garmin gps

[devonwoody]

I have quit the shed until Spring next year and looking around what to do I found this.

Amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Y9_Wo7e0XOM

So getting out the FSX and flying far and wide.

 

[dickm]

Hmmm.
Recently got a Garmin Nuvi and tested it on local roads; it hasn't got a clue! Insisted that a destination that was shown correctly on its map just to the west of a crossroads could only be reached by going east at the same crossroads. So either the person who set up the algorithms for direction thought noone lived up here, so it didn't matter, or our 'murrican buddies have been fiddling the satellite signals to stop Scottish terrorists finding their way around.

Moral - keep a set of OS maps..................

 

[Lons]

Hmmm.
Recently got a Garmin Nuvi and tested it on local roads; it hasn't got a clue! Insisted that a destination that was shown correctly on its map just to the west of a crossroads could only be reached by going east at the same crossroads. So either the person who set up the algorithms for direction thought noone lived up here, so it didn't matter, or our 'murrican buddies have been fiddling the satellite signals to stop Scottish terrorists finding their way around.

Moral - keep a set of OS maps..................

I bought a NUVI to use in the US and Canada and it was spot on. Haven't used it in the UK as there's one in my car but I'll have to give it a go now #-o

Bob

 

[marcros]

cant you fsx yourself from heathrow to say aberdeen, then drive back home through google streetview?

 

[woodfarmer]

If you think Garmins are crap in the UK just try using one in France. Mine does not know my address which is a farm been here 200 years and can be found just by typing the name in google, Tomtom can find it as can viamichelin. Map updates take 19 hours (slow connection, but the Garmin site will disconnect you at 12 hours. If I put in petrol stations local to me it directs me to a Superu that was demolished in 1998 and is now a college. It does not Know about the new HyperU that replaced it that was built somewhere else in the town in 1999.

Basically it seems to find about half the places I want. One of the reasons is it has loads of misspellings of names. Just imagine having to input losnod fo find london. Given that the 2011 maps are 14 years out of date I haven't bothered to update it. will likely replace it with a tom tom.

The infuriating bit is when it does know someplace it will route you one way to get there then return by an entirely different route. Also to get to somewhere past my home town I usually have to hitch up with the ring road of my nearest city. but depending where my destination is it will change the route to the same bit of ring road that I hitch up with.

 

[Harbo]

I've got a Garmin Nuvii which has America and Europe mapping and it's great - never let me down.
I also have the Garmin App on my phone which I tend to use the most as it's with me all the time - again great routes.

I've been in friends cars where their TomToms have taken us strange ways.

My previous BMW's Sat Nav was hopeless by trying to drive very odd routes so gave up with that but it did tell you about traffic problems.

Rod

 

[devonwoody]

cant you fsx yourself from heathrow to say aberdeen, then drive back home through google streetview?

You gave me some hiccups with that one.

I googled streetview, (never heard of it before), it pinched my home page etc.etc. etc.

But it sounds interesting, I think what I would do is fly a jumbo upto Aberdeen and then catch the National Express coach back (let their driver drive) and use their gps to observe the drive back. :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[RogerS]

The Ordnance Survey have a very good deal on at the moment.

 

[Harbo]

Waterstones were selling BOGOF on OS Maps a few weeks ago.

If you live in (or travel to) National Park area(s), the "Outdoors GB & Parks" App is a very cheap way to get 1:25k OS digital maps for those areas.

Rod

 

[Rhossydd]

I've used Garmin Nuvis in the UK, Italy and France and always found them reliable.
There are occasions where the route finding chooses routes that are sensible in theory, but in practice can be slower than expected or rather more challenging than they should be, but that's still pretty rare.
Overall I wouldn't be without one. For getting you out of busy old towns in Europe they can't be beaten.

 

[dickm]

Agree that satnav is ideal in cities with which you are not familiar. Wouldn't be without my aged Sony satnav when fighting traffic in the back streets of the Granite City, but haven't yet dared try the Nuvi for the same task. Of course, according to all the reviews, the Sony is cr*p...............
Wasn't too worried that the Nuvi took me a funny route, but not to be able to find a place which it showed in the correct position on its map was a bit worrying.