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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Garmin GPS > February 2008 > Re: Garmin Nuvi 670 one-month test run (questions & suggestions) - Question for the guru's
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Re: Garmin Nuvi 670 one-month test run (questions & suggestions) - Question for the guru's
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|
| Andrew Hamilton 2007-08-13, 12:33 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:22:31 +0300, Donna Davis <ddavis42@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>QUESTIONS
>Q1: How to turn Garmin Nuvi 670 street name articulation back ON?
>A1: Use a Text-to-Speech (TTS) voice.
>
>Q2: How to delete unused (or unneeded) Garmin Nuvi 670 desktop icons?
>A2: You can't.
>
>Q3: How to get the Nuvi 670 to ask for shortest or quickest route?
>A3: You can't.
>
>Q4: How to change the Garmin Nuvi 670 default simulation speed?
>A4: You can't.
>
>Q5: How to change the time Garmin Nuvi 670 timezone & time?
>A5: The time is fixed; two ways to change the time zone:
> #1 Main Settings:Locale:Chan
ge All
> #2 Travel Kit:World Clock:Clock Face
>
>Q6: How to manually accept or reject Nuvi 670 bluetooth connections?
>A6: ?
>
>Q7: Where is the Nuvi 670 battery charge indicator while on USB power?
>A7: ?
>
>Q8: How to get the Nuvi 670 to show accrued distance and/or time?
>A8: ?
>
>Q9: Do ANY thousand-dollar GPS devices provide these 8 features?
>A9: ?
>
>Donna
Donna's messages make it sound like the Nuvi 670 is almost unusable.
Is that really the case? Do other Nuvi models work the same way,
assuming that the specific feature is supported?
-AH
| |
| Bruce. 2007-08-13, 12:33 pm |
| "Andrew Hamilton" < Ahamilton90900@yahoo
.com> wrote in message
news:go31c3l7gose6j3
8eg1b5um64e3scj6n70@
4ax.com...
> Donna's messages make it sound like the Nuvi 670 is almost unusable.
> Is that really the case? Do other Nuvi models work the same way,
> assuming that the specific feature is supported?
The only features I find seriously lacking on the Nuvi line is the ability
to do multi-waypoint routing, planning routes on the PC and transferring
those to the Nuvi, and the lack of tracks.
What Donna is finding out is that with the Nuvi line is that there are very
few ways of customizing how it works. It's a GPS for the masses, not one
for someone that wants a high degree of customizable options. Garmin has
decided on the minimum number of options (no doubt influenced by limited
touch screen size) and we're stuck with those. But I think it does what it
does very well.
Bruce.
| |
| NEWSGROUPS 2007-08-13, 10:33 pm |
|
"Andrew Hamilton" < Ahamilton90900@yahoo
.com> wrote in message
news:go31c3l7gose6j3
8eg1b5um64e3scj6n70@
4ax.com...
> Donna's messages make it sound like the Nuvi 670 is almost unusable.
> Is that really the case? Do other Nuvi models work the same way,
> assuming that the specific feature is supported?
>
> -AH
Donna's messages make it sound like she spent a lot of money without
researching the product at all. Glad she has 1000 to blow on a whim. We
don't, so we researched the product(s) from Garmin and couple of
competitors, went through gobs of messages in newsgroups, asked a lot of
newbie questions, went to see the products at brick and mortar retailers,
decided, purchased, then tried for several weeks about home turf to get
accustomed to using on the go. AND kept up with newsgroup postings on our
chosen model to check out any lingering gotchas.
You get what you pay for. It's buyer's problem if product matches up to
[unread] specs but not to dream expectations. What, like buyer is entitled
to expect compliance even if [unread]product specs don't address the issue?
