Don't leave home without your road atlas.

[Mikeact]

Well, it's now about 3 months since I aquired my new 'toy' and as a novice I thought that I would share with you a few thoughts. I purchased the TT3 complete with the IPAQ 4150 and the all in one holder that sticks on the screen...good package and more to the point...good after sales support help that I've needed on more than one occasion from the supplier....(sorry, Global Positioning.)
But, is is all just an overated gimmick ? I am just not convinced that I get either the quickest or direct route on occasions....eg from Portsmouth to the Midlands/North..it insists that the A3 / M25 /M1 is the best...but absolutely no way...it has to be M3 /A34/ M40 and then either M69 or carry on to maybe M42. Last week was really the final frustration....hence my title,...heading up the M23 for the M25 anti clockwise for the Dartford crossing....hit the M25 with a major incident up front (M20 exit closed.) So, plug in alternative to avoid M25, expecting it to shoot me down on to the old original parrellel A25, but no, 'turn around when possible'....suggesting that I take the M25 clockwise all the way around the other way ! Is this thing crazy or what? So, stop the car, and of course, ideally if you accept that the M25 between the M23 and Dartford is like two sides of a triangle, ideally I was really expecting to take me literally straight across...which of course, with the help of the atlas is what I did. I just don't understand...the longest side of the triangle has to be the shortest route in this instance. I tried to 'plug in' a half way mark to help it...(Biggin Hill), but was it interested?...when I double checked against the map, it was taking me miles out of the way to get there as well, (and I was only trying to help it !)
If we assume that I do know my way to work it morning, M27 there and back, it is surprising that every now and then it comes up with a strange direction ...take this morning...'Take the next exit?'...what, through a fence into a field?
So..unless you know better...I have yet to be convinced....or am I expecting too much....or tell me, am I doing something completely wrong ?

[Charlie]

Speaking as someone who doesn't know the route you mention I would assume you know what you're talking about. Although I have experienced times when the navigation seems to offer odd routes I do accept that it's not 100% accurate. I am not making excuses for the system but I do believe that 9 out of 10 times it's going to get you where you want to go in a reasonable amount of time.

[chris_bramall]

the Alternative route does not alway s chose the quickest route, it's just an alternative. multiple selections of alternative choses various routes.

If there is a road blockage then I always use avoid road block.

Regards

Chris