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Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS How to find your way - traditional map, compass and road signs, or GPS and more
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia




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  #1  
Old 8 Jan 2011
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Garmin is American. In North London it used to say:

"Turn North onto the Great North Road"

No one has called the A-1 the "Great North Road" since the Romans went home, UK road signs use place names and road numbers and the junction is a roundabout with five lanes and traffic lights.

The correct instructions would be something like "get in the third lane to take the fourth exit, following A-1 Welwyn/St. Albans".

In the USA "Highway 1 North" is on the signs, but that's not much use anywhere else.

Andy
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  #2  
Old 8 Jan 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
Garmin is American. In North London it used to say:

"Turn North onto the Great North Road"

No one has called the A-1 the "Great North Road" since the Romans went home, UK road signs use place names and road numbers and the junction is a roundabout with five lanes and traffic lights.

The correct instructions would be something like "get in the third lane to take the fourth exit, following A-1 Welwyn/St. Albans".

In the USA "Highway 1 North" is on the signs, but that's not much use anywhere else.

Andy
Last time I heard of the Great north road was in the "Leather boys" film Great to see the old bikes in action.

Yes it used to irritate me when my Garmin pisspronounced names of streets. Who cares if the road is general de gaulle avenue or general le Clerc boulevard ?
If you dont Know the town, street names are meaningless. If you do know the town you dont need the gps.
Last edited by oldbmw; 8 Jan 2011 at 19:00. Reason: used Garming spulling
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  #3  
Old 8 Jan 2011
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A sat-nav is more important in a busy town than out in the wilds where you can stop easily and look at the map, assuming you know where you are. I have a Garmin Map60 and would not be without it now. It does not talk to me, so I can ignore it if I wish.

My reason for buying it was that I had become too old to be able to read a map on my tankbag without reading glasses. The GPS map is hard to read on the handlebars too, but the little pop up pictures of a junction are easy. Or, without turn by turn instructions it points you in the right direction and you choose which road you take.

You still need maps to see the big picture, and must look for signs as the maps become out of date as the roads change.
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Old 8 Jan 2011
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Sounds confusing
However, once over the learning curve, and its properly integrated into navigating for purpose, it can save tons of time and resources - both for the individual and society. When you think about it, it's an amazing amount of technology and infrastructure that runs that little box.

It could help with some inconvenient situations.
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Old 9 Jan 2011
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I was once asked by a leather clad harley type biker with the loud exhaust what my GPS was and what it was for. I had initially thought he was just ignorant...but his simple question was sort of an ephinay for me. I always knew where I was, how far I was from a place and how soon I would get there. There was no doubt. The next day I pulled it off and have not used it since while actively riding. It is fun heading in the general direction you wish to go and seeing how out of the way you go. The ride, even on familiar roads is an adventure again.
When my wife and I travel, we have a GPSMAP 60CSX and a Spot, they both live in the tank bag with the maps. If I want to know where I am and can't determine by landmarks, I'll pull out the gps. Occasionally for fun, I'll cross ref the Lat and Long.
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Old 9 Jan 2011
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If I want to get to place X without any messing about, I'll use the SatNav. Especially if it's in a town that I don't know, but only if it works of course.

However, if I'm in adventure mode and I'm exploring that's a different matter, so why bother... its all about getting lost.
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  #7  
Old 8 Jan 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
Garmin is American. In North London it used to say: "Turn North onto the Great North Road" Andy
,

This is not how my Garmin (550 Zumo) works, it'll say, turn left or turn right onto the (named) road, or if a roundabout 'take the 1st, or 2nd, or 3rd exit etc. it never gives a compass type direction...
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Old 10 Jan 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
Garmin is American. In North London it used to say:

"Turn North onto the Great North Road"

No one has called the A-1 the "Great North Road" since the Romans went home, UK road signs use place names and road numbers and the junction is a roundabout with five lanes and traffic lights.
I cycled out of London a year or so ago. before it becomes the A1, it is actually named as the Great North Road on a few street signs in north London.
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