The GPS/Maps Discussion Thread (Dedicated Satnav, Smartphones, Tablets, etc)

sgiitk · 26th May 2010, 15:25

We must remember. Whether you use MMI or SatNav keep your sense of humour. Indian maps have not been digitized as of now. Only some parts have been. So you must be willing to live with some errors as you go along.

cool_dube · 26th May 2010, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlaneMad

Having studied the map data of practically every provider, i have to conclude that google's is the best. Not sure what the data sources for others are, but a fat lot of the roads they show dont exist

I agree - best part about Google Maps is that they might not show a road that exists (usually interiors) but as far as my experience goes, does not show a road that does not exist - scores good on reliability. I am waiting for the day when I can host Google Maps on my Garmin

Aparnesh · 26th May 2010, 18:52

@MX6

Thanks for the prompt response. Will rethink.

Can we have some first hand information on the RoadPilot, if someone is using it. What are the other alternatives? I have a reverse parking camera with its 3.5" TFT installed. Is there some device which can make use of this screen for displaying the maps?

MX6 · 26th May 2010, 22:10

Go for a 4.3" screen size PND. Smaller screen makes it more difficult to type addresses, select POIs etc.
I have a Garmin unit with Satnav maps on it. Many members are going for Garmin device with bluetooth and satnav maps as it's good and satnav maps are VFM at 1/7th the price of MMI. Humbler suggestion from my side.

trammway · 26th May 2010, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by cool_dube

I agree - best part about Google Maps is that they might not show a road that exists (usually interiors) but as far as my experience goes, does not show a road that does not exist - scores good on reliability. I am waiting for the day when I can host Google Maps on my Garmin

Amen! I'm waiting too.

sgiitk · 27th May 2010, 16:05

Try Google maps. There is no road in the Leh - Khardung La - Nubra valley!

tsk1979 · 27th May 2010, 17:14

Actually openstreetmap maps are much more accurate than google maps when it comes to ladakh region

cool_dube · 27th May 2010, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Actually openstreetmap maps are much more accurate than google maps when it comes to ladakh region

Are these usable on Garmin PNDs?

tsk1979 · 27th May 2010, 18:12

Yes, all you need to do is download the img file for india from downloads.cloudmade.com
It will be named gmapsupp.img. Store your old img file somewhere else as osm one is not routable.

Sportsmind · 27th May 2010, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by madhukar_n

i just got a garmin 255W device. (yet to come to BLR.. he paid some 140$ for that)
i called up satguide and they told me 999 for 650+ cities map on 1 GB SD card.
the mapmy india price is 7000 for the maps for 620 cities !!
difference is 7 times :-)

so most probably will order for the satguide maps. i will be using for the leh trip this august !!!

also has anyone used one GPS device from LACS ?? it is a bangalore based company. it costs about 11K for the device(with bluetooth) and maps

I use satguide on my garmin nuvi. man I had a torrid trip to kerala earlier this month. I did a simulation to Calicut via nilambur and i get prompts of U- turn when there is no chance of taking a u turn. Thank God I did not end up where i started from

.
End result ended up doing additional 25kms and loosing 45 minutes extra on the trip, despite selecting shortest route on the simulation.
Does mapmyindia maps have similar issues?. I have given the guys at satguide a piece of my mind

.

sammyboy · 27th May 2010, 20:13

Got my SatNav card today but the Garmin will come only next month end .
Arrggghh the wait is going to kill me !!

evo · 27th May 2010, 22:52

Have driven about a 1000 KM in the past one week with the GPS and I`m fully smitten. Ofcourse its not accurate, (it asked me to drive into the Wards Lake in Shillong) , it doesnt have all the roads and has some non existent POI (Hyatt at Guwahati anyone?), but all in all, its killer.

bj96 · 28th May 2010, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo

...some non existent POI (Hyatt at Guwahati anyone...

You bring in a very important point. For a multilingual country like ours, accents and dialects play a lot on how we spell, write and pronounce names.

