CAMC Edition of Avtex Tourer Sat Nav

Brathie replied on 04/04/2019 15:35

Brathie

Posted on 04/04/2019 15:35

I recently bought the subject Sat Nav device based on the adverts that appeared in the CAMC magazine. I bought it as I thought it would provide me with the best routes to the CAMC sites bearing in mind we are towing a caravan. I also selected the Plus version for the integrated Dash Cam.
Last week was our first caravan outing of the year, we went to Chatsworth Park which is a favourite of ours and not too far from home. Whilst I know the route well I thought that I would try out the CAMC App on my new Sat Nav. I was quite impressed with the ease of loading the destination and all went well until we approached the first gate into the Chatsworth Estate - guess what the Sat Nav wanted to take us in there and not the Camp Site, I was shocked but thought I might have selected something other than the CAMC Site address, so when we were settled on our pitch and out and about in the car I tried using the CAMC App again but from a different direction - guess again what happened, it took me into another gate into the Chatsworth Estate and not the Camp Site - by now I was a little angry.

The adverts in the CAMC Magazine promoting the device clearly state that it:
“will guide you to your destination avoiding height etc”
and it has:
“Three Exclusive Caravan and Motorhome Club Data Bases”

Clearly neither the manufacturers nor The CAMC have validated the routes and I have been told quite bluntly by the online retailer Prima Leisure that “Avtex, PRIMA or the Club do not claim that the sat nav will use the Club’s recommended approach to sites, as stated in the product description”.

I find this response incredible, why do the adverts fill the consumer full of promise and then not deliver and why does the advert NOT state that the device will not follow the CAMC’s recommended approach to their sites - it’s totally wrong.
I have completely lost faith in the device but I have been told that I cannot return it as it has been used - again it is totally wrong as it does not perform as the advertisements claim it should.Has anyone else had similar experiences?

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58 replies

Tinwheeler replied on 17/07/2019 18:36

Tinwheeler

Campervanner

Posted on 17/07/2019 18:36

The club's defence would be that they tell you to always use the directions given in the handbook, or on the website, on the final approach.

The actual Garmin satnav is good but the add ons aren’t worth the cost. See my earlier posts.

Surfer replied on 18/07/2019 09:13

Member

Surfer

Caravanner

Posted on 17/07/2019 18:36 by Tinwheeler

The club's defence would be that they tell you to always use the directions given in the handbook, or on the website, on the final approach.

The actual Garmin satnav is good but the add ons aren’t worth the cost. See my earlier posts.

Posted on 18/07/2019 09:13

Then why bother buying a Satnav if you still have to look up the directions? Strangely enough we have Archiescamping downloaded and have used it in Europe and we are taken every time right to the gate for the caravan site.

Using the POIs downloaded from CMC for CC sites and CLs on more than one occasion it has taken us to the incorrect destination. I suspect that the co-ordinates supplied are those for the general post code and not the exact location of the entrance to a site.

Tinwheeler replied on 18/07/2019 09:45

Tinwheeler

Campervanner

Posted on 18/07/2019 09:13 by Surfer

Then why bother buying a Satnav if you still have to look up the directions? Strangely enough we have Archiescamping downloaded and have used it in Europe and we are taken every time right to the gate for the caravan site.

Using the POIs downloaded from CMC for CC sites and CLs on more than one occasion it has taken us to the incorrect destination. I suspect that the co-ordinates supplied are those for the general post code and not the exact location of the entrance to a site.

Posted on 18/07/2019 09:45

I didn’t buy it. I’d not spend my hard earned on a gimmick .

Spot on in your last para which is what I’ve said before. It takes you to the postcode. That applies to any satnav.

