GPS Units

[Alan L.]

I have a Garmin 755T, just wondered if any of you have a GPS that works well and does not have these problems (that mine has):

1. The next turn is the same highway I am on. For example, I get on highway 82 in Gainesville TX and will get off on highway 287 in Henrietta, about 75 miles away. But instead of showing a right turn on 287 in 75 miles it shows a turn or actually a "curve" 20 miles away onto highway 82, the same highway I'm on! Then when I get to that spot it finally shows the turn onto highway 287 55 miles away. If I am going to go 300 miles on an interstate I want to see that the next turn is 300 miles away. I don't need to be told to stay on an interstate every time it curves this way or that.

2. Instead of saying turn right highway 75 in Van Alstyne (or showing it as the next turn) the GPS instead shows turn right on "Robert Hynds Freeway". Never heard of Robert Hynds Freeway, and there is no sign for that, not referred to that way on my paper map of Texas. It should say to turn right on highway 75 - thats what its called its entire length. When you are on a road trip you aren't going to know what each little town names the highway as it goes through their town. Seems pretty stupid for the GPS to refer to it that way.

If Tom Toms or Magellans do this different maybe I'd like to switch brands.

 

[johnrex62]

Sorry, your problem is not the GPS but is the maps they have. If the map has a curve instead of a 90 degree turn, the gps will display a curve. I don't understand the get on get off get back on directions, but they all seem to do that, including my phone google map application.

I recently went to Alpharetta Ga and all the gps units in use showed a back road route to the business. Problem was that roadway had never been built even though the maps had shown it being there for over 10 years.

 

[RoyJackson]

My Tom Tom (an older unit...had it for three or four years now) shows the road bends and curves as your Garmin does (just as a paper map would). This doesn't hinder navigation, however.

As far as actual turns, the Tom Tom will display (on the screen...pops up as soon as the previous turn has been accomplished) the name of the next road to I am to turn on , but doesn't announce it. When the turn is within 2 miles, it's announced "Next turn Two Miles Ahead" and then again immediately before you need to turn. As long as there isn't more then one or two turns or exits in close proximity, this works well. The Tom Tom does not announce the name or route number of the road.
The Tom Tom also displays the distance to the next turn (and direction you'll turn relative to the driver, i.e. left or right) as well as the remaining distance to your destination.

I'm pretty happy with the Tom Tom...but every now and then it'll route you to the wrong address...which is why I always print out a Google or Mapquest map before any trip.

 

[bigtiller]

My old Garman Nuvi 350 did silly things like that. I just replaced it with a new one that I haven't been away from home with yet.

We went from Iowa to Arizona with 2 GPS's once. They couldn't agree on anything. We would have to stop at least once a day to verify where we were going on paper maps. One would say turn in 7 miles and the other would say turn in 50 miles.

BUT, I wouldn't leave home without one.

 

[rswyan]

Those are two of my biggest pet peeves with Garmin (StreetPilot 7200)

I can live with No. 1 - but as someone who drives professionally for a living, No. 2 is the real killer .....

I want to know the route number (US, State, County Highway) and not have the road called 15 different names, as a consequence of going thru 15 little towns - since it's always the same route number.

It appears that it's Garmin "dumbing down" the unit for tourists and sightseeing .... although it may have something to do with the NavTech dataset that they use.

 

[ronjhall]

My Garmin's do the same thing.
1. The Garmin gives those kind of directions trying to keep you on 75 instead following the straight road off 75.
2. You can get rid of the names by selecting a voice that does not give names. My oldest Garmin does not give street names. Sometimes I choose that option when the names are confusing the information.

Along the same line, another bug is when I have been traveling hwy 75 for miles. The voice will say stay on hwy 121. But I am on hwy 75. But hwy 121 is using the same road as hwy 75 for a few miles. Gets real confusing when you have been using the same hwy number for many miles. Then calls it a new number. (I used road numbers in your area as a example, GPS may not do it in this case).

 

[Western]

We have had a couple GPS' brands in the work trucks, we have since replaced them all with Tom Toms. It seems the TT's are usually more accurate, but even still on occasion, they get you "off" a little. I took a crew to S. California for a 2 week job and the TT got it wrong 2 times, but both times where manageable.

