New Garmin Dezl 760

What I can say is this. At least two other truck specific devices do have this feature which allows forced calculations. Many other PND units offer this including many in the Garmin line as far back as I can remember. All of the map software from Microsoft Streets and Trips to Delorme offer this ability. One of the reoccurring themes here and elsewhere on the forum regard route calculation issues. Some is this lack of understanding of the device but most of it is a lack of user control over the calculation process by allowing more input into the process. As I posted, vias give the user the ability to calculate a precise route matching thier needs by forcing the device to route through the via points. This would be a fairly easy feature to implement.

I am familiar with BC. The question is this. How many of us want to take the time to drag out the laptop and do that?

Thanks for bringing up Map guide.... It brings back fond memories of my Garmin 3+ and 5. Talk about taking time. And you could only do so much before running out of memory on the device.

I dunno, sounds to me like we are not in disagreement on this, but not quite in agreement on if it should be implemented or not as a feature.

Mark

 

On a Garmin it's not impossible to import routes from Google maps (or other mapping tools), but usually comes with unpredictable behavior on the gps. Changes in the apps you create the route in (Google is notorious for this) as well as detail compatibility lead to the trouble. Developers that create apps to do this sort of import are in a constant chase to stay abreast of Google's latest updates.

Garmin Basecamp behaves like Google maps on steroids. Much less user friendly in exchange for the benefit of very detailed mapping capability. The main benefit being that you can move data back and forth between the laptop and gps, both tracks stored on the unit and routes, POIs, and waypoints you create on either. Fully compatible in both directions.

Mark: I think we do agree. To me the difference between a POI and a waypoint or via is that the former is a destination. That is, a driveway you would be expected to pull into. That is, what you get when you tap the map on the 560. It often goes into a re-routing frenzy if you drive past but do not enter the exact location. The latter would be equivalent to a random spot on the road. Not something you'd particularly save for later, and would register as "arrived" by passing through it and not actually leaving your path.

A little about me that might shed some light on our differences. Despite working in a high tech environment for many years, I'm still an analog guy in many regards. When I seek out a system to solve a problem, said system doesn't exclude manual methods that exclude electronics or computing capability. For example, there are times that a pen and paper get the job done more gracefully than a notepad app on a smartphone. I'm not a Luddite, but at the same time don't gravitate toward technology for the sake of it.

With regard to forcing a route, yes it would be nice to be able to touch and drag a route to the desired path and have it work on the gps. I think the direction I was going by bringing up Basecamp is that the gps interface lacks enough precision to make doing that less than awkward, as well as the very task introducing many variables that would exponentially make it more difficult for the device to calculate a successful route while working within the constraints of the selected truck profile. Or for that matter, it being smart enough to know when you are deliberately overriding the constraints and accommodate it without trying to undo your modification.

When I really think about the capabilities and how my 560 behaves compared to the Zumo 550's I've had for going on 6 years, they are truly a generation apart. I'd venture that Garmin is probably one or two iterations away from a tablet or even laptop level of precision. In my opinion their competitors, in the race for market advantage, have introduced some of these features on a platform that just isn't quite up to the task enough to be dead reliable yet. In that regard, Garmin tends to be like the iPhone of the gps world. Appears a little dumbed down compared to it's peers, but typically "Just Works®" at the expense of foregoing some whistles and bells.

 

@RedForeman

I think, with all due respect, you might be over complicating the problem or, over solving it might be a better perspective. Think on this a moment. Really, the only two items on the goto page good to create a via with would be the intersections and towns buttons. What if after selecting one or the other, the user were given a choice between adding it as a destination or a via. There is no need to over complicate this by either using a third party or external method or by drawing lines. The user would simply choose where the route should run through and make it so by adding the town or intersection as a via instead of a destination. This, by the way, is how it is done on the competition's device which does offer this capability.

