I bought a Garmin Nuvi 650. But a few days later I returned it when I learned about the routing capabilities of Garmin's 7xx series. I really really like the ability to create and store multi-point custom routes on the unit (or on the PC for transfer to the unit). I already have most of the routes for our 8,500 mile trip this summer all planned, created and stored. When planning, if, for whatever reason, I wish to deviate from the route that the Nuvi automatically provides, with the 750, I can easily modify the route and save it for when needed. We used our 750 almost every day for 2 1/2 months while we were in Florida last winter and it usually achieved satellite reception within 5 seconds of turn on (and often less)! In any event, subsequent firmware upgrades have apparently rectified issues with slow reception that some have reported. There is free software available that will allow one to convert Microsoft Streets and Trips Routes (not just waypoints) to a format that can be transferred to the GPS. I haven't used it much, but it does work. I do use S&T a lot to assist with trip planning but prefer to set up my actual routes in Garmin's MapSource on the PC for later transfer to the Nuvi.
Lorne Ross
2003 Pleasure-Way Ford Excel TD Camped the lower 48 states and 9 provinces
Most multiple times and now on the repeat!
This trip was the first time I've had the chance to use the Nuvi 750 and it is wonderful. I can plan out our motorcycle trips around Arkansas from our campsite and upload them to the Nuvi, voila no more messing with paper maps. I know way in advance when our turns are coming up, just love it.
I would NEVER blindly let any GPS plan my route. I use a computer program where I can see the exact route and make any changes that I desire. Out of curiosity I let my Garmin plan one trip that I have taken about a brazillion times and I would Never go where it told me to.
My friend used Mapquest to plan his exit from my subdivision and it told him to exit left about 6 miles down a gravel road, then double back about 5 miles to end up where you could go one mile right and one mile south, all on blacktop. It also planned a trip to the eastern shore that might have been the shortest but went on some cart paths, but I "assume" that you can tell it to stick to main roads?
bumpy
I own a Nuvi 650 and it routes just fine. I guess it depends on what you mean by 'route'. My definition is that you give it a destination and it will plot out the way to get there, showing you the trip on a map, and showing you every turn that you have to make. To me, that's a route.
Now the 650 can't store the routes, and your limited in your ability to alter the default route.
Here's how I get around the problem of 'how to alter default routes'.
If you want to travel from A to C and NOT travel through B, then I would pull up the map on the Nuvi and give a destination road that is not the FINAL destination, but rather a destination that is the alternate to B. Once you get close to that "not-B" road, reset the destination to C (your final destination) and it will automatically rebuilt what's left of the route. It's really quite simple, and you've went from A to C without going through B.
I use to have a Magellan Map 410, and would build and manage the waypoints and routes on that. I felt lost at first with the Nuvi. But after using it for a few weeks, I have to admit that I really don't miss the old style routing at all, and this is much much easier to just have your routing done in real-time when you need it.
The problem with planning multiple-stop routes is, s*** happens. You spend 2 hours with MapSource planning this complicated route, then for one reason or another the whole route gets changed. After years of this, I came to the conclusion its simpler to just punch the next stopping point in once or twice a day, using the Garmin's 'Where to' feature. You can use the via feature to force a non-direct route. If you want the scenic route, just set it to avoid freeways. Of course, there is nothing to prevent you from using both techniques at once.. a planned route and a series of ad-hoc mini-segments.
Yes, some folks get by with "work-arounds" and others feel they don't really need a GPS with multi-point routing and planning ability, but keep in mind that the units having that ability will accommodate each preference, but it doesn't work the other way around.
I have a Tom Tom One. One of the advantages is a free program http://www.janboersma.nl/gett/ that allows you to map out where and how) you want to go on Google Maps and download it to your Tom Tom, you can make an iterany on your Tom Tom. There is a great board that support the Tom Tom ( http://www.tomtomforums.com/). Check it out I am amazed what you can do with that unit..
Jim
2007 29' Maverick 292 DS
A 12 yr. old long haired Doxie, "Digger"..
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