Jay
| |
| Pegleg 2007-08-13, 10:33 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:03:04 -0400, "NEWSGROUPS"
<jaymapple@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>Donna's messages make it sound like she spent a lot of money without
>researching the product at all. Glad she has 1000 to blow on a whim. We
>don't, so we researched the product(s) from Garmin and couple of
>competitors, went through gobs of messages in newsgroups, asked a lot of
>newbie questions, went to see the products at brick and mortar retailers,
>decided, purchased, then tried for several weeks about home turf to get
>accustomed to using on the go. AND kept up with newsgroup postings on our
>chosen model to check out any lingering gotchas.
You nailed it Jay! Then to come on here and whine repeatedly without
trying to address her concerns on her own...like reading the manual and
googling reviews...sounds like a spoiled brat but that is just my
opinion.
| |
| Edwin Pawlowski 2007-08-13, 10:33 pm |
|
"Andrew Hamilton" < Ahamilton90900@yahoo
.com> wrote in message
> Donna's messages make it sound like the Nuvi 670 is almost unusable.
> Is that really the case? Do other Nuvi models work the same way,
> assuming that the specific feature is supported?
>
> -AH
Me thinks Donna is just unhappy with her purchase. Some of her questions
are valid, others can be answered by reading the manual. It does, however,
navigate and show you the route to the destination chosen.
Most of her questions should have been answered before spending the money to
assure a happy, long term relationship. Discount stores though, don't
usually have full knowledgeable help or working demo units. The manual,
however, is available on line to check out.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp
| |
| Oliver Costich 2007-08-15, 10:33 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:05:52 -0700, Andrew Hamilton
< Ahamilton90900@yahoo
.com> wrote:
>On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:22:31 +0300, Donna Davis <ddavis42@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>
>
>Donna's messages make it sound like the Nuvi 670 is almost unusable.
>Is that really the case? Do other Nuvi models work the same way,
>assuming that the specific feature is supported?
>
>-AH
I have a nuvi 350 which surely has less function than the 670 and it's
fine. Most of here complaints are easily resolved by work arounds
(like use a light splitter to run two devices). Others are about maps
for areas where there is little demand. None of the current GPS crop
is perfect. In fact all have real flaws so you pick the one with the
least that bother you.
| |
| Oliver Costich 2007-08-15, 10:33 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:27:15 -0500, "Bruce." <noone@nowhere.com>
wrote:
>"Andrew Hamilton" < Ahamilton90900@yahoo
.com> wrote in message
> news:go31c3l7gose6j3
8eg1b5um64e3scj6n70@
4ax.com...
>
>The only features I find seriously lacking on the Nuvi line is the ability
>to do multi-waypoint routing, planning routes on the PC and transferring
>those to the Nuvi, and the lack of tracks.
I agree completely. That's the only thing I wanted that I didn't get.
You can put waypoints in as favorites and add another as an
intermediate point as you arrive at the current one. Clunky but it
works.
>
>What Donna is finding out is that with the Nuvi line is that there are very
>few ways of customizing how it works. It's a GPS for the masses, not one
>for someone that wants a high degree of customizable options. Garmin has
>decided on the minimum number of options (no doubt influenced by limited
>touch screen size) and we're stuck with those. But I think it does what it
>does very well.
>
>Bruce.
>
| |
| Oliver Costich 2007-08-15, 10:33 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:57:23 -0400, "Edwin Pawlowski" <esp@snet.net>
wrote:
>
>"Andrew Hamilton" < Ahamilton90900@yahoo
.com> wrote in message
>
>Me thinks Donna is just unhappy with her purchase. Some of her questions
>are valid, others can be answered by reading the manual. It does, however,
>navigate and show you the route to the destination chosen.
And otherrs by simple workarounds if you just think.
>
>Most of her questions should have been answered before spending the money to
>assure a happy, long term relationship. Discount stores though, don't
>usually have full knowledgeable help or working demo units. The manual,
>however, is available on line to check out.
>http://www8.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp
Which is where I always start when researching a product.
>
| |
| Bruce. 2007-08-15, 10:33 pm |
| "Oliver Costich" < ocostich@NOSPAMcomca
st.net> wrote in message
news:68r6c3lvn8cbn1a
m56bok2lt89u0s0ho0u@
4ax.com...
