Garmin map updates disappointing

 

Well, I'm about to give up on Garmin. I moved into my house 19 months ago. Google maps added my neighborhood and my house address 12 months ago. Garmin finally updated the maps with my street with this update, unfortunately I still can not enter my house address.

I have increasingly been using Google maps on my phone and have been very pleased with it. Maps are extremely accurate, traffic is much better, directions are better and better. Google maps keeps adding more features, so I expect it will someday be the number one choice.

I just bought a new vehicle which supports Android Auto, this will eventually improve to the point that on board vehicle navigation won't be necessary.

Sorry

mblanc01 wrote:

Well, I'm about to give up on Garmin. I moved into my house 19 months ago. Google maps added my neighborhood and my house address 12 months ago. Garmin finally updated the maps with my street with this update, unfortunately I still can not enter my house address.

I have increasingly been using Google maps on my phone and have been very pleased with it. Maps are extremely accurate, traffic is much better, directions are better and better. Google maps keeps adding more features, so I expect it will someday be the number one choice.

I just bought a new vehicle which supports Android Auto, this will eventually improve to the point that on board vehicle navigation won't be necessary.

Sorry I have to laugh, i lived in the same house for 27 years. The area was already in place almost 20 years prior, yet all those years and all the maps that came from Garmin couldn't find my street. The location it pointed to was 1/4 mile away. Made no sense. Google found my street and my house. Having said all this theres more...much more on where Garmin Maps fail. Is it enough to give up Garmin?..................Hell No. Sorry to see you go if you decide to.

--
2 DriveSmart 65's - We do not live in Igloo's and do not all ride to work on snow mobiles.

Slow Changes

It took Garmin 5 years to add the shopping centre south of me onto the map. For years, it showed me driving in the middle of a field. It was finally added about 2 years ago. For my house ever since I bought my 1390T in 2009 it would put my home address arrival at 200 metres away before I get to my house. Only in the last 2 map updates 2018.10 and 2018.20 that it would put me right at the end of my driveway. Just in time when I'm about to retire it for a new Drivesmart 51LMT-S. lol

I've given up on expecting real changes to Garmin's maps

I don't know what they update but it sure isn't things that I've reported. There's a very old dead end street that used to be a thru street that is still not in there right and it tries to route you through a creek. Similarly, a very established neighborhood near my office has a series of streets that used to be thru streets but haven't been in at least 10 years and they still show as viable streets.

They best i can hope is they update the speed limits on the interstates so that folks are going the "new" speed limits instead of the older, slower limits.

Road ahead notification issues for me.

My beef with recent updates is the road ahead feature not working on all roads. I suspect this is more a problem with the algorithms that Garmin uses than a map issue.

The roads show on the map but are not displayed in the top header to show as next exit etc.. These missing exits are not just minor crossroads.. In Edmonton AB they do not show major exits to Calgary Trail and the Whitemud or 23rd Ave.

But.. on a positive note.. they (Garmin) do respond to some errors as they fixed a typo on the ramp from the Whitemud to 50th st. that read "Stteet" Good stuff!

--
Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

Where

cratecookie wrote:

I don't know what they update but it sure isn't things that I've reported. There's a very old dead end street that used to be a thru street that is still not in there right and it tries to route you through a creek. Similarly, a very established neighborhood near my office has a series of streets that used to be thru streets but haven't been in at least 10 years and they still show as viable streets.

They best i can hope is they update the speed limits on the interstates so that folks are going the "new" speed limits instead of the older, slower limits.

Where is this neighborhood. Let's fix them in Map Creator.

After

After updating my 3597 and 3790 to 2018.20 I noticed that I appear to see fewer Junction Views than I remember with previous map releases. I have a few simulated routes that I use to check out various things in any new map update and most of them involve checking where Junction View pictures appear on my route.

One of the shorter routes I use is from E University Dr in Mesa Arizona to Sky Harbor Airport in Pheonix/Tempe. In previous map updates/JCV files there was one view shown in that route, as shown here:

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad75/t923347/JCV201820/JV...

After installing 2018.20 on both a 3597 and a 3790 here is what I see simulating the same route:

3790

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad75/t923347/JCV201820/37...

3597

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad75/t923347/JCV201820/JV...

