Portable Satellite Navigation Units
in [Aussie Drivers]
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From: John_H on 3 Apr 2010 23:55 Dingo wrote: > >I have a friend who was driving to Sydney from Goulburn via the back >way (using a cheap sat-nav with maps not updated) who ended up in the >middle of the prison farm out Shooters Hill away and had to explain to >a couple of guards that he wasn't there to spring someone. It probably wouldn't matter how much he paid for the sat nav, or how recent its maps were. None I've come across will reliably navigate away from cities, towns or main roads even though the minor roads and tracks are all mapped. Their only use in such localities is knowing where you are on the map... ie they'll tell the name of the road you're on, if it's got a name, but certainly not the best way (quickest or shortest) to get where you want to go. One of the quirks I've also come across is that they'll send you down a private road, fire track, or whatever, if it happens to link to the nearest main road. Which could lead to some tricky situations if the track's owners happen to shoot trespassers and prosecute survivors. -- John H
From: Doug Jewell on 4 Apr 2010 00:01 Dingo wrote: > On Sat, 3 Apr 2010 16:42:46 -0700 (PDT), Chrlz > <mark.thomas.7(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> Yes, if you mean the exit signs that pop up at the top, giving road >> names/no's and arrows for preferred lanes. I like the Ultra skin's >> slightly amended version, where it puts obvious crosses in the lanes >> you don't want to be in for your destination. And yes, the Navteq map >> that came with it sucked - apart from about ten errors for every one I >> can find on the Sensis map, it had no speed limit info. I was very >> glad to find a compatible Sensis replacement. >> >> >> John, don't those units have selectable calculation methods? IGO has: >> Shortest: smallest possible distance >> Fastest: assumes you can travel at the speed limit (a very rash >> assumption, admittedly!) >> Economical: same as fastest, except it may take a route that is a >> little slower but less distant to save fuel >> Easy: same as fastest but will eliminate complex routes if only a >> little time is saved. >> >> I haven't tried 'easy', but I've actually compared some of the others >> and they seem to do what they say. Every now and then it takes me by >> surprise, but usually after a while there is that "aha, I see where >> she's going with this..' moment. > > You know, after all is said and done, I might just stick to my trusty > (new) printed UBD plus a few other paper maps..... I was slow to buy one (only got mine about a year ago, if that), for pretty much the same reason. I had borrowed some early navmans, and even used my mobile phone for a while, and the maps were horrendous, they were slow, and the mobile was horrendously inaccurate, so it was just curiosity when I used a navigator, gave up on them and mostly used the UBD when I went to Brisvegas, and a few other maps of other areas. I am pretty good at being able to read a map, plot a course, and commit it to memory. When I actually bought mine, I was in Brisbane, going to an area that I know reasonably well, but I missed my exit from the freeway (the signage had changed since I was last there, and instead of having the street name I was looking for, it just had an exit number). I realised when I was going over the river, and next thing I was landed in the CBD in unfamiliar territory. Took me ages to find somewhere I could pull over to check the UBD, and worked out a course back to where I wanted to go. This type of thing had happened to me before so I didn't think of it as much of a big deal. Started going and discovered that I couldn't turn at one of the planned turns I wanted, and next thing I knew I was dumped somewhere else entirely. Once again I found somewhere I could stop, consulted the maps, and set off on my way, and once again I encountered an issue with my planned course because of roadworks. Eventually I found my way to where I was trying to go - about an hour late for an appointment, that I had planned to be an hour early for (to give myself enough time up my sleeve for bad traffic, finding a park etc). So having finished my appointment, I drove past a Harvey Norman and after wasting the salesman time for a good while as I compared features etc, I walked out with my TomTom 140. (I had done various online comparison features prior so I wasn't totally green). I must say, it is THE BEST thing ever for driving around Brisbane. It will occasionally plot a course that I can't take because of roadworks, or will occasionally try to get me to turn over a centre island etc, but when it does, I just ignore it and keep driving. Within a couple of seconds it has a new course for me to follow. No stuffing around trying to find somewhere to park so I can read a map, just follow the given directions. Absolutely bloody brilliant. I don't bother with it in my local town, but any time I'm in unfamiliar territory it is fantastic. In country areas it is not quite as beneficial - I still find I prefer to check out the map and work out my own course, and follow that in preference to the tomtom, but it is still handy to have it on for the upcoming distances and speed monitoring. Sometimes it will try and route down stock routes, over cliffs etc, because there may have been a gazetted road that was used 100 years ago by drovers, so I ignore the stupid directions. I don't think it does away with paper maps entirely, I still like to use paper maps to get a general idea of the route because the GPS will occasionally do stupid things, but overall it sure beats the hell out of trying to wrestle with a paper map if you find yourself lost. -- What is the difference between a duck?
