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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2003 2:17 pm Post subject: GPS V teething troubles!
Hi all,
Just bought a Garmin GPS V and very impressed with it so far! Just a couple of small concerns with it that I hope somebody can help me with!
1) A couple of times I have been driving and it's said I've gone off route, when I haven't at all. I've had good reception (4 or 5 satellites, 20ft accuracy) - what gives!?
The strangest one was when it was in demo mode and I was sitting indoors as it was driving a route. It got to a roundabout where it was supposed to turn left, and it took a wrong turn - ie, the left just before the roundabout! It then asked if I wanted to recalculate, to which I said no. The thing just wandered around south London randomly until I recalculated!!!
2) When I'm coming up to a junction, the "distance to turn" field never seems to get closer than 60 feet or so, and after I've turned it says "0ft" for 5 seconds or so afterwards - is this normal? I assume it doesn't need calibrating!?
3) Earlier it missed out a turn - it was displayed on the screen, but didn't beep and didn't show it in closeup.
Mostly minor little things - just want to make sure it's working properly!
Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12 Posts: 2946 Location: Escaped to the Antipodies! 36.83°S 174.75°E
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:39 pm Post subject: Re: GPS V teething troubles!
Panic wrote:
1) A couple of times I have been driving and it's said I've gone off route, when I haven't at all. I've had good reception (4 or 5 satellites, 20ft accuracy) - what gives!?
The strangest one was when it was in demo mode and I was sitting indoors as it was driving a route. It got to a roundabout where it was supposed to turn left, and it took a wrong turn - ie, the left just before the roundabout! It then asked if I wanted to recalculate, to which I said no. The thing just wandered around south London randomly until I recalculated!!!
2) When I'm coming up to a junction, the "distance to turn" field never seems to get closer than 60 feet or so, and after I've turned it says "0ft" for 5 seconds or so afterwards - is this normal? I assume it doesn't need calibrating!?
3) Earlier it missed out a turn - it was displayed on the screen, but didn't beep and didn't show it in closeup.
Hi,
1. Sometimes the maps are not as accurate as they should be and the map it has loaded doesn't correspond with reality. This is especially bad if you are using the built-in basemap without mapsource maps loaded. The basemap can be 500 yards off in places and will show you as "off route" when you are on a motorway that you can't possibly drive off.
This can also happen if you have poor satelite reception (although this wasn't the case in your situation).
You just have to ignore it.
As for the demo mode, that is wacky! 8O Hold down the "Enter" button on your GPS as you power it on and check which firmware you have loaded. I think the latest is v2.3 so you may want to upgrade it (see Garmin's website and make sure your batteries are fully charged before you start).
2. The distance to the turn is the distance to the center of the intersection, not to the double white lines you stop at. This is especially evident on motorways where the slip road might be a 1/2 a mile long.
The mapsource maps are generally quite accurate, but you can't modify or calibrate them in any way. Your GPS is normally accurate to within 20 feet and Mapsource is also accurate to within 20 feet or so, so sometimes it will show you as further away than you are.
Generally, any distance less than 100 feet means "right here".
The Mapsource maps do contain mistakes though. If have just brought your GPS-V and you got City Select Europe v4 then check with Garmin to see if you can get a free upgrade to City Select Europe v5 (the CD with the maps on it, not just the updated Mapsource Program) which is much more up-to-date. This is available for a limited time...
Yes, it is supposed to show 0ft for a few seconds after you have made the turn. This is so you can see that you have taken the right road - this is most useful when you are going through roundabouts.
3. Sometimes what you think is a turn is not the same as what the GPS thinks is a turn. For example, if you are on a major road which has a 90 degree bend in it with a side road going off it then this may or may not be flagged as a turn.
Generally it will err on the side of caution and flag the turn though.
Enjoy your GPS-V. They have a lot of cool features, I was still discovering new ones after having mine for 3 months!
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