GPS - can get you in OR out of trouble!
12-30-2009, 11:16 AM
#1
Thread Starter
GPS - can get you in OR out of trouble!
GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- A Nevada couple letting their SUV's navigation system guide them through the high desert of Eastern Oregon got stuck in snow for three days when the GPS unit sent them down a remote forest road.
On Sunday, atmospheric conditions apparently changed enough for their GPS-enabled cell phone to get a weak signal and relay coordinates to a dispatcher, Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger said.
"GPS almost did 'em in and GPS saved 'em," Evinger said. "It will give you options to pick the shortest route. You certainly get the shortest route. But it may not be a safe route."
Evinger said the couple got stranded Christmas Day and a Lake County deputy found them in the Winema-Fremont National Forest outside the small town of Silver Lake on Sunday afternoon and pulled their four-wheel-drive Toyota Sequoia out of the snow with a winch.
GPS
One thing we learned with the GPS is that sometimes, you have to go with your gut and take a route other than the one it suggests.
In ME one time, it tried to send us down some kind of snowmobile road. In VA, we had it set to "avoid highways" and ended up going 2 1/2 hours out of the way, as it recognized one road as a major highway.
Lesson learned. They aren't fool proof....keep a map in the car.
On Sunday, atmospheric conditions apparently changed enough for their GPS-enabled cell phone to get a weak signal and relay coordinates to a dispatcher, Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger said.
"GPS almost did 'em in and GPS saved 'em," Evinger said. "It will give you options to pick the shortest route. You certainly get the shortest route. But it may not be a safe route."
Evinger said the couple got stranded Christmas Day and a Lake County deputy found them in the Winema-Fremont National Forest outside the small town of Silver Lake on Sunday afternoon and pulled their four-wheel-drive Toyota Sequoia out of the snow with a winch.
GPS
One thing we learned with the GPS is that sometimes, you have to go with your gut and take a route other than the one it suggests.
In ME one time, it tried to send us down some kind of snowmobile road. In VA, we had it set to "avoid highways" and ended up going 2 1/2 hours out of the way, as it recognized one road as a major highway.
Lesson learned. They aren't fool proof....keep a map in the car.
12-30-2009, 11:18 AM
#2
^^ I saw this on the web news this morning and thought about posting it for Dave, however, he may read it early in the morning when he's grumpy and say something he'll regret later. 
12-30-2009, 11:19 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by valentine,Dec 30 2009, 03:18 PM
^^ I saw this on the web news this morning and thought about posting it for Dave, however, he may read it early in the morning when he's grumpy and say something he'll regret later.
dlq always in our
s
12-30-2009, 01:15 PM
#6
I just bought a new Garmin after my 3 year-old StreetPilot kept saying "Lost satellite connection". The first time I used it was last week having it direct me from the Sacramento airport to my daughter's apartment, about 38 miles away. It was dark and I couldn't understand why it had me taking city streets when I knew that last year I was on highways all the way to her place. 
My son was with me so he blipped it to the end address and it was taking us to some intersection 1,200 miles away. 
He clicked on her address in my Favorites, again, and it got it right the second time. Kyle said that his Garmin did the same thing to him, recently. He and his girlfriend put in an address and it was taking them someplace else.
My son was with me so he blipped it to the end address and it was taking us to some intersection 1,200 miles away. He clicked on her address in my Favorites, again, and it got it right the second time. Kyle said that his Garmin did the same thing to him, recently. He and his girlfriend put in an address and it was taking them someplace else.
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12-30-2009, 01:50 PM
#8
This Garmin I just bought is my third. They are getting easier to use all the time.
12-30-2009, 01:50 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Kyras,Dec 30 2009, 05:15 PM
I just bought a new Garmin after my 3 year-old StreetPilot kept saying "Lost satellite connection". The first time I used it was last week having it direct me from the Sacramento airport to my daughter's apartment, about 38 miles away. It was dark and I couldn't understand why it had me taking city streets when I knew that last year I was on highways all the way to her place. My son was with me so he blipped it to the end address and it was taking us to some intersection 1,200 miles away. He clicked on her address in my Favorites, again, and it got it right the second time. Kyle said that his Garmin did the same thing to him, recently. He and his girlfriend put in an address and it was taking them someplace else.
My son was with me so he blipped it to the end address and it was taking us to some intersection 1,200 miles away. He clicked on her address in my Favorites, again, and it got it right the second time. Kyle said that his Garmin did the same thing to him, recently. He and his girlfriend put in an address and it was taking them someplace else.I think a similar thing happens when it starts out and doesn't know where you are.
Until it gets a connection, it thinks it is where ever it was last time it was turned on.
12-30-2009, 01:53 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Jet sitter,Dec 30 2009, 05:33 PM
My daughter bought me a Garmin for Christmas. I haven't tried it out yet.
ours and would not want to travel without one. They do take a bit of getting used to, and they are not "stupid proof" Try it out around town, so you can see how it works. Most important check your settings and what you want to avoid. If you avoid too much, you never get to your destination.
The only avoidance we have is dirt roads, or if we have plenty of time, we avoid highways. Fastest time generally is our preference over shorter distance.