Estimated time of arrival (ETA)

 

Folks: The last several trips I have made with Jill (my GPS) she has been extremely accurate in her ETA. Like within minutes. Is this normal or was I just lucky? Hate to start depending on her predictions and have her let me down.

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Mark - Nuvi 265T NUVI 50LM

Mine is generally fairly

Mine is generally fairly accurate. It's just a function of computing speed and distance to travel. Of course, it's out the window if you run into a traffic jam. It does not seem to update very quickly at that point.

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Nuvi 260 www.dispatch.com

Quiyr Svvutsyr

My 660 is quite accurate at eta as well as when it tell's me when and where to turn. Sometimes it may be off a few feet when making a turn.

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johnm405 660 & MSS&T

ETA

My 750 is pretty much on the mark with the ETA, even if I'm in traffic. It resets the new ETA quick.

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Nuvi 50LM Nuvi 2555LM

ETA

There is currently a discussion going on over at the www.zumoforums.com about the ETA of the Garmin Zumo. It appears that the ETA predicted for British users over in Europe can be extremely inaccurate. Apparently users in the US do not experience such thing.

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Garmin Zumo550

Yes and No

For a trip without traffic, especially a long one, it has been accurate.

I drove into work in Washington, DC, the other day, and--probably due to the number of lights and some traffic along the way--it was not very accurate. It expected me to get home in about 20 or 25 minutes, but it took about 40 minutes, which is the norm.

Amazed

I have been most amazed with the accuracy on long trips - over 500 miles. It is usually within 15 minutes (not counting the time I stop for eating or gas).

In town driving it does not seem to know which corners have stop signs or lights - and if you get stuck on a slow red it can affect the time. I think that they could increase the ETA time about 3 minutes or so for most of my in town driving and be ok. Still pleased though as it help to let customers know when to expect me...

Daniel

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Garmin StreetPilot c580 & Nuvi 760 - Member 32160 - Traveling in Kansas

Etrex Pretty acurate

use my hand held for everything and it adjusts ETA fairly quickly and has never been off by more than a few minutes.

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If you can read this thank a teacher! If it's in English thank a Vet!

never had a problem with my

never had a problem with my streetpilot C340 or the new Nuvi 350 smile
Both are mostly accurate unless there's crazy traffic jams

ETA works and I drive FASTTTTTTTTTTTTT

I think what Mark is implying is that the INITIAL ETA tends to be rather accurate. Of course the end number will be accurate since it adjusts as you go, but I too have noticed that if the Garmin initially (when I first start) says I will be there at 7:18, then I am usually there at about 7:18.

The thing I find odd is that I am a pretty fast driver (70-75 MPH on a 55 highway) and I still arrive at about the time initially quoted. So it makes me wonder. If I drive fast and make it, does this mean most people end up being later than the ETA if they tend to stick to 60-65 MPH on the highway?

PT

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Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.

TomTom's New Route Calculator

I know my ETA (nuvi 350) is prettry accurate, once I get going. Initially, to calculates the ETA, then after I start my trip makes some slight adjustments.

Which begs a question - If I understand it correctly, TomTom will now be using historic traffic information to calcuate routes (and I would guess, ETAs too). Based upon the day, and time of day, TomToms will adjust your route to avoid heavily trafficed roads. I think they said "Better 50% of the time" (which led to my question - "is it worse the other 50%, or just the same?).

Anyway - anyone with a TomTom and the new route calculator care to chime in?

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Garmin #1: eTrex Vista Garmin #2: Nuvi 350 Garmin #3: Forerunner 201 <br> "You are entitled to your own opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts." - Sen. D.P. Moynihan

My Nuvi 660 updates pretty

My Nuvi 660 updates pretty darn quick! Even if I'm stuck in traffic I can watch as the ETA slowly gets longer and longer! Just another reminder of HOW LATE I'm gonna be when I finally do get there! (LOL)

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Your Portion Of Light Whether you are a brilliant flame or but a tiny spark matters not-for the world needs whatever portion of light is yours to give.

Accurate initial ETA

My 2720 (Emily) is very accurate in ETA - I always check it as soon as I start and check it when I arrive. Unless unexpected traffic happens - but then, I don't see how that could ever be calculated.

How would you know, before you leave, that 5 min after leaving home some idiot wrecks and traffic comes to a stop?

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___________________ Garmin 2455, 855, Oregon 550t

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It's all in the formula....

Each class of road has an 'expected average speed' - and it calculates the speed limits, average speeds and guesstimates an arrival time from the start, and constantly adjusts it based on your driving habits.

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*Keith* MacBook Pro *wifi iPad(2012) w/BadElf GPS & iPhone6 + Navigon*

ETA Accuracy

My Nuvi 660 is usually on the money. It adjusts for things like stops and/or traffic quickly. I'm satisfied with the results and adjustments.

ETA

Mine is pretty accurate when you take into consideration traffic light traffic and other variables that can't be programed.

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Zuma314

..

It's almost too accurate. It's quite remarkable!

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(2) Nuvi 1450LMT + 3597LMTHD + 2557LMT + DS61LMT-S Boston MA

I agree with the above, my

I agree with the above, my ETA is very accurate. When I take long trips, it is more accurate on highways more so then a short trip through the city with traffic and stop lights.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Accurate

Mine is surprisingly accurate. It updates well when I'm driving slower that it anticipates for the road type, or if I'm stopped. On my 2200 mile trip to Florida in January, it was spot on for each full day's drive, only updating when we stopped for lunch and gas, and the updates were accurate.

