How does your GPS perform?

[SpeedFreak]

Hello all;

having just finished a 1500mile trip with my Garmin Quest 2 I am pretty dissapointed with it.

ths is my 4th Garmin GPS and easily the worst performing unit. Constanly "searching for sattelite", or "Recalculating" and when it was recalculating it could take upto 45minutes a few times. (Pulled over waiting!)

Just terrible. Yes I could have a bad unit but I dont think so. After reading up on this unit on the forums it appears a pretty big complaint (slow recal times)

So here are my questions to those who have used a GPS OVER 1000 MILE trip.

Did it work well?

Did you loose reception on back roads with tree overhang? If so what Percentage of the time?

Can you select highway/backroads for an automated route?

If back roads does it keep you off ALL highways. IE State route 5 for 30 miles is two lane but then for 30+ miles turns into a divided highway. Does it keep you on the divided hwy?

Does it have USEFUL POI's? and Upto date info?

What Make / Model do you have?

I'm thinking of getting away from a Garmin and looking at the Tom Tom Rider. But don't know if I'd have the same problems.

Again my other Garmin units did not exibit this poor performance as the Quest 2. I might just get a Quest 1 but really wanted the entire US detailed maps on already loaded on the GPS.

thankls

-=SF=-

 

[twowheelnut]

Ya know, I've had pretty good luck with my 276C. Yeah, it burps up a host of wrong turns up in the Bay Area for some reason and it did scramble us up on the Big Dog ride @ WFO and recently, it took forever to gain a hold on the sats, but then so did the Navi in my Accord - the GPS gods were making adjustments to the system of sumpin' then.

But, mine holds the signal and presumes your route for a limited time when the signal is blocked.

I can select secondary roads only, but it'll stick you on inter or intrastates occasionally.

Map Source seems to get an update about once a year and for the most part, I've found it to be quite accurate.

Garmin seems to be very responsive to complaints - have you tried to contact them about your problems?

 

[benneyb]

Isn't the Quest 1 a big step down, at $450 vs $750 retail?

I've been very happy with my 2610 that I got reconditioned on Ebay for $450. Love the configurability and the ability to upload and download from Mapsource. Some minor problems with reception in trees, but no 1000 mile trips to compare, sorry.

 

[bramfrank]

You'll like the Zumo. It uses the ultra-sensitive SIRFStar chipset.

Not many of the current units use that set, so they can have trouble when canyon ridig and under foliage. Quest is at a particular disadvantage because that antenna is tiny and very spindly.

 

[pawtracks]

My Garmin 2730 locks on really quick and I rarely lose a signal.

Used it on my 2600 miles to WFO & back

In the cage I use an external antenna due to my coated windshield.

My 2730 is my 4th Garmin unit. (Not replaced due to damage, non-working etc... just wanted to upgrade)

 

[Rickster]

I also have a Quest 2

(as for the question on Quest 1 versus Quest 2 -- Quest 2 has all the maps pre-loaded (no need to download))

On you Quest 2, what version of system software are you running? I had that same problem, and uploaded the newest version of software (released this month), and you get several things, but you lose ALL but 30Meg of user memory (orig had about 100Meg). You get the newer maps, and updated sofware, mine hasn't locked up since I updated to version Quest2 Ver. 2.80 as of Aug 07, 2006.

Clicky for download

Also -- check your route setting -- the default is "best route", you could select "quickest calculation" or somewhere inbetween.

Good luck!

 

[OhioFJR1300]

I have a Garmin 2610 and it works fine. I can tell you that I did have a problem with it always searching for reception when I used it on the bike. I also run a Sirius Sat radio, and I found that the Sat radio was causing the GPS to loose its signal. I solved this by adding an external antenna for the GPS and its been fine ever :yahoo: since.

 

[turbodave_98]

Not a single problem after 25K miles with the Lowrance IWay 500C. 5" display, color and lots of display info choices.

 

[Bluestreek]

My 2720 works fine. Once in a while I will lose the signal in the trees for a minute or two but thats about it.

 

[Tim05fjr]

I use a magellan 360. So far w/ good results. The only thing I don't like about it is that I can't hook it up to my computer and plot out my own routes. But this I knew getting into it because price was a factor when I puchased it.

Tim

 

[bmwhd]

My 2720 works flawlessly. It locks on very quickly and the recalc times are amazing compared to my old SPIII.

Is there any chance you have the Q2 mounted too close to some other electronic component? XM in particular screws with GPS signals.

 

[Tx White Knight]

I have been using a GPSMAP76 for a couple of years and no reception problems

I just ordered a 2820 yesterday for $387.95 shipped so I will let you know how it work

 

[chornbe]

I also have the Quest II and have taken in on several multi-thousand mile trips. I rarely experience issues with signals. Recalculations do take a bit of time (slow processor), and the interface is ridiculously slow to use. I've been considering upgrading to the 2720 or some such. I thought the internal battery feature would be cool, however I rarely use it off the bike - except when building routes on the PC and such. An AC adapter would work fine for that. I also have come to dislike the small screen on the Quest/II. I've heard the 27xx and 28xx series look dim in darkness due to the specific backlighting in use. I don't know for sure.

I have been using a GPSMAP76 for a couple of years and no reception problems
I just ordered a 2820 yesterday for $387.95 shipped so I will let you know how it work

WHAT? WHERE? HOW? I want one!!

 

[bramfrank]

I also have the Quest II and have taken in on several multi-thousand mile trips. I rarely experience issues with signals. Recalculations do take a bit of time (slow processor), and the interface is ridiculously slow to use. I've been considering upgrading to the 2720 or some such. I thought the internal battery feature would be cool, however I rarely use it off the bike - except when building routes on the PC and such. An AC adapter would work fine for that. I also have come to dislike the small screen on the Quest/II. I've heard the 27xx and 28xx series look dim in darkness due to the specific backlighting in use. I don't know for sure.

Quest and Quest-II both use Garmin's later 'fast' processor. The problem with Q2 is the NT map coding sub system which compresses the maps to save memory space and requires the maps to be expanded when doing any kind of operation.
You'll find an original Quest to be faster than the Quest-II for that reason.

Not that it is germane to the thread, but the Nuvi 560's been announced. Too bad it isn't waterproof.

 

[Tx White Knight]

I just ordered a 2820 yesterday for $387.95 shipped so I will let you know how it work

WHAT? WHERE? HOW? I want one!!

from here https://www.compuplus.com/i-Garmin-StreetPi...rbh8t6e9g420s2o

the one thing it does not come with is a xm antena

 

[bramfrank]

I just ordered a 2820 yesterday for $387.95 shipped so I will let you know how it work

WHAT? WHERE? HOW? I want one!!

from here https://www.compuplus.com/i-Garmin-StreetPi...rbh8t6e9g420s2o

the one thing it does not come with is a xm antena

Hmm - the link is dead and the site doesn;t show the 2820 at all . . . .

 

[Geezer]

I just ordered a 2820 yesterday for $387.95 shipped so I will let you know how it work

WHAT? WHERE? HOW? I want one!!

from here https://www.compuplus.com/i-Garmin-StreetPi...rbh8t6e9g420s2o

the one thing it does not come with is a xm antena

No longer available. :angry2:

 

[Tx White Knight]

No longer available. :angry2:

bummer, I know several from MTF ordered them too. Now I guess we wait until tomorrow and see what happens, if they have them or if it was a misprint???

 

[Bike Effects]

I enjoy my 2730 a great deal.