Sat nav Settings

[Ant]

I just spent a couple of days in Norfolk, visiting various places and using the sat nav a lot. Despite the system's idiosyncrasies, it worked very well. The only downside was the tendancy for it to pick routes along single track roads quite a lot of time. These were literally one car width wide roads with passing places every couple of hundred yards. I had to creep up to every bend for fear of meeting something head on, coming the other way.

I really prefer not to use these roads so a few times I ignored the instruction to turn, forcing the system to find another route. That's OK but no guarantee that the next road is going to be any wider! I checked the route settings and you can unselect the "unpaved roads" option but I couldn't see anything that might force the system not to pick roads less the two cars wide!!!

Just wondered if anyone could suggest anything (other than reverting to a good old fashioned map!)

Cheers.

[RichardCX5]

That's not a fault with your satnav - most of Norfolk's roads are singe track

[BigAl]

I think there's another option for fastest/quickest/shortest? Shortest will tend to take more minor roads.Fastest may well take a longer route, just using quicker roads like motorways and dual carriageways. As Richard says, not a lot of those in Norfolk, though...

Alan

[Willpower]

 LOL  Welcome to East Anglia   

[Ant]

Thanks for your responses. I take your point about the the many narrow roads in Norfolk!!!    Still a lovely place to visit!

I'll have another look at the settings - maybe the "fastest" option will help, as you say Al.

Cheers.

[Willpower]

The thing is, putting the "fastest" option will probably send you on the major roads. However, there are a few things to consider.

First, there are not that many "Major" roads in this part of the country and if you do use them, then it will quite likely add a few extra miles onto your journey. The difference in these cases between "Fastest" and "Shortest" could be considerable.

And, dependant on the purpose of your journey, you will miss out on some of the beauty of a rural environment and the surprises along the way.  Not often you come across small picturesque country villages and thatched houses in London.  (Not many cows either)         

[Cornish CX-5]

Just a note to add to the quickest / shortest option.  I like along a single track road in cornwall and a lot of sat navs will turn people off the main road, which is a 30mph limit, because the lanes are classed as national speed limit 60mph.  Lately there seem to be a high percentage of volvos doing this .
I have found that taking a wider view of your route will usually show if you need to go down a lane or if it is better to stick to the main roads.

James

[xtrailman]

If i tow anywhere new i plan the route using google maps, and use street view to check out suspect roads.

Also use earth for recording the exact location using coordinates, use these for the nav as they are more accurate than post codes, especially in rural areas.

All the route options can be viewed in the car before selecting the one you want, sometimes i've found a waypoint is needed.
Even so the wife always has the map book handy.