> I agree completely. That's the only thing I wanted that I didn't get.
> You can put waypoints in as favorites and add another as an
> intermediate point as you arrive at the current one. Clunky but it
> works.
It does work if you have a small number of favorites. In my case, we're
planning a trip down Route 66. The problem is that 66 parallels the new
replacement interstate which we're going to trying to stay off of. The Nuvi
refuses to stay on 66, detouring over to the new interstate at nearly every
ramp. I would need new favorite every few miles, which would become totally
unmanageable. In the 2500 mile trip it would take many hundreds of
favorites to keep it on 66. I'd have to pull over every 10 miles to select
a new favorite and via.
This is one of those cases where it is a no-brainer to do with MapSource but
virtually impossible with a Nuvi. The best I can hope from the Nuvi is to
help us find gas, food, and shelter along the way, and get us home if we get
lost on the poorly marked 66.
Bruce.
| |
| Bruce. 2007-08-15, 10:33 pm |
| <alhedges@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1187221846.344778.220600@m37g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> Does "avoid highways" not fix this problem? Or does the nuvi treat
> Rt. 66 as a highway?
I did some experimentation with that and it creates as many problems as it
solves. While that helps it avoid the "new" interstate (I-55), the Nuvi
also clearly considers some stretches of 66 to be highways too and so
frequently leaves 66 whereever it can find a good alternative.
So while it now prefers 66 to 55, it also often prefers other roads to 66.
If the Nuvi had an "Avoid Interstates" that would help even more, but no
there is such Nuvi option.
What I need is a "Follow 66" rather than "Avoid .......".
There just isn't a good alternative to being able to manually adjust a route
in MapSource and then downloading it. I could do that with my ancient eMap,
but not my 650.
Curiously, I just noticed there is no "Avoid Highways" in MapSource. What
it does have is a slider that you can move between Prefer Minor Roads to
Prefer Highways. The default is centered.
Bruce.
| |
| Bruce. 2007-08-15, 10:33 pm |
| "Bruce." <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:T5Nwi.49644$YL5.30812@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
> So while it now prefers 66 to 55
Never mind. I did some more playing with longer routes and the Nuvi seems
to give up trying avoiding 55 and ends up using 55 for most of the trip.
The "Avoid Highways" dramatically slowed route calculation. From the
Chicago Loop to St Louis MO normally takes just a few seconds to calculate.
When I select "Avoid Highways" it took over a minute. It was clearly rying
to follow my instructions, but ended up on 55 most of the time anyway.
Bruce.
| |
|
| "Bruce." <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in
news:bIKwi.2057$3x.1379@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...
> [..]
> In my case, we're
> planning a trip down Route 66. The problem is that 66 parallels the new
> replacement interstate which we're going to trying to stay off of. The
Nuvi
> refuses to stay on 66, detouring over to the new interstate at nearly
every
> ramp.
Hi,
I get a similar situation with my GARMIN C550. I found a quite elegant
solution to this problem by using the DETOUR button when on the national
road I want to leave. It seems that my C550 re-route my on the alternative
road(s) and remember to avoid the national road all the trip long. Even
after same further recalculations due to successive changes of directions
and missed turn.
The bad thing is that it forget to avoid the national raod again at next
navigation or if I stop current navigation.
Did the Nüvis have the same behaviour ?
Despite Donna Davis opinion, I think user interface and menu design of
Nüvis/StreetPilots GPS are minor details compare to navigation performance.
C.Ret
| |
| Bruce. 2007-08-16, 10:33 am |
| > The bad thing is that it forget to avoid the national raod again at next
> navigation or if I stop current navigation.
>
> Did the Nüvis have the same behaviour ?
I've tried the Detour and found that it only avoids the current road for a
few miles at most. eventually rejoining the original (preferred) road down
the way some. I haven't been able to discover the exact rules it uses. It
wouldn't work here because of the length of the trip.
