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Zumo 660 can't be trusted in my opinion
- Thread starter Wrongway
- Start date
This is my understanding also. So, choosing to avoid highways shouldn't force you onto unpaved roads. It would be nice to get clarification on this.
Easy Rider
New member
No it is NOT BS, Wayne.
I've owned about 10 different GPS units over 20 years from 6 different manufacturers and every one of then has used the term "highways" to mean 4-lane, limited access freeway-type roads. EVERY ONE.
Not a single one of them used "highway" to mean any paved road.
The one I've had with that option actually listed "unpaved roads" as an avoid option.
teninospyder
Member
I did the same thing last week
I was getting frustrated over what roads the 660 was taking me on to get from Walla Walla, WA to Yakima, after a side trip to Ft. Simcoe. At times I could SEE the highway, but was never directed that way. Yep - after thinking about it in the hotel room that night....YES, I was set on "no Highways" :banghead::banghead:
Changed that immediately for next leg to Olympia, WA next day and all was OK.
hyea:hyea:
I was getting frustrated over what roads the 660 was taking me on to get from Walla Walla, WA to Yakima, after a side trip to Ft. Simcoe. At times I could SEE the highway, but was never directed that way. Yep - after thinking about it in the hotel room that night....YES, I was set on "no Highways" :banghead::banghead:
Changed that immediately for next leg to Olympia, WA next day and all was OK.
hyea:hyea:
The 'no Highways' thing isn't necessarily JUST down to the GPS unit or its software settings, it can also depend somewhat upon the map package your GPS is using and the labels that particular mapping software has placed upon the roads or highways that it shows! And the particular 'map' the GPS is 'looking at' for any given instant can vary depending on where you are or how close the GPS view is zoomed in, or how far out it's zoomed! :shocked:
I've seen the 'Highways/no Highways' thing &/or other settings change the directed route in the middle of running a route that was planned on a city to city basis beforehand, but as the zoom level changed when we actually reached those cities, the selected map changed and the labels the different scale maps used meant the settings in the GPS kicked in & directed us off the city centre by-pass & out into the back streets, potentially adding significantly to the time & distance we would've travelled if we'd not had a general idea of where we needed to go; and in other instances the settings in the GPS have meant it tried to avoid the straight forward 'town to town' route well off any major 'Restricted access Freeways', instead trying to divert us waaaayyy out into the boondocks, simply cos the map being used had that 'normal 1 lane in each direction' road between towns labelled as a 'Highway' cos some bloody town councillor was a pretentious pratt who thought it'd make his town more interesting if it was only accessible via a 'Highway' or two!! Luckily, or maybe due to proper preparation & prior planning, we usually have a reasonable idea of where we want to go & so can ignore the spurious directions until the GPS catches up with us, which it invariably does!
But that's really because, while I have it running (muted) ALL the time, I only use the GPS as a guide & reminder for the route I've researched & planned beforehand or to get home from some back roads meandering, altho I will admit to sometimes using the turn by turn instructions to find specific addresses. But then, here in Aus we have lots of wide open spaces with relatively few towns on the map & in many instances, even fewer people; so if you are travelling outside the major routes between cities here, you'd be a fool to RELY on your GPS exclusively cos it's so easy to simply follow the line on the screen into nothingness or take a wrong turn & end up lost cos the GPS maps don't have great coverage in the particular area..... Yeah, we do occasionally get those who do just rely on their GPS units, especially their telephone based GPS's or even worse, their 'around town' City Navigators or whatever on their phone or otherwise, but we generally don't hear about them until they hit the headlines later on, when some other better prepared traveller or a stockman/outback worker finds their bodies some months or even years later!! :shocked:
A GPS is a great tool to help you follow a pre-planned route or get home from one of those 'meandering around the back roads' trips, but it is just a tool to help you get the job done or make it a bit easier...
I've seen the 'Highways/no Highways' thing &/or other settings change the directed route in the middle of running a route that was planned on a city to city basis beforehand, but as the zoom level changed when we actually reached those cities, the selected map changed and the labels the different scale maps used meant the settings in the GPS kicked in & directed us off the city centre by-pass & out into the back streets, potentially adding significantly to the time & distance we would've travelled if we'd not had a general idea of where we needed to go; and in other instances the settings in the GPS have meant it tried to avoid the straight forward 'town to town' route well off any major 'Restricted access Freeways', instead trying to divert us waaaayyy out into the boondocks, simply cos the map being used had that 'normal 1 lane in each direction' road between towns labelled as a 'Highway' cos some bloody town councillor was a pretentious pratt who thought it'd make his town more interesting if it was only accessible via a 'Highway' or two!! Luckily, or maybe due to proper preparation & prior planning, we usually have a reasonable idea of where we want to go & so can ignore the spurious directions until the GPS catches up with us, which it invariably does!
But that's really because, while I have it running (muted) ALL the time, I only use the GPS as a guide & reminder for the route I've researched & planned beforehand or to get home from some back roads meandering, altho I will admit to sometimes using the turn by turn instructions to find specific addresses. But then, here in Aus we have lots of wide open spaces with relatively few towns on the map & in many instances, even fewer people; so if you are travelling outside the major routes between cities here, you'd be a fool to RELY on your GPS exclusively cos it's so easy to simply follow the line on the screen into nothingness or take a wrong turn & end up lost cos the GPS maps don't have great coverage in the particular area..... Yeah, we do occasionally get those who do just rely on their GPS units, especially their telephone based GPS's or even worse, their 'around town' City Navigators or whatever on their phone or otherwise, but we generally don't hear about them until they hit the headlines later on, when some other better prepared traveller or a stockman/outback worker finds their bodies some months or even years later!! :shocked:
A GPS is a great tool to help you follow a pre-planned route or get home from one of those 'meandering around the back roads' trips, but it is just a tool to help you get the job done or make it a bit easier...
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IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
In contrast the Sygic Navigation app for tablets and smart phones uses "Motorway" to mean the equivalent of Interstate. Toll roads can be turned on/off and that is exactly what it means. Unpaved roads can be turned on/off. Otherwise it follows any and all paved roads with a priority of Interstates over state highways over city and county highways.
Garmin 660
I have had this problem many times. I have gotten to the point I do not trust the GPS. I have found the garmin does not use Google Maps or any other map program logic. I have had the Garmin set for the same destination and it still takes me another way! I have no idea as to why. To say the least I have been disappointed in the Garmin. I have done the updates and put in extra memory thinking I was running out and that was causing an issue. I honestly don't know what to do with it. I do know I will never buy another unit for my bike. This GPS is way over priced and in my opinion under preforms. And yes, there are lifetime updates.
I have had this problem many times. I have gotten to the point I do not trust the GPS. I have found the garmin does not use Google Maps or any other map program logic. I have had the Garmin set for the same destination and it still takes me another way! I have no idea as to why. To say the least I have been disappointed in the Garmin. I have done the updates and put in extra memory thinking I was running out and that was causing an issue. I honestly don't know what to do with it. I do know I will never buy another unit for my bike. This GPS is way over priced and in my opinion under preforms. And yes, there are lifetime updates.
Easy Rider
New member
Check your options. ALL OF THEM.
Having it set to "motorcycle" mode will cause it to route differently.
Having it set to "avoid" things causes it to route differently.
Having it use the "shortest" route can result in some REALLY strange trips.
When I have my 590 set for "car" and not to avoid highways, it routes pretty much the same as Google and my two cars.
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