How do you orient your map?

North up. I tried track-up but got disoriented whether I was heading North or South, especially when there are a few ramps closed together. So I switched to Track-up. I agree that using Track-up force my brain to process more information.

I don't get all this "disorientation" of being north up, track up, etc. When following a route don't y'all just follow the pretty magenta line and do what it says to do next?

I could see, maybe, if you're just driving around and not navigating. For me, track up would be best so things that are coming up will be on the correct side.

For the "north up" crowd that don't like track up because they don't know what direction they're headed... Flip to the trip screen and get your heading there, then flip back. Not that hard at all.

North up when I'm trying to get the perspectives of where things are in relative to each other and learning my surrounding areas. Track up or 3D-view when I want to get from one place to another. So it all depends.

I use the 3D format that I thought I would never like and have grown to appreciate with use.

Bill

Just follow the yellow, er, magenta brick road and do what it says when you have a programmed destination. Closest thing Garmin has to "reality view" right now. Works well enough for me and I've spent a lifetime of navigation, both on the road and in the air.

My fav is Track Up.

I prefer Track up when using my hand held and boat GPS because it is easier to orient myself. When using my TomTom I prefer the 3D view I find it easier to pick out off ramps and stuff.

New to a 660 and have been using 3D but after reading all the comments think I'll try the TrackUp...sounds like it'd be more accurate.

Jim

My first exposure to a GPS unit was with 3D, so I started with that. Then, after playing around and zooming out to get a better feel for geography, I switched to North Up. Track Up screwed me up royally.

As a person with a naturally good sense of direction, who basically got a nuvi as a TOY (rather than say a tool), having north up works well for me. Helps me in my quest to randomly 'get myself lost' to explore.

This trucker stays w/ North up most of the time. I switch to track up when the turns are becoming more frequent. North up seems to give me a better sense of orientation.

Is there much of a difference (using the Nuvi 660 or similar) with the accuracy in Track Up or North Up versus 3D mode? Tried Track Up today and turn points seemed similar to 3D. Maybe I need to re-read this thread as I apparently missed something.

Jim

On my Quest, I used Track Up and liked it. In the month that I have been using my Zumo, I have been using the 3D view. When I first started using the Zumo, some of the roads I drive on would disappear because the unit would change the zoom level. Once the zoom level was adjusted, the road would reappear.

jelive, the accuracy of the unit will be the same regardless of the viewing mode. Track up is a two dimensional view with your vehicle at the focal point. The gps unit automatically orients the map under your vehicle based upon the direction you are going in. The 3D view is essentially the same thing except the view is from above and behind you - kinda like a camera 10 feet above the rear of the roof of the car. The turnpoints will be the same because the GPS receiver is where it is. The varying views are just that - visual representations of where you are in relation to the surface of the earth as determined by the triangulation of signals from the gps satellites.

Track up.
Far better orientation with my immediate surroundings.

I suppose if I was trekking over a desolate tundra or prairie I'd want north up but barreling down a highway I want the turnoffs to the left or right of me to be in relation to my heading when I glace at the GPS unit.

I think you don't see them when playing around with the device is because only the major interstate freeway will have these fancy realistic pictures. I read it somewhere in one of the review when I was researching on various GPS devices.

While I am driving I like 3D mode or whatever direction I am heading at the top of the screen. Less of a distraction if I know the top is where I am going. However usually I put the gps in the center console and listen to the directions rather that watch the screen.
If I am walking I like North up.

Edit: Now that I think about it I think my unit has a smart 3D or smart zoom mode. It zooms into 3D mode when approaching a turn or event, otherwise it is overhead. (with my travel direction at the top)

It gives me the most natural view of what I would expect to see through the windshield. I find North Up confusing, and I don't get a sense of distance with Track Up.

For the exact turn distance, I rely on the display at the lower right hand corner of the screen.

3D is not the way I like to see the map.
Give me Track up any day.

haven't tried any other mode yet.

I have tried the other 2 views and still go back to the track up. I also have the map detail set at "MOST" and in that mode you are able to see the surrounding roads at the .8 mile setting.

I use 3D normally while cruising along. Track up when searching for short cuts. Then North up for relative position once I get there (wherever "there" is).