Rufs replied on 18/07/2019 10:49

Member

Rufs

Caravanner

Posted on 17/07/2019 17:56 by Bern Shirl

Sadly I also have bought one of these sat navs. This sat nav doesn't just not mis-direct to the Chatsworth site, it actually directs the user down a Cul-de-sac when asked to find a route to York Rowntree Park. The one that is fitted to my car works more reliably than the Avtex Tourer One in finding the correct route to the club sites. I too am disgusted with the response from the manufacturer, retailer and the CAMC. It seems that there is no protection in the buyers favour when the directions are wholly misleading when trying to find a CAMC site. Why therefore does the Club allow its name to be associated with such an item? Is it because they get a financial gain from allowing the 'good name' of the CAMC to be used on this product? The sat nav is worse than a cheap alternative because at least if I had bought such a thing I would treat it with suspicion whereas the Avtex Tourer One has CAMC approval so why wouldn't you trust it?

The club do themselves no favours in their tie up with this sat nav and are definitely not working in the best interests of the members.

I would like an answer from the CAMC as to why they are still pedalling this sat nav to members? I see that there is now an 'improved' Avtex Tourer Two being pushed by the club. I am guessing that it will not be any more successful in directing members to the sites and the response will stiil be the same...............Tough, you bought it.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH, CAMC. You should be working for the benefit of your members, not your commercial contracts.

BernShirl

Posted on 18/07/2019 10:49

I have Snooper, this was previously a club recommended sat nav before they changed there allegiance to Avtex, Snooper suffers from many of the lets say "quirky" features of many of the main stream devices, I am on my 3rd all replaced under the guarantee. finally Snooper seems to have come of age and many of the problems i reported seem to have been ironed out, however, i find it much easier to use google earth, zoom in on your destination, note the geo co-ordinates then feed them into satnav, and then maybe pull up google maps on smartphone for the final approaches, works for me. Snooper comes with all the good stuff such as Archies POI,s CAMC, CCC, Alan Rogers etc, so never had a real problem over here or over there.

1 person likes this

cyberyacht replied on 18/07/2019 10:57

Member

cyberyacht

Motorhomer

Posted on 18/07/2019 10:57

I use GoogleEarth lat/long co-ordinates as well.

richardandros replied on 18/07/2019 12:34

Member

richardandros

Caravanner

Posted on 18/07/2019 12:34

The only reliable way of using a satnav is (with Tom Tom makes) is to plan the route on MyDrive - having researched it, if necessary, using Google Maps Street View etc - and then download it to the device. That way it will take you exactly on the route you have planned and so far, it hasn't let me down. It does take some time to plan the route, however.

Watersideranger replied on 18/07/2019 15:32

Watersideranger

Caravanner

Posted on 18/07/2019 15:32

My satnav is a TomTom Carminat built in to a Renault Scenic on an SD Card. I plan my routes using a Dutch programme called Trace Your Route Everywhere then transfer them to the SD card, you can change the route to your requirements .Used it for years this country and abroad, free download and has now gone back to using Google maps.

viatorem replied on 19/07/2019 09:11

Member

viatorem

Posted on 18/07/2019 12:34 by richardandros

The only reliable way of using a satnav is (with Tom Tom makes) is to plan the route on MyDrive - having researched it, if necessary, using Google Maps Street View etc - and then download it to the device. That way it will take you exactly on the route you have planned and so far, it hasn't let me down. It does take some time to plan the route, however.

Posted on 19/07/2019 09:11

I agree and Tomtom Mydrive also let's you plan route as a truck you can even put dimensions in, very useful. The preplanned route can then be loaded on to your device. The only problem is if you deviate from that route the device recalculates the route based on its internal setting.......back to square one! Up every narrow lane.

Surfer replied on 19/07/2019 09:12

Member

Surfer

Caravanner

Posted on 18/07/2019 09:45 by Tinwheeler

I didn’t buy it. I’d not spend my hard earned on a gimmick .

Spot on in your last para which is what I’ve said before. It takes you to the postcode. That applies to any satnav.

Posted on 19/07/2019 09:12

SatNav relies on the input from a human being. If the CC have the incorrect co-ordinates for their sites I am not sure if the Satnav people can be blamed? Asa said we have never had an issue with camp sites on the continent and commercial sites, it has been an issue with the POIs for CC and Cls downloaded from the CC that has caused us some issues.