Choice of GPS?

**keldysh** · 19th October 2014, 06:09 AM

Sorry for laymen question - we've just bought our first car, so have no experience with what to expect from GPS devices. We've bought Garmin 2597 LMT, and it slightly didn't meet our expectations. The reasons are the following:
1. By some reasons, the address of one of the buildings (my work address) is absent in the maps. The building was built in 2007 in the center of Cambridge, MA. Map updates didn't help. Also, my sports club can be found just by address, not by its name.
2. Google maps at my Samsung Galaxy sometime tells what lane to take even on the roads within small town. My Garmin never does that. We didn't go to highway yet - perhaps, lane assistance works there well.

Our concern is if we should return Garmin and purchase another model, perhaps, even another make (TomTom or Magellan). Or these missing addresses are common for all GPS, and lane assistance can't be compared to Google maps?

**ddabcd277** · 19th October 2014, 08:44 PM

All Garmin devices have the same maps inside. The devices mainly differentiate with their functionality. So if you take another Garmin model most probably you will face the same issues you found on your current device. I don't know how is in the States but for Europe Nokia maps are the best PND maps compare to those of TomTom lets say. Google Maps are also very good but you need internet traffic to use them. Occasionaly there are some local country developers who make betters PND maps compare to those of Nokia and TomTom but at a price of a lot of effort and high investment. But for the States I think you don't have a big choice regarding maps in the PNDs. I think you have to live with that. I have see that there are free Topo maps at gpsfile depot which could be usefull in different cases where Nokia maps lack of data. If that could be of any help.

**Giomen** · 20th October 2014, 03:00 AM

Garmin is not quick in map updates it is fact. Online map services are better in that respect. But Garmin device have got the very friendly interface for drivers. I am using Garmin when I drive in realtime. It is concerning TomTom or Magellan too. For the other purposes I am using online maps and services.

**keldysh** · 20th October 2014, 04:29 AM

ddabcd277 and Giomen, thanks! I got it regarding Garmin maps but are TomTom and Magellan that slow in updating their maps as well? Also, do you have, by the chance, any suggestions regarding lane assistance? Probably, even Garmins are different in this sense, right? Not to mention TomTom and Magellan...

**Cobra** · 20th October 2014, 09:11 AM

I have the same problem with Garmin in Europe. My street is here for 15 years, but still isn't on the latest map. I have the same problem with other brands which use Here (former Navteq) maps.

My personal favorit is TomTom. Western European maps are perfect. In Eastern Europe Here maps are better.

So maybe you can try TomTom. There is an app for your Samsung Galaxy, so you don't have to buy a special device for testing.

**tli** · 20th October 2014, 02:33 PM

Report the map errors/changes, otherwise it may never be corrected:

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**keldysh** · 22nd October 2014, 02:22 AM

Thanks for suggestion. Indeed, it would be good try TomTom app, however, it is not free on TomTom website. Do you have an idea where to get it for free, at least just to try?