anyone use a garmin sat nav?

[steveo3002]

had a garmin for a few years , dont really use it alot as we dont stray far from the area we know

seems its hell bent on on leaving main roads and shooting off down some single lane dirt track where you get stuck if you meet an on coming car , used it at the weekend , took me on what looked like an acceptable route to where i was going , pressed in "home" to return and off we went down miles of single lanes im guessing to save a few meters

anyone else get this ? its set to fastest route not shortest

 

[Dr.Al]

I have one on the motorbike, but I don't think I've ever used it to choose the route. I mostly plan the route in advance (https://gpx.cgtk.co.uk) and program a pre-planned route into the GPS.

I'm sure these things are all very sensitive to the data they have available for how long different roads take. Google Maps is hard to match for "true" fastest navigation as it has real-time traffic data from all the other millions of people using it (or possibly not using it but using a phone that shares stuff with Google).

I used to have TomTom Rider, which wasn't great for pre-planning routes and hence I occasionally used it in the conventional navigation mode (i.e. type in an address and let it take you there). It was awful! Tried to take me through the middle of a shopping centre building once - it was not as if it was a new shopping centre: it had been since long before TomTom existed as a company!

The TomTom was also awful in that the stand was weakly spring loaded so it wouldn't charge properly while on the bike, but you couldn't even turn it off to save the battery for the last mile where a sat nav is really useful as the occasional power contacts would cause it to turn itself back on. There were lots of issues with the software as well.

In the end I sold it and bought a Garmin Zumo instead. I'd never go back to TomTom.

 

[outofthefire]

I've recently begrudgingly bought one for the motorhome, because you can't specify the size of the vehicle in google maps so it avoids narrow roads, so pretty much to avoid the problem you're having.

 

[ajlelectronics]

In the end I sold it and bought a Garmin Zumo instead. I'd never go back to TomTom.

They and Google were told 20 years ago that my shop postcode would direct you four miles south of the correct destination and Vicky Verki (whoever she is). Google finally updated their mapping after a few years but I believe that TomTom has never sorted it. Inspires confidence, I don't think. I just use Apple or Google maps now on the 'bike.

 

[voipio]

Could it be that the Post Office postcode data has erroneous coordinates for that postcode?

 

[Rannsachair]

We have had a Garmin in our car (free lifetime updates)since Tomtom said they would no longer provide updates to an expensive 2 year old unit.

Also BMW Garmin on my bike. They are usually pretty good, always got to where we were heading.

I think setting preferences can help avoid tracks

 

[DAPPH]

had a garmin for a few years , dont really use it alot as we dont stray far from the area we know

seems its hell bent on on leaving main roads and shooting off down some single lane dirt track where you get stuck if you meet an on coming car , used it at the weekend , took me on what looked like an acceptable route to where i was going , pressed in "home" to return and off we went down miles of single lanes im guessing to save a few meters

anyone else get this ? its set to fastest route not shortest

IIRC.... I set ours up for (1) a caravan towed by a 2.5 ton truck suddenly a lot of minor routes disappeared and ( 2) the secondary vehicle as a 3 ton vehicle .
Have a good play and if needed take it back to factory settings to reset it ..

 

[angellonewolf]

I used one for a short while but got on better with tom-tom only because you can add speed cameras for nothing if you know what your doing there was years ago a community about it stupid thing was I only used it about 3 or 5 times a year on holiday or long days out with the family

Reset factory and sold it for not much as I remember as was old but they did not fetch much

I use Google maps now all the time as the traffic updates where stiped traffic is more important as saves time sat in traffic and map updates are always up to date

Only reason for people to buy tom-tom etc is lorry drivers and people with large vehicles that want to avoided low bridges and certain wide of roads

I'm sure Google will do that in time as well


If they ever get to charging for Google maps I'd buy a tom-tom again

If I remember garmin at the time had a reroute for x far if stuck in traffic that was very good that I did miss compared to the tomtom

 

[MoreWellie]

In settings you should see route options, The options are fairly clunky but you may find something that will help

 

[DAPPH]

Could it be that the Post Office postcode data has erroneous coordinates for that postcode?

Come to South & North Wales , most places have English & Welsh names as well as dual post codings , often the Google maps do not match up when over lapping . Sometimes with a three or four mile discrepancy.

 

[Smallfry]

had a garmin for a few years , dont really use it alot as we dont stray far from the area we know

seems its hell bent on on leaving main roads and shooting off down some single lane dirt track where you get stuck if you meet an on coming car , used it at the weekend , took me on what looked like an acceptable route to where i was going , pressed in "home" to return and off we went down miles of single lanes im guessing to save a few meters

anyone else get this ? its set to fastest route not shortest

Had a Garmin for years. Must be 20 years old or thereabouts. Never updated it as I have never found out how !

All Satnavs do what you describe. If you input somewhere local you know and have been often, you will find that they take you on "interesting" routes. Routes that no local would take for several reasons. You also find yourself on inappropriate roads, which can be a real problem if you are towing a trailer or driving your new ex SNP motorhome.

If I am doing long distance to somewhere new, I use a map to get you in the general area, using a route that suits, and then use the Satnav for the last bit, but leaving it on anyway, so you can argue with it.

 

[richie00boy]

Yes I've got a Garmin, probably about 8 or 9 years old now, and it's always taking me down silly little country lanes when there is a nice main road. Mine is set to fastest as well. The only other setting I can find is avoid motorways, not avoid small roads. Maybe the newer ones have this? As now I have a caravan it's a worry.

 

[Robotstar5]

Only had Tomtom so can't compare, but it does the same as the OP sometimes sending me down lanes where the door mirrors are almost touching the hedges both sides current one connects to my phone so lets me know about hold-ups and offer an alternative route.

 

[outofthefire]

They and Google were told 20 years ago that my shop postcode would direct you four miles south of the correct destination and Vicky Verki (whoever she is). Google finally updated their mapping after a few years but I believe that TomTom has never sorted it. Inspires confidence, I don't think. I just use Apple or Google maps now on the 'bike.

I can't think there'd be many places that have their own postcode, it's only part of an address.

 

[qwakers]

I had the same issue about 6 years ago when I bought one for work. I returned it in the end as all the forums say it's a common problem with Garmin mapping systems. I use tomtom go on my phone now. Its night and day better.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I'm on my 4th Garmin. First, which I've still got, is one of the originals without a map and just GPS co-ordinates then had three car Sat Nav's. Over the years the car Sat Nav's have got better but you can update maps via their web site. My current model bought a couple of months ago is excellent

 

[ajlelectronics]

I can't think there'd be many places that have their own postcode, it's only part of an address.

Quite, but searching for the shop address (134 GL1 5SR) would take you to Quedgeley (134 GL2 4PG) and vice versa. I haven't checked in the last few years; Google / Garmin are correct but Tom Tom maps are / were incorrect.

 

[voipio]

DVLA have several postcodes for, presumably, the same building. Probably the same is true for gov't deparments.

 

[arther dailey]

had a garmin for a few years , dont really use it alot as we dont stray far from the area we know

seems its hell bent on on leaving main roads and shooting off down some single lane dirt track where you get stuck if you meet an on coming car , used it at the weekend , took me on what looked like an acceptable route to where i was going , pressed in "home" to return and off we went down miles of single lanes im guessing to save a few meters

anyone else get this ? its set to fastest route not shortest

I have had exactly the same thing happen, but chose to ignore the 5 bar field gate and stayed on the main road

 

[bricol]

We have a postal post code for work, and a sat nav post code - one letter difference.