New user with 765t questions

 

Finished my first two trips with a 765t and had mixed results.

Most of the time, the navigation worked well, but there were multiple occasions when there would be three freeway lanes in addition to an access road on each side of the freeway, and the unit appeared to have difficulty determining whether I was on the freeway or the access road (for example, it would direct me to take the on-ramp to the freeway when I already was on the freeway).

This is my first GPS unit, and I'm wondering whether this is a problem with my particular unit, or whether it's a limitation of the maps and/or the sensitivity of the GPS system (basically, something I'd have to live with regardless of what unit I own).

There were a few other instances where the Garmin would direct me to an exit that was mistitled, or appeared to be for the opposite direction of travel only (an exit marked ##B that never showed up). These seem like map issues, but again, I don't have any background knowledge to compare this with. Is that a fair assumption, or is it my particular unit?

On the plus side, I don't seem to have been affected by the recent bug as I have version 3.50 rather than 3.40. There was one trip when the GPS would not find any satellites and I gave up after about 5 minutes, but I didn't have any trouble after that.

Check your settings

and make sure that the usage mode is set to automobile and not pedestrian.

When set to automobile, it should follow roads, and if set to pedestrian it will mark the exact spot it is reading (whether exactly right or wrong) rather than on a road.

It could be that where you were getting this incorrect accuracy is a weak spot. See if it continues when routing elsewhere.

--
If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. - Yogi Berra

Checked that...

I checked and it was in automobile mode. Meanwhile,
I will keep my eyes open for similar roadways to see how the 765t responds.

I think what my question boils down to is that I don't know what level of accuracy/precision I should expect. If the 765t is not capable of discerning between parallel roads that are, say, 25 feet apart, then there's no problem.

Thanks for the response...this site has been quite a valuable resource in figuring out how to use the 765t!

10 meter distance

Plornch wrote:

I checked and it was in automobile mode. Meanwhile,
I will keep my eyes open for similar roadways to see how the 765t responds.

I think what my question boils down to is that I don't know what level of accuracy/precision I should expect. If the 765t is not capable of discerning between parallel roads that are, say, 25 feet apart, then there's no problem.

Thanks for the response...this site has been quite a valuable resource in figuring out how to use the 765t!

Is fairly good accuracy for a commercial unit. I wouldn't worry about it too much. The GPS is meant for a navaid rather than a precision navigation device.

--
ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet

.

Plornch wrote:

I think what my question boils down to is that I don't know what level of accuracy/precision I should expect. If the 765t is not capable of discerning between parallel roads that are, say, 25 feet apart, then there's no problem.

I can't speak to the 765T model, but such inaccuracy with my 660 is extremely rare. However, some models of cars have coated windshields that reduce the signal strength of the signal from the satellites, and location within the car will affect it as well. I believe I remember EV/Hybrids being extra sensitive to placement due to all the current flowing. And, if it is a consistent problem in one location, it could be a slight mapping error.

Have you looked at the accuracy (in feet) reported on the satellite screen? Worst case, you might consider an external antenna.

--
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

I've had a similar experience...

Plornch wrote:

Finished my first two trips with a 765t and had mixed results.

Most of the time, the navigation worked well, but there were multiple occasions when there would be three freeway lanes in addition to an access road on each side of the freeway, and the unit appeared to have difficulty determining whether I was on the freeway or the access road (for example, it would direct me to take the on-ramp to the freeway when I already was on the freeway).....

While I don't think my experience is what happened to you, I can say that I've experienced exactly what you describe above. However, I'm lucky enough to know why my 200W appears to be confused in this specific case. I-10, or the Katy Freeway as it's known, on the west side of Houston towards San Antonio has recently undergone a huge expansion of lanes on both east and westbound sides.

Consequently, the outer lanes in either direction are likely over the top of the former access roads with respect to lat/lon. So when I'm on those, my GPS tells me to get on the highway when I'm already on it. Of course, that is a mapping issue, so in a few years I expect that little anomaly to go away.

--
NEOhioGuy - Garmin 2639, MIO Knight Rider, TomTom (in Subaru Legacy), Nuvi 55, DriveSmart 51, Apple CarPlay maps

Road Lock

I think that most Garmin units have road lock. At times they have problems determining which road they should be locked onto.

Recently on a trip to Missouri my Nuvi 265W had problems acquiring satelites. This occurred on 6-21-09. It was lucky to keep locked onto 3 satelites. This caused the unit to very frequently recalulate the route, thinking it was on roads near the interstate. The next day or since then it has had no problem acquiring satelites. I have no idea why it could acquire so few satelites. This could have been caused by the hills along I44 and too few satelites overhead.