Sat Nav Warehouse - You'd be lost without us

The laws on speed camera detection in Europe have always been somewhat confusing. In our experience of speaking to customers, we have heard some horror stories and have always erred on the side of caution when giving out product advice. We know for sure that France has proved tricky for UK motorists with hefty fines and confiscation of devices. Stories exist of the Jean Damme stopping motorists and searching their vehicles regardless of whether they are using a camera detection device or not.

So that’s France, but what abut the rest of Europe?
Common knowledge suggests that the Swiss take a similar line to the French but in actual fact, it is illegal to use a GPS device to detect fixed speed cameras in Europe with only the UK and Hungary allowing motorists to use their GPS device to locate fixed cameras. Elsewhere, expect a fine of anywhere up to £2,634 (recently issued in Italy) and with 1 in 5 UK motorists being stopped by police, it’s not a risk worth taking.

The European motoring laws are not 100% clear so it is likely that any penalties are attributed to ignorance. With a large proportion of these fines being paid for on the spot in cash, the process is questionable at best. So what are we getting at?

With the summer fast approaching many of you will be heading abroad in your cars, caravans and motorhomes so as well as it being a great time to look at buying a new sat nav, it is certainly worth brushing up on local laws before you travel. Most navigation devices these days will display the current speed limit of roads you are travelling on which should be enough so make sure you know how to switch your speed camera alerts off completely.

Better safe than sorry!

If you have been secretly tweeting whilst at work today, you may of seen the hash tag #TomTomLaunch trending.

That’s because today is the day TomTom let us in on some new products that should rejuvenate their business.
Initially i thought it may of been dominated by Apps and mobile software but it seems not. So far two new products have emerged.

New TomTom Sport Watches

Brand new Sports watch.

Collaborating with Nike on their previous GPS watch, its now clear that TomTom have decided to go alone with this one. The dutch companies website explains that there will be two versions The TomTom Runner (picture on the left) is, designed for Joggers. The Multi-Sport (right) can be used by cyclist and swimmers as well. No price has been reveled but the watches should be available for summer.

Tom Tom Go

A New TomTom GO Unit

The GO series is receiving a refreshing face lift with 4.3, 5 and 6 inch models on the horizon. The units comes with interactive 3D maps, lifetime traffic updates and Lifetime Map updates. a free three-month trial of speed cameras will also be included
No prices or availability have been released.

Just before Christmas Snooper announced that they were going to offer free lifetime map updates on their Truckmate and Ventura ranges for the first time in their history. As you can imagine, the offer proved very popular and we saw a clear surge in sales of units which included free lifetime maps.

Due to popular demand, Snooper have now extended this offer to the S5000 Ventura Pro and the S6400 Ventura Pro.

The only difference between these two navigation devices is the screen size. Both the S5000 Ventura Pro and S6400 Ventura pro let you enter your vehicle dimensions and when a route is programmed, your vehicle size is taken into account and only caravan / motorhome friendly routes are given.

In the past, you would have had to pay to keep your Ventura up to date with a new map being released annually. This cost £85 for a single update and £130 for a lifetime subscription so free lifetime maps as standard on the S5000 Ventura Pro and S6400 Ventura Pro offers a substantial saving.

As with all Snooper Ventura navigation devices, the S5000 and S6400 come preloaded with official site data from the Caravan Club. You can select your destination by searching for Caravan Club sites and CL sites you know by name, location or by proximity to your current location. Ventura will then route you to your site, sending you only down verified caravan and motorhome friendly roads.

Combine the additional points of interest which run into their thousands and as with the maps and software, are completely free to update.

Snooper are without doubt the market leaders when it comes to specialist navigation. In our experience they have left TomTom and Garmin struggling with their equivalent specialist navigators.

Look for the Free Map Updates star on all Snoopers

It’s been a few weeks since the dust settled on a successful Spring Camping and Caravanning show but as the season approaches, Snooper have some good news.

