Pretty good article about GPS reliability

This was rather fair, and balanced.

I read that article 2 days ago, and thought it was decent for the most part.

One thing these folks didn't do, was to give a lat/long at their driveways entrance. That could alleviate many frustrations for them, and their guests.

Why all businesses don't do this is beyond me.

I always take paper directions just in case. Actually had to use them once last year when the gps couldn't get a signal.

Looks like some of the map companies would "recruit" some of the forum users from sites like this to help identify errors in their maps.

Instead of taking paper, I double-check the coordinates to make sure they are correct. Typically use street-level view on Google Maps if I have any concern that the address might not be correct. 99% or better of the time I've had no issues with this. As for the routing, I really haven't had any issues as long as the destination is accurate.

I noticed this with stores that are in large shopping centers that have their own network of "private" roads which usually don't appear on maps in the GPSr. The street address (and pre-loaded lat/long) for the store is usually some main road that is several hundred yards from the actual store entrance.

-Dave

I would think that Walmart and other large chains would be able to correct errors that occur on Google Maps and Navteq. Trucking companies might have some clout with the mapping companies too.
As for me, I load up the Custom POI folder.

Good article and completely true. I ride motorcycles and have to be extremely careful when using a GPS more so than if driving a car.

Balanced opinion

Unfortunately, there are several ways that the GPS coordinates can be inputted and many people do not know how to change to the format and could input the data incorrectly. I once gave a friend coordinates, in decimal format and the default for his gps was different. He input the data somehow and got the wrong location.

my issue was the gps wasn't working at all. It wasn't getting a satellite signal to locate itself. The paper is only in case of mechanical failure.

Yes, I realize that, and we can do our best to make it 'idiot proof' by including all three of them, especially on a business website. Or, creating a route, or GPX file so people can load.

I know we can only do our best, and the rest is lack of knowledge, or operator error.

And that is because of why? The size or speed of the bike? The location of the GPS? The probability of the GPS shorting out and not working when it rains?

Seriously.. why is you GPS less accurate when on a bike than when used in the car? I take it you use a external antenna when in your vehicle?

Nuvi1300WTGPS

Back in about 2006, I started finding many more errors in Navtec maps than what I had found in the past. Some of them were really bad goof-ups that did not exist before that time. I seriously considered switching from Garmin to TomTom since they use Tele atlas maps. I have wondered what happened that year. Anyone here know why accuracy got worse in about 2006?

A neighborhhood about 8 miles north of me, that's been developed for 15 years (streets, housing development, park), is still not on the Honda maps. I love them ,but it's really hit or miss with these things.

The last paragraph was great advice when using your GPS. “Trust but verify”

Today, I went to a Honda dealership (in the Honda), and had its Navi take me there. I wanted to see the time-to-destination estimate - pretty good, BTW - I like using this feature on a GPS. So, I get about half a mile away when it tells me "Destination." So a Honda Navi system can't accurately locate a Honda dealership? Funny!
Sunny skies, no tall buildings around, signal strength was good.

It does find my house pretty well, but it has been around for over 50 years.

Totally agree.
On a real trip, you really should have paper maps or a recent Atlas, as backup. It is quite helpful at times.

Multi-level roads and ramps are usually problematic for my Nuvi because signal is often lost, so I usually print Google Maps and routes before I go to such unfamiliar places.