This may be an ongoing question, but have to pose anyway....

My new Nuvi 1450 works well and I have the latest unit software
installed (except for the update map I'm entitled to prior to 14 Oct).
But I'm frustrated by the incredibly lame routing the 1450 provides much
of the time. For example, as I was nearing a paved destination 1 mile
straight ahead of me, the 1450 wanted me to U-turn and go another way
2.5 miles out of my way. Another: as I started a 500 mile route on
Interstate 20 East, the 1450 had me take every ramp exit, then get back
on I-20 later. Note: I've adjusted my Nav settings for faster time and
the "proper" avoidances."

My question: is it the unit software (ver. 5.40) causing this idiotic
routing or the map software. Hopefully it's the map software, since I'm
getting a new one soon!

Are all/most automotive GPS devices like this? Thanks again.

"EW" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:rw1Vp.3386$%(E-Mail Removed)...
> This may be an ongoing question, but have to pose anyway....
>
> My new Nuvi 1450 works well and I have the latest unit software installed
> (except for the update map I'm entitled to prior to 14 Oct). But I'm
> frustrated by the incredibly lame routing the 1450 provides much of the
> time. For example, as I was nearing a paved destination 1 mile straight
> ahead of me, the 1450 wanted me to U-turn and go another way 2.5 miles out
> of my way. Another: as I started a 500 mile route on Interstate 20 East,
> the 1450 had me take every ramp exit, then get back on I-20 later. Note:
> I've adjusted my Nav settings for faster time and the "proper"
> avoidances."
>
> My question: is it the unit software (ver. 5.40) causing this idiotic
> routing or the map software. Hopefully it's the map software, since I'm
> getting a new one soon!
>
> Are all/most automotive GPS devices like this? Thanks again.

I only have a couple of older models - Nuvi 260 and Nuvi 255 -
and never have seen any weirdness like that....

Using a "grid pattern" to go at a diag between 2 points,
it usually finds the fastest segment and then keeps going
until it finds the next fastest X/Y segment, then goes on that.
For me, coming home on I-355,
it has me go PAST my normal exit
and get off at the next exit
because it "thinks" the 50 speed limit on the further 6 lane access
is faster than the 4 lane artery with just 40...

Usually there is some reason - auto vs bike vs ped -

On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:24:48 -0500, EW <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>This may be an ongoing question, but have to pose anyway....
>
>My new Nuvi 1450 works well and I have the latest unit software
>installed (except for the update map I'm entitled to prior to 14 Oct).
>But I'm frustrated by the incredibly lame routing the 1450 provides much
>of the time. For example, as I was nearing a paved destination 1 mile
>straight ahead of me, the 1450 wanted me to U-turn and go another way
>2.5 miles out of my way. Another: as I started a 500 mile route on
>Interstate 20 East, the 1450 had me take every ramp exit, then get back
>on I-20 later. Note: I've adjusted my Nav settings for faster time and
>the "proper" avoidances."
>
>My question: is it the unit software (ver. 5.40) causing this idiotic
>routing or the map software. Hopefully it's the map software, since I'm
>getting a new one soon!
>
>Are all/most automotive GPS devices like this? Thanks again.

As you surmised, this question or topic does come up now and then. I
blame it on less than perfect map data, less than perfect routing
algorithms, and in some cases less than optimal user settings.

I think the bottom line is that you're going to have to take final
responsibility for where you drive. The GPS is but one vote, and it's
a vote you can and sometimes should override.

On 7/18/2011 5:14 PM, Sunshine wrote:

> I think the bottom line is that you're going to have to take final
> responsibility for where you drive. The GPS is but one vote, and it's
> a vote you can and sometimes should override.
>

Excellent reply. However, even if I know where I'm supposed to go, and
since I paid big bucks for a Garmin unit, I should expect destination
solutions that are not so obviously "messed up."

On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:11:19 -0500, EW <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On 7/18/2011 5:14 PM, Sunshine wrote:
>
>> I think the bottom line is that you're going to have to take final
>> responsibility for where you drive. The GPS is but one vote, and it's
>> a vote you can and sometimes should override.
>>
>
>Excellent reply. However, even if I know where I'm supposed to go, and
>since I paid big bucks for a Garmin unit, I should expect destination
>solutions that are not so obviously "messed up."