I also have an other simulation from Dufferin St in North York Ontario to the Pearson Airport in Toronto which on older map releases I'd see 3 or 4 Junction View pictures. After installing 2018,20 I see ZERO pictures but at least there are a couple of "active lane assist" displays. Although I haven't really check this out yet, I does appear that I'm seeing more detailed and frequent Lane Assist arrows in the upper left corner of the map screen than in prior map versions but, at least for me, I'd rather have the JV pics.

I have checked that the proper JCV file (D3191230A) is installed in the proper (.system/JCV) folder on both units.

I'm wondering if anyone else is seeing the decrease in Junction Views with 2018.20.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

t923347

After the 2018.2 update my old 855 received the small JCV file and on my simulated route I get the same photo-realistic junction views as always. I replaced the small with the LARGE JCV and the identical result, so reverted back to the small JCV.

I've given up on the 2797 to give me the photo-realistic views. I just get the cartoon version of junctions on it !

--
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

Blaming wrong company

It seems that every time that someone bemoans the shortcomings of the latest map release, they blame Garmin!

Garmin doesn't make the maps, a company called "Here International B.V." creates and supplies the maps to Garmin.

If you want the errors to be corrected, then you should bypass Garmin and supply the correction info directly to "Here". They have a "Map Creator" page to update maps and update house numbers. Note: You have to register to enter corrections.

https://here.com/en/contact

They also sell map updates for Garmin in-dash units, but I don't know how the pricing compares.

--
Metricman DriveSmart 76 Williamsburg, VA

Not always garden's fault

I don't know how google updates so quickly, but Garmin might to pay the municipality for for updates.

The municipality may not automatically pass on to Garmin.

--
DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)

As

As mentioned Garmin buys the map data from Here.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

OpenStreetMap

You might want to try one of the OpenStreetMap builds to see how it compares for problem addresses. While it doesn't generally allow you to enter an address and route to it, you can enter the address on the Garmin map, then switch to OpenStreetMap once it has determined the destination coordinates based on the address.

You'll find a bunch of gems in the way of additional restaurants and shops, etc. who haven't paid for inclusion on Garmin's (or Here's) maps.

- Phil

@ t923347

Thanks for sharing your findings with us.

I and most probably everyone else expects a new map update along with all it's other related files such as the Junction View to be a little better from one update to another.

Definitely a step backwards & disappointing crying

--
Nüvi 255WT with nüMaps Lifetime North America born on 602117815 / Nüvi 3597LMTHD born on 805972514 / I love Friday’s except when I’m on holidays ~ canuk

Disappearing junction views?

I mentioned this in another forum where t923347 and I are members, but will also put it here so POI Factory members can comment.

I wonder if the "disappearing" junction views on devices like the 3597 could be caused by Garmin adding more of the animated junction views which are not part of the JCV file. It appears to me that on the 3597 when you browse through the list of turns on a route to view the junction views, you only see the static views in the JCV file and not the animated views contained in the map file.

In testing a 1900 mile route on both my 3597 and my old 855 (with the "large" full screen JCV file) with 2018.20 map, I get 19 junction views on the 3597 and 27 on the old 855. But if I was actually navigating the route, would these missing 8 JCV's on the 3597 show up as animated junction views? I don't know the answer ... just brainstorming at this point.

--
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

I think

I think you may have hit on something alandb smile . Just to be sure we are using the same terms, I've assuming that by using the words "animated views" you are referring to what Garmin calls "Active Lane Guidance" which is the rolling view which moves down the highway and highlights the lane you should be driving in to make the next turn/maneuver.

To test your theory I entered a tighter version of my North York Ontario simulated route (3500 Dufferin Ave, North York ON to Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 3 Departures. Address was selected using Where to - Address, after setting North York as my location and the airport using Where to - Categories - Public Transportation - Airports.)

On my 3790 which doesn't support Active Lane Guidance I see 5 Junction View pictures while following the actual simulated route on the Nuvi's map screen. I also see the same static JCV pictures if I browse through the turn directions.

Running this simulated route on my 3597 I see ZERO static JCV pictures while following the actual simulated route on the Nuvi's map screen but where I'd see the static pics on the 3790 I see Active Lane Guidance views in all 5 of the places. If I simulate the route again and this time only browse through the turn directions I see 2 of the 5 views as static pics and ZERO Active Lane Guidance.

