GPS errors - Montana Owners Club

patodonn · 11-10-2006, 10:49 AM

We have a Garmin 2720. I have had several instances of going to a "place" on the GPS (RV park, store or whatever) and finding it to not be there. Happened three times in the last week of travel. Yesterday, the GPS took me off the Interstate 3 miles early and led me on the exact same path as the correct one to a KOA, except the KOA and the exit was was actually 3 miles down the road.

It could be that putting the address in the GPS instead of relying on the "Find" feature might be better. As backup, I have decided to have a written description of the directions to the CG handy to compare with the GPS version...maybe that will solve the "where the h---can I turn around" problem.

Ain't modern science great??

Countryfolks · 11-10-2006, 11:00 AM

It's probably the mapping program not the gps. There may be an update for it.

http://www.garmin.com/support/collec...t=010-00408-02

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DHenry · 11-10-2006, 11:36 AM

I always put the address in mine. I did use the find once and never found the cafe we were looking for. Do the updates often.

Parrothead · 11-10-2006, 12:29 PM

PJ I don't know where you are but this happened to us this summer in Utah. They had changed their exit numbers. The neat thing was the GPS knew where we were and its map allowed me to get us "around the block" and back on the Interstate. I'm still a believer. Also the exit may have been new and the maps are not always up to date. We have one on ramp we use to get out of town that has been there for several years and I have to put a via in every time we go.
Happy trails....................

patodonn · 11-10-2006, 02:42 PM

Sue: It wasn't an exit number problem..it was that the KOA wasn't where the GPS thought it was...it was about a mile off.

Bluegill · 11-10-2006, 04:13 PM

I had similar problem with ours on the trip up here. We did a search for a "Subway" and it took us on a wild goose chase. There was no Subway around. So either it (the store) had moved or just bad info in the GPS.
The good thing was, we didnt have a trailer to worry about.

kdeiss · 11-11-2006, 01:40 AM

I have been using a Garmin 2610 every day for 3 years I find it to be about 95% accurate.Yes from time to time their is a problem as some else has mentioned you have to keep Maps up to date. I always use find and the address.

richfaa · 11-11-2006, 02:34 AM

We do not have that model GPS unit but have found that the addresses can be wrong...Example if we enter the address of our house it locates it 4 houses up the street and when we were plotting a course to the Fall rally the GPS would not find the Fairgrounds by address.I think we found it under "area Attractions" The best way to find a location is by Lat/Lon

Just148 · 11-11-2006, 04:25 AM

I've been using my paper map since I was a boyscott, and as of this day I still do.. Margaret wanted me to come up to date and replace my 1990 stat map with a garmin GPS. I can't part with my map even thougth there has been many many up dates on the highways. My brother has two GPS's and still go out his way by using them. Margaret has informed me that she has purchased one so that I will follow the new roads when needed.

AZCampinfool · 11-11-2006, 06:37 AM

Quote:

quote:PJ I don't know where you are but this happened to us this summer in Utah. They had changed their exit numbers. The neat thing was the GPS knew where we were and its map allowed me to get us "around the block" and back on the Interstate.

Sue, we had the same problem in Utah this past summer. I do believe you are correct and they changed all the exit numbers on their interstates. This thread reminded me I need to see if there are any new updates for my unit.

JimF · 11-11-2006, 11:25 AM

I sent mine back to the dealer last week and told them to put it you know where. I don't have the time in my life to chase around looking for someplace to find the gps is lost. My DW is an excellent navigator and Ran McNally worked great for the last 32 plus married years and will in the future.

The thing that sent me over the edge was the customer service and total lact there off...

patodonn · 11-11-2006, 03:09 PM

I found the answer to the particular problem of the "misplaced KOA". The listed address (CG directory, GPS address, CG letterhead) says it is on "whatever" Street in the town. If you look at the GPS map, the named "Street" becomes the same named "Road" at a major crossing intersection, about 2 miles east. I suspect that the GPS map database is, in fact, correct and that the city, in recent years, renamed part of the old "Street" to "Road". Just too much trouble for the local residents to change their printed address stuff to match the City Planner's "upgrade" of road/street designations. Just my speculation.

As a point of interest, that also proves to me that the various "Find" places in the GPS data base are stored by street address, not lat/long coordinates.

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