Garmin ~VS~ Google Maps Navigation! – Updated December 2014

When it comes to on the road Navigation, there’s a lot of options both in terms of hardware and software. Garmin, one of the biggest names in navigation is a long standing leader but Google Maps has been making a well deserved name for itself lately and as a driver who covers a lot of miles in unknown territories across Europe, I haven’t yet chosen one over the other and still have them both running concurrently on my travels.

So why not use just one? I’m using Google on my phone and for a start, a stand alone GPS is far better than having your navigation interrupted by phone calls and every other distraction a phone has. Also when you’re trying to speak to a customer over the phone to guide you to their address, explanations are always easier to act on using a stand alone GPS, regardless of any handsfree kits you may have. If my Garmin could do everything Google Maps could, there’d be no need to use my phone, if Google maps could do everything Garmin could, I’d probably still have the Garmin running as a standalone GPS.

So what are the major differences?

With Google, anything other than basic navigation is tricky/not possible. You can’t add a via point in Google Navigation, this is simple with Garmin. It doesn’t seem easy to “search along route”, or at least I haven’t figured it out yet. This is very easy with Garmin and the fact you can add an address as a via point in Garmin, means you can for example, search for fuel along a route of say a 567 km journey and you can check how each garage affects the total distance after adding it as a via point (it takes a little time, but at least it can be done). So if that 567 becomes 568, you know this fuel stop is going to be really quick.

Of course a data connection is required to use Google maps properly, it uses very little data and I’ve no problem using it within my data limits even when roaming on Vodafone Red Roaming, even when it used to be just 100mb limit a day, now it’s 200mb 🙂 Maps of a particular journey can be downloaded before setting off so there’s no need for data, but I haven’t tried this and then of course you wouldn’t have the best features of Google without the data.

Google maps accuracy will depend on the quality of the GPS transmitter of your device. Garmin is far more accurate in my experience. Using both at the same time, Google can think you’ve gone off a motorway and try guide you back to the motorway through all the side streets beside it.

Google alternative route selection is amazing and this is the strong point of Google. It gives accurate traffic information, highlighting congested sections of a route with what has so far been very good accuracy. It can give alternative routes on the fly and in real time so even if you’ve chosen a route, you can see alternatives displayed on screen as you travel just like here:

Google faster slower route

This could still be improved upon, if they would only show the difference in distance and maybe an icon to indicate if the route had tolls too as when you’re tight on time, rushing to catch a ferry for example, longer distance could be the difference of stopping for fuel or not, negating any time saved by taking the “faster” route. Google strangely doesn’t always follow the fastest route and I’ve been perplexed by it’s routing at times too but mostly it will follow sense and lead you on the best route. Garmin traffic information doesn’t work in Ireland whereas Google does but even in the UK and Europe, Google seems far more accurate with delay times and the need to suggest an alternative route.

Traffic aside, Garmin has at times tried to lead me far far astray in general navigation. One time travelling through Austria in particular, I set off with Google suggesting a route that was going to take 5.5 hours, while Garmin was suggesting only one route that was going to take 7 hours. Of course I followed Google and each turn I disobeyed Garmin, it fought and fought to take me back to its 7 hour route until eventually it recalculated to follow the same route Google had suggested all along, and low and behold, Garmin was now suggesting an ETA of 5.5 hours too!

So my advice is that if you do any sort of heavy travelling, a stand alone GPS is essential and running both devices together is going to be your best option. If you’re just doing the odd day of travel on unknown routes, under no time pressure, restraints or need for communication and such along the way, using Google Maps on your phone will definitely suffice!

The ultimate travel gadget for me would be a combination of:
Car Dash Cam – 1080p/wide angle lens/continuous looped recording/g-sensor/emergency clip save button/starts recording when the engine starts with no need for human interaction
GPS Tracker – Allows vehicle to be tracked 24/7 with a detailed history log accessible remotely and can even send a photo or small video feed.
Sat Nav – Uses Google’s intelligent live traffic knowledge with on the fly-in navigation slower/faster touch alternative route suggestions with full “offline” maps to reduce data usage.

Additional Features – Low voltage protection (stops device draining car battery and will always leave enough to start engine), Low consumption mode (allows GPS tracker to still communicate and uses “parking mode” feature for dash cam, recording shocks and motion sensor).
Optional Accessories – Rear View Mirror Cradle – Replaces your windscreen rear-view mirror and allows a plug and play slot in connection for inconspicuous mounting while taking up minimal windscreen real estate.

But it might be a while before we see this one gadget to rule them all!

This may be one of the best dash cam videos ever!

This guy will surely think twice about instigating road rage again!

I just hope it wasn’t set up, but I don’t think so!

Dash Cams – Buy Cheap, Buy Twice? Surprising Change of Opinion

Used Dash Cameras Ireland

Ok where to start? The above photo is a mix of cameras. 2 DRS1100’s, an iTronics ITB100HD and a Mini 0801.