Bruce.
| |
|
| Just throwing out some ideas. It's hard to tell because I've discovered too
late that my Nuvi 680 has way too many bugs.
The setting "Faster Time" usually uses highways (despite other setting), but
"Shorter Distance" can sometimes be off highway. A "Pedstrian" or "Bicycle"
setting can sometimes avoid highways also.
However, Bug #57 in the 680 did take me down a highway in Pedestrian mode.
The Nuvi could have been a "killer app", but Garmin dumbed it down with poor
software.
Again, just some ideas. It may allow you to at least to use less
intermediate waypoints.
The Lock-to-Roads feature at zero mph is one of the top 3 reasons I
absolutely hate this product. I lost the receipt, so I'm stuck with this
p.o.s.
Here's one of many stories on how bad these Nuvi's are.
I was on a train going due South at a slow speed of 5 mph.
This $1000 unit will jump the position to the nearest road, and that road
only ran east-west.
The guy sitting next to me was interested in the Nuvi, but asked "Why are we
heading west on this road, when we are over here on the railroad tracks
heading south?"
I had to explain to him that the Nuvi's software is a total piece of crap.
There is just no excuse to defend this software. I don't recommend this
product, and encourage others to write to Garmin also with their
disappointment.
--
Dana
"Bruce." <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:KiNwi.49649$YL5.36878@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
> "Bruce." <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:T5Nwi.49644$YL5.30812@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
>
> Never mind. I did some more playing with longer routes and the Nuvi seems
> to give up trying avoiding 55 and ends up using 55 for most of the trip.
>
> The "Avoid Highways" dramatically slowed route calculation. From the
> Chicago Loop to St Louis MO normally takes just a few seconds to
> calculate. When I select "Avoid Highways" it took over a minute. It was
> clearly rying to follow my instructions, but ended up on 55 most of the
> time anyway.
>
> Bruce.
>
>
| |
| Bruce. 2007-08-16, 3:33 pm |
| "Dana" <ddelouis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:4E%wi.8752$t9.5694@bignews7.bellsouth.net...
> Here's one of many stories on how bad these Nuvi's are.
> I was on a train going due South at a slow speed of 5 mph.
> This $1000 unit will jump the position to the nearest road, and that road
> only ran east-west.
Hmmm. On a train is an interesting use of a GPS. I guess that could be
useful if the engineer gets lost. :-)
Bruce.
| |
| Happy Trails 2007-08-16, 3:33 pm |
| On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:52:32 GMT, "Bruce." <noone@nowhere.com> wrote:
>"Dana" <ddelouis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>news:4E%wi.8752$t9.5694@bignews7.bellsouth.net...
>
>Hmmm. On a train is an interesting use of a GPS. I guess that could be
>useful if the engineer gets lost. :-)
I'm guessing you have never heard of trains colliding, eh Bruce?
| |
| Elmo P. Shagnasty 2007-08-16, 10:33 pm |
| In article <4E%wi.8752$t9.5694@bignews7.bellsouth.net>,
"Dana" <ddelouis@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Here's one of many stories on how bad these Nuvi's are.
> I was on a train going due South at a slow speed of 5 mph.
> This $1000 unit will jump the position to the nearest road, and that road
> only ran east-west.
> The guy sitting next to me was interested in the Nuvi, but asked "Why are we
> heading west on this road, when we are over here on the railroad tracks
> heading south?"
> I had to explain to him that the Nuvi's software is a total piece of crap.
For that purpose.
The Nuvi is for the mass market of people driving in cars on modern
roads. That's a great market for any GPS manufacturer to cater to.
If you want something else, Garmin makes a wide range of other products.
