885T Lane Assist

It depends on where you are. It doesn't work unless the intersection is in the database.

To see if it's working, you might post the area you are located in and perhaps someone may suggest a road in your area that they have experienced the Lane Assist working.

I have a new 885T with City Navigator North America NT 2009, Deluxe JV, All Regions, Jan 09 on it. I'm hoping the next 2010 update comes out before my update period expires, but I just came back to DC from Charlotte NC. Routed almost the entire time and Junction View only came up once, and that was the 495-95 interchange in VA. Never saw a single lane assist the entire trip.

The trip down used I-495/I-95 then I-85 all the way into Charlotte. Heading north, we took US-29 and again never saw a Lane Assist or JV. Perhaps the 2010 maps will provide them 'cause they sure ain't on the 2009 version installed in my unit!

I just bought the 885T with the 2010 maps and it doesn't work in Vegas either. I was told that only certain cities, mostly large ones, have this feature...of course that's nowhere on the box before you buy it!

1. Create the two following favorites:

SP (start point): N34 04.052 W117 58.954
EP (end point): N34 03.606 W118 00.085

How to create them: Where To?>Coordinates> (enter the coordinate values above)Next>Save>(enter name "SP" or "EP")>Done

Repeat for the end point favorite. You should now have two new favorites named SP and EP

2. Simulate the route and verify Lane Assist/Juntion View is working correctly:

*Note that Lane Assist refers to the multiple next turn arrows at the upper left of the map screen. Junction View is the photo-realistic representation of the actual junction you'll be navigating through

Route Simulation:
a. Turn GPS simulation on (Tools>Settings>System>)
b. Find the start point favorite, select it
c. Hit the Map button, hit the Set Loc. button
d. Hit the Back button twice
e. Select the end point favorite, hit Go and simulate driving the route

Note that there are two Lane Assist/Junction Views in this route simulation which will verify that Lane Assist/Junction View is working correctly on your unit.

If the above simulation verifies that Lane Assist/Junction View works on your unit but you have never seen them while in your area, it's because they are simply not available in that particular area where you were looking for them, or perhaps expecting them to be.

It seems a little strange that I would receive a JV display making the transition from I-495 to I-95 S just outside (actually Arlington) Washington DC. Driving south along I-95 there were no JV or lane assists to handle the transitions with I-64 and I-95 north of Richmond, or the I-95 and I-85 transition just south of Richmond in Petersburg. The same thing going through cities such as Raliegh-Durham and Research Triangle and with the various highway transitions I had to make in Charlotte to get to my destination in downtown Charlotte.

Now, should I have received LA, probably as the Nuvi routed me off I-85 onto I-85 Business and again from I-85 Business to I-85 in a couple of places. I would consider Richmond along with Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte to be "major" cities as each have multiple Interstates routing either through them or around them. But then again, I was just noting that I did not see any rather than stating they should have shown.

I saw it pop up many times in June on my 885T while traveling around the freeways in the Los Angeles area. In a 10-minute span I bet it popped up at least 5 times.

Nothing came up in the Phoenix area through, which surprised me.

Maybe your experience shows that Lane Assist is not always included or is a "given" with Junction View (and vise-versa) at the same junction.

My test above will remain (at least to me) a verified reference to show that both LA/JV are working correctly on the unit. The reason being is that I have tested all map versions with this particular simulation and so far, all releases that contain LA/JV's have shown it correctly (except for the buggy map updates from the past which have since been corrected).

My reasoning is that if this particular route simulation in this particular area displays both LA & JV on my unit with the mapsets I have tested (all thus far), it should work on any LA/JV unit that has the same capability (unless the unit's firmware is buggy).

I think we agree that the availability is dependent on the mapset in your unit. The LA area may have a fairly extensive dataset while the East Coast is lacking. If the data for both are not in the map's data, then having the software is of limited use.

Oh, most definitely. Of course this will continue to change with each updated map release.

My test above is verified at that particular area and anyone can test it on their unit, thus the reason for including the specific coordinates for the start point and end point. It's meant to be a general "does LA/JC work?" test as questioned by the OP rather than "does LA/JV work *in my area?* test.

Now if a user wants to verify that LA/JV works in *their* particular area, this test is of absolutely no value at all...

I drove from NE TN to Lake County, IL (North of Chicago) and I believe Lane Assist pop-up 4 time during the 14 hr trip on my 885T.

but I still think from reading the various posts in this thread, that the terms Lane Assist and Junction View are being confused.

I find it hard to believe that a 14 hour trip from TN to an area north of Chicago, assuming route mode on major highways, would show only 4 Lane Assists

Only 4 Junction Views, I could understand.

I apologize in advance if I am way off base

JV is the overlay showing the view of the junction with overhead signage and whatever. Lane Assist is the small indicator that pops up to show which lane(s) you need to be in for the next maneuver. These are still different from the next turn indicator which shows the general direction you will take at the next maneuver such as expecting a right exit or a left exit is the next thing you will encounter. This is normally a single arrow with the general direction shown as a bold wider line than the other option.

At least in the Providence/Boston corridor, there are several Junction Views. The Lane Assist also has pretty good coverage, especially on the city streets.

my understanding was that Lane Assist was the arrows in the upper left hand part of the screen that began with the 7X5 series.

I don't get any sort of small indicator popping up at any time on my 765T screen to indicate a turn....Lane Assist is always on my screen during a route.

The only popup I see is the occasional Junction View, the photo realistic signage.

