I'm actually pretty good with software ... the software that has good documentation .... something the 2007 NAV System Manual does not. Yes, its fine for basics and I've read it and fiddled and so forth. But it clearly lacks the detailed instructions that will let you really use it well .... its more likely that you'll just stumble across ways to do something .... kind-of like the Windows operating system ... heh!

Is there anyone out there who's really dipped into the NAV and figured out how to optimize its use? I have a Garmin GPS 276C. Its robust in its functionality. PC based planning tools are complicated as hell and not intuitive at all. Still it has a lot of capability if your willing to stick to figuring out how to use it.

This weekend, I attempted to pre-program a 276 mile road trip in the Corvette NAV system. I entered 5 way-points and a final destination for 6 check-points total. I used two entry methods for the check-points ... by intersection, by lat/long (I got the lat/longs from my Garmin PC based system). I found the intersection entry method troublesome as you must enter the street name in terms the data base understands. For example, it might understand a Georgia State Route 60 entry but not a Georgia Route 60 entry or it might see Georgia 60 as the Morgantown Hwy (Georgia is famous for having its roads named 10 different ways ... sucks!!!). So, I finally get 5 checkpoints entered in the order I want to drive them, then entered the destination and pressed the "target" mark on the display and the system undertakes its "calulating route" function. Damned if the thing didn't randomly assign the order for the check-points. I then went in and by accident found a way to reorder them but couldn't get that function to work correctly. I gave that effort up and proceded to try to make it easier for the software and simply enterd a total of 3 check-points (2 way-points and destination) along the 276 mile route. That seemed to work and I got a good route and it provided good guidance along the way as I drove the car .... but that's just wrong. There may be a time when I really want all five waypoints plus a destination. Is there a page where you can preview the route guidance (The Garmin has that function; it gives you a display page with turn by turn instructions - like MAP Quest - that you can check out to make sure your route makes sense).

I'm looking for someone that has used the NAV for a cross coutry trip for example and has figured out how to make route planning and entry as easy as possible given the sytem limitations. It literally took me 50 minutes to program the route I described above into the NAV system - I used a gallon of gas just sitting in the driveway - frustrating .... and my wife kept asking, "are we ready, are we ready, are we ready." No dear, just a second longer. Anyone with a list of 2007 NAV System Secrets?

 

don't understand!! Nav takes time. At least we are attempting to ask directions.

Ditto here, I take some extended times trying to convince NAV I know where I want to go and it needs to accept my input NOT!! SOOOoo I spend time trying to figure out what it wants me to do and how/where to input. I still enjoy it when it finally does accept my comands and off we go.

 

One time saver I found is when entering a destination you can enter the telephone number only and instantly the address shows up on the screen. This assumes you have a number and it's not unlisted.

 

If I'm not mistaken, that's only for POIs. e.g., I don't think I can put my friend's home phone in there and have it guide me to his house ..... can I do that?

 

Your right for a residence, I just tried it on a couple of friends. I know where they live so I don't use it for their homes. It does work on businesses and I do use it for that.

 

Have you seen any links to a decent set of documentation for the 2007 NAV system or anyone whose taken the time to do one themselves?

 

Get a Garmin portable that comes with a map program for your home computer. Design your route on the computer and then download it to the unit. Use the in car unit for simple find it destinations.

 

No, I did get an owners manual. But I haven't even looked in it. I've had it over two years and I have learned by trial and error. I'm very happy with it. I'm sure it does many things that I'm not aware of. One thing I did was shut off the voice recognition. It really bugged me.