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navman slow map updates. whereis maps very outdated — 16 Comments

  1. Re navman 500 series: told new maps avaiable 4th qtr 2007, then told a business decision has been made not to go ahead with 2007 Australian maps,unit cost me over a $1000.00 and now,just over two years later it is time for the trash pile according to Navman.

  2. When you consider that a melway/sydway/brisway or a ubd directory costs just AU$25, then spending 40 time that much for an electronic version, is a bit difficult to justify.

    And then you need to consider that eletronic updates (if available) can cost over AU$100 (compared to getting a new paper directory for AU$25).

    Some will argue that the paper version gets worn and torn… But I say the electronic version has the equivalent problem: the batteries wear out in the summer heat (and they are always non-standard, so you have to go back to navman to get a replacement battery…)

    The only real advantage of the electronic navigators, is that you get a birds-eye view of where you are, so you drive more safely and confidently.

    I’m happy to let the maps get out of date (which they already are from new!), and maybe buy a replacement (bottom-of-the-range) satnav every 3 – 5 years (and also claim it as a business expense).

    Buying any saynav that costs over $400 is just a huge waste of money.

  3. re Navman Discontinued Models.

    Navman Sydney told me this week (30 Oct)they are going to offer a ‘model upgrade’ for certain models whose upgrade maps are no longer available – despite “we will support this”.

    Timing?? some where around late Nov-early Dec. What model ?? what price ?? They can’t say yet as their new S series has just been released. I assume it will similar for similar. ie icn 630 for a new S50 or S80
    Ring them and get your name put on the ‘offer’ list of users they are maintaining.
    Given their total lack of contact with registered users re. map upgrades or anything..their latest idea of an offer, which you have to kbow about because they don’t tell you, is a bit too little and too late for many who have gone and bought TomTom or Garmin. (Those Garmin 250w’s and 660’s are very nice too!)

  4. 15/12/2007
    I HAVE SENT THE BELOW TO NAVMAN, SENSIS AND WHEREIS WITH NO SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE TO ANY OF MY PROBLEMS OR SUGGESTIONS. SOLUTIONS HAVE DEFINITELY NOT BEEN PROVIDED.

    Also sent this to navman.

    2/3/2007

    ATTENTION ALIN,
    At SENSIS;
    To SENSIS re 2007 updated software for Navman Icn520

    Since my last email, I have searched out many of your NAVMAN missing roads on MELWAYS. They are all locatable in the MELWAYS.
    Copies of the appropriate maps are enclosed.
    Is it possible to incorporate these changes into your next update, or is it possible to supply a software patch to update the discrepancies??

    Could you please acknowledge my communication by return mail.

    Yours sincerely;

    23/2/2007

    ATTENTION ALIN, SENSIS;
    To SENSIS re 2007 updated software for Navman Icn520

    On the 15/9/2005 I acquired a new Navman Icn520 unit.
    On 5/10/2005 I contacted Navman re missing roads and general inaccuracies that I found in my local area.

    The letters that I wrote to Navman are listed below.

    I discussed the problems and they informed me that they would be corrected in the new release of the software.

    I received the new software release on the 22/2/2007. I had a bit of a problem with the installation but this has now been rectified.

    I immediately checked for the previous discrepancies, which were to be corrected, and found that nothing at all has been altered.

    I also went to my local area, DROUIN & WARRAGUL, and to my surprise found that in the LOCAL POI’s that VETERINARY SURGEONS are NO LONGER LISTED.

    I PERSONALLY THINK THIS IS A BIG MISTAKE TO LEAVE THIS OFF THE POI LIST.

    On many occasions people are in panic mode going to the veterinary surgeon due to acute sickness or accident relating to their pet animal, and desperately need to find the location. Our area is expanding in population with many new people coming into the district.

    I checked out other towns re veterinary POI’S to find many not listed either.
    Geelong is listed, but Ballarat, Warrnambool, Drouin, Warragul, Bunyip, Trafalgar, Wonthagi, Bendigo to mention only a few, are not listed.