The Nuvi isn't crap. Your choice of product was crap. Why did you do a
crappy job at choosing a product? You knew your needs, yet you
explicitly purchased a product that didn't fit your needs. That was a
crappy decision making process.
| |
| Pegleg 2007-08-16, 10:33 pm |
| On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:34:39 -0400, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
<elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
[color=darkred]
>In article <4E%wi.8752$t9.5694@bignews7.bellsouth.net>,
> "Dana" <ddelouis@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
Why would want GPS on a train where you have absolutely no control over
your route/speed/stops/etc?
The Nuvi is for road vehicle use. Pick another product!
| |
| Elmo P. Shagnasty 2007-08-16, 10:33 pm |
| In article < YradnbJ688btflnbnZ2d
nUVZ_t_inZ2d@comcast
.com>,
SFB <news@spenceburton.comNOSPAM> wrote:
> Pegleg wrote:
>
> Actually it isn't that bad for walking around a tourist city either...
> or finding your way back to a parked car (that you marked as a favorite
> or HOME) in a strange city....
>
> SFB
Right--essentially walking on main, known roads. That's really no
different than driving on the same roads.
Now take your Nuvi into the woods, hunting. Is it a crap product? No,
it's still the great product it was. But it's NOT meant for taking into
the woods with you as you hunt. Garmin offers different products for
that.
People see "GPS" and they assume they're all the same thing, universal
for all purposes. No, they're not.
| |
| Elmo P. Shagnasty 2007-08-16, 10:33 pm |
| In article <fa2p9d$hkk$1@blue.rahul.net>, dold@99.usenet.us.com wrote:
> In sci.geo.satellite-nav Pegleg <Pegleg@usnavyret.mil> wrote:
>
> In part for thew same reason I carry one on an airplane. It passes the
> time, looking out the window and knowing where I am, what I'm looking at.
The proper question is, why would you want an automotive-centric GPS in
that situation?
A GPS isn't a GPS isn't a GPS. The right tool for the job. Why would
you willingly go buy a screwdriver, knowing you were going to put on a
roof, then spend the day swearing at the screwdriver because it's
totally inadequate for the job and causing you no end of grief?
| |
| Edwin Pawlowski 2007-08-16, 10:33 pm |
|
"Dana" <ddelouis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> I had to explain to him that the Nuvi's software is a total piece of crap.
> There is just no excuse to defend this software. I don't recommend this
> product, and encourage others to write to Garmin also with their
> disappointment.
> --
> Dana
You should have explained that the Nuvi is designed to be used by people
traveling roads and it therefore follows the roads within the normal margin
of error.
When I'm disappointed with a product, I do write to the people in the
company that can possibly change things. Garmin, however, makes a product
that does everything they say it will do. As I use it more, there are
features I'd like to see in my Nuvi 350 and they are available for much more
money. By the time I'm ready to upgrade, they will probably be much cheaper
and I'll have the best of all worlds.
I do like using my Nuvi. Works as advertised.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/
| |
| dold@99.usenet.us.com 2007-08-17, 4:33 am |
| In sci.geo.satellite-nav Elmo P. Shagnasty <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
> The proper question is, why would you want an automotive-centric GPS in
> that situation?
'cause that's what you have?
Do you have more than one GPS? How many different varieties do you have?
> A GPS isn't a GPS isn't a GPS.
I expect them to all do some of the same things. Walking around an
unfamiliar town, my eTrex yellow wouldn't be much good, although it still
functions to get me back "home", if I marked a waypoint.
> The right tool for the job. Why would you willingly go buy a
> screwdriver, knowing you were going to put on a roof, then spend the day
> swearing at the screwdriver because it's totally inadequate for the job
> and causing you no end of grief?
_buying_ the wrong one for a single application doesn't make sense, but
using the one you have for the task at hand is a different thing. I have
used a screwdriver to press a small nail into place from time to time.
The "swearing at it" part would be different.
--
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5
| |
| Andrew Hamilton 2007-08-17, 4:33 am |
| On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:14:37 +0000 (UTC), dold@99.usenet.us.com wrote:
>In sci.geo.satellite-nav Pegleg <Pegleg@usnavyret.mil> wrote:
>
>In part for thew same reason I carry one on an airplane. It passes the
>time, looking out the window and knowing where I am, what I'm looking at.
