Is the Zumo XT appropriate for my UK road use?
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:35 pm
Good evening,
I need some UK user feedback on the suitability of the Zumo XT for an intended role, to replace my 660.
I've been caught by the recent issue where an update for the Zumo 660 is too big for the memory and have been informed (after purchasing a card and formatting it etc etc) that I cannot actually expand the unit capability to restore my "rest of Europe maps" and also that there will be no updates for the 660 relevant to the UK anyway. I was already having issues with the 660, for example where it would take me off a motorway junction (J14 southbound on the M25 particularly) only to have me navigate the roundabout and then go back on to the same carriageway wasting a lot of time. I had similar issues on the A120 when intending to take the M11 southbound. All reported to Garmin via their recommended means and all never resolved despite some years of advising these issues). I also had a problem where it identified every incoming call (when linked to an iPhone and helmet via bluetooth) as being only from one number in my phone book despite them coming from all sorts, but I could just about live with that.
I now have the option of purchasing the XT and would like some advice as to whether or not I should bother (the alternative being an TomTom Rider 550)
I've read in a recent magazine review (sorry, don't remember which one) that it is not particularly friendly for "normal" use, particularly just wanting to put in a postcode. This is perhaps 95% of my use, usually followed with a house number (where possible) for more precise navigation. I'd rather not have to put in town, followed by street, followed by... if I can save time when I know the postcode. Can I just do this from a "home screen" or similar?
I've no idea if the XT is loaded with house names for rural areas where street numbers (and sometimes streetnames) do not always exist.
I need this for work, and it needs to be reliable, it is not an exaggeration to say that lives may sometimes depend on this. I will be using it from going from location to location that I will only learn immediately I need to make the journey. I will not be in a position to preset using things like Basecamp or any other PC based system (with which I am not really familar anyway). The unit needs to be used on its own although I will of course update maps as and when these come out sevaral times a year.
My 660 has also from time to time taken me on roads that might well be the shortest but totally inappropriate for anything other thank a horse, or a tank, and hopefully the XT is a little more practical (except of course when my casualty is stuck in a hedge somewhere). Again feedback (perhaps from someone like a motorcycle courier, if they still exist) might be helpful here.
I need to also know in plenty of time of upcoming junctions, my 660 has (especailly when in the car mount) only warned me to take an exit when I am too committed to the continuing carriageway, but to be fair just about every system I have used, including ones supplied by work, does this.
I will on very rare occasions use it recreationally in Europe, probably in "tourist mode" (me, not it) where I can be a little more relaxed by still need to get accurately from point A to B
Lastly I need to connect this to my phone and use it via the speaker (in car mode) and helmet (in bike mode) with the latter also allowing me to talk to a pillion on some occasions. There will be times when the Zumo is not present so the phone and helmet(s) link to each other, which seems to be an issues for some users. Again your experiences would be helpful.
Thank you very much
C
I need some UK user feedback on the suitability of the Zumo XT for an intended role, to replace my 660.
I've been caught by the recent issue where an update for the Zumo 660 is too big for the memory and have been informed (after purchasing a card and formatting it etc etc) that I cannot actually expand the unit capability to restore my "rest of Europe maps" and also that there will be no updates for the 660 relevant to the UK anyway. I was already having issues with the 660, for example where it would take me off a motorway junction (J14 southbound on the M25 particularly) only to have me navigate the roundabout and then go back on to the same carriageway wasting a lot of time. I had similar issues on the A120 when intending to take the M11 southbound. All reported to Garmin via their recommended means and all never resolved despite some years of advising these issues). I also had a problem where it identified every incoming call (when linked to an iPhone and helmet via bluetooth) as being only from one number in my phone book despite them coming from all sorts, but I could just about live with that.
I now have the option of purchasing the XT and would like some advice as to whether or not I should bother (the alternative being an TomTom Rider 550)
I've read in a recent magazine review (sorry, don't remember which one) that it is not particularly friendly for "normal" use, particularly just wanting to put in a postcode. This is perhaps 95% of my use, usually followed with a house number (where possible) for more precise navigation. I'd rather not have to put in town, followed by street, followed by... if I can save time when I know the postcode. Can I just do this from a "home screen" or similar?
I've no idea if the XT is loaded with house names for rural areas where street numbers (and sometimes streetnames) do not always exist.
I need this for work, and it needs to be reliable, it is not an exaggeration to say that lives may sometimes depend on this. I will be using it from going from location to location that I will only learn immediately I need to make the journey. I will not be in a position to preset using things like Basecamp or any other PC based system (with which I am not really familar anyway). The unit needs to be used on its own although I will of course update maps as and when these come out sevaral times a year.
My 660 has also from time to time taken me on roads that might well be the shortest but totally inappropriate for anything other thank a horse, or a tank, and hopefully the XT is a little more practical (except of course when my casualty is stuck in a hedge somewhere). Again feedback (perhaps from someone like a motorcycle courier, if they still exist) might be helpful here.
I need to also know in plenty of time of upcoming junctions, my 660 has (especailly when in the car mount) only warned me to take an exit when I am too committed to the continuing carriageway, but to be fair just about every system I have used, including ones supplied by work, does this.
I will on very rare occasions use it recreationally in Europe, probably in "tourist mode" (me, not it) where I can be a little more relaxed by still need to get accurately from point A to B
Lastly I need to connect this to my phone and use it via the speaker (in car mode) and helmet (in bike mode) with the latter also allowing me to talk to a pillion on some occasions. There will be times when the Zumo is not present so the phone and helmet(s) link to each other, which seems to be an issues for some users. Again your experiences would be helpful.
Thank you very much
C