GPS Navigation / traffic - Page 2

tentcamper · 06-10-2018, 11:47 AM

We have the lifetime traffic on our garmin its works okay, I also use google maps. I have had at time the garmin knows about traffic and google maps does not. and vis-a-versa. google is maybe 2 out 3 time the first to know. But its a crap shoot when the traffic get reported. As far as directions they both can take you bad ways to save 50 yards of travel. Google is maybe just a little better. I like google because it seems to find the camp grounds for parks better. Garmin sucks if you enter the park name and campground, it always want to take you to the office.

I have had gps with lifetime maps and traffic for many years. My Magellan they quite offering updates to the maps after about 10-12 years of the product go into production., but the traffic keep working.

Larryjb · 06-10-2018, 12:01 PM

Art, is your Garmin one of the RV models (RV660 or 770)?

Larryjb · 06-10-2018, 02:39 PM

I am finding a lot positive feedback for the RV 660 on other RV forum. The price seems to be falling rapidly, and some markets are saying "no longer available". I'm thinking of springing for it.

Padgett · 06-10-2018, 10:09 PM

"one of the worst traffic in North America."

err, I-4 is the only way to get to Tampa or Daytona and is about 3 miles from my home.

ps I-4 ends at I-95 (no. 5)

BrucePerens · 06-10-2018, 10:16 PM

The RDS GPS traffic systems use an FM receiver, with data on a subcarrier (so it's not heard on a regular radio). This is one way that PBS stations make money.

The FM reception is specified to work in urban areas only. The coverage map is here. That seems like a pretty sparse coverage map!

I think there's a pretty significant risk that as these models go out of production, that the manufacturer will drop the FM service.

I had one a long time ago. The FM receiver was in the power cord, and output serial-over-USB.

I concur that these were never all that good. Nothing beats Waze today. Communities get steamed when traffic detours through their local streets, but you're getting to your destination.

Larryjb · 06-10-2018, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padgett

"one of the worst traffic in North America."

err, I-4 is the only way to get to Tampa or Daytona and is about 3 miles from my home.

ps I-4 ends at I-95 (no. 5)

I was careful to not say "the worst"

Many have suggested to ignore GPS rerouting around traffic when pulling a trailer in unfamiliar cities and just wait it out.

Shane826 · 06-11-2018, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryjb

Many have suggested to ignore GPS rerouting around traffic when pulling a trailer in unfamiliar cities and just wait it out.

Yeah that’s what I’ve learned pretty quickly... Or at least have a co-pilot s Roll ahead on the map to see where it takes you. We were leaving a small town, figured it would just follow a couple side roads to bypass the traffic. We were on the detour for over an hour. No idea how long it added to our trip, and I’m curious how long the traffic backup was there.

BrucePerens · 06-11-2018, 11:30 AM

About my worst annoyance with Garmin was that they incorporated all business registrations into their database. So, for a while you could type in my last name, and a Garmin GPS would take you to my home. This resulted in my changing the name of my LLC from "Perens" to something totally unconnected with my name.

tentcamper · 06-11-2018, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryjb

Art, is your Garmin one of the RV models (RV660 or 770)?

No I got the 60LMT GPS when my magellan went up to the Atlas in the sky. I think it is the same as the RV660, but no RV software. Just would not pay the extra 200-300 for the RV model. I also found a great deal for the 60LMT Smart Driver for $75.

Google does a nice job for all the campground we have done a search on. The standard garmin gps does show the roads in the state and national CG's, but searching on the CG it does not pull up results, it will show the parks and national forests or nearby cities, so we get near to where we want to go. Normally we just follow the signs when when close.

Larryjb · 06-11-2018, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tentcamper

No I got the 60LMT GPS when my magellan went up to the Atlas in the sky. I think it is the same as the RV660, but no RV software. Just would not pay the extra 200-300 for the RV model. I also found a great deal for the 60LMT Smart Driver for $75.

Google does a nice job for all the campground we have done a search on. The standard garmin gps does show the roads in the state and national CG's, but searching on the CG it does not pull up results, it will show the parks and national forests or nearby cities, so we get near to where we want to go. Normally we just follow the signs when when close.

The RV660 is selling for 225 on Amazon. I'm not sure I would have gone for it were it still $350. I mainly got it so that it would tend to choose roads appropriate for trailers.

Traffic is something nice to consider, but I'm now hearing that route 210 is a nice easier route to get around the thick of LA. We will try to stay at a Harvest Hosts just north of LA so we could get into Anaheim outside of rush hour.