£450.00 Of Junk

[ferret79]

Having had this TOMTOM 2 for 3 weeks it didn't take long to find it out. It takes me upto 6 miles out of my way purposely because (1) it wants to stick to the main roads. Yes you can plan your route with a via point but you cannot save the route (with the via point) to favourites or a poi as it defaults to THE LONGEST WAY ROUND again. The software is 4.42, so its up to date, i'm getting to the point were it is about to get hurled out of the car window, these things are supposed to be to save you time in travelling but how can they when they can add up to 6 miles to your journey, i dont normally complain but this is rediculous, anyone else got this problem, replies please.

[stix]

It not intended to save you time when travelling... it's meant to get you from A to B when you don't know the way. If you know a route, and know which way is quickest, why use the TTG? That's not what it's designed for!

[bestyman]

Hi,
I assume that you have a tomtom GO. Have you tried using the "calculate alternative" feature? ( touch screen>find alternative>calculate alternative)
I have found that the first route that tomtom comes up with may not be the shortest but is usually the fastest, obviously because on main roads you can do 50-70 mph but on back streets you are usually limited to 30 with many junctions etc.
The second /3rd route that tomtom comes up with is shorter but takes a longer time. It even compares the alternative route with the original in both time and distance.
I admit that the tomtom is not perfect but it always gets you there and when I am in a strange town I would rather stick to main roads anyhow as it makes for an easier life.
You could always drive the route that you know best and then just use the tomtom to find the final destination.
When your gonna throw it out of the window please let me know and I will happily catch it and give it a loving home.
Hope this helps
Mark

[ferret79]

I do realise your comments stix but i only know the route by looking it up on a map, the tomtom took me 6 miles out of my way to get there (and this happens time and time again on other routes) when it could have taken me a "shorter" way when it refuses to do so. For £450.00 i expect something a little better than that sorry- no offence intented. I know that users Knock GARMIN for being pricey but they dont suffer from this problem - i know this cause i used to own one. I know what i'm going back to.

[gingernut777]

As bestyman says, you haven't used "calculate alternative"

I've had a TTG since it came out, and even where i know the route, i use "Alternative", and it's shown me an even QUICKER way.

It's possible that TomTom maybe including this fastest/shortest route in an update.
_________________
Using an A to Z
Sextant & Compass

[Sniff]

[ferret79]

Thanks 4 all the replies lads but having done a re-calculation on some routes as you have all advised (and which i have previosely done) the GO has still taken me miles out of my way, even when i have given it a helping hand by creating "a via point" on a "A ROAD" GO still ignors it and gives the route that it thinks fit.

[Patrick_uk]

My 2p worth.....
TTG doesn't know what vehicle you are driving. If you were driving a 40 tonne truck and TTG directed you through a housing estate because it was the shortest route, you would NOT be happy. I've only had my TTG one week but I'm sure there isn't an option the aviod width restrictions and/or weak bridges and things like that.

Patrick

PS I paid £360 for mine...... :D

[ferret79]

Yep i do drive artics for a living and would be very happy for the GO to direct me down an "A" road if it were the shortest route as for "A" roads they are surely big enough to accomodate housing estates as you mention. The point is this; All i want is value for money not an article of point scoreing. No Offence intented.

[stix]

I guess the route customisation is not flexible enough for you then I think TT Navigator 3 or whatever it is on PDA has much more in the way of options for tailoring how routes are calculated.

Perhaps this will come in future software updates for TTGo.

(BTW.... I assume that the 6 miles longer route was not actually quicker??? )

[SGR1913]

out of curiosity try using www.viamichelin.com which uses maps from the same source as the TTGO (Teleatlas). Does this take you the same route as your TTGO, also the website has options for fastest route etc.
If this gives you the same route, then any GPS using Teleatlas is likely to have the same issue.

[gingernut777]

[ferret79]

Thanks for the website Gingernut (most instructive) my route is....Whitmore Park Poad...Coventry..///// destination is Balsall street East ... Solihull.. the route that came up on the website is the route that i needed (and expected) if not a similar one..TTG. dont even recognise it . TTG wants to take me through "MERIDEN AND PACKINGTON" to get to the same place (Balsall St. East) . Thanks again. But this is only just 1 route i found to have problems, It also told me to "turn around when possible" when half way down the M6 when going from Coventry to Birmingham. Think this TTG needs a bit of brain surgery or could it be Jane!!!!!!. Thanks again for trying to help. Not going to go on about Garmin but it never gave me these probs, ..You dont realise what youve had untill you replace it.....................

[sgould]

What car are you driving. Is the signal weak because of location in your car? You may need an external aerial.

This won't help the planning, but TTG may have got lost on the motorway if you have a weak signal.

[ferret79]

rover 75

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