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255W: OK city; lost in rural. Bizarre...

Former Member over 14 years ago

My wife got me a 255W last Christmas. I immediately updated it and began to use it. We live in a rural area. When away from home, having set it to take me back home, it will direct me to a freeway exit 7 miles beyond the right exit. If I take the right exit, and the Garmin, "recalculates," it will take me to within sight of my farm, then direct me to turn the opposite way and drive 8 miles the wrong direction.

Last night when home I, "asked it," for the nearest address. It gave me a 30790 address on the correct road. We are 1129. ( ! ) I gave up, came and pulled up MapQuest on my computer. Then asked MapQuest for map of 30790 and it showed exactly where we live. Then I asked for map of 1129, (our legal and current address), and it TOO showed us 8 miles away in the wrong place just like the Garmin.

I've met folks around here and asked about their Garmins. Their opinion is that Garmin is OK for city but almost worthless for rural. I've also had my Garmin mis-lead me in other rural areas.

I have no intention of paying for a new update based on what I know. What good is Garmin?

Dennis in E WA state

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Adresses can be problematic. My postal address is Syracuse, but I don't even live close to the city! I pay taxes to the Town of Onondaga and school taxes to the town of Marcellus school district. The Nuvi shows my address at my neighbor's place, not as bad as in your case but still addresses are not something GPS units always understand. Try coordinates, try waypoints and you'll do better.

BTW, a few years ago, I was traveling in your area with a Garmin Oregon and it did quite well in road navigation, although I was off the beaten path. I was using CNNT 2008 I believe.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Thanks, how about DeLorme?

Thanks, SAR:

I've been told I'd be better off using something that was DeLorme based. I wonder if different map bases could be loaded in my Garmin but I don't know enough about the unit yet to know.

Dennis