GPS Coordinates 'Not a valid location' message on TomTom.
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 17:20
ThreadID:
107248
Views:
3450
Replies:
9
FollowUps:
9
This Thread has been Archived
Drummy53
Greetings from Gilgerabbie Hut
camping area on the Nullarbor, SA. We found the
campsite thanks to the written directions in the Boiling Billy Camping guide to South Australia. However, the GPS coordinates given in the Boiling Billy Camping guide S:31 32.487 E:130 47.360 is regarded as 'not a valid location' on TomTom.
My SPOT phone GPS coordinates for the
campsite are 31.54137S. 130.78922E. Again TomTom says this is not a valid location. I have noted
the SPOT phone map does not display the unnamed access road 11 Kim's west of the
Nullarbor Roadhouse. An explanation of what is happening would be appreciated. Would the HEMA GPS find this
campsite? And yes, before I get wrapped over the knuckles, I will make certain I have paper maps before getting more adventurous!
Gilgerabbie Hut, Nullarbor, SA
Reply By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 17:44
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 17:44
Ian,
I'm not familiar with Tom Tom but my guess is that the track the location is on is not in Tom Tom's database, therefore it thinks you can't get to the location.
I use CoPilot Live from ALK Technologies (
https://www.alk.com). It available for Android from Google Playstore. Don't know about iOS.
Copilot is not a "4WD" navigator, but it has many, many minor roads, tracks and firetrails that other street navigators don't have, including the track to Gilgerabbie Hut.
If the Hema navigator has that track in its database I imagine it would get there too.
Cheers
AnswerID:
530484
Follow Up By: Drummy53 - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 21:02
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 21:02
Thank you for your reply.
Beginning to think that campsites accessed south or north of the Eyre Highway are not going to show a valid GPS position on TomTom.
Will have a look at CoPilot.
Regards, Ian
FollowupID:
813419
Reply By: evaredy - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 21:16
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 21:16
I had a top of the line TomTom before my current model 4x4 GPS.
It is useless to say the least, the minute you venture 50 meters of the blacktop it gets lost and doesn't display anything.
It happened numerous times with various
camp sites that were a little way off the blacktop. I was unable to save different
places as favorites, because of this, which got really frustrating.
So I am guessing this is the reason, once off the blacktop is won't register as being anywhere.
Just as a
test, next time you use it, stop before you leave the road and
test it to see it it knows where you are. Then drive off the road about 50 to 100 meters and try it again. My guess is it will fail to pick up your location.
I bought a GPS unit that runs 4x4 off road as
well as normal street navigation. It is 1000% better than Tomtom.
The street navigation software is IGO Primo with NAVTEQ Australia + NZ. Even though it is supposedly only street navigation, I am very impressed that it knows where you are, even when a long way from the blacktop. It also has a lot more dirt roads and side tracks in the mapping software.
For off road it uses Ozi Explorer and will run Hema Maps, Westprint 4WD maps plus , BackCountry 4WD maps, NATMAP Topo maps.
AnswerID:
530501
Follow Up By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 22:02
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 22:02
Ian,
Copilot uses Aus and NZ mapping from NAVTEQ. Don't know if they're the same maps or detail, but you possibly have a choice of devices with the same excellent mapping.
Cheers
FollowupID:
813423
Follow Up By: Drummy53 - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 22:02
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 22:02
Thank you for your reply.
Appears that paper maps and a compass are not obsolete!
The Gilgerabbie Hut
camping area Is 4.7 Kim's west of the Ayre Highway. At night the
Nullarbor Roadhouse lights are clearly visible. So are the Road Trains sailing up and down the Ayre Highway.
Surprised TomTom is not finding a valid GPS position for this
camp site.
The TomTom has previously found
camp sites on the
Murray River I would regard as 'obscure'.
Will review the
information you have so graciously supplied regarding IGO Primo.
Regards, Ian
FollowupID:
813424
Follow Up By: Drummy53 - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 22:06
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 22:06
Should read 4.7 Kim's SOUTH OF Ayre Highway.
Ian
FollowupID:
813425
Follow Up By: rocco2010 - Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 23:18
Sunday, Apr 13, 2014 at 23:18
Gidday
Read an article the other day suggesting that Edward
John Eyre was one great Australian explorer who didn't always get the recognition he deserved...
Cheers
FollowupID:
813431