They have allowed us to extend the FREE Lifetime Mapping offer on all Snooper Ventura products for a limited period as the season gets underway!
This means that you will be entitled to FREE maps as often as you like on the following devices;
Snooper Ventura Pro S2500
Snooper Ventura Pro S5000
Snooper Ventura Pro S6400
Snooper Ventura Pro S8000
Snooper Ventura Pro Sound DB8500
Snooper Ventura Pro AVNS9000

All Ventura products come preloaded with Caravan Club campsite data along with many other official site guides including Camping and Caravanning Club, ACSI, Bord Atlas and thousands of points of interest.

Map updates on the Ventura range would ordinarily cost you £85 a time so it really is worth taking advantage of FREE Lifetime maps on the Ventura range while it’s on!

One of the most common questions we received at the Spring Caravan and Camping Show last week related to the points of interest available for the Snooper Ventura range of Caravan sat nav.

Every single Snooper Ventura comes preloaded with thousands of POI’s and you will find caravan and motorhome specific POI’s preloaded under the “User POI” icon on the navigation menu. Obviously ALL Snooper Ventura systems come preloaded with POI’s from;
Caravan Club – CL sites and regular sites
Camping and Caravanning Club Sites
ACSI
Bord Atlas
Camper Stop
and many many more…

The list of resources doesn’t end there. Snooper have grown a database of additional points of interest from which you are able to download onto your Snooper Ventura at no additional cost. This means that you can remove points of interest that are not relevant to you and replace them with POI’s from across Europe that best suit your needs.

First of all you will need the POI Updater Software which you can download by clicking this HERE

You are then free to browse Snooper‘s extensive list of POI’s HERE. Simply select your destination country and view all the points of interest for your chosen location. Snooper even offer a service whereby if you do not see your preferred POI listed there, they will do something about it. Similarly, if you have your own list of POI’s simply submit your list to Snooper in one of the following formats: .xls, .csv, .ov2, .asc, .gpx, .gdb, .axe

To provide you with a teaser of what you can expect to see from Snooper‘s POI database, here is what’s available in the UK at the time of writing;

Bank
Santander ATM UK
Santander Branches UK

Bar or Pub
Crown Carveries UK
JD Wetherspoon UK
Pub Stop UK
Sizzling Pubs UK

Car Park
Car Parks UK
Parking EU
Parking with Overnight Stay (Unverified) UK
Parking with Overnight Stay UK

Caravan and Motorhome Specific
ADAC Campingplaetze EU
ADAC Stellplaetze EU
Archies Sites EU
Archies Wifi EU
Camper Europe N EU
Camper Europe S EU
CamperContact EU
Camperplaatsen EU
Camping Cheques EU
Certified Locations UK
GPL EU
Handler National u International EU
LPG UK
Motorhome Parking Locations UK
Motorhome Pub Stopover UK
Preem EU
ProMobil EU
Stellplatz EU
The Camping and Caravanning Club UK
The Caravan Club – Certificated Locations UK
The Caravan Club – Club Sites UK

Home and Garden
Jewson Branches UK

Hotel
Premier Travel Inn UK

Others
Airport EU
BioMarsh UK
BT Exchanges UK
BT Openzone UK
Cliffords UK
Ferry Terminal EU
Ford Water Hazard UK
Free WiFi Hotspots UK
Gala Bingo UK
Keyline UK
London Congestion Charge UK
Parks and Gardens UK
Radar Key Toilets UK
RSPB Reserves UK
Scout Campsites UK
The Cloud UK
TNT UK
Toll EU
Travis Perkins UK
Virginmedia Cabinets UK
Wild Camp UK

Petrol Station
Adblue UK
BP HGV Services UK
BP Services UK
DKV EU
ESSO Geodaten von Truck Sites EU
ESSO Services (24hr) UK
ESSO Services (All) UK
ESSO Services (not 24hr) UK
Keyfuel Smart Sites UK
Keyfuels All Types UK
Keyfuels HGV Specific UK
LPG Forecourt UK
Shell EU
Shell UK
Tankpool24 EU
UK Fuels UK

Restaurant
Burger King UK
Dominos Pizza UK
Fish and Chips UK
Harvester UK
KFC UK
Little Chef UK
McDonalds UK
Pizza Hut UK
Subway UK
Toby Carvery UK

