I'll be moving to Zürich in the next couple of months, due to my job I'll be driving all across CH and I need a bit of help, so for you avid drivers in the forum, what is the best navi system that you have tested in CH? It's really important that you can update it with the last info regarding speed-cameras...
Garmin nüvi 775T / 1690
TomTom XL Europe / 730 / 930
Any other brand/model?
Thanks!!
It's legal in Germany, France and Spain (as far as I know)
Yet, here in Switzerland, the cameras can hardly be seen at night, there's almost never a sign stating that there's a camera ahead of us, and all of this contrary to what can be seen in some other countries where each camera is mentioned ahead of time by a road sign, often have reflectors on them as well, and generally are allowed to be registered in devices.
I never really quite understood why they say one thing, yet do something entirely different about it over here. oh well... I won't go into the whole cash cow discussion...
My old ICN550 has had its day.
It's also got an MP3 player if your stereo hasn't got one already.
And, it gives the current speed limit on the screen, and this seems to be pretty accurate except for in roadworks.
As for camera locations, try paying attention to the speed limit signs
I planned to go for a TomTom, but their newest models all come with some stupid subscription features and a lot of small prints. Simply pissed me off and when I played with them in the shop, I preferred the Navigon models. Look good, work well and come with a good windshield holder. Cannot remember the number, but one of the midprice models with "max" at the end.
(And to be fair: There have been a lot of roadworks going on in Zurich the last two years adding highways and main roads...)
It gives clear directions, good touchscreen, configurable speed camera warnings, live re-routing in case of road closure or traffic delays.. I have used it on 2 trips from Amsterdam to canton Bern and back, and it really is good with optimizing the route during traffic.
I should have invested more and got lane assist (I believe the 755 on your shortlist has this). I got hopelessly tangled on the streets of Paris recently, always in the wrong lane, no / very little warning of direction changes plus unfathomable direction pictures where multiple levels of on ramp/off ramp are involved. I grew to hate the thing saying "re-calc-u-litting (sic)" which meant I had guessed wrong.
The other issue is it seizes up once every couple of weeks. If you get one make sure the sales clerk shows you the trick for rebooting. This may involve leaving your finger on the corner of the touchscreen for a few seconds while holding the reset -- not in the manual that I was given!
And yes having speed cameras on the GPS is illegal. Even the radion stations have been forced to stop giving out warnings.
Could be just due to an old map
On the positive side, it taught me not to rely too much on navigational devices. Go old school, and use a map (Google Maps are helpful) and over time, you will know the roads most of the time.
I've always heard good things about the Garmin navis but never tested one.
My girlfriend was given a Navigon and it works flawless in Germany...but who knows what would happen in CH...and I don't want to spend 300€ twice if after 6 months is not accurate...
On the other hand, I know it's illegal, but I'm driving around 70000 kms a year and I have often customers calling me when driving, so it's difficult sometimes to keep an eye on the signs , therefore I need a navi that can be uploaded with the camera positions, and for that TomTom are good.
It's very good!
Read reviews, it's really good. Also I contacted support to ask if Live will be somewhere else, and it was a turd who replied. But after someone clever nicely replied, and they even offered me an accessory!
So it seems the support TomTom can be very good!