How do you plan a short but fast route?

jweaver · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 135

I needed to get from South to North wales and wanted to go via the A470 (i.e striaght up).

I tried the fastest route and it took me on the A-roads via Oswestry.. Whilst this may have been the 'fastest', it wasn't the one I wanted.

So, I did "Calculate Alternative" and this time it went via the M5.. Again, no doubt that its fast, but not the route I wanted.

So, i then tried "Shortest" and vola, it gave me a route via the A470 EXECPT, it literally was the 'shortest', so it also took me via lots of little roads to shave a few feet/yards of the route..

So, the shortest route was closer to what I wanted, but it really was the shortest and wasn't any good.

What I needed was a "Direct" Route.. Something which was short, but also fast..

Is there any way to do this? The only option I can think of is to use the "Fastest" route, but then go "via" something (perhaps the A470).. Thinking about it.. That IS the way isn't it? Do a fast route and then browse the map, select the road you want and do "Travel Via"..

Why didn't I think of this before?? Is this the only way, or has anyone else come up with anything??

I have sent a mail to TomTom asking for them to consider adding a "Direct" route in the list of "Route Types", but I can't imagine that they are interested in my (or anyones) suggestions!

Jon

Oldboy · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:10 pm Post subject:

TT5 can do only one 'Via'. If that doesn't do the trick, how about using the Itinerary Function and select several points on the A470?
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julianbarker · Lifetime Member Joined: Apr 12, 2005 Posts: 431

How about setting the speed to less than 60 MPH in max speed (so it avoids the M5) then try the alternative route and see if it can do one that you want.

LiveLifeGoJump · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:59 pm Post subject:

I have been unhappy about this topic since getting TTN3, we need a best compromise option that will pick out the shortest route BUT avoid all the rat runs, back lane & dirt tracks etc.

OVER TO YOU TOMTOM (but I could grow old & die waiting).
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jweaver · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 135

I think my suggestion of selecting a 'road' and doing "Travel Via" would work, unless TomTom still felt that it was still faster to go the 'long/fast' route and also via the road I wanted.

In my case, I am sure it would have worked, as once you set 'via A470', there would be no other choice, but to do the whole route along the A470.

I have writen to TomTom about this and my fingers are crossed, they will take note.

Jon

realistic · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:50 pm Post subject:

Try
Preferences
Planning Preferences
Only avoiding Motorways
Then Fastest route.
Mike

jweaver · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 135

This is TT5 I am talking about.. I don't think that there is a PREFERENCES->PLANNING option.

In TT5, you can choose a route which is "Avoid Motorway".. However, this wouldn't work either, as the first route is an "A Road" route which isn't the one I want.

Jon

Maxi · Regular Visitor Joined: Jan 06, 2005 Posts: 147

MGBc · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:55 pm Post subject:

It definitely needs a 'sensible' route setting or something, I wanted to get from Ripon to an address in Southport recently, I ended up having to set 6 itinerary points and an 'avoid' to get TT5 to do a route using the full length of the M65, 'fastest' took me south on the M62 then through Liverpool and 'shortest' was just silly.

Maxi · Regular Visitor Joined: Jan 06, 2005 Posts: 147

realistic · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks Maxi didn't explain too well Embarassed

LiveLifeGoJump · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject:

Trouble is that the pocket PC platform we are running Tomtom on has limited program/working memory and to get TTN5 to work in it & still leave room for other programs to run some usful features will be missed out (others will just not have been though or or ignored by Tomtom).

I could live without the shortest (I think most of us could) option could be left out as it uses whatever roads it can to shave yards of the route making the time unrealisticly long. Even the walking route would not be a miss as this does not take you the shortest walking way but the shortest driving route.

All in all the only practical route planning method is the quickest. In order to put vias in you need to know that the route planned is not the best, in which case you don't realy need Tomtom to calulate the route till you get onto roads you do not know.
_________________
If riding in a plane is flying then riding in a boat is swimming. If you want to experience the feeling
GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE

jean · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 150

I used it to try and get from Bristol up to North wales and wanted to go up the A49 but it really didnt let me do it. I tried everything I could and ended up putting a town en route but it still took me part way up the M5 then turned me across to the A49 - very frustrating.

GPS_Elf · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 18, 2005 Posts: 5

Surely, if you want to use a particular road, then plan a route and once you are on the road you want and TT tells you to deviate from it, ignore the command. Then TT will realise and re-calculate. Or have you got the auto-driver version of TT? Laughing

jean · Regular Visitor Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 150

I did try this method a couple of times, but it just kept telling me to turn around when possible and headed me back to the M5!

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