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Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject: Note To TomTom: Please Fix Your Routing Engine
I've been studying, reviewing, and comparing gps units for a couple months now in preparation for a purchase. I compared everything from interface, maps, features, and the implementation of said features. After weighing the pros and cons of what I consider the 3 major players in the game (Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan), I decided on TomTom. I fealt that after weighing all the differnt abilities of all the devices, The Go 720 was the best bang for the buck at $348.
I feel the TomTom GUI is clean, clear and easy to view. Compared to Garmin, which I feel looks like my 5 year old son got a hold of some magic markers and went to town. Magellan has a nice interface, but the implemenation of their features left it in a distance third.
I fealt the amount of features per dollar is where TomTom really shines. There units are packed with great features. The other two...well..just aren't. That all being said, I guess I tried to explain away the one flaw TomTom has, their routing engine.
I read all the reviews, and tried to draw my own conclu...err excuse why it wouldn't be the same with me because I'd figure out a way for it to work (routing engine issues). I was blinded by the beauty of the device and all the rich features it had. As much as I still try I can't, in good conscience, "explain away" all the routing issues the TomTom engine has in it. So this is my Christmas wish for TomTom. Please...PLEASE fix your routing engine so that we all can enjoy your beautiful devices.
An example for those who might doubt. I live in Northern Alabama, about an hour from Birmingham. Yesterday I went to dinner at PF Chang's at the Summit in Birmingham. Since I've only been there a couple of times I figured this was a great chance to use my new Go 720. Well I knew as much to know that I needed to stay on 65 South, and then head East on 20 once I reach Birmingham. Well the TT routing engine thought differently wanting me to get off well north of Birmingham and then using a secondary highway for the last 1/4 of the trip. This would take me through the heart of Birmingham...not the best route to take to say the least.
Is it the fastest route? Well maybe in theory, but not in practice. A simple feature that allows us to use higways as much as possible would fix this.
Another thing I noticed, and others can try. I decided to demo the route, and just see where it had me going. Hey TomTom, your routing engine will get me a ticket is I stay on schedule!!! All throughout the route demo the unit runs at speeds ABOVE the speed limit!!!
Joined: 03/05/2003 14:45:49 Posts: 3999 Location: leyland lancs ENGLAND
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:
the demo runs fast so your not sat there for 2 hours if the want to demo a long route you would want to try at those speeds as for the routing is yes in theorey it is faster then it is doing the righ thing its instructions are to b used as advice if you know a beter way then take you better route sooner or later it will catch up with you _________________ currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .
Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl
the demo runs fast so your not sat there for 2 hours if the want to demo a long route you would want to try at those speeds as for the routing is yes in theorey it is faster then it is doing the righ thing its instructions are to b used as advice if you know a beter way then take you better route sooner or later it will catch up with you
I know the demos run faster. So if what you are saying is true then if I set the demo speed to 100% it should not go above the speed limit. Well I tried that and it does still go 5 miles above the speed limit.
As for whether or not I should take a better route if I know it or not, I think that's an excuse. I shouldn't have to make that guess. The logic and AI should be built into the system
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject:
ajsasr wrote:
I know the demos run faster. So if what you are saying is true then if I set the demo speed to 100% it should not go above the speed limit. Well I tried that and it does still go 5 miles above the speed limit.
The Demo mode is not limited to the speed limit so whatever speed it decides to use is of little importance, Demo mode can be used to show you the route through a complex city road network prior to you encountering in, but in reality it is best left alone for the shops to use running demo routes automatically all day.
ajsasr wrote:
As for whether or not I should take a better route if I know it or not, I think that's an excuse. I shouldn't have to make that guess. The logic and AI should be built into the system
If you know best ignore the sat Nav, local knowledge will always defeat the little grey box, however what happens when you are wanting to get to an unknown destination, OK it might not be the very best route (using local knowledge) but if you don't have this local knowledge the device will still get you to where you need to be, add in the speed camera warnings and POI categories to locate food/ fuel stops in remote locations where at times you have probably never been before....... - Mike
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 14902 Location: Keynsham
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:02 am Post subject:
mikealder wrote:
what happens when you are wanting to get to an unknown destination, OK it might not be the very best route (using local knowledge) but if you don't have this local knowledge the device will still get you to where you need to be
Very true - and I speak from experience - I drive in excess of 5,000 miles a month, always from A to B, with A being wherever I'm starting out from and B being wherever somebody sends me. From time to time, I go to somewhere I've been before, but usually it's somewhere new, where I don't have local knowledge. And even so, who can be SURE of local knowledge - for a long time, I've used a particular route to a local pickup point in town. One day, I decided, just for kicks to follow my TomTom instead. I was amazed that it took me a faster route through the centre of town and have adopted that route ever since! It's not always right, but it's so good I have recently stopped carrying a big box full of paper street maps (something like thirty of them). _________________ Dennis
Joined: Nov 25, 2004 Posts: 344 Location: DFW, Texas, USA
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:35 am Post subject:
Hiya, TomTom! (shush, I know)
Please be advised that it is not recommended to go 65mph over Country Roads, even though they are listed as Country Highway in your database. Assuming otherwise will lead to seriously effed up routing. KTHXBAI.
what happens when you are wanting to get to an unknown destination, OK it might not be the very best route (using local knowledge) but if you don't have this local knowledge the device will still get you to where you need to be
Very true - and I speak from experience - I drive in excess of 5,000 miles a month, always from A to B, with A being wherever I'm starting out from and B being wherever somebody sends me. From time to time, I go to somewhere I've been before, but usually it's somewhere new, where I don't have local knowledge. And even so, who can be SURE of local knowledge - for a long time, I've used a particular route to a local pickup point in town. One day, I decided, just for kicks to follow my TomTom instead. I was amazed that it took me a faster route through the centre of town and have adopted that route ever since! It's not always right, but it's so good I have recently stopped carrying a big box full of paper street maps (something like thirty of them).
A very good point. You will eventually get to point B, and that's my big struggle. I love my Go 720. The only other alternative in my mind is the Nuvi 660. But that means another 165 dollars for in my mind an inferior product when it comes to features and GUI. And to add another layer to this, just because a 400 to 500 mile route looks better on paper (or screen for that matter), doesn't mean once you start down the road it will be better. Decisions, decisions...
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 14902 Location: Keynsham
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:46 am Post subject:
I tried a Nuvi 660FM and decided it was exactly as you said - designed by a five year old with a new box of magic markers and the interface just didn't come anywhere near the TT720.
Simply remember you're dealing with a computer here - tell it to use highways and it will use highways, tell it to go fastest route and it will do exactly that. All according to the information - the map data - available to it. The map data does not include information that some routes will be a nightmare when school's out or on a national holiday weekend.
OK, so I haven't tried anything else (except the ill fated Nuvi for one day), but my experiences for the last two and a half years with Tom Tom GO devices has been great and I have enormous confidence in them. If I got "it" right as often as they do, I'd be well pleased.
When I get rich, I'll come to the USA and hire a car with a TomTom GO and hope to drive through beautiful roads like the picture above. _________________ Dennis
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