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Rick - Nüvi 260 - eTrex Summit HC

ETAs depend on you more than anything

I find the ETA is usually more dependent on me than anything else. It's a calculated # assuming you drive the speed limits and don't run into any unforeseen traffic (unless you have the traffic service). I always add a few minutes (5-10%) to account for lights, traffic, misc.

Very Accurate

I have been impressed with the accuracy. I took a several hundered mile trip last weekend, when the traffic on the Interstate sped up (from 70 to around 80) the unit recalculated ETA to reflect the higher speeds. Was good within 5 mins.

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Nuvi 680, Magellan 300

Driving fast

Guttermouth wrote:

I think what Mark is implying is that the INITIAL ETA tends to be rather accurate. Of course the end number will be accurate since it adjusts as you go, but I too have noticed that if the Garmin initially (when I first start) says I will be there at 7:18, then I am usually there at about 7:18.

The thing I find odd is that I am a pretty fast driver (70-75 MPH on a 55 highway) and I still arrive at about the time initially quoted. So it makes me wonder. If I drive fast and make it, does this mean most people end up being later than the ETA if they tend to stick to 60-65 MPH on the highway?

PT

I encountered the same thing. My nuvi told me I would arrive at 1:30. Since I was driving 20kph over the limit, I figured I would arrive well before then. But, sure enough, I arrived at my destination within minutes of the ETA. I was pretty impressed.

accurate eta garmin

garmin350 ETA is very accurate. When in traffic, the ETA time adds more time on and subtracts when we start moving. ETA also chspeeds up when I drive faster or slower. Works for me.

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arthur

Thanks

On several occassions I have had to take short trips to unfamilar places. Question was - how much time do I allow to make the trip and not get there too early or late? My GPS has been accurate - actually accurate enough to scare me. Reason I posted the question was that I didn't know if the few times I relied on Jill (my GPS) was a fluke or not, being so accurate. Seeing all these positve replies gives me renewed confidence in Jill agian. Thanks again for all the replies.

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Mark - Nuvi 265T NUVI 50LM

Quite Accurate

My C340 (Emily) has proven to be very accurate in ETA; she also adjusts quickly to long sits at stoplights or traffic, or those occasions where I get a lead foot. That's gotten to be one of my very favorite features on the GPS: even when I know exactly where I'm going, I can tell whether I'm on time or late, or whether I have time to stop for coffee, and can call where I'm going if I'm going to be late, and give them a pretty good estimate of when I'll be there.

ETA

My wife took a 7 hour trip (according to Nuvi 350), after two 30min stops, it took exactly 7 hours

Pretty Good

I have used a friend's C340 and my C550 several times now and have found the ETA's to be very accurate and, in fact, updates en route. So far I think I have met my ETA every time.

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Bill 1450LMT C550 ETrex Legend ETrex Summit A computer beat me at chess once. But it was no match at kick boxing.

ETA

I have noticed that when I am sitting at a traffic light my Nuvi 650 will add minutes to the ETA.
JeffSh

Mine too

JeffSh wrote:

I have noticed that when I am sitting at a traffic light my Nuvi 650 will add minutes to the ETA.
JeffSh

Dear Jeff,

My 650 does the same thing. On the way to work in the morning, the ETA will underrate the twenty-minute ride by six or seven minutes at the beginning and slowly adjust along the way. The morning commute is the quick one; coming home takes five or ten minutes longer.

david

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nüvi 1490T, V1, Sanyo PRO-700a, maps, sunglasses, hot co-pilot, the open road

mph

The unit knows the speed limit on the roads you will be traveling to do the initial computation then it adjust based on actual speed.

This can be better observed if you do a simulation that goes over city streets and highways, after the simulation starts go to the info screen and you will see the speed increase or decrease based on the road the simulation is on.

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Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV

speed limits not likely in maps

flaco wrote:

The unit knows the speed limit on the roads you will be traveling to do the initial computation then it adjust based on actual speed.

I don't think that is true. The maps are not so detailed to have speed limits for all roads. At best it probably estimates average speeds over types (e.g. highway vs. city vs. rural, etc.) of roads.

PT

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Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.

.

The database classifies the roads into different segments (interstates, major highways, residential, etc.). Then the routing algorithm uses the average expected speed on the class of road in the calculation.

correct

Guttermouth wrote:
flaco wrote:

The unit knows the speed limit on the roads you will be traveling to do the initial computation then it adjust based on actual speed.

I don't think that is true. The maps are not so detailed to have speed limits for all roads. At best it probably estimates average speeds over types (e.g. highway vs. city vs. rural, etc.) of roads.

PT

That is what I meant to say, "type of roads" but you can see the change when running simulation.

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Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV

ETA

I find the ETA pretty good on my C530. It even updates along the route. Generally though, it always appears more optimistic (earlier ETA) at the outset than what actually happens.

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Tom

Optimistic ETA

For long trips, mine is always optimistic. It does not take in account the Human hunger factor or the Car Needs Fuel factor.
*smile*

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Garmin Nuvi 2699 with 2017.30 Maps

I have found that mine can

I have found that mine can be rather pesimistic sometimes. I thought something was wrong with my Nuvi 760 because the ETA was always way off. --- That is until I realized that my GPSr was in Pedestrian mode smile
It is rather humerous to watch the ETA adjust as one heads down the road...