navs are about the whole journey but they still need some user input. My new motorhome has a built in sat nav and I will be interested to see how that compares with my stand alone unit which I will continue to carry with me as a back up. I will also be taking my paper road atlas with me as well. Belt and braces me!!!
David
0 -
even if navigating to an exact (GPS) location, it will be very difficult to 'program' the final approach to aClub site as navigation is based on providing the 'most appropriate' route based in the input parameters (fastest/shortest, include/exclude tolls/MWays etc) now including rerouting for traffic density or accidents...
also, site users approach from varying directions....which may influence the final approach...
so, not surprised that 'the book' directions aren't built in...the devices aren't that clever yet....check out even simple things like narrow roads, they're only 'narrow' to a satnav of the highways authority have classified them as such...
this does make it more difficult for single travellers as they have to note the approach insteuctions in a different way....memory or noted down somewhere...
for those with a copilot, instructions can be read out...
it is possible with most satnavs to 'force'the unit to navigate via particular points (say on the club's route) by using waypoints.
i assume these 'club's evidential have to updated every time there is a new release of poi data from the club...especially with the fluctuations in CLs...
in which case, I do t see the point of having a 'club' version (for a few hundred more) when the POIs are out of date quickly...
similarly, many users will want to add POI files of their own (aires, overseas sites etc) so this process will need to be mastered.
0 -
I understand that nearly if not all of the sat navs on the market are post code direction designed,and some post codes in rural areas cover quite large areas,,so are never going to be 100% accurate in some circumstances,
The same model Garmin sat nav without cc poi is sold at times by Aldi ours was £145
1 -
JVB, I'm afraid your wrong there...
yes, postcodes can (generally) be input, but these are not accurate as you say, however ALL all satnavs I have used over many years have had a GPS location input facility....
and as POI files contain GPS locations, this is its most basic input..
ok, this input can be in three (I think) formats and some units can only accept one of these...
i agree I've seen some cheap units that can't do this (for some inexplicable reason) ....why program a device with a location which is likely to be wrong?
0 -
mine,which I have had since it was originally announced,insists that my home is on the left when it is actually on the right and insists that Newark farm cl is on the right as you travel north when it is actually on the left!!!The warnings for motorhome access are not very helpfull as they do not warn of the type of restriction ,just a picture of a motor home and a query......I would like more info.especially as I tow a caravan!!!!!
0 -
I can only say that I know where I live,I have used Newark farm cl for lots of years so I am aware of the faulty technology and I constantly argue with the nice lady on the dashboard.....but simple things like which side of the road is your destination should,in this day and age be correct (in my opinion having spent £400 on a specialist tool!)
0 -
A major problem when using a sat nav is that the destination is given in the middle of a site. The sat nav has to navigate with no reference to the road. The club is at fault as it does not give references to the entrance off the road. In the case of an estate this would be the point where the member leaves the public road network.
Ray
0 -
yes,i update it every 6 months.
0 -
Isn't the Avtex a Garmin Satnav in disguise? We have a TomTom and downlaod Archies campsite as it sues GPS locations and have never gone wrong.
If you download the CC POIs for CLs it can take you well out of your way as it is not accurate at all for many CLs. Archies is more accurate for CC sites and the actual CC POI file which seems to work off Postcodes. We input the dimensions fo the unit and it keeps us on good roads.
0 -
Ray, not sure about club sites (although I don't think I've had the issue you refer to) but I can say that all the ACSI sites I've navigated to definitely have the exact location of the entrance and will therefore indicate the correct side of the road...also important re approach planning if the road is one way
0 -
Agree with surfer. What you have bought is a tarted up Garmin with some suitable advertising blurb. If you buy the basic Garmin with lifetime maps you can then download Archies POIs. They are updated about three times a year and incorporate feedback from thousands of users. We have probably used it to navigate to about 40 European sites and arrived at the front gate every time.
2 -
I've just tried updating the built-in TomTom in the MH. Worked OK last year (MH 2 years old). This time it's telling me I now have to pay for updates which surprised me and I thought it was "lifetime updates".
I'm disinclined to do so as it's impossible to load POI files, so its may be time to go for "standalone" as, quite frankly, it'll be a whole lot easier and I can get a system that is customisable. Clutters up the dash though.
