andyclift
Registered user
A warning for anyone thinking of visiting Eastern Europe. V9 `claims' better mapping of Eastern European countries - but there are BIG problems.
Garmin uses a `basemap' which shows major roads together with `detail' map overlays for most countries that provide the street level mapping. Before V9 most eastern countries only had basemap.
When the software plans a route it uses detail maps when they are available and if they aren't it uses the basemap.
So far so good but in version 9 there are VERY limited basemaps of eastern countries. They actually have a lot LESS detail than the basemap but their inclusion stops the software using the basemap for routes - although they are shown on screen.
As an example, using V8 I planned a route from Zakopane in Poland to Stary Smokovec in Slovakia. Distance about 32 miles. Updated to version 9 and the route is now over 100 miles. Although the original route is on A roads, crosses the border at an official 24 crossing point, is shown on paper maps and web route planning sites, the roads are not on the Garmin detail map.
I have taken this up with Garmin and they maintain that the accuracy of the basemap roads cannot be guaranteed but the detail maps can - so it is an improvement. Personally I can't see how deleting many of a country's major roads because they `may' not be accurate can be considered an improvement.
I have found a work around on the GPS which is to disable the detail maps in the settings menu when planning routes in affected countries. This forces it to use basemap navigation. In Mapsource the only solution I can find is to run both V8 and V9 maps.
Garmin uses a `basemap' which shows major roads together with `detail' map overlays for most countries that provide the street level mapping. Before V9 most eastern countries only had basemap.
When the software plans a route it uses detail maps when they are available and if they aren't it uses the basemap.
So far so good but in version 9 there are VERY limited basemaps of eastern countries. They actually have a lot LESS detail than the basemap but their inclusion stops the software using the basemap for routes - although they are shown on screen.
As an example, using V8 I planned a route from Zakopane in Poland to Stary Smokovec in Slovakia. Distance about 32 miles. Updated to version 9 and the route is now over 100 miles. Although the original route is on A roads, crosses the border at an official 24 crossing point, is shown on paper maps and web route planning sites, the roads are not on the Garmin detail map.
I have taken this up with Garmin and they maintain that the accuracy of the basemap roads cannot be guaranteed but the detail maps can - so it is an improvement. Personally I can't see how deleting many of a country's major roads because they `may' not be accurate can be considered an improvement.
I have found a work around on the GPS which is to disable the detail maps in the settings menu when planning routes in affected countries. This forces it to use basemap navigation. In Mapsource the only solution I can find is to run both V8 and V9 maps.
... d'oh 