    I do not know what software changes were put into this new update that are of value to me, but I find the omission of “veterinary surgeons” in most towns re POI’S is a very backward step.
    Is there some patch that can be used to update this facility.

    Yours sincerely,

    22/2/2007
    TALKED DAVID RE UNABLE TO INSTALL THE NEW UPDATED MAPS. POSSIBLY INCORRECT PRODUCT REGISTRATION NUMBER. WILL GET BACK TO ME BEFORE THE END OF TRADING TODAY.

    13/11/2006 Patrick rang to say is on the mailing list for NAVMAN UPDATE but at this stage only hopes soon.
    Tel: 02 98799000

    14/8/2006 RANG NAVMAN TO TALK TO PATRICK RE FREE UPDATE INFO FOR MY UNIT.
    WAS TOLD THAT I AM IN THE COMPUTER FOR AUTOMATIC UPDATES TO BE SENT, WHICH SHOULD BE SENT BEFORE END OF SEPTEMBER 2006.
    TEL: 0298799000

    PATRICK RANG NOTED MY COMMENTS. WILL SEND FREE UPDATE ~JUNE’06 WHEN RELEASED.

    10/10/2005

    To NAVMAN

    RE NAVMAN ICN520.

    ON THE 5/10/2005 I EMAILED YOU A PROBLEM RE “NOT UP TO DATE INFORMATION” IN MY AREA OF GIPPSLAND AROUND THE DROUIN AREA.
    FURTHER TO THIS I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER MY CLIENT LOCATIONS INTO THE “FAVOURITES” DATA BASE AND HAVE FOUND A FEW MORE ROADS AND SECTIONS OF ROADS THAT ARE MISSING.
    1. MIDDLETON ROAD WEST GIPPSLAND: ACTUALLY RUNS ALL THE WAY THROUGH FROM MORRISON ROAD TO LABERTOUCHE NORTH ROAD. THIS IS TOTALLY MISSING.
    2. MC GLONES ROAD SECTION MISSING. IF LEAVE DROUIN ON BINBEAL ROAD, TURN LEFT TOWARDS LONGWARRY UP LONGWARRY DROUIN ROAD ~400 MTRE YOU SEE MC GLONE ROADON SCREEN BUT NO CONNECTION TO IT. IT ACTUALLY FORMS A “Y” AND EACH END OF THE “Y” JOINS INTO THE LONGWARRY DROUIN ROAD.
    3. JUST UP FROM THE END OF THIS “”Y” TOWARDS LONGWARRY ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS MAIN ROAD, IS RITCHIES ROAD. THIS IS MISSING FROM YOUR MAP. IS BEFORE INTERSECTION OF HAMMOND RD, SNOWBALL RD AND LONGWARRY DROUIN ROAD.
    4. ANDERSONS ROAD TARAGO IS MISSING. ITS LOCATION IS: DRIVE ON C426 TO THE JUNCTION OF OLD TELEGRAPH ROAD AND MAIN JINDIVICK ROAD, GO UP MAIN JINDIVICK TO ~300 METRE BEFORE THIS BUTTS IN TO THE OTHER ARM OF MAIN JINDIVICK ROAD. AND ANDERSONS ROAD IS OFF TO THE LEFT OFF MAIN JINDIVICK ROAD WEST GIPPSLAND.
    5. CARROLL ROAD DROUIN SOUTH IS MISSING. LOCATION: MAIN SOUTH DOAD DROUIN SOUTH TO CAMPBELL ROAD. GOING TOWARDS KORUMBURRA TURN RIGHT INTO CAMPBELL ROAD. ~600 MTRE ALONG CAMPBELL ROAD TO LEFT IS CARROLL ROAD.
    6. TWIGG LANE MISSING. IF GO THROUGH RE 5. ABOVE TO THE OTHER END OF CAMPBELL ROAD TO BUTT INTO THE DROUIN POOWONG ROAD, TWIGG LANE RUNS FROM THIS INTERSECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF DROUIN POOWONG ROAD ~1.5KM TO JOIN BACK INTO THE DROUIN POOWONG ROAD A BIT BEFORE MCLURE ROAD.
    7. MOUNT STREET LONGWARRY MISSING. LOCATION: ~OPPOSITE LABERTOUCHE ROAD OFF PRINCES HIGHWAY LONGWARRY NORTH.