If a south Indian scribe writes the POI then most probably he would write "Bharat Nagar" as "Bharath Nagar", "Maruti Mandir" as "Maruthi Mandir". "Dhruv Palace" in Bengal will become "Dhruvo Palace", Vashi will be written as "Bhasi". Most north Biharis, will be called as Zha or Shah or Sha and never Jha in Maharashtra

. Imagine a Kanpurian looking for a "Maruti Mandir" in Delhi on a map drafted by a vernacular chap from Andhra. In this case it was probably a "Haat" (हाट) in Guwahati entered as Hyatt by a senior school pass-out from some convent in Mumbai.

I have noticed that, bad spellings of POIs kill all the fun of searching in a GPS map. I have used Satnav and Navteq maps. Unless we have some kind of Soundex algorithm implemented in the device OS, searching is going to remain a big challenge. Again, how do you find "Bangalore" if "Bengaluru" was saved

.

-BJ

amitoj · 28th May 2010, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo

Have driven about a 1000 KM in the past one week with the GPS and I`m fully smitten. Ofcourse its not accurate, (it asked me to drive into the Wards Lake in Shillong) , it doesnt have all the roads and has some non existent POI (Hyatt at Guwahati anyone?), but all in all, its killer.

Man your maps are future compatible! Hyatt is shown as a "proposed" hotel. I have no idea how far long that proposal has come to being a reality though.

Hyatt Hotel Guwahati Guwahati

shubhamAT · 31st May 2010, 20:45

I have ordered a RoadPilot yesterday and am expecting it on Wednesday. Has any one used Google Maps with any MMI device ?

26th May 2010, 15:25	#991
sgiitk BANNED Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,969 Thanked: 4,787 Times	We must remember. Whether you use MMI or SatNav keep your sense of humour. Indian maps have not been digitized as of now. Only some parts have been. So you must be willing to live with some errors as you go along.
	() Thanks

26th May 2010, 18:52	#993
Aparnesh Newbie Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kolkata Posts: 4 Thanked: 0 Times	@MX6 Thanks for the prompt response. Will rethink. Can we have some first hand information on the RoadPilot, if someone is using it. What are the other alternatives? I have a reverse parking camera with its 3.5" TFT installed. Is there some device which can make use of this screen for displaying the maps?
	() Thanks

26th May 2010, 22:10	#994
MX6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: City of seven islands. Posts: 2,877 Thanked: 231 Times	Go for a 4.3" screen size PND. Smaller screen makes it more difficult to type addresses, select POIs etc. I have a Garmin unit with Satnav maps on it. Many members are going for Garmin device with bluetooth and satnav maps as it's good and satnav maps are VFM at 1/7th the price of MMI. Humbler suggestion from my side.
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 16:05	#996
sgiitk BANNED Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,969 Thanked: 4,787 Times	Try Google maps. There is no road in the Leh - Khardung La - Nubra valley!
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 17:14	#997
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,820 Times View My Garage	Actually openstreetmap maps are much more accurate than google maps when it comes to ladakh region
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 18:12	#999
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,820 Times View My Garage	Yes, all you need to do is download the img file for india from downloads.cloudmade.com It will be named gmapsupp.img. Store your old img file somewhere else as osm one is not routable.
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 20:13	#1001
sammyboy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ggn/Dehradun Posts: 1,842 Thanked: 521 Times View My Garage	Got my SatNav card today but the Garmin will come only next month end . Arrggghh the wait is going to kill me !!
	() Thanks

27th May 2010, 22:52	#1002
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Have driven about a 1000 KM in the past one week with the GPS and I`m fully smitten. Ofcourse its not accurate, (it asked me to drive into the Wards Lake in Shillong) , it doesnt have all the roads and has some non existent POI (Hyatt at Guwahati anyone?), but all in all, its killer.
	() Thanks

31st May 2010, 20:45	#1005
shubhamAT BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 151 Thanked: 69 Times	I have ordered a RoadPilot yesterday and am expecting it on Wednesday. Has any one used Google Maps with any MMI device ?
	() Thanks