Hi, I know this is not a new subject but what is the latest opinions of the snooper 6400 or 8000 against the Tom Tom 5150, I know that both have their pro’s and cons but want to know what people think of them at the moment. Have the Tom Toms improved etc… Opinions would be gratefully received to help me make right decision. Or do i just keep the trusty old paper atlas…
Re the TomTom, I can’t find any decent reviews and that’s put me off replacing my ageing 940, iirc there was one where the chap was a bit miffed it still sent him down 7.5t nimby limits, but I think that’s the case with all truck sat navs unless there is a weak structure. TomTom service is appalling too.
For me I’m sticking with the 940 loaded with the low bridge POI’s and set to calculate an eco-route and used in conjunction with the atlas and Google maps on the phone.
Thanks Baz, I have found 1 or 2 good reviews of TomTom 5150 few guys on another thread reckon they are great, I am used to tom tom operating system and am unsure of snoopers. Really just wanted to see what the up to date opinions are…
One of the problems with TomTom truck units is that TomTom will not support them unless you take out a subscription (at significant cost!) to their Webfleet service. You are expected to go back to your supplier for any help or support you need (you cannot even submit a Support ticket via their website, as it simply will not recognise the serial number as being a valid TomTom number).
With the older units (e.g. Go 7000, 720 etc) it was quite easy to simply use a desktop computer to make a direct backup copy (using Windows Explorer or similar) of everything on the device, so that in the event it went ■■■■-up you could always wipe the memory card and start again. The later units (such as the 5150) can only be backed up using TomTom’s software (they don’t appear as an external disk drive on your PC). So in the event of a problem, you can easily end up with a TomTom that won’t communicate with your PC and no way of restoring any backup that you might have made.
Couple this with a few major goolies dropped by TomTom recently (e.g. when large numbers of their units suddenly stopped getting a GPS fix after the last leap-year, or when they released an updated truck map that didn’t actually have truck attributes included) and the Dutch company’s products start to look a lot less attractive.
I have the 5150. You do not need the subscription for this unit. Having had a snooper I would recommend the to tomtom as you can import your own poi files.
mark1968:
I have the 5150. You do not need the subscription for this unit. Having had a snooper I would recommend the to tomtom as you can import your own poi files.
I stand corrected on the position WRT TomTom support for the 5150. However, I do know of some people who bought the 5150 and could not get support (or even the promised lifetime map updates!) through the normal consumer channels - something about it being a joint product of TomTom’s retail and “professional” divisions and the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing. Without a Webfleet subscription, they couldn’t get access to the “Pro” support, and the retail support system wouldn’t recognise their serial numbers. Perhaps TT have now got their act together.
Perfer the tomtom myself
Just bought one this evening after my GO630 got swiped by some low life, from my car when it was parked outside my house.
Should be here in 2 days, and I’ll report back after some exhaustive testing.
Ken.
Quinny:
Just bought one this evening after my GO630 got swiped by some low life, from my car when it was parked outside my house.Should be here in 2 days, and I’ll report back after some exhaustive testing.
Ken.
Lots of low life’s about, they smashed my mates passenger door window to get a pack of sandwiches that he left on the seat.
Did you buy a 5150 ?, i’d be very interested to hear how it stacks up against the 630 (did you have truck maps on the 630 ?)
Yes I had truckmaps on my 630, but I like the idea of some of the features on the 5150, like the live mobile camera reporting, which means if someone passes a live mobile camera, and they report it, it stays on the system for 3 hours before being deleted, until the next time it’s at the same spot. (So I’ve read.) Must be done by a sim card connected to a network I guess. So cometh the renewal of the live services, I will probably renew if that’s the case.
Other camera databases, including the one on the PGPS website, and others, are location only files, but are still good as long as they are kept current by their users. (I’m a life member for the PGPS database.)
I also like the lifetime map updates, as it’s easier than using the pirate files that are widely available, which can sometimes be difficult to access and can take an age to download if you use the free version rather than the subscription. What also ■■■■■■ me off, is that people are selling older Tom Tom units on E.Bay (520/630/720/730/920/930/950 etc etc) with truckmaps on, but are asking a bloody fortune for them. Why pay their prices, when for not a lot more, you can have a newer product with a guarantee.
I’ll road test the 5150, and report back, but it will get a European test of sorts next week, when I’m off on holiday to Brittany in the car.
Ken.
Right.
