Had an Origin B2 since they came out and it's saved my licence many times - been sent an email as Origin now have brought out a Pogodrive and offer 75 pounds off if I upgrade and trade in my old unit.

Anyone got one? Are they any good??

Cheers

Origin - Pogodrive & Pogoalert GPS Satnav

 

I ordered one yesterday, hoped it would be here today but guess it will be tomorrow. I'll let you know if its any good...

 

I got the small one, Pogo alert. The Pogo drive is the combined camera detector and sat nav.

I'm really impressed with the Pogo alert. Specs cameras is particularly good with displays of your speed and speed limit as the B2 but now also the avergae speed since the start of the specs. GPS technology semes better (presumably just newer) as it locks faster and more reliably. Web update of the database is also a lot slicker with similar but more robust software to the B2. All other features virtually identical to the B2 just more nicely presented with the colour screen.

Only slight concern for me is that the GPS aerial is built into the box rather than separate as it was with the B2. No problem if you mount it on top of the dash or use the windscreen sucker but no good for a subtle out of sight mount down under the dash. Easily solved though with the remote aerial for another few quid. Shame it's on a different plug so you can't reuse the old B2 aerial.

 

RRH - I would be interested to hear how you get on with the sat nav and if it's any good compared to tomtom and garmin units out there.

Chelspeed - do you know if the combined unit with satnav also has built in arial with the option of buying a seperate one?

Cheers

 

Think it's likely as the accessory page lists an external aerial.

 

Haven't had much chance to play with it although first impressions are good. Its going to take me a while to find my way around as I've been using TomTom for years now.

It doesn't appear to have any traffic function, so thats a minus point compared with the TomTom, but the safety camera side of things is much better and thats what I was primarily interested in.

A plus for me is the lack of bluetooth handsfree- the TomTom unit was either crap, or totally unsuited to the Impreza / Evo / pickup / ferrari.

It does have an integrated aerial, and is quite a compact unit. You can buy an extension aerial in case you wasnt to mount it further down the dash so the thieving scum don't see it in the windscreen, but curiously there isn't a permanent mount kit available yet.

I'll write more when I've had chance to try it out a bit more.

Hope this is helpful,
Simon

 

sounds good - might buy one now

 

I've just unpacked it.

My first concerns:

1. the unit is very difficult to remove from the power bracket. I reckon the stick on dash mount will come off soon due to this.

2. no laser detection supplied for the dash mount

 

Ray, are you talking about the Pogo Alert, or the pogo drive as per the thread title?

My Pogodrive comes off the mount no probs.

 

Pogo alert.

also it still don't come with a case to carry around

 

I have just traded in my B2 for the Pogo Drive, looks good but disappointed cant hard wire with dash mounted bracket.
I'm not in to the suckers on windscreen. Going to see if can find a mount for dashmount to the right of clocks like in MY05STI at present.

Good features, needs differant mounting option.

Also states has euro maps aready installed.

 

I didnt go for the Drive cuz I didnt fancy carrying it around every time I got out the car

 

Have until tomorrow (15th Aug) to take advantage of the trade in offer. Think I will order the Pogodrive tomorrow

- How much of europe does the mapping cover?

- What options do you get on the POI?

- Can you search areas or place names instead of just the postcode option?

Thanks

 

Ok, my first impressions may have been a bit incorrect;

I tried to navigate from home to treaddur bay on Saturday- Pogo couldn't work a route out. I know the journey real well anyway, but like to know what time I'll arrive etc. It appeared to recognise the destination, but I tried it three times and all it would give me was 'route planning failed'.

I managed to get it to navigate to Holyhead, which was when the next massive, and fatal, problem reared its head. No traffic info. It directed me over the Runcorn bridge and stranded me in traffic for nearly two hours.

TomTom would have advised me of this, and re-routed if set up to do so.

I tried to get route guidance on the way back on Monday but Pogo didn't want to co-operate, so I ended up just using it in safety camera mode.

My verdict- and this may be controversial;

Pogodrive. Speed camera location excellent. Guidance crap. Leave it to TomTom to find your way- its just so much better.

Anyone want to buy a one week old pogodrive?

 

great.. that's put me off now. I was looking forward to placing my order tomorrow but this is something I was worried about, it not being as good as tomtom and garmin units.

Anyone else bought one and have any feedback?

It just seems to make sense and spend 50 quid extra and get the pogodrive

 

Martin STI said:

> Good features, needs differant mounting option.

There's a hard wiring option with the voltage regulator in a small in line block for the Pogo alert. It's listed in the acessories page for about £20. That's what I've used. Not sure if there's similar for the pogo drive but worth a look.

RRH said:

> I managed to get it to navigate to Holyhead, which was when the next
> massive, and fatal, problem reared its head. No traffic info.

It's very harsh of you to blame that on the Pogo. Traffic info is available on some top of the range sat navs but to expect it on a bolt on navigator which has effectively cost you £50 (marginal price over the pogo alert) is a tad optimistic.