I initially only wanted the best, the DRS1100 are both old and I stopped using them more than a year ago. The DRS1100 was one of the first dash cams and was the best at the time. From them, I upgraded to the iTronics ITB100HD, I bought 4 and had them shipped from Asia. They were the best on the market at the time too and they were expensive. Out of the 4, I kept 3 and gave one away in a Facebook competition.

Out of the 3, the one above stopped working with a “Boot Issue”. I hope the one that went to the competition winner is still going ok. After seeing what cheaper cameras could offer, pretty much the same thing, I decided there’s not much point going for the best of the best and having them shipped from outside the EU (risk of import duties, can’t claim the VAT back, expensive returns and if buying from Ebay, the seller may not even be around by the time it develops a problem).

I decided to get a cheaper camera for the replacement for the broken ITB100HD and went for the Mini 0801, and bought from Amazon and it was fulfilled by Amazon. This too developed a fault but the return process from Amazon was amazing, I went on live chat at 5am one morning, they sent a link to a page I just had to print out, cut around labels, stick to a box, bring it to the post office and it didn’t cost a thing. They refunded my card before I had even gone to the post office. With this in mind, I decided I’m only going to buy again “Dispatched and sold by” or “Fulfilled by” Amazon, I’ve had too many dash cams develop problems to be messing around.

I received 2 x Mini 0803 (update from the Mini 0801) today and although there’s a few bad reviews saying units have stopped working, overheated etc, I have that protection from Amazon so decided to go for it anyway. There is no camera currently out there at the moment which does EXACTLY what I want it to do. I started a thread on boards.ie about this only recently here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057270716

Until something comes out that’s almost fitting that description, I’ll be happy with what I have for the time being, safe in the knowledge that I can return it if they fail on me.

This is the link to the Mini 0803: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JJI41LI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Again, just make sure you’re buying “Dispatched and sold by” or “Fulfilled by” Amazon. I went for the one with the internal memory but on second thoughts, it probably would have been better to save money on that, and put it towards a 2nd memory card because if anything is captured, it’s always best to eject the card and replace it so nothing important risks being recorded over. I can still do this with the internal memory using a second card, but you have to choose between “internal” and “external” card on the display, which is more hassle than just swapping cards.

So based on my experience of the reliance of these cameras, I’ve gone from wanting the top of the range and risking import duties and the likes, to putting the returns process at the forefront of my purchasing decision.

Dublin to Berlin Removals – 5th Floor, No lift = Great exercise!

What better way to stretch the legs after a 2,000km+ drive to Berlin than having to make a 5th floor delivery, with no lift, 90 steps each way and about 40 trips up and down with mattresses, a Budda Bag, desk, table and a load of heavy boxes and miscellaneous items, on my tod!

Not being able to play basketball the last few days I needed to maintain my fitness and this was perfect. Done and dusted in under 2.5 hours/150 minutes. The box cam is on the last (and lightest) box and it still took about 2 minutes to go one way, with about 40 return journeys, that’s 160 minutes and if you’ve ever tried to move a Budda Bag, you’ll know it’s a little trickier than a box so I had to keep a good pace. Took a swig or two of water and had a slice of dried mango but the chewing got in the way of my breathing so saved the rest until after.

Man with a Van and a Cam! #1

Here’s my first little Man with a Van and a Cam compilation. Just a few snippets of things I’ve caught driving around what’s mainly Dublin, Ireland.

This one includes footage at Lidl and even overtaking a nice Lamborghini on the M50!

Driving to IKEA Dublin for Deliveries

One of the services offered at VanTasks is our “We Shop, We Drop” service where we’ll go to shop for any bulky items and deliver them direct to you. Doing IKEA Deliveries is certainly the most popular given that IKEA don’t offer any online shopping service, customers can trust us, depositing thousands of Euro for goods they need to purchase, knowing they can get same day deliveries anywhere in Ireland.

Some people use our service just to avoid the hassle of going to IKEA even if they live locally, it can be a daunting place. Besides rushing around trying to complete our customers shopping in as little time as possible, dodging the dawdlers, the endless array of kids running between trolleys, trying to find the the scarce staff members if you need help (who are always very helpful when you do find them, there’s just not enough of them!) and then the queues at the till that stretch the length of a few vans worth, there’s also the obstacles in the car park. This is from my last visit 🙂

Mini 0801 -VS- iTronics ITB100HD, Dash Cam Compare

I recently received delivery of another dash cam. The iTronics ITB100HD I had in the van was acting up, sometimes it didn’t turn on properly although there is adequate power getting to it. I tried it in another van which has another ITB100HD in it which is working perfect, so it’s the camera itself and not the wiring set up. As I bought it from half way across the world from an eBay seller, I don’t think I have much chance of a return, it was more than a year ago too so I decided to try out the Mini 0801 after it received a positive review from Dash Cam expert Techmoan.

The iTronics was a lot more expensive, after import duties etc it will work out around €200 or so. The Mini 0801 was fulfilled by Amazon so no need to worry about import duties and it came pretty quick too and at a cost of only €70 or so, it’s not too much different than the ITB100HD. It appears a lot darker in the following clip but you can still see pretty much everything that you can in the ITB100HD. The sound also appears to be better on the Mini 0801, or at least louder.