    AM JUST POINTING OUT A FEW OTHER ANOMALIES AS A FOLLOW UP TO MY FIRST COMMUNICATION WITH YOU.

    YOURS SINCERELY,

    5/10/2005

    I ACQUIRED AND RECEIVED MY NAVMAN ICN520 WITH SMARTST 2005 ON THE 15/9/2005.
    MFG DATE: 2005.07

    I AM WONDERING HOW UP TO DATE THE MAP INFORMATION IN THE NAVMAN ICN520 IS SUPPOSED TO BE?

    MY HOME ADDRESS IS NOT RECOGNISED.
    I KNOW THAT YOU CAN GO TO CENTRE OF AREA, FIND STREET, GO TO CENTRE OF STREET, FIND INTERSECTION, BUT I HAVE LIVED AT THIS ADDRESS SINCE 1975, WHICH I THOUGHT MAY HAVE QUALIFIED IT TO BE ON YOUR MAP BY HOUSE NUMBER.

    IF I Navigate TO DROUIN, POI, SHOP OR SHOPPING CENTRE, WE GET DROUIN LICENCED SUPERMARKET AND RITEWAY (SAME SHOP). BUT, FOR ABOUT THE LAST 3 YEARS THIS HAS BECOME AND IS A COLES SUPERMARKET IN DROUIN, YET THE NAME CHANGE HAS NOT BEEN MADE.

    I HAVE A CLIENT AT THE INTERSECTION OF BRIDGE ROAD AND YANNATHAN ROAD MODELLA.
    IF WE COME DOWN BRIDGE RD TO THE YANNATHAN ROAD “T” INTERSECTION AND TURN LEFT TO GO TO THE WESTERNPORT ROAD, THE YANNATHAN ROAD MAPPING STOPS AT PURVIS ROAD (WHICH GOES OFF TO THE RIGHT).
    BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YANNATHAN ROAD ACTUALLY DOES CONTINUE ON, I CAN USE THE STYLUS TO CONTINUE ON, BUT YOUR MAP SYSTEM ONLY RECONNECTS TO NORTH YANNATHAN ROAD AT THE POINT OF WATES ROAD, WHICH THEN LEADS TO THE WESTERNPORT ROAD. THERE IS ABOUT A 2KM SECTION OF ROAD MISSING!!

    IF WE TURN INTO PURVIS ROAD FROM THE ABOVE YANNATHAN ROAD IT TAKES US TO A “T” INTERSECTION OF “ANOTHER YANNATHAN ROAD”.
    THIS PARTICULAR YANNATHAN ROAD, ACCORDING TO LOCAL AREA IS SIGN POSTED AS “THWAITES ROAD” AND HAS BEEN AS SUCH FOR WELL OVER 20 YEARS.

    ANOTHER ROAD WHICH IS CALLED “WILTSHIRE ROAD”, AT LONGWARRY NORTH, AND HAS BEEN SO FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS IS CALLED “CORDUROY ROAD” ON THE NAVMAN MAP.??

    GOING FROM DROUIN TO DROUIN WEST, AND TURNING LEFT INTO OLD SALE ROAD GOING TOWARDS FISHERS ROAD, ABOUT ~700MTRE UP THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT IS A ROAD CALLED “STOCKS ROAD”. THIS ROAD BRANCHES, WITH STOCKS ROAD TO LEFT, AND RIGHT FORK TO BEARDS ROAD. THIS THEN FORKS AS BEARDS ROAD TO LEFT AND CONNOR ROAD TO RIGHT. NONE OF THESE ROADS ARE INCORPORATED IN THE NAVMAN MAP.

    THE AREAS OF MODELLA, BAYLES, CORA LYNN ARE NOT LISTED. ONLY IF YOU KNOW THE AREA CAN YOU USE THE STYLUS TO NAVIGATE TO A DESTINATION IF YOU WISH TO HAVE IT IN THE “FAVOURITES LIST”.