0 -
Did you read the disclaimer with the advert?
To help you get the most out of your sat nav, we advise customers to familiarise themselves with the route prior to the journey via road map and to use the CAMC Sites Directory and Handbook for final approach directions to Club sites.
Please note the sat nav will not necessarily route based on CAMC recommended directions and cannot guarantee all routes will be caravan/motorhome friendly.
0 -
With most vehicles the hardware and software is out of date before it is even installed in the vehicle. The Satnav in our 2012 cannot be updated plus Navteq software is not the easiest software to deal with as we get directions i.e. turn left when you are on top of the left turn.
We bought the latest TomTom Go Camper and it was delivered yesterday so still trying to get a grip on inputting destinations etc.
0 -
re the above, i have t bothered to get familiar with our rather flash dash satnav (Blaupunkt) for a the reasons given...
i do have a relatively new (18 mths) Tomtom which is great once it's up and running...traffic info is amazingly quick and accurate Europe wide..
however, it's so Slow to start up, the search function is dreadful (and despite being connected to the Internet via my phone) can't seem to find much...
it also doesn't display the POI icons when using map search, which would be great to just touch one....as in the old model..
you can get round this by expanding the map to find the destination and a local POI but if you don't touch the POI within a few seconds it reverts back to the current location map....doh...
its CRAP at loading large POI files, whereas the old model allowed a drag and drop of as many whole files as you like...
and finally, you cand display a meaningful icon for each POI file type, I have many files but there are only six different 'symbols' to associate, so who can remember that a blue triangle is a LPG station etc...
so, many backward steps in the maintenace area but damn good once up and running..
0 -
We have a tom tom caravan/motorhome satnav (yes it was set to caravan mode) on our last trip to the New Forest site we used that plus the one fitted to our new car to compare them the the one fitted to the car took us the CC recommended route while the tom tom would have taken us the route the un-recommened route? we also use google street view when booking a site we have not been to before and even sometimes printing off screenshots so we don't over shoot the site entrance
0 -
DD, have you put any personal POI files onto the MH unit.(ours is in a Pioneer head unit but I'll wager the 'innards' are also Blaupunkt) ...and I think postcodes are the shorter continental type?
I'm not sure I can be bothered as I have two Tomtoms (including an older back up unit) which work very well, albeit with a less user friendly maintenance interface than of old.
I guess I'd use the in-dash one all else failed...
0 -
apparently a common affliction
0 -
How can you blame the pilot? Pilot is given a flight plan or route to fly and that is what he does and they cannot deviate from it otherwise chaos would reign. Error lies with however gave him the flight plan! Much like OH giving you the incorrect instructions.
0 -
Sadly I also have bought one of these sat navs. This sat nav doesn't just not mis-direct to the Chatsworth site, it actually directs the user down a Cul-de-sac when asked to find a route to York Rowntree Park. The one that is fitted to my car works more reliably than the Avtex Tourer One in finding the correct route to the club sites. I too am disgusted with the response from the manufacturer, retailer and the CAMC. It seems that there is no protection in the buyers favour when the directions are wholly misleading when trying to find a CAMC site. Why therefore does the Club allow its name to be associated with such an item? Is it because they get a financial gain from allowing the 'good name' of the CAMC to be used on this product? The sat nav is worse than a cheap alternative because at least if I had bought such a thing I would treat it with suspicion whereas the Avtex Tourer One has CAMC approval so why wouldn't you trust it?
The club do themselves no favours in their tie up with this sat nav and are definitely not working in the best interests of the members.
I would like an answer from the CAMC as to why they are still pedalling this sat nav to members? I see that there is now an 'improved' Avtex Tourer Two being pushed by the club. I am guessing that it will not be any more successful in directing members to the sites and the response will stiil be the same...............Tough, you bought it.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH, CAMC. You should be working for the benefit of your members, not your commercial contracts.
BernShirl
0 -
The club's defence would be that they tell you to always use the directions given in the handbook, or on the website, on the final approach.
The actual Garmin satnav is good but the add ons aren’t worth the cost. See my earlier posts.
0
