Comments on: How to Correct a GPS Map Error

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:46:35 +0000

Just a quick note, I’ve updated this list now that Google is no longer using Tele Atlas data in the USA.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:10:21 +0000

Hi, just found your site and it is great…answered a lot of q.s. I have a few, if you don’t mind. When driving from Tampa, we wanted to use the Suncoast Toll Rd. to go North, but could not put it in our Garmin and kept going back and forth trying to find it. So, how do we find Toll Rd.s when you can’t spell it on the gps??
We live in a rural area with lots of County Rds…what is the best way to map it as lots of places just have a # and county rd..like 45 County Rd. 144?
And, this is a really dumb q., but, regarding the sd card, would I put the card into the Garmin, connect it to my p.c. and then download music, pics, etc???
Would appreciate any help.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:09:55 +0000

Creating maps isn’t as easy as you think. They can’t just look at an aerial image and draw a road. In many cases aerial imagery can’t be used due to “no derivative works” licenses. The mapping companies collect over 200 parameters about every road… from curb types, lane widths, surface types, speed limits, turn restrictions…. you can’t get that data from looking at aerial photography. Mapping is way more difficult than most people can imagine.

If you’re contention is that the company “has internal problems” if they can’t get to a request for months then every major mapping company has that problem. And again, I find your claim that the companies are not concerned about accurate maps nonsense. It is the number one priority of both major mapping companies and it would be silly to think otherwise. They might not be as fast at building maps as you would like, but it is their number one priority.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:50:00 +0000

Accurate maps is not rocket science, especially when you are getting feedback from people. It should not take months (or over a year) to look at an aerial photograph to verify that a street does not exist. At that point, there should be no need to search county or state records, etc.

The bottom line is that when someone provides easily verifiable corrections to a company and those corrections don’t get past the initial submission literally for months, the company has internal problems. If they were truly concerned about accurate maps, this would be their #1 priority and submissions would be processed in a reasonable time frame.

TeleNav has the correct information on these particular streets whereas TeleAtlas does not. How inaccurate are they? I just submitted 45 *more* streets that are on their maps but don’t exist – all within 3 miles of my house. TeleNav has them all correct.

And I do agree with you – the situation is not acceptable.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:21:53 +0000

To say that Tele Atlas (or Navteq for that matter) doesn’t have a priority of providing up-to-date maps is just nonsense. That would be like saying Pepsi’s priority isn’t to quench thirst or satisfy a sweet-tooth because you don’t like the taste. Of course the number one priority of Tele Atlas and Navteq is to provide the most up-to-date maps as they can.

But accurate mapping takes a long time and is very resource intensive. I can point out roads “missing” from both the Navteq and Tele Atlas databases that have existed for decades. I’ve got reports submitted to Navteq and Tele Atlas that have been sitting idle for over a year.

I’m not saying I find the situation acceptable, however saying having correct maps is far from the truth.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:50:02 +0000

Map Share leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to streets that don’t exist. I submitted corrects to TeleAtlas MONTHS ago and the status is still stage one – “We received your report.” Having correct maps is obviously not even a remote priority to TeleAtlas and by extension TomTom.

By: Randal L. Schwartz

Randal L. Schwartz — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:29:10 +0000

“I’ll do that when OpenStreetMap.org’s maps are used in my GPS.”

There are plenty of iPhone apps that use OpenStreetMap. And the update cycle is very fast… I found an error of a street near me, uploaded the fix in about 15 minutes, and the next morning, the map tiles were showing the new route.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:06:18 +0000

I recently started using a Garmin 265WT. Even though it was selected after a lot of considerations, it could not live up to the expectations and all the time I had desperation, especially while turning at the junctions, since there was no timely display of the turns,and all the time, the turns were hidden at the top portion of the GPS, which prevented me from changing to the proper lane in advance. Similarly, the destinations were shown just at the opposite side of the road which was really frustrating and dangerous.The accuracy seemed to be within about 200 meters, which is really aweful.But , if the same map is used(navteq) by other companies also,there is no point in switching to another brand,all of whom have taken antoicipatory bail from the user in the licence agreement.So, be contented with what you get right now.This is my plight in Calgary, Canada.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:02:23 +0000

The other point of course is that you are treating your local experience as though its global. I have witnessed some peculiarities in my maps but nothing that can’t be lived with and the unit is so damn valuable that it makes these things annoyances. Not to say that your particular geographical location isn’t plagued with problems. One of the things the maps have trouble with is divided highways. However, there is something that Garmin could do to make things better. They could offer the same type of software that google maps offers: It gives you a choice whenever there is one between 2 or 3 routes and tells you distance and time on each and allow you to pick the one you want. Also, the software needs to be able to learn so that once you have the maps you can correct them locally. But you have to put yourself in their place and take a perspective that is theirs to see the what and why of it. But if I were an officer of the company I’d be pushing for those two items as they would be huge hits with the ‘buying’ public: I’m certain you’d like route options and the ability to make corrections.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:13:42 +0000

You make a good point; however, if Garmin is going to market a product that it claims does something, perhaps they (as well as the other gps makers) should develop their own map-making departments. Rather than spend a lot of time, money, effort on a lot of extraneous gadgets like blue tooth (I’m happy with the whiteness of my teeth), CDs, language translators and so on, they should put that energy into making a product of real value with accurate and reliable data.

What I like about my refrigerator is that, the maker claims its product will keep my food cold. It does that. When I turn on the gas, my range produces a flame that I can use to cook my food. When I turn the key to start my car, it starts. Toyota doesn’t say, “Oh, we got the starter motor from a subcontractor. It’s not our fault the car doesnt’ start.” I expect a gps that claims to draw the fastest route to do just that. Make the claim: follow through!

I see a lot of reviews about how well these products work, but from my year-long experience, I seem to become more dissatisfied every time I use my Garmin.

Before I buy another one, I will wait until they get the picture and market a decent product.