I am more confused than ever

If I remember right, my 885T showed one in Lexington I64/I75, One in Indianapolis I65/I70, and in the Chicago area I80/I294 and I290/I355. This is a street view with the overhead street signage showing which lane to be in.

Garmin describes Lane Assist as: "No more guessing which lane you need to be in to make an upcoming turn. Lane assist with junction view guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. It realistically displays road signs and junctions on your route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation."

My understanding was junction view was the street level view that showed the signs and possibly a magenta arrow indicating the path you needed to take for the junction. Lane Assist was the black box with arrows indicating the number of lanes with bold arrows showing which lane(s) were needed for the maneuver. Pretty much the same intent as JV, but using only simple graphics. The turn indicator in the upper left corner only shows the general route you need to follow and doesn't tell you if it is one or two lanes that can make the maneuver. We really need DorkusNimrod to answer the question of what is supposed to be displayed as he gets both driving around LA.

Garmin's description is as clear as mud and even they themselves had/have their own terminology wrong. This all came up when LA/JV was broken on of the map updates.

Here's what I personally believe is correct and what seems logical:

Lane Assist: If *multiple lanes* are to be encountered on your next turn, the Next Turn arrow (arrow in the green section at the upper left) turns into multiple arrows indicating the available lanes at that junction. It is at this point when the Next Turn indicator turns into the Lane Assist indicator. The grey arrow(s) indicate the lanes you should NOT be in while the white arrows indicate the lanes you SHOULD be in to complete the maneuver.
Screen shot:
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb31/Swammi1962/Lane%20As...

Junction View: The photo-realistic graphic representation of the junction you will be maneuvering through with an arrow indicating the lane(s) you should be in. This is displayed for a fixed 13 seconds but can be canceled by pressing the Back button.
Screen shot:
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb31/Swammi1962/Lane%20As...

This is my take on it also and is the most logical explanation.

Thanks for the clear explanation DorkusNimrod. This is the way I refer to the two features as well and it sure makes it easier to discuss them in the forum if we are consistent in the terminology.

thanks as always DN.

the 765T is my first GPS, and I was not aware that the indicator in the upper left corner of the screen changed from time to time....must be my 58 year old eyes

I was under the impression it was always there in the upper left corner in route mode, and showed one or multiple lanes depending on location, with the one you are supposed to be in highlighted as stated.

the term "popup" was throwing me.

I apologize if my additions to the thread misled or confused anyone, especially our new members.

I have found DN and MM to be two of the best sources of information here at poi-factory, and they have straightened me out time and time again.

Happend to see this thread. I just got an 855. Took it out on the road in my area, and was dissappointed with the lane assist/ junction view. I had a navigon 7100 that had the Reality View and every interstate highway that I took it on that had junctions with signs and turnoffs that feature came on. Really helpfull where ther was multiple lanes. I thought Garmin would be as good. I haven't seen it once on the roads I travel here (Northeastern Pa.)where Navigon had it all the time. I sure hope garmin gets on the ball and adds more areas. I feel like I went backwards.

Junction View: The photo-realistic graphic representation of the junction you will be maneuvering through with an arrow indicating the lane(s) you should be in. This is displayed for a fixed 13 seconds but can be canceled by pressing the Back button.

When you hit the back button it takes you back to the junction view? Is that for another 13 seconds or until you change it? I'd like the JV to stay on throughout the transition at times if that's possible.

I believe it's actually Navteq, the map provider, and not Garmin but I agree more coverage is needed.

No. Pressing the Back button takes you back to the map view. I doubt you be able to go back to the Junction View from there since you'd already be past the junction after the initial 13 seconds. 13 seconds seems to be an average transit time when maneuvering through a junction.

It's what Garmin does with the data it buys from NAVTEQ or the amount they buy or get!
Lane assist and Junction view are really awesome, Really! on another unit junction and lane assist views are well displayed that I won't mention so I don't get persecuted yet again. But Garmin is way behind on these features, just like not having over-speed alerts.

Hey guys just getting back. I did the update and got my free map update on the 855. I originally thought that the nice junction view didn't work for reasons stated earlier (my navigon 7100). I did the Garmin fix (downloading the old file dated 03/??/09. They gave me coordinates to try and it worked, but not in my area where the Navigon worked. So for the hey of it I went back and did the upgrade (the file showed up on my unit as D somthing or other .jcv) that they said wasn't working, and I tried the coordinates that one of you posted above along with there test. I got JV okay. Still not in my area. I hope Garmin decides to add the areas that Navigon has. I think that JV graphics is really helpful. If Navigon has it Navteq definetly has it. Great forum by the way !!

I was hoping to hear lane assist was a useful feature. I want to be sure my next unit has it.

IF Garmin were smart, they'd be paying DN and MM to continue to post the great help these guys offer. Even for a Garmin GPSr, which apparently has very limited functionality compared to other makers, the nuances that make them more useful as explained by DN and MM up the value of the GPSr many times for me.

On my 885T Lane Assist showing the number of lanes and suggested lanes for the upcoming turn shows up in the upper left corner of the map screen pretty much everywhere I have traveled.

I only have seen the Junction View reality view showing the road signage graphic show in the Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

I have not seen any Junction View reality view showing the road signage graphic at this time in Tucson, Phoenix or Las Vegas areas. I have only had the 885T for less than 2 months so have only used it for a few thousand miles in the Southwest so obviously it also could be available in other areas that I have not yet traveled in.