GPS Question

[quietpraiyze]

I don’t drive so I don’t know but when you use a GPS system for driving does it give you options like the shortest way, the longest way, stiff like that? Do you get to choose or are you just given one direction before you start driving?

 

[HTacianas]

I don’t drive so I don’t know but when you use a GPS system for driving does it give you options like the shortest way, the longest way, stiff like that? Do you get to choose or are you just given one direction before you start driving?

I use google maps on my smartphone and it gives alternate routes. If I make a wrong turn it will update to show the shortest route.

 

[Neostarwcc]

It gives you options of the shortest/longest ways and even toll dodging routes. It's quite handy.

 

[Wookiee]

I don’t drive so I don’t know but when you use a GPS system for driving does it give you options like the shortest way, the longest way, stiff like that? Do you get to choose or are you just given one direction before you start driving?

GPS's can be preconfigured for a variety of options. You can open Google Maps on your phone or computer and tell it you want directions, and whether you want to avoid certain things such as freeways, toll roads, etc. If you go to maps.google.com right now, you can pick two destinations (ie your house to your church) and see what kind of routes it would offer if you were to drive from there. If you picked an even longer one (such as a destination several hours away), it will likely offer a few different routes that you might like to try but are fairly similar in travel time.

Generally it will pick what it determines is the fastest route (Google Maps will do this with detected traffic patterns and other people using Google Maps) and put you on there. If you make a turn it wasn't expecting, it will either recalculate based off that or tell you to turn around.

Before you start, some directions will present multiple routes and let you pick one, but all GPS's are generally pretty flexible in making changes on-the-fly.

 

[quietpraiyze]

Thank you all so much. What you're all saying confirms what I thought...

 

[Tolworth John]

I don’t drive so I don’t know but when you use a GPS system for driving does it give you options like the shortest way, the longest way, stiff like that? Do you get to choose or are you just given one direction before you start driving?

You can use google on your computer, tablet or mobile phone and type in start location ( your zip code ) to destination ( another zip code or an address or place name ) and it will give you he optiona of driving, public transport, waking or cycling as well as route for these and the time it takes to tavel.
Different automilbile associations also have there versions, which are free, and will let one adjust the route.

 

[Tuur]

The type of GPS is important. GPS that uses satellites are more reliable that "GPS" that uses cell towers. It's also important to keep the maps updated, to keep a paper map just in case, and to exercise common sense.

Example 1: On a company trip, an un-updated GPS routed us in a direction that the signs said would take us to a different location than the one desires. Our response: We followed the road signs and arrived at our destination.

Example 2: A satellite GPS unit tried to route me off a well maintained US highway over a paved county maintained highway. Stayed on the US highway.

Example 3: More than once a GPS tried to route me around my elbow to get to the desired destination. A few minutes with a paper map put us back on track.

Example 4: Two instances of someone following a GPS to bridges that were out, and due to the terrain and darkness, drove off the end of the bridge..

Example 5: Several instances of people who relied on cell tower GPS, which no longer worked when they didn't have a cell signal.

Oh: More than once have had a GPS route me to the wrong location because the street address information in the unit was incorrect. Now I find the location in Google Earth and enter the location in the GPS by latitude and longitude.