This would seem to confirm that Junction Views are not displayed when browsing a simulated route's turn directions if there is an Active Lane Guidance display available to replace the View picture. Although I'd rather see the static pictures, at least it explains why I'm seeing less View pics than I had in prior map versions.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Good to know.

Thanks for checking it out.

--
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Map Updates

It can take 4 years (or more) for a correction to show once it's reported.

I don't know why it takes so long, but they may have the correction verified by their own people.

Not all reports are accepted

pratzert wrote:

It can take 4 years (or more) for a correction to show once it's reported.

I don't know why it takes so long, but they may have the correction verified by their own people.

Most of the corrections I've filed over the years in various forms of mapreporter.com (i.e. with the provider, not with Garmin) have not been in fact accepted.

In the last year things seem somewhat better, as I've actually had at least one accepted and take effect, and there is a better status update available on action on my filing.

--
personal GPS user since 1992

Same Here

Most of the updates I sent to Garmin never got fixed. I also directly tried reporting it to Here and only slightly better luck.

Does seem to be that Garmin

Does seem to be that Garmin has been going downhill - both in the maps and in software quality - case in poin is the garbage program Garmin Express... sad!

--
Garmin Drive Smart 61 NA LMT-S

.

Even Google Maps has a hard time keeping up with the changes in roadways to keep it's maps current.

As for GE, it's leaps and bounds better than it was, and I can tolerate it, since map updater will go away eventually.

Besides, Google Maps and the other ilk can't really be counted on for smartphone use like a PND can. It will get you by in a pinch, however.

edit - wow, I'm a COW. 0_o

--
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

I've had somewhat

I've had somewhat frustrating results with my reports...3 local errors/changes were reported to Here and Garmin.. about 2 years ago.

Here and Google Maps Right Now show correct information....

In Latest Maps --- Garmin implemented 2 of 3 reported changes and made a 4th change in my local area as well, so it's obvious that they made changes in my area in the latest map data.... but the one most critical error reported then was not changed, and unfortunately, if you followed the Garmin, you'd end up in a creek! Map shows a road across a creek that does not exist.... was removed prior to 1998 (when we purchased our lot)....

I know of numerous trucks and vehicles over the years that have reportedly started down that road and then had to back up 300-500 feet on on one lane road.... to get to the nearest driveway where a turn around is even possible.

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Not always consistent either...

There's two roundabouts that were finished last year. The Here maps have them in place but still nothing on the actual Garmin (GPS) map.

Here maps - garmin maps

There are two things that you have to consider. Garmin isn't creating maps but buying it from third party (Here for now). So has no say to what updates are made to maps.

But on other hand you can see that Garmin isn't buying newest maps. If you want to know if your particular street or address is on newest Here maps, download Here maps. They are available for free for smartphones with Android and iPhone. Than you can check what's on newest Here maps. And that map will probably be in the next Garmin update.

They are VERY slow in

They are VERY slow in updating. Every street change reported has to be verified by a video driveby from a commercial company that does those sort of things. Past experience shows 2 to 2.5 years at the earliest, but with their declining market share I think it will only get worse.

Not true

sunsetrunner wrote:

They are VERY slow in updating. Every street change reported has to be verified by a video driveby from a commercial company that does those sort of things. Past experience shows 2 to 2.5 years at the earliest, but with their declining market share I think it will only get worse.

Road updates made through the HERE MapCreator are not made in person. There are plenty of sources like the local GIS to find out if the road is accurate. However, occasionally a change made to the map is sent to a "local HERE expert" for in person review.

Well ......

I've seen new roads in my area included in the next map update so I don't think it's possible to generalise. Why some changes happen immediately and others seem to take longer I have no idea but my experience of roads throughout mainly UK and France is that the maps are normally up to date.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

In Edmonton

There have been roads shown on the map that were still under construction. A major interchange on the North leg of the Anthony Henday showed up on an version long before the interchange was complete.

My beef with the map updates is the way they are interpreted by my Garmin. The "road ahead feature" is not very accurate and frequently skips several cross roads / exits...

So.. I see the next intersection announced in the header is the road I want.. maneuver to the correct lane but find when I get there the actual road is the wrong one.. sometimes too late. {grrr}

--
Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

What does Garmin update on new maps?

