garmin 350lm not routing correctly

[shay]

I have a Garmin 350lm which will not route correctly. Selecting fastest route should keep me on major roads but it directs me onto local roads, example:

Rathdrum, Wicklow to Avoca, Wicklow should direct me along the R752. The gps sends me along a local road at first.

This would be the shortest route, not the fastest, screen grabs from google maps:

There are other examples I can give but this is the easiest to replicate.

I own a 2610 and a nuvi 1370, both will route me correctly along the R752. It seems that the algorithm for calculating fastest route ranks Irish "Local" roads with the same priority as "Regional" roads.

I've had a long, protracted, email thread with Garmin over this and Garmin refuse to acknowledge this issue.

Can some 350lm owners please plot a route from Rathdrum, Wicklow to Avoca, Wicklow using fastest route and see if the route sticks to teh R752 or if they are directed along the local road at the start of the route?

Another example:

Fastest route Lisdoonvarna to Dublin:

Route according to 350lm:

I would like to know if others have had this issue? The 350 is fine when close to motorways / national routes, it will select the correct fastest route but when I get into a network of regional and local roads, I end up on boreens.

The google maps app on my iPhone will route me correctly but this gps can't.

I am thinking about exchanging it for a 660 or similar as it is driving me daft !!

 

[russ996duke]

the 660 is just as bad if not worse!!!

its basically garmin making things complicated as possible to try and preserve their USP and cocking even the basics up completely!

I will show my pal this thread, he thinks the lm must be better coz its newer!

 

[shay]

I reported this on navteq's site ... perhaps they will fix it.. but I doubt it.

It's strange how two older Garmin gps and a free iPhone app will route me correctly but this pos won't and it's infuriating when I'm told by Garmin support that a gps is an aid to navigation only and they can't be responsible for miscalculated routes.

Garmin have definitely grown into a corporation who don't care about their products. Unfortunately, all they seem to care about is their share price and profits.

It's a far cry from their launch of the streetpilot / 2610 where they actively looked for feedback from bikers and built a great product.

/end of rant

 

[microphonemike]

350 & Mapsource v Basecamp & Google Maps

My 350 (CNE NTU 2014.10, software version 3.50, fastest route, no avoidances) and Mapsource (same map and settings) route on the minor roads and join the R752 at Ashton House. Basecamp (same map and settings) and Google Maps (as you know) route on the R752 all the way.

The first route is 400m shorter than the second. I guess the back roads must be much slower than the main road, otherwise you wouldn't have an issue.

Mike

 

[shay]

My 350 (CNE NTU 2014.10, software version 3.50, fastest route, no avoidances) and Mapsource (same map and settings) route on the minor roads and join the R752 at Ashton House. Basecamp (same map and settings) and Google Maps (as you know) route on the R752 all the way.

The first route is 400m shorter than the second. I guess the back roads must be much slower than the main road, otherwise you wouldn't have an issue.

Mike

Hi Mike,

The smaller (L) roads are much slower and, in certain places, boreens with grass in the middle of the road:

I expect to hit these roads if I select shortest route but not when selecting fastest. Garmin have told me the gps is working correctly, that the route is correct,

I emailed navteq also but don't really expect a change.

It means I have to plot a route more carefully, note the main roads I want to use and ignore the gps when it tries to send me down the smaller roads.

I wonder if the maps in England / europe are properly graded?

 

[Wapping]

Hi Mike,

The smaller (L) roads are much slower and, in certain places, boreens with grass in the middle of the road:

But, if their speed limit is the same as the fully metalled alternative road and the total route 400 meters shorter distance A to B, the device will (quite logically) assume that the lesser road is the one to take.

It means I have to plot a route more carefully, note the main roads I want to use and ignore the gps when it tries to send me down the smaller roads.

Life's a bitch, ain't it.

But cheer up. You have now realised that you can always ignore the dumb device's instructions, to rely instead on the evidence of your own eyes and your finely tuned senses.

 

[shay]

But, if their speed limit is the same as the fully metalled alternative road and the total route 400 meters shorter distance A to B, the device will (quite logically) assume that the lesser road is the one to take.




Life's a bitch, ain't it.

But cheer up. You have now realised that you can always ignore the dumb device's instructions, to rely instead on the evidence of your own eyes and your finely tuned senses.

I understand your logic but a 2610, cheap nuvi, iPhone & google maps all choose the correct route. They don't route me onto "L" roads when fastest route is selected.

 

[shay]

I installed the latest map update to the 350 and, fingers crossed, it is now routing correctly.

 

[Ali-bear]

Don't worry they will have broken something else in the map update.