speed cameras and GPS
Submitted: Friday, Aug 30, 2013 at 18:08
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bazz
hi , was out exploring some back rds around Mt Larcome QLD , just a casual Sunday drive and ended up with 2 speeding fines( same piece of hi way 10 minutes apart ) and 6 demerit points , 15 ks over the limit, I didn't even see the speed restrictions as I came out of a side rd onto the Bruce hi way , did a u turn and headed back .
Just after a decent GPS , that can warn me when im driving over the speed limit and updates regularly,
Can any one recommend a reliable GPS , my Tom Tom is pretty much useless on back roads doesn't even pick up rds that have been there for years.
Would a smart phone be of any use.
Ive driven all over Aust towing my van and never had any problems , until recently .
Regards Barry
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Aug 30, 2013 at 20:06
Friday, Aug 30, 2013 at 20:06
Barry,
I still believe the TomTom is as good as any GPS on the market, but then again I'm biased, having just upgraded from an older 4.3" model to the latest 5" Go Live 825 with lifetime map updates and annual speed camera location data. This data is also updated on a regular basis, ie, as soon as any change to map data, or speed camera locations is applied, you receive an online alert to updates, regardless of whether the GPS is connected to the PC or not.
I have noticed a pretty good accuracy with speed zones and the alert given by the unit if you are just over the speed limit. The area around the speed display turns red and an audible alert issued when you transgress.
However, any GPS requires continual updating to maintain its accuracy.
My son borrowed it last weekend and tells me he received an alert for a portable speed trap he passed through. I think this must have been a coincidence of some kind because to the best of my knowledge, no GPS has a radar detector built-in.
Maybe the location was a frequent spot for the speed camera on a tripod and someone has sent in the co-ordinate data and it has been recorded as a "permanent" location.
I don't intentionally speed, however I find the alerts issued a great "wakeup" when you are not paying constant attention to your speed for different areas. One case is when you turn off from a normal 60kph main road into a minor road with a 50kph limit.
Very easy to "forget" the minor roads are 50kph zones unless otherwise posted.
A smart phone may be OK but would depend on the application you are running and how often that application is updated. I run a CoPilot live app on my iPhone as a backup to occasions when I don't have the Tomtom with me, (eg. work vehicle) but I haven't noticed the same level of speed and/or red light camera alerts as my TomTom.
I don't use
mine all the time around the metro area, but do find it to be an extremely effective driving aid when I do use it. I tend to only employ the TomTom to give directions to an unfamiliar address I am heading to. I should probably use it more often
As far as the more remote areas are concerned, I use the TomTom in conjunction with a Hema Navigator which gives pretty good accuracy to country road speed limits too. (Country roads don't tend to change all that often)
For the use you require, a dedicated street guidance GPS such as the TomTom is your best bet and the higher level models in whatever brand, will give the more accurate results.
AnswerID:
517364
Follow Up By: bazz - Friday, Aug 30, 2013 at 20:24
Friday, Aug 30, 2013 at 20:24
thanx for the info
FollowupID:
797000
Reply By: Member - OzBadDude - Friday, Aug 30, 2013 at 21:43
Friday, Aug 30, 2013 at 21:43
Bazz,
Your best bet is a smart phone with the Tom Tom app on it. When you fire up the app it uses the built in gps on your phone and talks to you just like a regular tomtom.
What makes the smart phone better than a standalone tomtom is that several times a year, the tomtom app on your phone will ask you if you want it to download the latest maps and speed info. When you say yes, it just does it right over the phone connection. You don't have to pay anything for these updates.
It still won't be perfect, but it is probably the best you can do.
Even better, in NSW it also beeps at you anytime you are approaching a speed camera. I'm not sure if it does this in all states.
Although I try to drive the speed limit anyway, I have been saved from a couple of tickets by the beeping reminder. You can also set it to alert you if you are going more than five Kms over the speed limit.
Hope that helps!
OzBadDude
AnswerID:
517372
Follow Up By: patsproule - Saturday, Aug 31, 2013 at 05:50
Saturday, Aug 31, 2013 at 05:50
I'll ditto that. I have 2 other GPS units but fine that Tom Tom on my iPhone is the most up to date of the lot and is also very good nav software. I find myself using it the most. And updates are free!
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Reply By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Saturday, Aug 31, 2013 at 11:30
Saturday, Aug 31, 2013 at 11:30
I have IgO as my GPS software........it gives me a verbal warning the instant I am over the speed limit........I didn't even know it had that voice capability... as I had just fitted it to my cruiser as an in dash unit and was driving along having just entered a 90 zone from 110 and didn't notice the
sign.....I had just driven some 150 km on open road so I guess I was less attentive to speed signs than I should have been
"YOU ARE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT" suddenly boomed out at me and frightened the livin daylights out of me! ...I had no idea where the voice came from.....inside the car...outside the car ..whatever. I just hit the anchors down to 90 and within secs I was back to where I should have been........less than 100 m on was a mobile speed trap and so I reckon it paid for itself then and there.
This voice activation has without doubt saved me on many occasions ....its only limitations are in reality the accuracy of the maps and inbuilt speed zones...as they do change at times......but I am very happy and recommend you consider it
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Rosiebear - Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 at 00:31
Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 at 00:31
If you have an Iphone just download a free digital speedo app, I just leave
mine in the cradle in front of me plugged into the cig lighter because the GPS uses the power, has 3 programmable speed alerts with alarms, and for night time the display is reversible so can lie on the dash and a heads up display on the windscreen, very very accurate. Wont adjust automatically to changine speed zones but the large red display in front of you is hard to miss. Good option and is FREE..........
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