If clearly they're not adding things that were included or corrected on the Here maps then what exactly is going into the map updates?

I think

catnapped wrote:

If clearly they're not adding things that were included or corrected on the Here maps then what exactly is going into the map updates?

I think it is more likely that Garmin buys a version of the Here maps up to 4 times a year while Here is constantly updating their maps and website. Garmin will always be releasing updates that are older than what you find on Here.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Exactly

And the maps that Garmin get from HERE can't be simply released to users, they have to be converted to the correct format for use with Garmin devices. It's no different to paper maps which are out of date by the time they're printed.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

maps

sussamb wrote:

And the maps that Garmin get from HERE can't be simply released to users, they have to be converted to the correct format for use with Garmin devices. It's no different to paper maps which are out of date by the time they're printed.

As sussamb says the maps are produced by "HERE" and they in turn get paper maps to raster scan them into an electronic format. Whether Garmin then has to doctor them up some more before putting them up for download I do not know.

It's strange, but did people ever complain about the published dates of maps when you got them for FREE at filling stations?
They certainly could not show you most locations in great detail, certain larger cities excepted.

--
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

So, What Do You Do.....

when Here's MapCreator has all correct info being shown, but Garmin still hasn't picked up the new data?

2018.20 seems way out of date compared to MapCreator. Take a look at I-485 around Charlotte, NC for an example.

Or

Or look at 2018.30 when it comes out. As explained here a number of times, Garmin maps will always be behind Here maps for any number of reasons including the fact that Garmin get 3 or 4 updates a year and Here can update Mapcreator daily.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Location, Location, Location..

mblanc01 wrote:

Well, I'm about to give up on Garmin. I moved into my house 19 months ago. Google maps added my neighborhood and my house address 12 months ago. Garmin finally updated the maps with my street with this update, unfortunately I still can not enter my house address.

I have increasingly been using Google maps on my phone and have been very pleased with it. Maps are extremely accurate, traffic is much better, directions are better and better. Google maps keeps adding more features, so I expect it will someday be the number one choice.

I just bought a new vehicle which supports Android Auto, this will eventually improve to the point that on board vehicle navigation won't be necessary.

Although both Garmin (HERE) and Google Maps have their inaccuracies, in the rural areas I frequent, Garmin beats Google hands down. From some of the comments in this post, what works best depends on where you use your navigation device most.

If you want to pay for a data plan to support it, use Google Maps. If you want to pay handsomely for an in dash nav system and future map updates, hey, go for it. Until they come up with a more cost effective way to navigate, I'll stick with Garmin.

I'm not disappointed.

Just glad to get them still, considering how expensive builtin automotive GPS' are.

--
Garmin Drive 61, nuvi 2597MT, too many really.

interesting way

metricman wrote:

It seems that every time that someone bemoans the shortcomings of the latest map release, they blame Garmin!

Garmin doesn't make the maps, a company called "Here International B.V." creates and supplies the maps to Garmin.

If you want the errors to be corrected, then you should bypass Garmin and supply the correction info directly to "Here". They have a "Map Creator" page to update maps and update house numbers. Note: You have to register to enter corrections.

https://here.com/en/contact

They also sell map updates for Garmin in-dash units, but I don't know how the pricing compares.

to look at it. It's understandable when things are free, they don't work as well as something else that's also free. But Garmin is not free, and google is. Imagine if the world's richest man ran his outfit like that, well, he probably would not be where he is today.

interesting

bdhsfz6 wrote:
mblanc01 wrote:

Well, I'm about to give up on Garmin. I moved into my house 19 months ago. Google maps added my neighborhood and my house address 12 months ago. Garmin finally updated the maps with my street with this update, unfortunately I still can not enter my house address.

I have increasingly been using Google maps on my phone and have been very pleased with it. Maps are extremely accurate, traffic is much better, directions are better and better. Google maps keeps adding more features, so I expect it will someday be the number one choice.

I just bought a new vehicle which supports Android Auto, this will eventually improve to the point that on board vehicle navigation won't be necessary.

Although both Garmin (HERE) and Google Maps have their inaccuracies, in the rural areas I frequent, Garmin beats Google hands down. From some of the comments in this post, what works best depends on where you use your navigation device most.