Are you allowed to use a GPS on a plane while it is in flight?
>
>Why would I want a GPS in the middle of Mongolia, where someone else is
>driving, and he navigates by watching the contour of the mountain ranges?
What are you doing in Mongolia anyway? :)
-AH
| |
| Elmo P. Shagnasty 2007-08-17, 7:33 am |
| In article <NcudnbBHO- hAlFjbnZ2dnUVZ_tTinZ
2d@comcast.com>,
SFB <news@spenceburton.comNOSPAM> wrote:
>
> So you're saying that our VP, Dick Cheney, uses a Garmin Nuvi when he
> goes hunting? :)
Well, that would pretty much explain things...
| |
| Mike Lane 2007-08-17, 10:33 pm |
| On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:17:44 +0100, Andrew Hamilton wrote
(in article < bqbac3tq2antiitpjrqd
r5k4kqgs4t8au1@4ax.com> ):
> Are you allowed to use a GPS on a plane while it is in flight?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
http://gpsinformation.net/airgps/gpsrfi.htm
--
Mike Lane (UK North Yorkshire)
To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane
| |
|
| Pegleg <Pegleg@usnavyret.mil> writes:
>
> Why would want GPS on a train where you have absolutely no control over
> your route/speed/stops/etc?
>
It is interesting to know where you are and how fast you are travelling.
I used my etrex on a recent rail journey, whilst it would not work on the
Virgin Voyager (glass too thick I suspect), on the old IC125 it was interesting
to realise we were travelling at 110mph when it felt like we were travelling
much slower.
I agree with the postings about the nuvi. It is not a GPS, it is a SatNav.
If you want a single device that can be used for driving, on a train, or a
plane you are better off with on of the many Pocket PC based units, then run
SatNav software for driving and something like fugawi or pocket streets if
you just want a moving map.
Phil
--
There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary
and those that don't.
| |
| David L. Wilson 2007-12-16, 10:33 am |
|
"Tony Harding" <ToHard@nowhere.org> wrote in message
news:4762c566$0$3112
1$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> Happy Trails wrote:
>
> How would a GPS unit help avoid that?
The Nuvi is marketed for car/truck mobile use and pins intentionally to the
near road. It was not intended for train use and would not expect to work
well on a train-would you use a car tire on train axle?
| |
| grupoZero 2007-12-27, 4:33 am |
| > The Nuvi is marketed for car/truck mobile use and pins intentionally to
> the near road. It was not intended for train use and would not expect to
> work well on a train-would you use a car tire on train axle?
What are the diference between car, truck and Bus?
I can't keep the main road between two cities ( if I don't want to go on
speedways) and I travel allways with "fastest way" on, instead of "short
way"
| |
| Edwin Pawlowski 2007-12-27, 7:33 am |
|
"grupoZero" <ruiol@portugalmail.com> wrote in message
> What are the diference between car, truck and Bus?
> I can't keep the main road between two cities ( if I don't want to go on
> speedways) and I travel allways with "fastest way" on, instead of "short
> way"
If you select truck, it will take you a different route at times, avoiding
roads that have truck prohibitions. It does not always take into
consideration tight turns or low bridges though.
| |
| Don Simard 2008-02-25, 10:33 pm |
|
"Jack Erbes" <jacker@midmaine.com> wrote in message
news:47667899$0$2534
$4c368faf@roadrunner
.com...
> David L. Wilson wrote:
> <snip>
>
> I'd expect to be able to use a GPS receiver to give me an approximation as
> to where I am. And I would consider it appropriate that it would show me
> its best estimate of of my location relative to whatever vectors and other
> objects that happen may be seen in the mapping data.
>
> For a GPS to have a "feature" that obfuscates its best estimate of your
> actual location is really stupid. Especially if the feature cannot be
> turned off.
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
you can put it in off road mode and it won't do that
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