Laptop GPS World

I recently purchased SA 2008, and I like it for the depth of features it has, the only downside I have found so far is the fact the GPS location and the streets are misaligned a far distanc. This can prove to be very frustrating, especially in condensed roadway areas like cities and towns. The system thinks that I am on another adjacent road as opposed to the one I am actually on and therefore re-routes me accordingly.

I have tested this with both the DeLorme GPS receiver that came with SA 2008 as well as a bluetooth GPS Receiver (BT-5, Unitraq) and both produce the same results.

As I am new to the world of GPS, I am wondering if this is an issue that covers most software GPS/mapping products or is it a problem that SA2008 uniquely exhibits? If it is only a SA 2008 problem is it resolved in 2009?

The problem doesn't seem so prominent in S&T 2008 but from my understand S&T snaps the GPS location to the closest roadways.

Thanks!

Aaron

I'm a long-time S&T user, and I see this VERY rarely. S&T does not snap to the nearest road.

We've had a major interchange construction project going on over the last few years, and they moved traffic lanes around to accomodate the work. If the new lane was more than about 3 lanes away from the original, S&T would warn of being off track.

There have been rare instances in the last few years when the GPS location appears to be disconnected from reality by a few hundred yards for a short period of time. It has always cleared up quickly, and I attributed it to a problem with the GPS signal itself.

Rick

I am in the Vancouver/BC area, perhaps this is a localize issue? I have a screen capture of what I am experiencing. The following is the kind of deviation I am seeing at least 80% of the time and I know that these roads have not changed over many many years.

Aaron

Attached Images

screencap.jpg (17.8 KB, 15 views)

Aaron,

This may be an issue mainly with the Canadian data. DeLorme is called Street Atlas USA. You can assume there's probably a good reason for that. My experience is that there is only one single product that has ever ben sold with adequate Canadian data in it. That is Garmin's Metroguide Canada map product. Unfortunately it was released in 2005, contains 2003 data and will never receive another update. I just received confirmation from Garmin last week that they have officially abandoned that product.

That leaves us totally dependent upon the so-called "North American" products and they definitely have their warts when it comes to Canadian and Mexican coverage.

...ken...

Ken,

Thanks for your input on the issue. Guess I'll have to wait and see if anyone ever decides to pay more attention to us Canucks and our roadways.

Cheers

Aaron

Most GPS navigation programs get around this by locking to the roads.

This can also be an issue of poor reception of your GPS. If it has limited satellite data to work with, its ability to place you precisely is curtailed.

Terry

The attached picture and the description of the issue seem identical to what I have experienced in my geographical area on about a three kilometer long segment of Hwy-407, using DeLorme Street Atlas 2009. It's inaccuracy of the map. Most of the time I trust a GPS receiver before I trust map data, unless the GPS receiver doesn't have good view of the sky in all directions (obstructed by tall buildings, trees, etc).

No map product is perfect, and as long as it doesn't happen too often I can live with that.

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

Laptop GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

I just compared SA2008 with Garmin MG Can v4 (and 2008) at 1A @ 180th. If Garmin is correct, you are right. The SA 2008 map is wrong by about the amount shown on the track.

Terry

These kinds of issues really amaze me to be honest. Such that I'm fairly confused as how such a deviation can make it from creation to final product. I recently read an article how maps come about, mind you I can't remember for which company these maps were from.. anyways they used vans with GPS and video cameras to record traveled roads and streets. If such is the case then such a deviation of placement should not exist.

What along the way from map creation to final product causes these maps to be out of sync?

Doesn't make sense to me.

Delorme uses there own map data as far as I understand (not NavTeq or TeleAtlas). Their map data for the wilds of Vancouver, BC Canada would not be using such esoteric methods of data collection; more likely samples collected from users. Remember, SA 2008 is the first time Delorme has even included Canadian Data in this product.

Terry

It seems SA 2007 has Canadian data as well, maybe not as thorough... oh well.

2009 at least incorporates a 'snap to road' feature, but doesn't always work when the gps registers such a distance. I still like SA due to the comprehensive capabilities the product provides.

S&T seems to have much better Canadian data but fails miserably in terms of file compatibility for import export (aka POI/GPS Trails etc..). Still I'll stick with SA as the 2009 version seems to fix quite a few issues the previous versions had.

Cheers

azdesign,
If you are interested in SA getting better, make sure to pass on the errors you see to Delorme. They may have a simple translation error from the data they receive to how it is placed in the program.

Lack of Canadian users means they don't get as much feedback of Canadian errors. I understand they are quite responsive. There is even a Delorme guy on these forums.

Terry