Had it’s first test today, a trip from Leeds to Barking and back, and I have to say it’s very good, but then again I’m used to TT’s platform having owned various TT’s in the past.
The screen is a 5" variant, and while not as big as some of the Snooper ones, I find it’s perfect in size for me, as it’s not too over the top when in the windscreen. The volume however, isn’t so loud when on max, and the match the vehicles speed option isn’t really that good. Now one tip I got when I had my GO630, was to turn this feature off, and just set the volume manually from where it will not alter. I’ll try that next time.
The picture is very clear, but there is lack of a screen protector when you buy it, to keep it clean and free from grubby marks, so I would recommend buying one.
Also there is no hard case to keep it clean and damage free when you put it in your bag, so again, buy one.
The bluetooth feature for your phone is ok, but again the volume lets it down. 2 people I spoke to on the phone gave different reports on the level of audio they could hear. One said it was quiet, the other said it was useless.
The speed camera warnings on the live services seem to have a default time warning, and I have posted the question on the TT forum about how to extend it, because if you use the default, then as far as mobile cameras go, they would have caught you before the unit warns you. It may well be that I will go back to using the PGPSW database as mentioned further up the page, and I can then set the mobile ones to a mile (1760 yards.) in distance. If you think that is a little OTT, then take note that North Yorkshire police have just got 3 new vans that have a straight line range of 900 yards.
The live services warnings for delays is quite good, and about the units best feature. It warned me that there were delays of 8 minutes at the bottom of the M11, and it was just about spot on.
So in summary, the 5150 is not without it’s faults, but then again, no sat nav is, and at circa £300, it’s about the best for the money. Any more and then your into Tom Tom 9150, Snooper 8000 and Garmin 760 territory.
Ken.
Changing the way you are warned
Alert settings
To change the way your TomTom PRO device warns you about speed
cameras, tap the Alert settings button.
You can then set how close you want to be to a speed camera before
you are warned and what type of sound will be played.
For example, to change the sound that is played when you approach a
fixed speed camera, do the following:
- Tap Services in the Main Menu.
- Tap Speed Cameras.
- Tap Alert settings.
Quinny:
Right.Had it’s first test today, a trip from Leeds to Barking and back, and I have to say it’s very good, but then again I’m used to TT’s platform having owned various TT’s in the past.
The screen is a 5" variant, and while not as big as some of the Snooper ones, I find it’s perfect in size for me, as it’s not too over the top when in the windscreen. The volume however, isn’t so loud when on max, and the match the vehicles speed option isn’t really that good. Now one tip I got when I had my GO630, was to turn this feature off, and just set the volume manually from where it will not alter. I’ll try that next time.
The picture is very clear, but there is lack of a screen protector when you buy it, to keep it clean and free from grubby marks, so I would recommend buying one.
‘‘THE LACK OF SCREEN PROTECTOR’’ TRY THESE BEAUTIES FROM AMAZON…WORK GREAT AND FIT PRETTY EASY AND YOU GET 6 SO ONCE ONE STARTS TO WEAR YOU REMOVE IT WITHOUT ANY MARKS LEFT ON AND REPLACE IT… 6 x Clear Screen Protectors for TomTom Pro 5150 Truck - Crystal Clear, Anti-Scratch Films, Retail Package with…
by Membrane
£2.45Also there is no hard case to keep it clean and damage free when you put it in your bag, so again, buy one.
The bluetooth feature for your phone is ok, but again the volume lets it down. 2 people I spoke to on the phone gave different reports on the level of audio they could hear. One said it was quiet, the other said it was useless.
The speed camera warnings on the live services seem to have a default time warning, and I have posted the question on the TT forum about how to extend it, because if you use the default, then as far as mobile cameras go, they would have caught you before the unit warns you. It may well be that I will go back to using the PGPSW database as mentioned further up the page, and I can then set the mobile ones to a mile (1760 yards.) in distance. If you think that is a little OTT, then take note that North Yorkshire police have just got 3 new vans that have a straight line range of 900 yards.
The live services warnings for delays is quite good, and about the units best feature. It warned me that there were delays of 8 minutes at the bottom of the M11, and it was just about spot on.
So in summary, the 5150 is not without it’s faults, but then again, no sat nav is, and at circa £300, it’s about the best for the money. Any more and then your into Tom Tom 9150, Snooper 8000 and Garmin 760 territory.
Ken.
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