MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold

[richtea999]

The giveaway is in the name :

• MRA RoutePlanner is planning
• MRA Navigation is live navigation - as in a satnav replacement app for smartphones

The route planner generates routes for any standard satnav (and also for the MRA Navigation app), but if you want to avoid buying satnav hardware then consider MRA Navigation.
You just need a decent smartphone - say less than 4 years old or so.

Whilst using the MRA Navigation app there can be some confusion (from a new users point of view) as to which app/program you're using because it has hooks back to the RoutePlanner program to integrate the route selection/downloading - but RoutePlanner is still a separate app/program.

Is MRA Navigation as good as a pro satnav? Right now - not quite, but considering it's only been live for a month it's pretty close - closer than you might expect.

Sorry for sounding like a fanboy but when it is good, it is good

I'm definitely a fanboi for RoutePlanner, and getting close to fanboi level for Navigation. And mostly very happy not to have to buy a satnav.

[Jack van Tilburg]

@richtea999

Is MRA Navigation as good as a pro satnav?

I find this a funny/interesting remark.
But what is a "pro-satnav"?
(this is absolutely not meant to be critical!!)

[Con Hennekens]

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold:

(this is absolutely not meant to be critical!!)

I for sure think Navigation Next takes a lot of hassle away from the use of a dedicated satnav. In all honesty I think these units have their quirks and bugs too. https://forum.gps.nl/ is full of them.

[richtea999]

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold:

@richtea999

Is MRA Navigation as good as a pro satnav?

I find this a funny/interesting remark.

Ah! - I didn't want to try and specify any since I've never bought a satnav, but Garmin & TomTom immediately come to mind as the two devices that all my mates use.

As Con suggests, they curse them regularly, so why spend money on a dedicated computer when there's already one in your pocket that's generally more capable.

[Jack van Tilburg]

@Con-Hennekens, @richtea999
My first nav was a Garmin Streetpilot 2610.
We are now almost 20 years later.
If I now compare the introduction of new SatNav devices with the introduction of Next, I see absolutely no reason to purchase a navigation product with dedicated hardware.
And thanks to the platform chosen for Next, improved functionality and/or bug fixes can be rolled out much more quickly.

[Klaus r]

@Jack-van-Tilburg I am sorry to say but there is a reason for a separate GPS:
The MRA navigation has up to now no coloured streets. Which is a no-go for me. Colour for different types of streets gives much more orientation where you are and enhances the readability in sunlight.
I like the route planner very much but for the time being for navigation on the road I still use my zumo XT (together with Garmin Drive).

[Jack van Tilburg]

@Klaus-r

I see colours

How many colours do you need?

[Stefan Hummelink]

@Jack-van-Tilburg But not when navigating using the Navigation Module. 🤭

The basic HERE colormap that the nav module uses now is simply too basic. Improvements have already been announced.

[Jack van Tilburg]

@StefanHummelink
Okay, een beetje kort door de bocht van mij dus.

[Stefan Hummelink]

@Jack-van-Tilburg Wel heeeeel erg mooie bochtjes. ️

[Con Hennekens]

@Klaus-r said in MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold:

The MRA navigation has up to now no coloured streets. Which is a no-go for me.

Map overlays are in the works (but don't ask for ETA )
I actually think there are 2 reasons in favor of dedicated satnavs:

• they come with a decent powered and fully integrated mount
• they are not considered antique after just a few years

Who would have thought I would turn against my own arguing
But it is what it is. I'll be happy to spend € 250 every 4 or 5 years on a new rugged Android if needed, instead of € 800 every 6 or 7 years

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold:

I see colours

You are cheating!

[Jack van Tilburg]

@Con-Hennekens said in MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold:

You are cheating!

[Mike 56]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I will try the 14 free trial for the navigation and then go from there.
I am using the free app now and find it to be one of the better route apps on the market.

Keep up the good work.

Mike

[flamingm0e]

@Con-Hennekens said in MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold:

they are not considered antique after just a few years

The satnavs that Garmin and TomTom produce are antique before they get announced!

[Con Hennekens]

@Matt-Flaming, yes indeed , but you can still use them ten years later. I don't see that happening a lot with smartphones.

[richtea999]

@Con-Hennekens said in MRA Navigation vs MRA Gold:

@Matt-Flaming, yes indeed , but you can still use them ten years later. I don't see that happening a lot with smartphones.

Agreed that smartphones are currently good for 5 years tops - for most people probably it's closer to 3 or 4, and then pass it on / trade it in.

But few points:

• the size and quality of your dedicated 5" satnav screen from 5 years ago is really going to annoy you for the final 5 of those 10 years
• whereas I can run MRA on an iPhone, a Samsung, a OnePlus. A 6" screen, 7" even - and I get to choose, not Garmin or TomTom designers
• you'll still to have buy a phone every 5 years anyway!

In terms of suitability, most modern mid-priced smartphones are waterproof enough not to need a special case, they can be charged off the vehicle battery with a 15€ USB adapter, and Quad Lock or equivalent solves any mounting problems. You may need to buy touch-sensitive gloves though, or use BarButtons.

I am pretty sure it's the future. MRA have bet on it, after all.

[RetiredWingMan]

@richtea999 I've had several Tomtoms over the years. I had to upgrade several times because the maps would no longer fit in the available memory. No ability to upgrade memory. So in my experience, even the dedicated nav units were only good for 3 to 5 years.

[Con Hennekens]

@Doug-Robinson, Really? I remember on a Zumo (can't remember which one), the maps were suddenly split into Northern Europe and Southern Europe, because it didn't fit into memory in one piece anymore. But luckily I could add an SD card and install both. I guess designing devices with just enough memory is the model of revenue for TomTom then