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Distance to POI/Dest calculation

 
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 9:31am

Hi everyone,

I'm travelling in the Dover/Portsmouth NH area this week and noticed something odd with my Nuvi 350.

Using the following origin/destination info:

Origin: 121 Technology Dr. Durham, NH
Dest: Homewood Suites Hotel 21 Members Way Dover NH

If I look up the destination the Nuvi tells me it's ~5.2 miles. After I press GO and look at the itinerary the route says it will take ~10 miles. Google maps also seems to agree with the ~10 mile calculation. Is the Nuvi doing some sort of line of sight calculation?

The unit is set to avoid everything except highways.

Thanks

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nuvi 350 nuvi 1450LMT nuvi 2589LMT
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 9:35am

That's The Way It Works

When you search for a POI, the distance displayed in the list is straight line, as the crow flies. It's only after you hit "GO" that the GPS calculates the driving route and displays the actual driving miles.

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Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 9:44am

Thanks

I've had this unit for years now and I never noticed that it worked that way. You learn something new everyday.

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nuvi 350 nuvi 1450LMT nuvi 2589LMT
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 9:50am

The arrow points as the crow flies as well

When searching for destinations, the arrows point the direction of the destination as well. It is in the direction of the arrow as the crow flies rather than the direction of which road you need to drive on to get there.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 10:13am

Depending On The Roads

Depending on your start and end point and the roads in between, the difference between the two milages shown may be small or may be great.

If your start and end points lie along an interstate highway (pretty much a straight line) the two milages will probably be pretty close.

If your start and end points are on opposite sides of a mountain and the only roads take you around the outside of the mountain, then there will probably be a much greater difference between the two milages.

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Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 10:31am

Or even a narrow river

To my Bro's house from my house, as the crow flies, is 3 1/2 miles but to drive it is close to 14 miles.
The problem being is that I am 1/2 way between the 2 bridges to get me to the mainland.

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MrKenFL- "Money can't buy you happiness .. But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery." NUVI 260, Nuvi 1490LMT & Nuvi 2595LMT all with 2014.4 maps !
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 5:47pm

Ferry

No ferry available, huh? wink mrgreen

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Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 6:43pm

Not yet

Gary A wrote:

No ferry available, huh? wink mrgreen

I heard they want one but not enough money available to pay for the fuel ! And the people, who want to cross, won't man the oars.

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MrKenFL- "Money can't buy you happiness .. But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery." NUVI 260, Nuvi 1490LMT & Nuvi 2595LMT all with 2014.4 maps !
Wed, 05/11/2011 - 9:18am

"Man The Oars"

That's funny! laugh out loud

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Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold