navagation devices used on trips

[gserve]

Hi, I have a question for anyone that uses thier in vehicle navagation systems. I recently purchased a 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup with built in navagation system (8"chevy mylink). My question is do these systems work good? I have always used a Garmin (Nuvi 1300) on my trips seeemed to work well. What I liked the best about it was that if you made a wrong turn it would get you back on route without turning around (U turn). The Garmin had settings to select this option. Any comments on the mylink system would be appriciated.

[thirtydaZe]

Gdetrailer wrote:

2oldman wrote:
Can't find much of anything on mylink on this forum. I see you already have one rant answer.

No that IS NOT a "rant".

It IS what used be known as "COMMON SENSE".

So far, the "Co-Pilot" does NOT or CAN NOT pin down MINOR RURAL LOCATIONS like where I LIVE..

So far it has put my house in a farmers field, a church parking lot, an abandoned train right of way and even more other places 1 to 2 miles away from my house..

It has wanted me to make turns where there are no roads and often the turns are into a field or someones yard to continue the trip..

Can't get it to route me the same way twice, often wanting to add many miles to the trip by sending me on little cow paths roads....

If that is good enough "precision" for YOU to work with that go ahead and use it.. You can call it a "rant" if you like but for me that is undependable and unacceptable.

Folks NEED to understand that these devices are NOT INFALLIBLE..

Thanks for posting the rand mcnally atlas, think i'll purchase one.



To Everyone, keep in mind that with those gps systems do need to have their maps updated from time to time. it's not unlikely to think that an older vehicle might have an outdated map loaded, they become more and more precise with technology.

That being said, i have gps in my truck, don't use it, i'm going the atlas route, as it never breaks down, and is way more fun.

[2oldman]

Google maps is a very handy tool for planning out an overnight stay. With satellite and street view, you're practically there already!

[wrenchbender]

I have all the HI TECH gadgets in my TV but I prefer paper and common sense planning

[rbpru]

I have had mix results with my GPS but my wife’s endless pursuit of quilt shops has shown,
• Sometimes the GPS is spot on, right to the front steps.
• Sometimes it gets you there but the long way around.
• Sometimes it misses the mark by quite a bit.
Perhaps the most annoying feature is its inability to accept that you have chosen an alternate route.

GPS is a tool, as is the map, compass and cell phone. A project usually goes easier when you use all the tools in the tool box as needed.

[Dennis_Smith]

I use a paper map for the big picture and the GPS for homing in on the destination.

Amen, I love knowing the next turn is either 1 mile or 40 miles. I love hitting the button and finding a new BBQ place. You got to be smarter then the GPS and that isn't hard to do. If it looks like a dirt road, DONT TURN DOWN IT.
And thanks to the guys and girls at Shriver AFB in Colorado Springs that maintain this great system. And to the ground stations around the world. Hawaii, Diego Garcia, Ascension island, Kwajalein, Cape Canaveral. Yep I spent a few years at these places.

[Dennis_Smith]

I use a paper map for the big picture and the GPS for homing in on the destination.

Amen, I love knowing the next turn is either 1 mile or 40 miles. I love hitting the button and finding a new BBQ place. You got to be smarter then the GPS and that isn't hard to do. If it looks like a dirt road, DONT TURN DOWN IT.
And thanks to the guys and girls at Shriver AFB in Colorado Springs that maintain this great system. And to the ground stations around the world. Hawaii, Diego Garcia, Ascension island, Kwajalein, Cape Canaveral. Yep I spent a few years at these places.

[Doug33]

I have a large screen nav system in my Hyundai Sonata that works pretty well, but not perfect. I've learned how to understand its faults and work around them. Before that I bought a portable GPS system that has similar faults. We now keep that in the Avalanche for camping trips. I keep paper maps in the truck as a backup and if I want a bigger picture of where I'm going, or to determine side trips while we are away. If I'm going to a new area, I'll do some prep work using Google maps ahead of time to familiarize myself with the major roads, and relationships between areas of interest.

A couple weeks ago I almost threw the GPS away, because it seemed everywhere we went there was a bridge out due to construction, and we were following detour routes all over the place!

[OutdoorPhotogra]

I'll add that GPS systems have failed me the most often regarding National Parks because they struggle to correctly located the appropriate entrance. Multiple map services kept trying to route me to GPS coordinate in the middle of Wind Cave National Park that was not accessible by road and no where near the Visitor Center. The directions also routed me through Custer State Park costing me $30 for two vehicles. The paper map wasn't much help either since a road passes through the park and is a valid road to get to your destination. The park attendant actually stated that the park should pay a commission to google since they collect so many park admissions due to folks passing through on their way to Wind Cave.

[Big_Love]

Trust but verify...using only one method of navigation can result in some surprises. I like my Garmin because it comes with lifetime map upgrades and has been mostly accurate, but I always verify and overview my planned trip with Google Maps on my smartphone or computer before heading out. The live-time traffic or construction area delay features on my Garmin can be helpful in choosing alternate routes.

[wing_zealot]

Gdetrailer wrote:

gserve wrote:
Hi, I have a question for anyone that uses thier in vehicle navagation systems. I recently purchased a 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup with built in navagation system (8"chevy mylink). My question is do these systems work good? I have always used a Garmin (Nuvi 1300) on my trips seeemed to work well. What I liked the best about it was that if you made a wrong turn it would get you back on route without turning around (U turn). The Garmin had settings to select this option. Any comments on the mylink system would be appriciated.

Personally I would never pay for any "electronic navigation systems", they can and do error..

"Most" errors are harmless but in some cases the errors can put you into harms way (IE send you miles off the beaten path and you get stuck on a fire road or find yourself backing up several miles on a dirt road with no way to turn around)..

I would rather depend on the old fashion Paper method for my primary means of navigating...

Rand McNally Road PAPER Atlas

My DW downloaded Co-Pilot on her Tablet.. So far I am NOT impressed at all with it's accuracy and repeatability of locations/directions..

Use a paper map and your brains as primary method and electronic as a "guide" only.. Don't depend on the electronic method as you primary and SOLE means of navigation.

I have found that it is nearly impossible to safely use a paper map while driving. Looking down at a map while driving at 70 mph just didn't seem like a very good idea to me. And stopping every 5 minutes to check the map is just a big hassle. So, I just use my GPS and research (using a paper map or online) the route ahead of time (before I get behind the wheel). Then I know that the GPS is providing reliable routing.

[BurbMan]

We use this when underway. We find it's easier to navigate over long distances when you can see the big picture rather than the details of what the GPS is showing you at that specific minute. If I'm driving all day I don't care what road I'm on as much as if I am headed in the right direction.

If I need to get to a specific address, especially in a city when man y turns are involved, we use the Maps/navigation feature on our Samsung Galaxy S4's.

[IPegasus]

I have a 2015 Silverado that has in dash navigation. The database is at least 2 or more years old. As of yesterday Chevrolet did not have an update available and if they did it would cost $200.00. I purchased a Garmin Nuvii with lifetime updates for a lot less. We have programed both units for the same destination and have come up with different routes. That's just the way it is with GPS. I use a paper map for the big picture and the GPS for homing in on the destination.

[austinjenna]

Laptop with streets and trips on it.

[Mr__Camper]

I use Mrs. Camper. She knows how to read/use a map.

[MNRon]

We have the 2013 version in our Silverado,. I have a love/hate relationship with it. As someone else said, first thing is you need to turn the voice off. Next, when pulling the 5er I've figured out that you always need to select the 'fastest' route and then watch the actual map and choose to take whatever route you prefer and the navigator will continually reanalyze so that you can choose to follow it when you want. If you choose the 'shortest' route it's sent me on some weird small roads to save a couple hundred yards.

Also you need to look ahead because it has sent me down a couple rabbit-holes (although that might have been before I started religiously choosing 'fastest').

I like it, but it's not fool-proof so I try to always look ahead to make sure it's not doing something stupid.

Worst thing about it is it's aging (my 2013 is really probably 2012 vintage) and updates are ~$300 - THAT'S CRAZY, hence I'm not updating it. When it's old enough I'll buy a ~$100 garmin or something with free lifetime updates!