I personally like the bigger screen units since they are usually easier for me to read quick at a glance . I don't like having the sound on so it's usually off. Most of the crew's keep the sound off also, but the younger guy's don't mind the smaller screens. I do know my brother has had to update a couple of the older ones, but I haven't used them.

Overall I think TT is "in it to win it" and easier to use.

 

[Transit]

Consider yourself lucky. Have you read the stories of GPS taking short cuts into the mountains in the dead of winter? I will stick with paper maps.

 

[Western]

Consider yourself lucky. Have you read the stories of GPS taking short cuts into the mountains in the dead of winter? I will stick with paper maps.

Good point Transit, I generally will double check if the GPS says to go "4 wheelin" One Donner party is enough and short cut's well you know how they some times go.

 

[rswyan]

Consider yourself lucky. Have you read the stories of GPS taking short cuts into the mountains in the dead of winter?

Nope ...... but I have been on a couple of 'em

 

[EarPlug]

I have a Garmin 755T, just wondered if any of you have a GPS that works well and does not have these problems (that mine has):

1. The next turn is the same highway I am on. For example, I get on highway 82 in Gainesville TX and will get off on highway 287 in Henrietta, about 75 miles away. But instead of showing a right turn on 287 in 75 miles it shows a turn or actually a "curve" 20 miles away onto highway 82, the same highway I'm on! Then when I get to that spot it finally shows the turn onto highway 287 55 miles away. If I am going to go 300 miles on an interstate I want to see that the next turn is 300 miles away. I don't need to be told to stay on an interstate every time it curves this way or that.

In Henrietta US 82 turns into Division St. When going through towns and cities the maps prefer the Name versus Route Number. This is pretty standard. Also, at the curve if you were to continue strait you would end up on County Road 300.

Jack

 

[Alan L.]

I could understand if at a curve a driver would truly be confused as to whether to go straight and end up on another road or to take the curve and stay on the highway. But I don't think it should show a "turn" ahead unless the turn means getting of the current highway and onto a different one. If accidentally leaving the current highway is a problem, seems like they would not refer to it as a turn at all, but and when within a mile or so just advise to you bear left or whatever to remain on highway 82 or whatever.

When I get on highway 75 every morning I plan on being on it for about 40 miles, but the GPS says to "turn on highway 75" in 15 miles, then to turn on it again in another 15 miles. I don't even detect where it could be possible to accidently get off 75 if I was intending to stay on it. If the GPS would just show me (I usually have the sound off) where the next real turn is I think I have enough sense to stay on the highway I'm on til I get there.

So...Division street in Henrietta? Of course I'm not familiar with that name, so it makes no sense to me - 82 does. In Gunter, TX highway 289 is "8th Street". I grew up in the little town and no local would ever refer to the highway as 8th street. But if you need to get on 289 the GPS will say 8th street and make no reference to the highway number.

 

[JB4310]

I could understand if at a curve a driver would truly be confused as to whether to go straight and end up on another road or to take the curve and stay on the highway. But I don't think it should show a "turn" ahead unless the turn means getting of the current highway and onto a different one. If accidentally leaving the current highway is a problem, seems like they would not refer to it as a turn at all, but and when within a mile or so just advise to you bear left or whatever to remain on highway 82 or whatever.

When I get on highway 75 every morning I plan on being on it for about 40 miles, but the GPS says to "turn on highway 75" in 15 miles, then to turn on it again in another 15 miles. I don't even detect where it could be possible to accidently get off 75 if I was intending to stay on it. If the GPS would just show me (I usually have the sound off) where the next real turn is I think I have enough sense to stay on the highway I'm on til I get there.

So...Division street in Henrietta? Of course I'm not familiar with that name, so it makes no sense to me - 82 does. In Gunter, TX highway 289 is "8th Street". I grew up in the little town and no local would ever refer to the highway as 8th street. But if you need to get on 289 the GPS will say 8th street and make no reference to the highway number.

