GPS FORUM

> I am staggered at such bad results. Have we been incredibly unlucky in
> finding two errors in our first few days of use - or is the Garmin
> mapping (or routing algorithm) seriously dodgy?

> I bought my wife a Garmin 510 (with Trafficmaster) just before
> Christmas. Weve checked for updated maps - ours are seemingly the latest.
>
> In many areas, the unit comes up with very sensible results, but in two,
> simple, rural areas that we know well, it produces ludicrous routes - so
> bad that I wouldnt trust it in an area that I didnt know (which, of
> course, is the whole point of the thing).
>
> ERROR 1: Cumbria
>
> Heading for Ambleside from Kendal on the direct A591, the unit wanted to
> send us northwards at the village of Ings. It was really keen on doing
> this - even after ignoring the first right turn, it recalculated and
> tried to get us to take the next right.
>
> The snag is that there are only two conceivable routes between Ings and
> Ambleside: the direct A591, or a very long detour via the top of the
> Kirkstone Pass (at an altitude of nearly 1500 feet). This is a
> ridiculous detour at any time except when the main road is seriously
> jammed - which happens for an hour or two on peak summer days only.
>
> Ignoring the instructions, the unit quite happily tracked our
> (traffic-free) progress along the A591, so it isnt as if it didnt know
> there was a direct route. What was it playing at?
>
> ERROR 2: Derbyshire
>
> Heading to Buxton from Ashbourne, there is a direct (and mostly very
> straight) main road, the A515. The Garmin was rather keen that we went
> via the village of Alstonefield, several miles off the main road. I like
> Alstonefield very much, but not when trying to get from Ashbourne to
> Buxton. The unit was so keen on the Alstonefield diversion that it was
> urging diversions in that direction even as we approached the centre of
> Buxton.
>
> I am staggered at such bad results. Have we been incredibly unlucky in
> finding two errors in our first few days of use - or is the Garmin
> mapping (or routing algorithm) seriously dodgy?
>

>I bought my wife a Garmin 510 (with Trafficmaster) just before Christmas.
>Weve checked for updated maps - ours are seemingly the latest.
>
> ERROR 1: Cumbria
>
> Heading for Ambleside from Kendal on the direct A591, the unit wanted to
> send us northwards at the village of Ings.

> ERROR 2: Derbyshire
>
> Heading to Buxton from Ashbourne, there is a direct (and mostly very
> straight) main road, the A515. The Garmin was rather keen that we went via
> the village of Alstonefield, several miles off the main road.