If you want to pay for a data plan to support it, use Google Maps. If you want to pay handsomely for an in dash nav system and future map updates, hey, go for it. Until they come up with a more cost effective way to navigate, I'll stick with Garmin.

did not know that google is lacking in rural areas.

For me, it would be amazing to know how much time google has saved me on my daily commute over the last 1 1/2 yrs. (I was late to the game, imagine today people still might not use them). I find garmin to be obsolete at this point...as far as data goes, I've heard people say they've driven 4 hours and google maps consumed 20 mb of data. Divide that by 2 assuming folks drive 2 hrs per day to and from work, 10 mb per day, 20 days a month, 200 mb/mo. negligible (now in a metro area 2 hours of driving could be 1/5 of a normal 4 hour drive, so ymmv)

It was great

Garmin Gal wrote:

Does seem to be that Garmin has been going downhill - both in the maps and in software quality - case in poin is the garbage program Garmin Express... sad!

in 2008 and maybe through 2011. But with the "LMT" concept, why stop using it (in 2011 I mean, today many reasons to stop)? If you had a unit prior to 2008, it probably cost > $300.

imho Garmin is going the way of the BlackBerry....even when BlackBerry was no longer the best at what they did, die hards went down with the ship. How many BlackBerry models are offered through Verizon Wireless today?

Garmin GPS

I only keep Garmin gps for backup now. My stepson moved to a new division in Chapel Hill, NC about 5 years ago now, and my Garmin STILL will not find his street, though Google maps has no problem at all. It will take me to the highway just outside his division, but it can't find the names of any street in the area. I have updated my maps numerous times since his house was built, but Garmin still craps out every time I try to find it on my Drive 50 OR my Drive 55. They just can't see that neighborhood. So now I have to get to the cafe on the highway, then turn my phone's Google maps on, and navigate from there. Garmin is just horrible as far as it comes to updating new streets and divisions.

I agree.I have submitted at

I agree.
I have submitted at least 4-5 map corrections to Garmin/Here over the last updates since early 2016 when I did more driving.

Not a single one of them EVER made it to the map, which is still incorrect.

I suspect Garmin has given up the standalone auto GPS, and even though new models do sometimes appear, they are killing the units with inferior maps.

Yes, Google maps, are better, but I just hate using them on my phone, and Android-Auto is not for me. I just don't like it.

My Dad, long since gone, would say "stop complaining and buy some paper maps and an atlas. If only it was that easy.

--
I never get lost, but I do explore new territory every now and then.

Please

PLEASE! Quit blaming Garmin. Garmin does not make the maps!

"HERE" supplies the maps to Garmin. They are the ones to send corrections to. If you send it to Garmin - they just forward it to HERE. Be precise in your location desctiptions. If you get the L/L from Google, be sure to zoom in close so that the L/L is accurate.

Google has plenty of $$$$ and they can afford a large staff to update maps. Google allows businesses to add their own balloon by just clicking on the map, then clicking on the popup and then filling in the blanks. I haven't added one, but I'm sure that they have some way to verify the info.

HERE is a much smaller company and only updates a certain section at a time untill it is complete and then they move on to the next section. The sections vary in size (land) and are determined by the volume of info. On the HERE website there is a way to view what section they are working on and what they are changing/adding - or at least there used to be.

HERE is also losing business because the demand for vehicle GPS devices is falling as the automobile makers are bundling in-dash GPS units with the radio/audio systems - and the in-dash systems aren't all made by Garmin or by a U.S based company. My 2016 Sierra has a Japanese audio system, which by the way has lousy AM radio reception, but great satelitte recption. My 66 Chevelle could get a Cali, Columbia AM station in South America all most every night in the summer. My Sierra has trouble getting an AM station in Norfolk, VA and the FM reception is not as good as my 97 GM pickup that hade a Delco AM/FM radio.

It might if help get a friend (or friends) to notify HERE of the same problem you noticed and reported. Make the wheel squeak a little louder.

--
Metricman DriveSmart 76 Williamsburg, VA

And ...

I haven't experienced the same issues in Europe. All errors I've reported have been actioned. New housing areas and roads are invariably included in the next update. Maybe the US system for highway agencies to report changes is the issue?

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Well...

