Routing along minor roads

ratman633 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:36 am Post subject: Routing along minor roads

Hi, I'm fast approaching the end of my long term "relationship" with TomTom and am looking closely at Garmin. The only thing bothering me is, I've read in a few places that the Garmin will not route along small country roads preferring to stick to larger roads unless no other options are available.
I need to travel to an area quickly and will then have several visits to make in the that locality that may require the use of small country roads, has anyone had any problems/issues like this?
I had a built in sat nav a few years ago that refused point blank to use minor roads unless there was no other option, and on one regular visit would try to send me on a route that was 6 miles longer than it needed to be just to avoid using a minor road, obviously I don't want a repeat of that situation.

Many Thanks

sussamb · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:47 am Post subject:

You'll find others also complaining that their Garmin routes them down 'small roads' instead of keeping them on the main ones Laughing

Most of the newer Garmins will present you with 2 or 3 options when you create a trip, generally based on fastest or shortest, so that gives you a chance to select which ones you prefer. Alternatively if you know you want to stick to minor routes just select 'shortest' option.

To balance what you've read I find that occasionally I end up on minor roads when I'd have preferred to stick to the major route and vice versa.

CDK · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: Routing along minor roads

ratman633 · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies.
I've ordered a 2598, picking it up on Friday. I'm sure I'll be back with some more questions.

Thanks again.

sussamb · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:29 pm Post subject:

Good choice, IMO the 25x8 series is the best bang for the buck at the moment Very Happy

ratman633 · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:26 pm Post subject:

inspiredron · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:57 pm Post subject:

2598 is EXCELLENT. Just back from 3500mile trip to Southern Spain. Lane guidance is wonderful. "Be in either of the two right hand lanes" on a busy motorway near Madrid at 60mph in a motorhome is invaluable!
However ln one occasion it took me on a 20mile detour near Barcelona and I don't know WHY. My wife was not watching our map closely enough! Satnavs are an aid and not infallible!

mmmjaycee · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 9

recent experience in France, Garmin took us down a small country lane, single track, where the surface was a bit poor and eventually petered out completely leaving a rutted track only the most intrepid in a 4x4 would tackle! And that was set to fastest route, not direct, and included two of us following both using Garmins set to same destination. We then had to back up about half mile to turn around.
Yep, you will see plenty of small country lanes with a Garmin if you follow it with out question..!

sussamb · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:41 pm Post subject:

Never had that experience with five years of Garmin use in France. Do you have avoidance of unpaved roads set?

inspiredron · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:55 pm Post subject:

ratman633 · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 10:58 pm Post subject:

I've not really had a chance to try it yet but so far the test routes I've tried seem okay. Back to work tomorrow so I'll see how I get on. Finding the menus quite strange after many years of using Tomtoms but I'll get used to them.
Is it possible to change what's displayed in the driving view? the time to arrival is okay but I don't find my speed useful. Can't find anything in either the help files or the manual I downloaded about changing it.
I've got a few other questions but I'll leave them for another thread or two.

Thanks

inspiredron · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:19 pm Post subject:

LOts of options instead of arrival time but speed is a fixed item AFAIK. I find it very useful and if you switch on speed alerts you don't need camera data!

Kremmen · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:46 am Post subject:

I can see where you're coming from and in general the speed limit bongs can be useful.

However, I know of roads where the limit has been reduced since I got my Garmin and the road speed limit is 40mph but the camera here is correctly set at 30mph.
_________________
Satnav:
Garmin 2599 LMT-D (Indoor test rig)
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3
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Allan_whoops · Frequent Visitor Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 369

I have a 2598 and seen this since updating to the latest firmware. The Garmin used to be much better than my TomTom at avoiding minor roads but now seems to have the same routing algorithm.

sussamb · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:34 am Post subject:

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