> Pogodrive. Speed camera location excellent. Guidance crap. Leave it to
> TomTom to find your way- its just so much better.

I totally agree with the sentiments hence I have Pogo alert and Garmin nuvi 660. As I said on the previous thread, sat navs guide you but have rubbish speed camera alerts, camera locators do that well but don't expect a state of the art navigator.

 

Its included on even the bottom of the range tomtom units, either via bluetooth or the plug in receiver. neither is offered as an option with the Pogo.

 

so what you reckon people - alert or drive for 50 extra?

cheers

 

I think theres a real danger of Origin/Pogo loosing the plot here. Ive not seen the new "alert" in the flesh but from the pictures it looks aweful, with little or no increase in functionality over the B2.
The "Drive" by the sounds of the reports above is not as good as the TT, which will be it's major downfall.

My ideal spec would be:

Dedicated speed camera functionality.
TT quality navigation
External aerial option all connected through a quick release cradle.
Traffic monitoring that works.

Allan

 

Guys I have the B2 in my 05 sti ppp and it does all I need, come on now how often do you need sat nav? Be honest... hardly ever right Its just a gimmic for them to make millions off of

Keep your B2 they are effective and do what they need to, I have mine down by the gear stick and so it is very discreet. Buy the latest road map (£6.99) and when you are going somewhere new find the nearest large town, drive to it and then ask for directions, you'll probably get there quicker
Use the money you have saved to fill the car up and go for a blast through the countryside... no worries

As you may have guessed I will not be taking the offer up as the B2 is just fine and helps to keep you alert and safe

My job here is done

 

Decided not the order in the end after the above comments - shame someone hasn't done a good job with speed camera and navigation in one yet

 

does the Alert or Drive do anything different than the B2 when it comes to speed cameras etc?

why upgrade to the alert if you have a B2 already.. giving them £175 to do it and then another £50 in 6months for a 1yr subscription?

 

> why upgrade to the alert if you have a B2 already.. giving them £175 to do
> it and then another £50 in 6months for a 1yr subscription?

There were two reasons I changed. Firstly GPS technology has moved on a lot and I was expecting and got much faster lock on to the satellites when you start up. But most important my B2 was around 5 years old, it lost it's speaker 2 years ago (which they repaired free of charge!), recently lost first one then the other back light LEDs and has become loose in it's mounting, frequently jumping out over speed bumps etc. Nothing catastrophic and no criticism as it's 5 years old and has had a hard life moving from car to car, being chucked in bags overnight etc etc, but still a good reason for me to make an upgrade.

Any new features? There's a new feature in the SPEC's which is excellent, as well as your speed and the speed limit (as B2) it also gives you the average speed since the last camera which is exactly what you need to know. Also the upgrade is much more positive with usb plug direct into the unit rather than via a cradle which I found connected only once out of every 5 times I tried.

I like the compact form, I like the colour screen. Mine is down by the gearstick too so I don't like the aerial built into the unit but that's easily solved with the external aerial (when it arrives...).

So nothing stunning but overall they all added up for me to a good reason to upgrade. Plus, if I was changing anyway, I've been impressed with the B2 and Origin's general attitude so it seemed only sensible to go with their new product especially with £50 off for a trade-in.

 

they've now extended the upgrade offer - sticking with my B2 for now I think

DOES ANYONE HAVE A B2 PC CABLE THEY KEPT AFTER TRADING IN? (trade-in only requires people to send back the unit itself) - I broke mine and now am unable to update it - if so please drop me a PM

 

I have just ordered one for the governors car

Should be here Tuesday so I will do a little comparision

I have a tom tom unit and a built in Garmen

 

Networx do the same offer and take in a variety of devices, I kept my B2 and still got £75 off the Pogodrive by trading a bell Euro 550, the Pogo works well so far. The charger for the B2 9original) also works with the Pogo so no need to buy.

cheers

bob

 

not really a strong enough reason for me to swap as my B2 works fine, if the only improvement on the alerts is average speed on a spec camera.. i'll keep hold of my B2, as I have a second car kit (£99) which will become useless if i swap, so it seems wasted if i get a pogo.

 

Been trying to get in touch with Origin via Email without luck, I can't get my USB cradle working with Vista.

I hope that now they've gone all "Pogo" the customer service doesn't drop, never had any problems before.

 

There's something on the web site about vista, you've seen that?

"Important notice: Windows Vista Drivers for the Origin b2 USB Update/docking station
Following testing of the current b2 USB docking station drivers on Microsoft Windows Vista.
When installing the Origin b2 USB update cradle software, full release versions of Windows Vista allows you to "Install this driver software anyway".
Once you allow this software (drivers) to install the update cradle will function correctly. "

Failing that try phoning, 0207 381 3000, I've always had instant response to phone calls.

 

Thanks, Yes had seen that.

Just phoned and they are going to update my PC via remote control when I get home tonight...........sounds impresive !