Tomtom speed cameras - Tomtom vs PocketGPSWorld

[Wishy]

Hi All,

I've got a new tomtom (Previously used a garmin i3).

I've got the POI's all installed and things are working nicely now, but I could do with getting speed camera sorted, now i have one which doesn't interupt the instructions with dings of the speed camera warnings!

Question is, the price is more or less the same.
If go with tomtom, I (Presumably) just need to dock, mapshare and speed cameras sync and jobs done.
If I go with PocketGPSWorld, I get the impression that the quality of the updates will be better, but updates are a bit of a pain.

Anybody had any experience of the two?

[BigDonut]

tom tom software and syncing with mapshare is a doddle

plug in load up software and click a couple of times.

Not sure about the quality of the updates. Hard to tell because I don't use sat nav very often.

[DJBenson]

It may be that TomTom use data supplied by PocketGPSWorld as they have been licensing their data for years.

Personally, I would go for the PocketGPSWorld data, it is updated every month without fail and you have the ability to contribute, submitting a single verified new camera will gain you 12 months free subs which is nice. Is the PGPSW database not cheaper than TomTom's too?

I've always used PGPSW data but cannot say I have experience of the TomTom data.

Updates are easy - download the corresponding zip file, extract it into the map folder on your TomTom device, set it up to alert you in the POI menu (you only do this once, next time you paste the contents over the old data, you retain the warning settings). It's even easier now you can use TomTom home to operate the device - used to be laborious using the touch screen.

[Wishy]

Price for PocketGPSWorld is £17 for a year, Tomtom is £20 for a year.

If the data is the same, I suspect I'll go with tomtom as its a brainless dock-n-go. However, I did notice that they did rubbish tomtoms data in their FAQ section, so perhaps its not licenced.

Other thing I noticed was the internal tomtom data beeps a couple of times at you and comes up with a little "30" icon on the top left. I get the impression with the PGPSW data I can have it say "Cash machine ahead, 30 miles per hour limit", so some such.

[DJBenson]

The PGPSW data does include the icons which will flash up on screen, depending upon the model, you can also download and assign spoken warnings, some models even support Text to Speech so would do what you want, otherwise it's a customised sound package required - still very easy to do.

Don't let the ease of the TomTom docking solution put you off, it is as easy as copy/paste to get the new PGPSW data on to the TomTom.

[dnaddison]

I've got the tomtom one v3 which i'm sure did play a sound when a speed camera was near by but since doing some updates it stopped doing that, anyone know of a way to reactivate that feture?

[DJBenson]

Go in to Manage POI or Warn When Near POI and assign a sound to the particular event. For Pocket GPS World data, it will have a list such as

Gatso 30
Gatso 40
Gatso 50

or

Gatso
Truvelo
Specs

Depending upon which version of the database you are using.

[DJBenson]

This thread prompted me to investigate speed camera warning using McGuider. I have downloaded the TomTom OV2 package from PocketGPSWorld, used the Ov2Upi tool to convert from TomTom's OV2 format to McGuiders UPI format, converted the BMP's to 256colour, renamed the OGG files to match those already on the McGuider card and Voila! Speed camera warnings from within McGuider.

[dnaddison]

Go in to Manage POI or Warn When Near POI and assign a sound to the particular event. For Pocket GPS World data, it will have a list such as

Gatso 30
Gatso 40
Gatso 50

or

Gatso
Truvelo
Specs

Depending upon which version of the database you are using.

Cheers!

[safeboy]

Anybody had any experience of the two?

If you search through http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums you'll see that everyone prefers the pocket gps speed cameras over TomTom.

[DJBenson]

Funny that, given they produce the camera database :p

A like for like comparison between the December PGPSW database and the TomTom database shows a difference in file size suggesting that the TomTom database is not as comprehensive as the PGPSW one.

[KennyVader]

Just open your eyes ... they're bright yellow after all! Really not hard to see.

[Wishy]

I don't tend to drive too quick, but having had this on the tomtom for the week, I cam say with reasonable certainty its good to
1) Get notice ahead of time, so I can make sure i'm at the limit (I don't wander hugely over), avoid breaking myself and build up a bit of a stopping distance infront of me who may do the same.
2) Be sure what the speed limit is. The majority of 30 signs are on junctions / roundabouts, where frankly I'm more concerned over making sure I'm not being cut up by the local minicab firm lane dodging
3) They might be bright-sodding-yellow, but thats not a lot of help when they're behind a tree / bush / sign.

I'm under no illiusion that any database is "total protection" against me getting an NIP, if I speed like a dipstick I can look forward to meeting a speed van with "Bobs Painters and decorators" on the side. (Of course, I'm unlikely to get caught by a traffic cop, as it seems there aren't any now!)

[davey1970]

the pwgs site has advice on what distant to set warnings at which i think is good - took me about 20 minutes to set it all up along with the below.

ive updated the camera database and also use their voice alerts so it says " mobile 30mph" etc... specific to each type of camera - i think you can get all that free mind without the actual camera database.