Shopping
American Golf UK
Halfords UK
Lloyds Pharmacy UK
Marks and Spencer UK
Sports Direct UK

Supermarket
Aldi UK
ASDA UK
Lidl UK
Morrisons UK
Nisa UK
Tesco UK

Tourist Attraction
Horse Racing Courses UK
National Trust UK
Zoos UK

Train Station
London Underground UK

Truck Specific
AdBlue Retail Sites from Air1 UK
AS Logistics Motorway Service Stations UK
AS Logistics Truck Layby UK
AS Logistics Truckstops EU
AS24 EU
Distribution Centres UK
Fuel Genie UK
Industrial Estate UK
Industrial Estates UK
Industrial Zones Parks Estates UK
NG Towers UK
Scania Service Stations EU
Stobart UK
Truck Parking Laybys UK
Truck Stop Cafe UK
Truckstops 09 UK
TSplus Cafe UK
TSplus Truckstops UK
UK Docks Ports UK
Volvo EU

Hi guys, just a quick update. TomTom have just released two new videos to there you site.

The first announcing the imminent release of a new TomTom Rider unit. The second announcing a surprising new ‘hail a taxi’ app for your mobile!
As soon as more more details are released we’ll let you know!

A fan or user of the Garmin Edge range?

Two brand new Garmin Edge model have appeared on the Garmin website, and they look amazing!

The models are the Garmin Edge 510 & Edge 810. Now these two little GPS’s are built for cyclists and seem to be replacing the Edge 800. The 810 Especially seems to build on the all the Edge 800′s positives and throw in a few well thought through additions.

The biggest addition is the ability to pair your 510 or 810 with an Apple or Android mobile. By downloading the free Garmin app, your Edge will collect all your data and then sends it across to the mobile. We like the sounds of that because not only will you be saving battery but also your precious phone can stay tucked away in you pocket and still receive your details!

More new features include real time weather conditions, forecasts and alerts. Although we’re not too sure how it would be classed as real time, when its not a live unit we can only assume that it would use the mobile connectivity, guess we will have to wait and see.

Different activity profiles are available and customizable. So the Edge allows you to switch between road, mountain or touring. At the end of each ride the 510 & 810 Garmin Edge will display your personal best, fastest 40K and best 20 minute average, extremely handy for training!

It seems a new bike mount has become available as well, although we don’t if it is available with both units or the higher spec Edge 810.

Pairing with your mobile opens up the world of live tracking, meaning your worried mum, friends or any family member can track your training in real time. Stats will also be displayed.

Garmin Connect is on hand once again for you to upload, store and share you ride as well as download new courses and workouts.

Now then, there seems to be a few differences between the models. We have found the below information on the Garmin website.

Garmin Edge 510

Edge 510 is a compact, touchscreen GPS bike computer for performance-minded cyclists that’s ideal for training and racing. It’s compatible with GPS and GLONASS satellites for faster satellite acquisition and improved signal lock, even in challenging conditions. It also comes with a tether to ensure your device doesn’t travel far in the event of a spill.

Unit size: 2.0 x 3.4 x 0.9” (5.2 x 8.6 x 2.4 cm) Screen size: 2.2” diagonal

Weight: 2.8 oz (80 g) Battery life: up to 20 hours

Garmin Edge 810

Edge 810 is an advanced, touchscreen GPS bike computer with maps that’s designed for the cyclist who wants it all — navigation and advanced training capabilities. It includes a built-in basemap with basic navigation capabilities, plus it’s compatible with optional detailed street or topographic maps for navigation and guidance on and off-road.

Unit size: 2.0 x 3.7 x 1.0” (5.2 x 9.3 x 2.5 cm) Screen size: 2.6” diagonal

Weight: 3.5 oz (98 g) Battery life: up to 17 hours

So it seems the 810 can be turned into more than just a cyclists GPS, but also losing battery life and being slightly heavier as it does so.

As usual we will share more with you as we learn it, such as what’s in the box, prices and release dates. Keep checking the SNW blog page for more info!