I do see where you coming from. I just think you are over thinking the idea based on your wealth of experience. Guilty of that myself I guess having very much the same kinds of experiences with gps over the years. However I do have a um... self imposed bargain basement engineering perspective from having to jury rig gps devices to amature radio gear and figure out all the ins and outs of that. Very easy to get drowned in it all. But a wise man once said, kiss it. In other words, keep it simple stupid (no offense meant and not calling you stupid but that's what it stands for). I do think that this capability can be added with very little effort. And I do think based on comments here and elsewhere, it's needed.

Mark

 

No offense taken. I try to keep it simple myself. What I missed is being too deep in the weeds of constructing a route to consider "via" in a broader sense as you just described. Makes a lot more sense now.

 

I suffer from that. It's called forestitas as in can't see the forest on account of all the trees

Mark

 

I need some input from the drivers out there that are currently using the Garmin dezl 760 LMT. I've been looking at the tutorials on YouTube, but the question I have before I plunk down $400 of my hard earned money is this... Can you build your own route, for example select different freeways than what the GPS chooses. I've been on the road so many years I probably don't need a GPS except when I get close to my destination. I usually find short cuts...legally...and the GPS I'm using right now is a Rand McNally and I've come close a number of times to throwing it out the window. My luck someone would see me and turn me in for breaking their car window! Any info would be appreciated. Thanks y'all.

 

The simple answer is, not very easily. Matter of fact, route building if I understand your use of the term, is not easily done on any of the truck specific models now currently available. You can influence routing by preference and by custom avoidences and detoures but no device allows building from scratch a route. Devices are designed for the user to enter in one to multiple destinations and let the device routing algorithms build a route segment by segment for the user connecting the dots. The degree of control varies from device to device. If you read a few of the more recent posts here on this thread where this has been discussed in depth regarding Garmin units. RedForeman has made some very poinent observations regarding this.

I have and use the DEZL760. It is by no means the end all of personal navigation devices (pnd) but what and how it offers has made it the best choice for me. Like you, I have been out here many eons and like you, cross country navigation is largely done out of my head and not the device. I leave the device in the non navigational mode known as follow me mode. It allows a moving map display of my location, next exits and/or cross streets and many informational alerts which, with my subscriptions include extended traffic advisories, weather alerts, and a whole lot more (yes I know the xxxx offers similar but free services but there are major differences in the type and quality of information being presented between the two brands). Navigation comes into play when I need to get into a customer or need a idea of where I am going and the miles involved. But again, the majority of what I think you are referring to as route building is done in my head.

I am a driver, not a Garmin rep. I have no stake in if you choose one of these or not. I can only say that Garmin has been in the navigation business for years, has a solid rep in all kinds of navigational applications, and isn't going away. But if you are really really needing such degree of control, you will not find it here.

Mark

 

Local routing is usually the weak spot with any of the units on the market today. So don't buy one if that's what you're after. You'll surely be disappointed.

What they are good for on local streets is knowing where you are, along with ETA. What works for me is to use Google maps ahead of time to figure out where I'm going and the best way to approach. Satellite view will help you figure out if the truck entrance is down the road or off a side street from the address. Then I use the gps to track my location and prepare for turns that are coming up, which may or may not be directed by the gps route.

 

And your other option is to go the way you want to go and let the GPS catch up to you. The 760 will usually do that quickly (unlike the Rand as Hammer mentioned earlier) unless there is a glitch in the database and it thinks you will be going under a too short bridge. If it thinks there is a weight restriction, it will warn you and force you to accept the warning.

 

The Garmins do that too. My usual example is leaving the Kroger in East Point, GA., which is inside I-285. That makes me legal on the truck restriction to head toward most of my reload locations or my terminal parking via downtown. I have to turn routing off and mute the volume in order to not get dozens of warning pop-ups and re-route attempts until I get back outside the perimeter. I'd turn it off, but that would create a gap in my IFTA reports.

BTW - this same location is another great example of crummy local routing. I think in half a dozen trips it might have given me a good route (via GA-166 south on Sylvan then west on Oakleigh). The local routing back onto GA-166 is weird (actually a well marked truck route through residential that is easy to find without maps) as well and tends to trip out the Garmin even more.

Sometimes a gps isn't the best tool for navigation.