    DO YOU HAVE A MORE UP TO DATE VERSION OF THE VICTORIAN MAP??
    IF SO CAN YOU SUPPLY THIS TO ME.
    MUCH OF THE MAPPING IS VERY GOOD BUT THERE SEEMS ALSO TO BE MANY SHORT CUMMINGS.
    A REPLY WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

    THANKING YOU IN ANTICIPATION.

    YOURS SINCERELY,

  5. You’re not alone. I bought a iCN320 about 18 months ago, also for a “Good Price”. What a waste of time. I am an Emergency Service worker and bought it thinking that I could use it at work to save a bit of time getting to ‘Jobs’. Due to serveral anomalies, discovered WEEKS later, I have had to resort to the Street Directory to get me there. I bought the Navman so I wouldn’t have to do this in the first place. I contacted Sensis and they referred me to Navman. Dispite numerous e-mails they haven’t had the good manners to so much as acknowledge me with a reply. If this is their idea of service and support, they’ve lost me as a continued customer as I will be looking at alternative brands. If I hear anyone talking about purchasing a GPS I advise them of the problems I’ve encountered with Navman and their apparent lack of intrest in supporting their clients. CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS BEFORE YOU BUY.

  6. I have the F20 model purchased ~ 18 months ago. It has been very helpful and it has got me to a lot of places that inadequate street signs and paper maps could not have achieved. However there have also been times where this marvelous piece of technology has caused me so much grief that I have had to resort to verbal and even physical abuse of this device in order to calm myself down. It could be said that on occasions, even my ex-wife could have done a better job of navigating and she still doesn’t know her arse from her elbow!
    I specifically took my Navman to Tassie last year because I don’t know that state at all. Around Hobart it was fine. But the next day when I needed to drive my hire car to the Launceston airport (in a hurry cos I was running late) according to my Navman, Launceston airport doesn’t exist!
    If you have ever driven from Glen Innes in NSW to Grafton, there is only the one road so it’s hard to get lost. It is the only road through that part of the Gibraltar Range. The curious thing is that when your about half way between these two towns the road shows up clearly in green on the screen. The only problem is, according to my Navman I’m not on it. The little circle with the arrow in it (me) shows that i’m ~ 30 – 50metres to the left of the road (when heading east). If anyone knows this road, even 10metres to the left means that you have just gone over a very steep cliff.
    I have delayed upgrading my maps, and having read the comments so far I’m not sure that I will bother.

  7. I am in Brisbane South, actually Logan City and recently, end 2007 purchased a BNIB Navman S90i. For the most part it is OK, BUT, it has me trying to turn where you can’t, takes me in the opposite direction I should be going, tries to turn me into oneway streets,says no such house number exists, can’t take me back the opposite route that it has just taken me,takes me down no through roads that it shows as a continuing road this is to mention just but a few of the problems. Both Navman and Sensis/ Whereis blame each other for the problems, quite frankly they are both liars an if either dispute this come and I’ll take you for a drive. Roads that have been around for years (before either of them) don’t show on my Navman, obviously digital mapping and GPS is not their forte. I was even told that someone has to drive around in a car to input the data and that mistakes can be made,”What The”.
    Street numbers are the worst e.g. my own street number, house built 1980 is no 47 do you think my Navman will show it as No47, the hell it will it shows it as No40 something all but No47 even stood at the front of house and took photo of house, and it put No43 or N046 as address, photo graphed it several times. Worst was Navman say it is Sensis so I rang Sensis and asked where no47 was on their maps. Funny that, it just so happens no47 is where it should be, not on the other side of the road or half a k somewhere else. I have a friend who lives just out of Gatton and for those who do not know where it is check it out on a map but it is approx 1hour and a bit west of Brizvegas and do you think my Navman knew where it was, hell it did. So seeing as I did I drove to Gatton and then put in his address and it found the street but said the number did not exist. Time to go home set in my home address and beleive it or not it found it.
    Eventually Navman replaced my S90i reason, “mapping issues” but the problems still exists. Navman QUOTE “it is not an auto pilot” and that any two year old can grasp, but tell him the sun is shining in the middle of the night you have gotta be KIDDING !!! Navman and Sensis. Actually from what I understand Sensis is owned by Telstra which probably accounts for the crappy mapping. I was told by Navman that they have 70% of the GPS market, that may account for 70% of the bad drivers on the road also!!??!! Apart from the preferances being set correctly the Navman should perform excellently , but if the mapping etc. is wrong and out of date then we users don’t have a chance.

