Is there an "ideal" routing option in any GPS program?

Aregon · 01-10-06, 02:27 PM

Hi all!

I'm looking for a GPS program for my new Axim x51v, and after seeing all of the great discussion on this site, I thought I'd ask the experts.

I have been able to test out friend's versions of TomTom and iGuidance, comparing the suggested routes with what I normally drive. I'd have to say that TomTom is my preferred app, but while both of them have multiple routing options like "fastest" and "shortest", there is nothing like "best". Both produced good straightforward routes, it was when I tried to do "itenerary" type stuff that things got interesting.

The "fastest" options always seemed to favor interstates and highways, even if it meant going 20 miles out of the way. The "shortest" options resulted in going through the middle of small towns, making many turns and what not.

What I am looking for is something that allows me to choose a "shortest" type route but bypass towns where possible. Oh, and not taking 12 miles of gravel roads to do it (I'd also like to see an option to avoid gravel roads, but I didn't see it on either TomTom or iGuidance)...

I'm not asking much :) but do any of you know any WM5 app that will do this kind of stuff?

Thanks a ton!
Jeff.

JakeRich · 01-10-06, 03:58 PM

None of them do exactly what you want.

iGuidance, in addition to "Quickest," "Shortest" and "Major," has a category "Local." From my experience you end up with a Shortest that tends to go slightly longer if the longer is faster. It's a hybrid of short roads that ignores slower segments. But it won't avoid a town.

OCN5 allows you to choose your profile, including "Fast," "Short" and "Dynamic (if you have TMC)." You can also choose your profile of Car (fast, standard and slow), Motorcycle (prefers curvy roads), Truck (presumably longer straighter stretches), Bike and Pedestrian.

Destinator PN has just quickest and shortest, but does have a pedestrian mode.

I seem to remember on had an option to avoid sharp turns and RV as a vehicle, but I don't remember which that was now.

The challenge in your question is the concept "best." What I think is "best" you may not like, and may not even be "logical." For example, on my commute to work I take a road that isn't the shortest or fastest, but is the most reliable and predictable in terms of time. The "fastest" on paper is actually slowest because of the crush at rush hour. The "shortest" is a lengthy drive with lots of lights and opportunities for delays that make it totally unreliable. None of the mapping packages will find my preferred route by themselves, nor would I expect them to.
You can set some of them up to avoid certain things like tolls and freeways if possible, but that doesn't guarantee that it won't route through the center of town.

So, the answer in all of this is "No, that doesn't exist."

01-10-06, 04:06 PM

In addition to the above, for GarminQue programs which require Garmin GPS receivers, you are given choices/checkboxes to check if you want to avoid:

- Carpool lanes
- Highways
- Toll roads
- U-turns
- Unpaved Roads

And you can customize places to avoid where you can:

- add road to avoid
- add area to avoid

As for routing, the options are:

- Faster Time
- Shorter Distance
- Off Road
- Custom

You can choose the car profile as:

- Car/motorcycle
- Truck
- Bus
- Emergency
- Taxi
- Delivery
- Bicycle
- Pedestrian

Weird as it might seem, allowing the choices above is great!

dlweston · 01-10-06, 09:28 PM

I have OCN5. I normally use shortest route around town and fastest for long distance travel. No program is going to have perfect routes if you know where you are going. I know some routes in Kansas City, MO (use to fix two-way radio for the electric company) that will save quite a bit of time, but they involve quite a few turns. I find that OCN5 will favor a route with less turns. If I do not know where I am going, I would prefer a route with two or three turns instead of one with 7 or 8, so I think that is fine. Not sure how other program behave though.

DudeZXT · 01-10-06, 09:49 PM

I use PocketMap Navigator, but alas, it doesn't work with WM5, yet.

It has customizable options for your routing preferences...

Aregon · 01-12-06, 11:56 AM

Thanks for the input. Looks like there are many different options in the various programs, and figuring out the right combination to get the routing you want is key.

I'd still like the option to avoid unpaved roads though. Sounds like the Garmin SW is the only one that does that? Too bad it only works with a Garmin GPS.

Jeff.

JakeRich · 01-12-06, 12:00 PM

Well, frankly, I don't ever remember being directed to a gravel road by any of the packages I've used. Not that they wouldn't, if it was the shortest way, but I rarely choose shortest as it is invariably much longer in terms of time. Fastest (with or without tolls/freeways/ferries as preferences) may add a few miles, but it's at the exchange of a much faster trip. I only choose shortest when I am in no hurry and want to see countryside I've never seen before!

01-14-06, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by Aregon

Thanks for the input. Looks like there are many different options in the various programs, and figuring out the right combination to get the routing you want is key.

I'd still like the option to avoid unpaved roads though. Sounds like the Garmin SW is the only one that does that? Too bad it only works with a Garmin GPS.

Jeff.

It doesn't only work with Garmin GPS.

RobMan · 01-15-06, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by JakeRich

Well, frankly, I don't ever remember being directed to a gravel road by any of the packages I've used. Not that they wouldn't, if it was the shortest way, but I rarely choose shortest as it is invariably much longer in terms of time. ....

Hey Jake, c'mon down here to the rural south where there are plenty of gravel roads

Serioiusly, I was traveling on I-85 outside of Montgomery, AL, there was a wreck on the interstate, so I used the block function in OCN5. Exited the highway and two other cars followed me -- guess they saw my out-of-state tags and assumed I knew a shortcut. Well, it was a shortcut, down a couple of narrow 1/2 gravel 1/2 paved roads. I was a little concerned, but lo and behold we ended up back at an entrance ramp, got back on I-85 and were on our merry way! :approve:

JakeRich · 01-15-06, 04:58 PM

RobMan, we have gravel roads here in Virginia, too, but unless I'm doing what you did--avoiding a stretch of highway--the packages don't use the gravel roads in the "fastest" mode. I suspect the speed settings are pretty low on gravl roads. I do remember one time I was in rural Virginia and asked for "shortest" and got a gravel road solution that the software forecast to be 3 times as long (in time) as the "fastest" solution! You have to be careful what you ask for!