I agree with you, but the technology isn't quite perfect yet.
Nevertheless, what you described shouldn't be all that common. These
devices are pretty amazing, overall, but they do make mistakes and
that's why I say that the final responsibility lies with you.
Hopefully it will start behaving and will get even better as you get
more familiar with it and especially after you make an upgrade or two.

On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:44:24 -0500, Sunshine wrote:
> I agree with you, but the technology isn't quite perfect yet.
> Nevertheless, what you described shouldn't be all that common. These
> devices are pretty amazing, overall, but they do make mistakes and
> that's why I say that the final responsibility lies with you.
> Hopefully it will start behaving and will get even better as you get
> more familiar with it and especially after you make an upgrade or two.

That's what TrafficTrends fixes. You drive a road a few times, it learns
how fast you can typically drive on it at a particular time of day, and
it uses that information to weight it's routing choices.

But the OP's 1450 doesn't have that...

--
8. After I kidnap the beautiful princess, we will be married
immediately in a quiet civil ceremony, not a lavish spectacle in
three weeks' time during which the final phase of my plan will be
carried out. --Peter Anspach's Evil Overlord list

On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:44:24 -0500,
Sunshine <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:11:19 -0500, EW <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>On 7/18/2011 5:14 PM, Sunshine wrote:
>>
>>> I think the bottom line is that you're going to have to take
>>> final responsibility for where you drive. The GPS is but one
>>> vote, and it's a vote you can and sometimes should override.
>>
>>Excellent reply. However, even if I know where I'm supposed to
>>go, and since I paid big bucks for a Garmin unit, I should
>>expect destination solutions that are not so obviously "messed
>>up."
>
> I agree with you, but the technology isn't quite perfect yet.
> Nevertheless, what you described shouldn't be all that common.
> These devices are pretty amazing, overall, but they do make
> mistakes and that's why I say that the final responsibility lies
> with you.

Also, as ps56k suggested, make sure you have the routing options
set correctly (e.g., not avoiding interstates, or routing for
pedestrians).

--
Theodore (Ted) Heise <(E-Mail Removed)> Bloomington, IN, USA

EW <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> This may be an ongoing question, but have to pose anyway....
>
> My new Nuvi 1450 works well and I have the latest unit software
> installed (except for the update map I'm entitled to prior to 14 Oct).
> But I'm frustrated by the incredibly lame routing the 1450 provides much
> of the time. For example, as I was nearing a paved destination 1 mile
> straight ahead of me, the 1450 wanted me to U-turn and go another way
> 2.5 miles out of my way. Another: as I started a 500 mile route on
> Interstate 20 East, the 1450 had me take every ramp exit, then get back
> on I-20 later. Note: I've adjusted my Nav settings for faster time and
> the "proper" avoidances."
>
> My question: is it the unit software (ver. 5.40) causing this idiotic
> routing or the map software. Hopefully it's the map software, since I'm
> getting a new one soon!
>
> Are all/most automotive GPS devices like this? Thanks again.

Like many GPS users have mentioned before that we the users just need to
use little of our own brain to work with the GPS which is a THINGS
programmed by human.

GPS is just a toy helping us to get from one point to other, it does help
quite a bit but just like us it's not perfect so it does make mistake.

EW <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On 7/18/2011 5:14 PM, Sunshine wrote:
>
> > I think the bottom line is that you're going to have to take final
> > responsibility for where you drive. The GPS is but one vote, and it's
> > a vote you can and sometimes should override.
> >
>
> Excellent reply. However, even if I know where I'm supposed to go, and
> since I paid big bucks for a Garmin unit, I should expect destination
> solutions that are not so obviously "messed up."

For that kind of useful toy we don't pay it enough for its work. The GPS
is get much cheaper these days comparing to over a decade ago I paid
more/less $1000 for the much simpler model.

To me, just one or few long trips should worth the money.

"Joel" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
> For that kind of useful toy we don't pay it enough for its work. The GPS
> is get much cheaper these days comparing to over a decade ago I paid
> more/less $1000 for the much simpler model.

A couple of years ago, I mentioned here that GPS will be under $100 soon. I
was ridiculed by a couple of people. I chuckle every time I see them
advertised for $69.

It may not be perfect, but it is really fantastic technology at a very
reasonable price.