Garmin Edge 510                                   Garmin Edge 810

HGV specific sat nav has been a revelation over the last few years and today, there are several options available – from market leaders Truckmate, to popular TomTom and Garmin, to letter known ProNav. Whilst there are differences between the four brands, all work along the same principle by calculating a safe route based on the size and weight of your vehicle.

Having listened to customers and attended numerous trade and consumer shows, we know the pro’s and con’s to the different HGV sat navs out there. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Snooper Truckmate ranges right up to £500 whereas the ProNav can be picked up for under £200.

Snooper Truckmate Pro S2500 offer all the navigation features you would expect on a high spec device

What’s the difference?
Smart shoppers will always looking for cheap HGV sat nav but as the cheapest, ProNav gave us the highest returns rate we’ve ever seen, resulting in a lot of headaches and the range being removed from Sat Nav Warehouse completely. That would say to us that cheap truck sat nav is not the way to go when you consider the implications of a wrong turn.

Truckmate, whilst it can be more expensive depending on the model chosen, still gives you the same quality navigaton on their £229 S2500 that you get on the £499 DB8500 – you just get a few more bells and whistles such as digital radio, Bluetooth, reversing camera compatibility, integrated TV and a large 7″ screen display as you go through the range.

TomTom sell well with the excellent 5150 Live Truck Sat Nav which gives you live update as you drive. In short, it’s worth paying a little more for a better device when you consider the alternative and being let down by something half the price and half as reliable.

Garmin have a couple of devices in their Dezl range but with long delays to the 760LMT being released, sales have dwindled somewhat.

So how can you get the most for your money?
We are receiving a growing number of enquiries from haulage company managers and driver buying groups. It stands to reason that if you approach any supplier and ask for a price on 20 pieces, your per-unit price is going to be significantly less than if you were to order single units. You benefit from the price saving and we are grateful for the extra business and happy to support you.

If you are a haulage company manager or you are buying several devices either for your company or for a number of drivers, give us a call and we’ll work out the best deal for you and your drivers. You don’t need to sign up, become a member or enter any special codes, we just have a conversation like human beings.  You can speak to us on 0161 8777 321 or by emailing info@thesatnavwarehouse.com

For many years Sat Nav has had it’s fair share of criticism when HGVs and other large road going vehicles rely on them for directions.

Low bridges, narrow lanes, weight restrictions and housing estates have stranded many a HGV or resulted in fines for drivers.

You may or may not know that a solution has existed in the sat nav world for over five years in the guise of dedicated HGV specific Sat Nav systems – but how are they different?

Firstly, HGV Sat Nav systems allow you to enter your exact vehicle dimensions into the memory of the device, including height, weight, width, weight and even weight per axle and load type on some.

Then, using unique algorithms, your vehicle dimensions are taken into account when calculating your route. Low bridges, weight restrictions and other hazards are avoided to leave you with a trouble free, efficient route.

This saves drivers time and stress in the planning of safe routes combining the convenience of sat nav with the detailed knowledge of the road network and restrictions.

Drivers can search for industrial estates, truck stops, HGV fuel stations and other points of interest that regular sat navs simply wouldn’t offer.

There are a number of options currently on the market, which offer free lifetime map updates. View the entire range here.

According to sources, Apple may be about to make a bid to buy navigation company TomTom in an attempt to improve their iOS 6 Maps. TomTom have already provided some map data to Apple, but buying the company would allow faster improvements to the mapping, which are hugely needed in our opinion.

According to Hans Slob, a Rabobank International analyst.

“TomTom needs the cash from Apple, and Apple needs the know-how of TomTom,” he said.

Apple could pay around €10 (about £8.10) a share for TomTom, which is currently trading around €4.12 (about £3.33)

Since Apple released their own mapping on the iOS 6 update, it has not gone exactly to plan. We were so used to google maps and their endless list of pubs restaurants, Streetview and successful road navigation. Apple maps lacked prominent locations, no street view and frankly terrible driving instructions.

Earlier this week police in Australia had to warn motorist to avoid using their iPhone for navigation after motorists were left stranded almost 50 miles away from their original destination. Lost in the Australian outback is the last place you’d want to be stranded, especially with all those creepy crawlies!

No official statement has come from TomTom or Apple, but it would seem like a logical move for both companies.