I used an ETrex Venture in the car for several months, and found I preferred Track Up. I've had the Nuvi for about a week, and have used 3D up to this point. If I get tired of it, I would revert to Track Up in the 2D mode. North Up, in my opinion, is great for hiking with a hand-held, but I find that Track Up is easier to relate to when driving.

I had been using 3D but after reading these posts, gave track up a try.

Now I find that I prefer that much better

As a brand new user, I've found that North up is totally confusing when you're in a moving vehicle. Fine for paper maps but I don't like it in my 260. I'm still going back and forth between 3D and track up though. I think 3D looks cool, but so far I find that Track up gives me a better overview of the area I'm traveling in.

I'm driving my octogenarian parents to Florida in a week, so it will get a really good test on that trip.

I find the 3D view to be the best especially when approaching a turn as it zooms right in to where you should turn. I find with the other views, I sometimes end up making a turn to early as I have trouble judging 1000ft from 250ft when moving at 40 miles per hour.

I switched to North up when I found myself living on the wrong side of the Susquehana River. I don't like the 3D either, but then, I don't look at the screen (voice only) except when I'm stopped and then I use it like a map.

2D mode always. Mostly Track Up for me. I like North Up when I am zoomed out far, but since you can't set the Nuvi 660 to automatically go North up at a certain zoom-out distance, I just leave it at Track up.

So far I've stuck with 3D. But I haven't ventured outside DC metro yet, and having lived here for 20 years I don't get disoriented at all. I guess I might try track N if I go on a long road trip at night or under full clouds, but otherwise the sky never lies which way is N.

I use 3D most of the time. I discovered, almost by accident, that if I touch the screen on my Nuvi 750 in the 3D mode that it will switch to the north-up mode. So, I guess I have the best of both worlds.

That's because if you touch the screen, it changes to the mode that allows you to browse the map.

After reading all the comments on how do you orient your map. I gave it a try on different views on a 900 mile round trip I just completed.Knowing everyone has different views on what they prefer I take 3D all the way.

Yeah, I'm still learning the features. My first experience was with a c530 which (I think) did not have this feature. No manual came with my Nuvi 750, only the quick-start and safety manuals. I've downloaded the manual and will read through it when I get a chance.

Track up and 3D.

Dear Ike,

I always orient a map with a compass so that North is up. I have tried all the orientations with my GPS and prefer to set it in 3D mode in the City of New York. On a long highway trip I may want to use Track Up.

david

I started using a GPS on a Garmin Map76S. I used it mainly on fishing trips and occasionally in my car. I always used it Track up. When I started using my Nuvi260 I used the 3D view as it was a novelty,but now when on long highway trips I use Track Up. 3D is OK in the city but I will have to give it a try zoomed all the way out on longer trips. When on foot or hiking I guess North Up would be a better option because of the constant cross referencing with paper maps.
Hey, at least Garmin give us a choice, and Text to Speech saves having to look at the screen all the time anyway.

I agree 100%

3D and zoomed out as much as possible with the streets names still displayed.

Track Up

3D but after I read this thread I have switched to "track up", much better.

I love my 3D mode.

This how I setup my view: (Keep in mind I’ve done this once to hold the setting).
Zoom in as much as you can and then zoom out with for clicks on the minus symbol. This way I get street names for the next four blocks in front of my direction and a few of the side streets in certain areas. This works nicely for me.

Track up. It is the way that I am traveling.

using an Etrex if it is zoomed out at all north up I find becomes confusing. And with the screen much smaller than the rest I don't want to take my eyes off the road that long to figure out which way the next turn is

North up for me.
I find the 3D view to be novelty at best.

I've used 3D exclusively but will try the other options out as well now.

I think my machines were factory-defaulted to "Track Up" (in 3-D), and I've grown used to it. Since it is all I've ever used, it just seems natural to me.

Besides, the GPS tells me which way I happen to be heading anyhow-

I use 3D most of the time, but if I am on a long trip or on major highways, I use Track Up.

For years I used North up because I knew the areas somewhat better and had a good feeling where I was headed.
With this C340 I use track up primarily because on city streets the verbal instructions are so late I like to look at the screen and quickly see right or left and change lanes if I have to.
Chuck

Guess various models do this display differently. My 2720 has a 3D track up mode. Seems to work best for me.

If I'm DUI it is probably set as random track, at least that is what I perceive...

I like tracking up as well...north up...can get confusing on turns

3D rules