Navigation in 2006

[blue2006]

Last night i was heading to a friends house after work. I knew the way to get to this house from MY house, but i figured it woul dbe easier and quicker to go dirct from where my car was parked in queens, basically Queens to Rockville Center.
SO i plug the address into the nav and select the first route. This route took me 2 hours beczause it had me on local roads through a few hundred lights as opposed to highways etc.
this is not the first time this has happened, i was really late and quite frustrated by the time i got there...
What are the programming options to check for in order to force the navi to pick better routes?

 

[007Runner]

At this time technologically speaking, the navigation systems available today are no match for a person that knows the local area. They do a good to excellent job usually, but a person living locally will know better, faster or quicker routes.

From what I have read about the future of navigation systems, in about 10 to 20 years they are supposed to be just as good as if you were to ask a local person for directions. Major advancements in this technology for navigation systems are coming, they just are not saying exactly when.

On your navigation screen you can select fastest, shortest, routes, highway or no highways tolls. No way of knowing which route may really be best because the navigation systems of today have only so much technology.

 

[Michaelj945]

Navigation issues

You do have to set it up to allow Highways. That will clear up most of your problems.

First step is to set the address that you wish to go to...follow this untill the ladies voice say to proceed to highlighted route. Now press Route on the screen a window should pop up....There should be a button on the screen that says Route Preference, press that...then choose Allow Freeway.

That should clear up most of your problems...You should also be able to choose from 3 differant routes.

Thanks

 

[abin]

i don't think there is a perfect route for every one, at least for now.
you take same route nav provide. in the morning, it is great since there is no traffic, but in the evening, it is jammed with all kinds of traffic. so one single dvd with static routing will not do the job. it needs to have driver's preference, road condition, point-in-time average speed ...

 

[the_bear]

Another thing to consider, I believe the default setting also does not allow for Toll Type roads to be routed by the system. There should be a setting to allow them. I noticed you are in the NY/NJ area, your preferred route might have toll roads on it.

When you put in the address the Nav unit will usually present you with 3 options for routes also. I usually look at each option to see what kind of roads, if I can tell from the zoom level, it is going to take me on.

-Eric

 

[abin]

the garmin c320 i have has toll option.

 

[Koz]

There are preferences you have to setup before using, in the setup mode. Also, do not just enter an address and pick one of the routes and go. Take the time to review the intended route to make sure it does not use too many local roads. You can add points along the route to divert you onto the roads you know will save some time. Sometimes when you pick the shortest/quickest route, the system will have you exiting highways and then get you back on thinking it will save you some time/distance. Check the route before committing yourself while driving. In addition, I found that there is display option that is only available when you in the route mode. It will split the screen in half that gives the map on left and the written directions on the right for the next 4 turns that count down mileage in real time. When you approach the turns the written directions change to the approaching turn as usual and then returns to the written turn list.

Koz

 

[blue2006]

thanks guys, the suggestions worked, i've got a good handle onthe system now!