I'm not impressed with the new 2010 NT EU Maps

Updated my Zumo 550 a couple of weeks ago now, and have been using it on
routes I do fairly regularly. Whereas the route I used was exactly as the
Zumo chose and would be the fastest/most efficient one, the new maps routing
sends me off in the most weirdest of directions.
Very odd routing off the M25 (UK) using A & B roads that are a long way from
what I would have expected.
I've checked my settings and all is correct, nothing changed from previous.
Today, I borrowed a colleagues Zumo, that has also been updated, and that
too sends me way off of the direction I should be going.
So, IMHO, it looks like the road priority calculation used for routing is
screwed.
I'm looking at restoring the old mapset now, as it "works"!!

Any body else find this an issue?

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

Nope. Are you using the latest firmware? Does the route come out
different using mapsource? Can you give me an example to try?

 

Everything is up to date, according to the Garmin website.
Mapsource does a lot of things differently to the Zumo.
Route today, was to Thames ditton from Saffron Walden
Started off by trying to send me up the A1M, I stayed on the M25, then
messed me about all the way until I made my usual turn on to the A3 where it
finally decided the "correct" route.
Although when you look at the route on Mapsource, it seems the most direct
way, it most certainly is not the fastest!!
Before updating the maps, it "always" sent me the way I would normally go,
hence I use that route, which would be the M25, A3 and then wiggle through
the last couple of miles.
Coming back was even more erratic!

Had a chat with a Cabbie friend, and the route he suggested straight away
was my usual one via the A3.

At my first guess, I would say that the code crunchers have changed the road
timings and priorities. The did this with an earlier set of maps, and then
at the next update it all changed back again properly.

This is not the only route that it has changed from previous, but every one!
It didn't like the idea of me coming home on Sunday via Finchingfield, not
that I could fault that really as the place was jammed with bikes to the
point that getting on the Samford Road proved a navigation nightmare! )
(not the GPS Fault on this occasion!)

It's not unusable, but it is bloody annoying when it tells you a different
route and not a better one, from what it's been telling you for the last
couple of years or so!

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

It was able to recognise both the roads in Scotland then...

That reminds me, I better magic you some money

 

Mapsource says the way it tried to send you takes 1h 32m and via the
A3 takes 1h 39m. Googlemaps has little difference between the two
routes. You'd need to time both routes yourself a number of times to
have any idea which actually is the quicker - and of course the answer
may differ bewteen bike and car.

I'm sure you're right. And UK roads always seem to cause timing
problems for Garmin and/or their map supplier.

"Better" is in the eye of the beholder. Anyway, GPS is only for
guidance. If you have a favourite route why not save it in the Zumo
and use it?

 

Without a doubt, on all counts.
Shame it's got a little cock-eyed coz it used to be very reliable. Things
will back to "normal" in the release, no doubt.

TBH with the code crunchers efforts, it may only take one road to have been
miss-calculated on either a speed limit or distance issue to screw up the
maths.

I'll keep a keen eye on it for a while.

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

<snip>

Oh great, I hope the 2010.1 US maps are better, otherwise I'll be
getting lost near Mickey Mouse a-fucking-gain tomorrow.

You'd think I would have sussed out how to get from Orlando to the
parents in law's place by now without either getting stuck in downtown
Orlando or accidentally going via Cape Canaveral...

 

those trailer parks all look the same...

 

Indeed, and it's flatter than the Norfolk broads, too.

 

Hope you've got a commode

 

Biggest issue is why bother using it on a route you already know?

 

Sometimes I may be in thought and the GPS speaking up reminds me my exit is
approaching.

 

So that when you're using it on a route you don't know, you'll have
confidence in it calculating correctly?

--
Owen McKenzie
Posting from Pigeon Forge, TN

As soon as you see the light at the end of the tunnel along comes a
gov't program to lengthen the tunnel!

 

I find it useful for being able to answer the "how long before you get
home" question without having to think. And now I've got the Scraggy
insert thingy, it tells me when there's hold ups en route too.

Anyway, you can only record a high score when it's switched on, and if
it's switched on you might as well keep it busy.

BTW, currently the main to boxes are showing as follows:
2610 = 125
Zumo = 119

 

It's always handy as an aid. Timing etc should I need to let the customer
have an updated ETA. It's also very handy, should I need to detour in a
hurry for whatever reason.
Oh, and the speed cam warnings are pretty useful too ;o)

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

OK, OK, all very good reasons ... which I obviously hadn't thought of
....


<small voice>
You're all bastards ...
</sv>

 

Except that Garmin's timings in the UK are well known to be
optimistic, so you need to be used to its standard error before you
can use for this purpose.

 

Oo my, I seem to have been promoted from a ****...
But then, maybe??

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

I can't agree with this.
I normally find that the Garmin is uncannily correct, if you stick or get
the opportunity, to stick to the speed limits.
Take traffic [1] out of the equation and it's bloody good.

[1] It's also bloody good if it get's the right info from the GTM, but that
in itself, can be fucking _way_off!

 

Garmin times are the tightest out of the four different sat navs I've
owned and you've got to be either living in a dreamworld or constantly
breaking the law to hit them.