I sent in a typo, it was fixed the next update. Speed Zones... na-da. There is one section of road to my daughter home that has been listed at 50 KM/H but has been 80 since I started with Garmin in 2015. Have sent in several reports to HERE... na-da. The "Road Ahead" feature is hit and miss. New subdivisions/roads are frequently included with map updates, but once added subsequent changes seldom make it in the next version.

In fairness though.. keeping current is an insurmountable task. And.. I am grateful for what I do get from Garmin/HERE

--
Lives in Edmonton AB A volunteer driver for Drive Happiness.ca and now (since June 20 2021) uses a DS65 to find his clients.

When we moved to our home

When we moved to our home near the end of last year, our road was not included in Garmin or Google, or openstreet map since it was a new road. I contacted Garmin, and google and also updated my road in openstreet maps. Garmin rep contacted me within a month and informed me the new road would be available in their update but might take time depending on when the update would release. Around June-July this year, I found Garmin included my new road in their latest update.

Google maps took more than Garmin (they updated around July this year) to include my road after my repeated reporting.

Openstreet maps took a day or two to review and update my new road entry.

I expected google to update my new road sooner than Garmin, but Garmin did it sooner than Google without me repeating my request.

Happy Camper

Over a 10 year period, my U.S. travels covered 56,000 miles with no map, just Garmin.

I'm a happy camper. Thank you Garmin!

hmmm

RayHff wrote:

Over a 10 year period, my U.S. travels covered 56,000 miles with no map, just Garmin.

I'm a happy camper. Thank you Garmin!

A Garmin with no map?

--
I never get lost, but I do explore new territory every now and then.

On every travel I have two

On every travel I have two map options - car's inbuilt nav or my phone. On long trips I take the garmin with because neither of those options allow for a well defined custom route. That alone makes the garmin well worth it. The phone is a hassle to connect. At least the garmin has a mag mount.

Yesterday I went to microcenter (to get guts for a just under 3 year old pc that died - cpu/board). The inbuilt nav kept wanting me to take the interstate even through I declined it the first time. Throughout the first half of the trip (14 miles), it kept recalculating on nearly every turn.

In all cases, any gps is a tool and nothing more. It still requires a thoughtful driver. Some rely on gps too much - no directional awareness. I will continue using the garmin as it suits my needs.

Garmin maps

I have a 15 year old Garmin. After some hesitation I activated my Jeep's built in GPS- what a mistake. Aside from it having a larger screen and mounted in the dash, I prefer the Garmin in a few ways. I find trying to get an address into the built in GPS a real pain. It is illogical (at least for me) and requires too many inputs. Sometime I feel like I need to tell it how to get me somewhere. A number of times I would just give up on the built in, program the Garmin and go to my destination. Then I would let the built in GPS remember where I am for the future. I also don't know if the built in GPS updates like the Garmin.

All in all, I like traveling with both. The built in has a better screen and easier to see while driving. The Garmin is a great backup for when I give up trying to program the built in. In all fairness, once the built in GPS is programmed I do use that, but I always keep the Garmin just in case. Also, the ability to program POIs, red light, and speed cameras is a big plus on the Garmin.

FWIW Garmin was ahead of Google & Apple

A new interchange on I-275 at Graves Rd was completed about 6 weeks ago. Garmin maps actually showed the exit complete a couple weeks prior to actual opening.
Google and Apple maps were 2 wks after the interchange was completed.

--
DriveLuxe 51, 2017 VW Arteon w MIB3, nüvi 3597LTMHD x 2, 1450 died, 205w retired, iQue first and possibly the best

a good part

A good part of the issue with Garmin updates is the limited storage available within the devices. I get monthly map updates from Here for my vehicle and for just North America they are between 12 and 14 GB in size. I have everything, school zones, speed and red-light cameras, fuel stops that carry diesel as that is the fuel I need, ATM locations and other informational items in addition to all the normal businesses found along any street and road.

Yes, increasing the amount of available storage would be a solution for new units but Garmin also needs to maintain compatibility with older units that can't be upgraded as well. Using external storage can be a solution but some units can't access 16GB so that's of limited help as well.

Garmin has to pare down the map data from Here and in making choices things get pushed off to the side. Base maps showing streets may be updated with new roads on a regional basis rather than everywhere at once. The same goes for other information provided on the raw maps provided from Here. After all, you can't put 13 GB of data into a 32 MB memory, it won't fit!

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.