Different distance

 

Hello, I just stumbled into this web site and am overwhelmed, what a great site this is. I have been reading the past posts and am unable to come up with the answer to my question, so I thought someone here may be able to help. On my Nuvi 350 when I go to one of my favorites it is listed as being 1.4 miles away. When I select it as a destination after it calculates the route the distance is different than originally stated. My 1.4 mile trip turns into just under 3 miles. I know this by selecting the turn by turn directions on the top of the screen after it calculates the route and adding up the distance. Can someone please explain this to me.
Thanks,
Rick

re: Different distance

I believe that the reason is due to the distance being calculated as straight line (as the crow flies) from your position to the destination when viewed as a favorite. When you actually select the favorite, the GPS calculates the actual route according to your settings, i.e. either fastest or shortest. It would not be practical for the GPS to precalculate routes for everything that is on the screen or available when you view favorites.

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Garmin StreetPilot c530, Mapsource

Distance

So should I guess the same happens when I access the internal POI's and it might say my favorite eating place is 6.9 miles away until I decide to go to it?
Rick

re: Distance

Gonfishin wrote:

So should I guess the same happens when I access the internal POI's and it might say my favorite eating place is 6.9 miles away until I decide to go to it?

I haven't tested that, but I believe the answer is yes. Generally, there isn't that great of a difference. The further the site, the less difference you will find. If you are on a highway, and looking for restaurants, the data will be pretty accurate.
At home with my GPS, I have a contact file and one of my friends lives on a street that parallels mine. According to the map and GPS POI file, he is only a few hundred feet away, but in order to get to his house I need to travel several block out of my neighborhood and then turn back in a U so the distance by map is over a mile. Once I choose the location on the GPS, it has an accurate display of how far the trip is.

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Garmin StreetPilot c530, Mapsource

Distance

Thank you for clearing that up for me.
Rick.

distance

If you select a location - favorite or custom poi or from a search, the distance given will be as Mkahn described.

If you select go, then check the trip stats and look above the odometer you will see a more accurate mileage figure.

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........Garmin StreetPilot c550 / Nüvi 765...........