Not sure if it's the what is ailing your gps, but often it will tell you to turn onto the same highway you are on because the road will have a split in it. So it's telling you to stay on the right road.

I have seen that plenty of times, also the roads sometimes change names or numbers at certain points.

I have 2 Garmins and one Tom Tom. I by far prefer the Garmin system, much simpler.

The Tom Tom I have does not come on with the ignition and does not leave the blue trip log line. 2 things I like about the garmin.
Even when you turn on the TT it does not go to your current position without added input which can be very frustrating. If your first gps was a garmin you will not be happy with tom tom.

I have a newer large screen Tom tom and the graphics are nice, shows the intersecting streets well. but overall I prefer Garmin.

One of my Garmins is the one you can speak the address to, so it's hands free, has a remote button on the steering wheel. Cost close to a grand a few years ago and I'm not sure they even make it any more.

JB

 

[charlz]

I know in Mapsource for my handheld has lots of options to set preferences, have you looked through them on your device?

 

[phiferpharm]

Three Garmins, one Tom-Tom, and two trucks with Navigation (GM). The most accurate? My HTC Telenav on my phone...

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

NEW GARMIN HAS SOMETHING I HATE!!!
Neighbor just got a new Garmin 1450 LMT. LMT stands for lifetime map and traffic. THE NAVTEC BASED TRAFFIC HAS POPUP ADS...:thumbdown:
Garmin also sells Clear Channel traffic for about $60 while Navtec is $50. I don't know if Clear Channel has ads.

Also, he loaned it to me for a daytrip to compare to my older Nuvi Garmin. After spending the night in my metal barn, it failed to find the satellites when we left. My old nuvi found them right away. The new one might need a software update. I hope so or my neighbor will return it. After 45 miles, we stopped for a bathroom break and I turned it back on and it came up finally.

 

[Redbug]

Maybe some of the differences have to do with how the unit is set up. You can have it set for the most direct route, (like the Donner party?), or the fastest route, (which may add more miles and may not be any faster). I usually have mine set for the fastest route.

Garmin does about 4 map updates a year, (if you have the map update subscription, or LMT). I have updated mine a couple of times, (only once a year, though). I have a medium speed DSL at home and the update takes nearly 4 hours to accomplish. That's some pretty big files to get all the maps, phone numbers, places, in there.

 

[Deere Dude]

In towns with named streets, GPS's seem very easy and intuitive and are great if you get lost.
In country roads that may have been changed 30-40 years ago, those updates aren't always on the maps in the GPS system. For instance, in northern Wisc, one road I travel on is straight for about 30 miles and about 20 intersections were taken out. There is nothing but woods on the right or the left. The GPS (TomTom) is constantly telling me to turn right or turn left even when the roads are history. The problem I see is, who wants to waste time updating all those little bitty backroads.
I never go anyplace without a paper map. JUST IN CASE. :thumbsup:

 

[bigtiller]

NEW GARMIN HAS SOMETHING I HATE!!!
Neighbor just got a new Garmin 1450 LMT. LMT stands for lifetime map and traffic. THE NAVTEC BASED TRAFFIC HAS POPUP ADS...:thumbdown:
Garmin also sells Clear Channel traffic for about $60 while Navtec is $50. I don't know if Clear Channel has ads..

That's the same one I bought. My computer will not nown load the map up-dates. Do you think the popup adds is what is causing me problems?

 

[Alan L.]

I just downloaded and installed the new maps and if anything the things I hate are worse. I don't hate the gps at all, its just these particular features that I hate. It has gotten me where I need to be 98% of the time. Only a couple of times it has gotten me lost (once is Los Alamos, NM trying to find Bandelier National Monument - it got me totally lost there. The traffic feature is pretty much worthless - it frequently wants me to get off a main highway - interstate, tollway etc and drive for miles on the service road. When I follow those directions most of the time it takes me longer and sometimes when I don't I get into a traffic jam and regret the decision. Also, the speed limits are only correct maybe 60% of the time where I drive - I figured updating the map might help but it has not.

I have been through all the configuration options and I don't find anything that would correct the problems I have with the way it is reporting to me.