TomTom Horrible Routing

tatest wrote:
No computer routing system, GPS or on-line, can give you the route you personally prefer, unless is happens to coincide with what you asked for (fastest, shortest, whatever). Your quirks are not built into their routing algorithms.

Did you read the post? The routing given was considerably longer and considerably more time. How are those my quirks?

All of the GPSs have their quirks when routing. I have a Garmin, a Tom Tom, and I use CoPilot on my Android. Of all of them the CoPilot app does the best. The Tom Tom utilizes pre-planned itineraries better than the Garmin. The Garmin - sometimes - routes better. The Garmin was going to send me through midtown Manhattan on a recent trip coming from NJ back through NYS. If I was not familiar with where it was sending me, it would have become a real problem. None take into account traffic lights, problem neighborhoods, or a straight line instead of three turns to get to the same place - all it knows is that route A is two seconds or a 100th of a mile better than route B and it sends you on route A. Once the Tom Tom was sending us up a mountain road covered in ice at 1 am. As soon as I saw that, I just turned around and found my own better way. Did it know that there was ice, that this road went straight up a mountain, or that it was 1 am? Of course not. It is always important to review the route it determines and look to see if that can be changed with Alternate Route if the route it has picked is not what you want.

No computer routing system, GPS or on-line, can give you the route you personally prefer, unless is happens to coincide with what you asked for (fastest, shortest, whatever). Your quirks are not built into their routing algorithms.

Well I contacted TomTom last Friday about the routing problems and gave them very specific locations and mileage and times that their routing was failing. Here is their response they sent today-

My name is Nameeta, and I will be assisting you today.

Due to higher than normal call volume, we apologize for delay in responding to your query. We appreciate your patience.
I am sorry to hear that you are unable to get the correct routing on your VIA 1500 device. I assure you I will do everything I can in order to assist you with this issue.

- Perform factory reset:
- Tap at the center of the map screen to get the main menu.
- Tap on Settings.
- Tap on "Reset factory reset settings"
- Once the factory reset is complete it will ask you to select the language.
- Instead of selecting the language follow the instructions stated in the link below to perform recovery mode with your device:
My device doesn't start or displays a cross. What should I do? (Click on: Devices using MyDRIVE)

We have used Garmin's in our vehicles. The one in the MH is an older one where I can select "Truck", which, so far, keeps me away from low clearances, etc. I do, however still believe in paper maps. If we're traveling through an area for the first time, I usually peruse a paper map or an atlas just so I have an idea where I'm headed. I don't put full trust in the GPS, especially when driving a MH with a toad.
JMHO

A lot of GPS errors are caused by the user. Two quick examples: I was camping in an area that I didn't know and wanted to go to a store. I followed the GPS and it took me down some small country roads. Suddenly it said turn left and proceed overland. Sure enough looking across a few hundred yards of corn fields I could see my destination. Of course I had not checked avoid cross country in my preferences so it was doing exactly what I told it to do (shortest distance). The second happened to a friend. He was complaining that when he went to Virginia from Southern Maryland it always routed him via the DC beltway but returning it used the 301 bridge which is preferred. I told him to go into the preferences and uncheck avoid tolls. From Maryland to Virginia they collect tolls hence routing via the beltway but do not collect on the way back from Virginia. His GPS was doing exactly what he told it to do.

I have used Lowrance, Garmin, Tom Tom and MS Streets and Trips over the years. I also, occasionally use Verizon from time to time if I have a signal. The one thing seems to be consistantly true is that if there is andisagreement between Verizon and one of the others the Verizon information is almost always best. Most of this, I have learned the hard way. Even when the route is much shorter, using one of the others , Verizon always seems to come up with the better route.

Here I usually do with TT: Find alternative, if the alternative is shorter and take less time I will choose the alternative.
For those who are frustrated by TT (or whatever) wait for
this.

I just tried planning the route here with and without IQ. It still has the same Jacksonville error.

cleo43 wrote:

To live in peace with a TomTom do: 1- All settings set to 'Ask...' (then choose - use your common sense - Faster time, Avoid paved..., Tolled roads... later).
2- Disable IQ
3- Override it with road signs direction whenever possible.
To have a fixed answer (Avoid Ferry, Avoid Toll...) is an absolute no no on a TomTom.
I can live with a crazy TomTom but not a stupid Garmin.

This is why I asked the IQ question.