More GPS headaches

[rivermouse]

I posted a month or so ago about how my new GPS sent me on a wild goose chase while I was out of town. I have 2 more stories about how a GPS has wasted my time and my wifes. Last week we were headed about 15 miles to eat at a BBQ place. I knew the back way and was doing fine until my wife turned on the GPS and it told me to make a turn I was not going to make. I said OK maybe it will save some time and turned. Next thing I knew I was sitting in BACKED UP interstate traffic causing out trip to take twice as long as it would have if I had gone my original way......Next my wife went to a small town with a friend driving and she had a GPS. My wife told her how she had gone last year so they did with no help from the GPS..When they decided to leave the driver said she wanted to save time so she would use her GPS to plot the way home. The GPS sent them on a crazy long ride that took 30 minutes more than the first trip..SCREW GPS I reminded the wife that if it ever messed up another trip for me I would throw it out the window and hope someone runs over it

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: More GPS headaches

Fully understand, mine likes to tell me to turn left into lakes and rivers, I mainly use it when I am out of town on the interstates that I am not familiar with, for actual driving it leaves a lot to be desired and really only gets used for the clock in it.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: More GPS headaches

yup, still have not completely replaced the purpose of a map and common sense.

We did some college visit trips a few years ago and used the GPS, but also verified our intended route with the map. As we were following our intended route, the GPS wanted us to exit the highway and take some back roads . . . "we not doing that" . . . I said.

The GPS got mad at us, but after a while the GPS figured it out and said our ETA was now 2 minutes sooner that it had originally projected. Stupid GPS . . . .

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: More GPS headaches

I know this sounds crazy but the more you use a GPS map system, the smarter it gets. It learns the locations of frequently used satelites and stores that information. Systems need seven or eight satelites to produce a reading with a 10 yard accuracy.

I trade vehicles yearly and I see new systems make mistakes. The more I use it, the better they get.

I use mine all the time, even if I know where I am going. I find that it gets better and better. If you watch it, you can see it learn.

Also, make sure your settings are correct, such as: Avoid toll roads, avoid freeways, etc.

 

[dingbat]

Re: More GPS headaches

A GPS doesn't have a mind of it's own. It simply calculates a route based upon the criteria you give. Common sense required

It's up to you if the GPS calculates the shortest route or the quickest route to your destination. Keep in mind that the quickest route is usually not the shortest and the shortest route is usually not the quickest. A GPS does not take traffic conditions into consideration unless you enable the traffic function.

In your first scenario, you obliviously didn't enable the traffic function. Had you enabled traffic, it would had sent you another way.

In the second scenario, it's sounds like shortest route was selected instead of quickest. The unit gives an expect travel time so I'm surprised they didn't notice that it was going to take 30 minutes more to get there than expected.

Given the correct routing criteria, GPS is a very reliable navigation tool. Given marginal or incorrect criteria, not so good.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: More GPS headaches

Thank you.I didn't know that it had a traffic function that would have known they were working on the interstate or delayed because of an accident..That is a cool feature

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: More GPS headaches

dingbat, you sound like a GPS cheerleader, I know when I was in the middle east during the first gulf war, the damn things sent us on all kinds of wild goose chases, thank god they still teach map reading and navigational skills in the military!

:facepalm:

 

[JoLin]

Re: More GPS headaches

Thank you.I didn't know that it had a traffic function that would have known they were working on the interstate or delayed because of an accident..That is a cool feature

Traffic function depends on the unit. I purchased mine with traffic and free map updates for life. I like having it around here. Like everythin g else, though, it isn't foolproof- if the GPS doesn't receive traffic reports in the area you're traveling in, it can't provide you an optional route to avoid it.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: More GPS headaches

A GPS doesn't have a mind of it's own. It simply calculates a route based upon the criteria you give. Common sense required

It's up to you if the GPS calculates the shortest route or the quickest route to your destination. Keep in mind that the quickest route is usually not the shortest and the shortest route is usually not the quickest. A GPS does not take traffic conditions into consideration unless you enable the traffic function.
.

Some do. Mine takes into account up to date traffic information. It also gives me current fuel prices and availability. It definetely "learns".

 

[mscher]

Re: More GPS headaches

Ironic, that for $150, a device that uses satellites in space, and a map database, of practically every square inch of America, with accuracy of about 10 feet - we complain because it's not 100% perfect.

I've learned (the hard way) to never trust them with a big truck, with anything but main roads. Way to thrilling for me.

They have found some "quick" routes- through some very scary neighborhoods.

It's nice to have a detailed street map of every city in America. Try that with a Rand Mcnally.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: More GPS headaches

I know this sounds crazy but the more you use a GPS map system, the smarter it gets. It learns the locations of frequently used satelites and stores that information. Systems need seven or eight satelites to produce a reading with a 10 yard accuracy.

I trade vehicles yearly and I see new systems make mistakes. The more I use it, the better they get.

I use mine all the time, even if I know where I am going. I find that it gets better and better. If you watch it, you can see it learn.

Also, make sure your settings are correct, such as: Avoid toll roads, avoid freeways, etc.

Once I learned how to use a map about 30 years ago, I really have no use for GPS in my truck. I do use GPS for fishing/boating but beyond that, a map and basic driving skills and I'm usually good to go. Reading the stories about folks getting jerked around, and GPS learning curves and such, just tells me they are not as foolproof as my map. And I guess I can always turn my phone on and use that as my GPS if I was lost, but it just doesn't happen that often to need a separate GPS tool.

 

[bigdee]

Re: More GPS headaches

Of the 2 major brands (I own both) one is excellent and the the other will lead you astray but they both will eventually get you there. The better one is 99% dead on and beats using a map any day of the week.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: More GPS headaches

I know this sounds crazy but the more you use a GPS map system, the smarter it gets.

No it doesn't. It knows your present position and your destination and uses set algorithms to pick the shortest route or shortest time route depending on what the user selects. It doesn't learn anything.

 

[aspeck]

Re: More GPS headaches

I like them for finding the final address, not so much the route getting there ...

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: More GPS headaches

I like them for finding the final address, not so much the route getting there ...

Bingo!!! +1

 

[lexer440]

Re: More GPS headaches

Someone did me a favor and stole mine, if they had asked I would have given it to them. made by sony and the worst thing I ever bought.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: More GPS headaches

My wife says my own ignorance is a big factor in me having trouble using it..They have had GPS since the 60s and it was top secret military use only. When you turn on your GPS at least 3 satellites lock on to your position and calculate exactly where you are . It is amazing , I just have trouble getting to BBQ places and places at the beach.

 

[dingbat]

Re: More GPS headaches

No it doesn't. It knows your present position and your destination and uses set algorithms to pick the shortest route or shortest time route depending on what the user selects. It doesn't learn anything.

http://support.garmin.com/support/s...caseId={06e102a0-4d56-11df-7a03-000000000000}

http://support.garmin.com/support/s...caseId={9b48d480-abc6-11df-6dba-000000000000}

 

[JB]

Re: More GPS headaches

It depends on how up to date it's maps are and features like traffic monitoring. Then it depends on the operator to utilize those features. Every time I have been led astray it has been obsolete maps or operator error.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: More GPS headaches

What is the myTrends feature and how does it work?

What is trafficTrends and how does it work on my Garmin device?

Maybe its just me but I never use my GPS for a route I know unless I need the traffic info. I guess that product can learn a route you have already traveled but what is the point of that? Once you know a route why would you use GPS? The original question was for using it out of town correct?