  8. Hi Roger,

    Yep, the missing street numbers is also present on my icn320. I forgot to mention it in my original article.

    I’d say about 33% of all the places I go (I tend to go to a new address about 1 – 3 times a day) do not show up as corect street numbers.

    Sometimes I need to pick a near enough number, sometimes I just need to switch between odd and even numbers, but often, I just need to tell it to go to the middle of the road, and then (If I actually know which part of the street I’m going to) “manually” adjust the destination target, so that I go where I want. I always carry a Brisway as a backup… Having been a Melways fan from my time in Melbourne, I find its a fantastic book… Its worth buying. Also remember that the UBD seems based on Sensis data (or is it the other way around?).

    As an example: The Brisway/Melway/Sydway books usually give you an idea of street numbers, and the roads always seem more up to date.

    I just work around the navman shortcomings, but for the price, I wouldn’t expect so many flaws.

    Its probably as you say: digital mapping and GPS is not their forte.

    I guess they are doing what most business would like to do: make as much money as they can, with as little effort as possible, for as long as they can. Once real competition enters this marketplace, they will have enough “muscle” to improve their game (and blow their own trumpet about it too… eg: “the best maps ever!”, or “its never been easier”).

  9. I have a Garmin Streetpilot 2 which has been upgraded to 2nd to last map, OK for my purpose BUT it has never shown the Cradle Mountain Link Road which is over 20 years old. Similarly a 10+year old section of the Bass Highway near Westbury (both Tasmanian) shows me that I am driving cross country. Both these roads are uninhabited and probably have no fixed land-line phones, perhaps there is a connection

  10. For those that are interested, The company that creates the Melway/Sydway/Brisway is called: Ausway. http://www.ausway.com.au

    They also have a satnav product available (curently $699) http://www.ausway.com/Default.aspx?tabid=103&ProductID=65

    I have no idea how it compares to sensis/UBD based products, but i suspect it probably doesn’t have the same coverage.

    If the price drops a bit more, I’ll be very interested in trying it out / reviewing it.

  11. I have just bought a navman S150 for a whopping $425 last 3 days ago (17/12/2008) . However I noticed that the maps are actually off. The appartment building that I have lived in for almost 3 years could not be recognized and there are some part of VIC such as point cook that Navman could not recognize.

    I was just wondering, if I could still return my Navman to Strathfield (shop where I bought it) and replace it with a tom-tom.

  12. I bought the Navman S150 with the new Navteq mapping.

    I have found so many errors it’s not funny..
    I have been directed to drive into a creek, into a house and drive over a medium strip. POI such as the local police station is 2k out of town in a paddock (wrong). My street is listed as unsurfaced but only in one direction.
    90% of the shops listed are in the wrong street and after testing a few directions for shops landed at private homes.
    I have had this unit 2 months and the more I use it the more errors I find.

  13. Is anyone out there prepared to share a copy of the icn330 map or update? I am prepared to pay a reasonable cost but cannot justify paying for an original (it is disgusting that navman would charge for supporting a poorly setup product). Cheers Mick.

  14. Navman would have to be the most useless, poorly designed and poorly supported product I have ever purchased. I had a Nokia Navigator phone 5 years ago which was infinitely better than the navman.

  15. I can’t get over the cost and problems involved with updating Navman maps. Already out of date and for my S30 (lucky me bought the cheapest to try) near enough to $100. I recently bought an Aldi unit for $99 complete. It’s maps seem to be well up to date and it provides more facilities and better directions than the Navman. I doubt I’ll ever update the Navman again if Aldi continue to sell these at that price.
    I too have had real problems getting updates for the Navman. Promises never kept and long delays after payment. Also forced into taking out a Paypal account for payment.