From: Kev on 4 Apr 2010 07:38 John_H wrote: > Dingo wrote: >> I have a friend who was driving to Sydney from Goulburn via the back >> way (using a cheap sat-nav with maps not updated) who ended up in the >> middle of the prison farm out Shooters Hill away and had to explain to >> a couple of guards that he wasn't there to spring someone. > > It probably wouldn't matter how much he paid for the sat nav, or how > recent its maps were. None I've come across will reliably navigate > away from cities, towns or main roads even though the minor roads and > tracks are all mapped. Their only use in such localities is knowing > where you are on the map... ie they'll tell the name of the road > you're on, if it's got a name, but certainly not the best way > (quickest or shortest) to get where you want to go. > > One of the quirks I've also come across is that they'll send you down > a private road, fire track, or whatever, if it happens to link to the > nearest main road. Which could lead to some tricky situations if the > track's owners happen to shoot trespassers and prosecute survivors. > Since I know my way around Brisbane I only use them for Navigation outside Brisbane, only problem I've had was it wanting me to go down narrow streets in a semi, but if I was in a car it wouldn't be a problem It even got me to a grain farm just west of Jandowe, well onto the back road as there was no number on the paperwork Took me from Rainbow Beach to Harvey Bay through the back roads To a cattle station 50klms south west of Dalby on a old gravel road I think the main problem is the settings used for navigation a scenic route will surely send you to places you don't wanna go Kev
From: Kev on 4 Apr 2010 07:40 Scotty wrote: > "Kev" <kevcat(a)optunet.com.au> wrote in message > news:4bb75bd5$0$11705$afc38c87(a)news.optusnet.com.au... > : Scotty wrote: > :: > > : > Most likely the cheapest of the Garmin range then. My Nuvis been great, had one lock up which > was > : > solved by a quick reset and thats the only issue I had. > : > Oh and the fact that mines low on memory so to get the latest dual country maps I had to delete > the > : > character voices and some photos to install but thats the only issues its had in three years. I > use > : > it daily and it sits on the dash in the full Qld sun every day. > : > > : > > : > : Does it have an SD slot? > > > Yes it does. > > : put the voices, POIs and maps(and anything else like vehicle images) on > : it, the unit will find them > : extra maps should be renamed GMAPSUP2.img, GMAPSUP3.img, GMAPSUP4.img > : and GMAPPROM.img > : > : I name the main city navigator NT map as GMAPPROM.img and the rest as > : GMAPSUPP.img, GMAPSUP2.img, GMAPSUP3.img, GMAPSUP4.img > : > : I think it will only use 4 maps, but as long as they are compatible and > : unlocked they will load up, the Nuvi needs are routable map so you do > : need the NT map > > The only loaded map is the CITY NAVIGATOR NT from memory. > It does okay for me but with the new Gateway, Clem 7 and other new roads I wouldnt mind that > upgrade. Mine the 2010 maps but obviously the older version. Clem7 and a few upgraded intersections are not in the latest maps The airport upgrades are these maps are months old when they are released Kev
From: Kev on 4 Apr 2010 07:45
Dingo wrote: > On Sat, 3 Apr 2010 16:42:46 -0700 (PDT), Chrlz > <mark.thomas.7(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> Yes, if you mean the exit signs that pop up at the top, giving road >> names/no's and arrows for preferred lanes. I like the Ultra skin's >> slightly amended version, where it puts obvious crosses in the lanes >> you don't want to be in for your destination. And yes, the Navteq map >> that came with it sucked - apart from about ten errors for every one I >> can find on the Sensis map, it had no speed limit info. I was very >> glad to find a compatible Sensis replacement. >> >> >> John, don't those units have selectable calculation methods? IGO has: >> Shortest: smallest possible distance >> Fastest: assumes you can travel at the speed limit (a very rash >> assumption, admittedly!) >> Economical: same as fastest, except it may take a route that is a >> little slower but less distant to save fuel >> Easy: same as fastest but will eliminate complex routes if only a >> little time is saved. >> >> I haven't tried 'easy', but I've actually compared some of the others >> and they seem to do what they say. Every now and then it takes me by >> surprise, but usually after a while there is that "aha, I see where >> she's going with this..' moment. > > You know, after all is said and done, I might just stick to my trusty > (new) printed UBD plus a few other paper maps..... One thing they are more useful for is a speedo since most car speedos are too inaccurate you can use the GPS and in these times of 0 tolerance speed cameras knowing if you are not a tad over can pay for it's self over and over The Garmin Speedo/trip computer is a good looking thing with all the info you need for trip calculations Kev |