Garmin Topo Australia - Just How Good????

Hi Matt
I had all the correct settings, only had Topo Maps on, and the City Navigator turned off, but they were out by a long shot. Sure it worked fine a few times, but for the money one pays, it should be as the same quality or better than Shonky, which is free. Like to emailed Garmin, The Great Central Road has been in place for many years and sees thousands of vehicles travel it yearly. I also offered to give them my saved track file from my Garmin Vista HCx, recorded at a rate for mapping, and still no reply, so they can compare the two files, side by side and to show them how far out their mapping is. The quality of the mapping needs a lot to be desired, where as the Shonky for free was spot on.

Cheers

Stephen

Cheers Stephen,

Obviously shoddy mapping software. I was amazed at how well shonky actually works. I brought a copy on a SD card, with some countours program, tracks 4 and something else for $15 dollars. It had all the info I needed for where we have been latley.

Matt

Hi Matt
It is nothing to do with Shoddy Mapping Software. The Micro SD Card is pre installed when you buy the product from Garmin, just install into any Garmin product that supports the additional mapping, go into settings, maps, change the info so Topo Australia is the preferred maps and enter. Like I said, I had one unit running Shonky, so I could compare the two mapping systems. It all comes down to the fact that Garmin still have to do a lot of work to get their mapping system spot on.
What amazed me was the fact that I have offered them the correct data to compare, but have not had the decency of a return email.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Matt
I am well and truly up with using these products, we sell them at work. It is not the units ability, but the quality of the mapping.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Fuji
It sounds like it is out more that one would expect. If it is out for the very easy Simpson Tracks, it makes one wonder what other areas are out as well.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Alby

Just did a check in Mapsource of Shonky, Topo Australia V2 and Oztopo 2.1b on an area where the Jardine and the Alice Rivers meet. You are right - Topo Australia has pieces of the Jardine totally missing - in this area Shonky is the most detailed with some fence lines etc marked and Oztopo a little better than Topo Aus. Just strange that chunks of data are missing in Topo Aus.

Cheers

A

Hi Alby
It sounds like that Garmin needs to re do their homework and very fast. When I spoke to our Garmin Rep and told him about my issues, and that I could not sell their product in confidence, he did not like it and then put the blame back on HEMA, who have supplied Garmin with the Data. It would not be in the interest of HEMA to supply wrong data, as all their maps are spot on.

I think that Garmin should get their maps up to date and supply all of us that have the bad maps with ones that work the way they should - or do as I will now do and advise all people to save their hard earned money, download Shonky for FREE and have a map that shows you where you are.

Cheers

Stephen

I made the same comparison a few weeks ago at the northern point where the CSR starts.. It shows a 1.6 km solid line of the CSR and it is sign posted as such, but it is just a short line and stops..... The CSR than goes to a track (broken line). No mention of the CSR a little lower when the cursor is placed over the CSR, or written alonside it, just says track and i checked all the maps from 800mtrs to zoomed right in to the highest resolution and nothing, It may be sign posted down further but not at the top end.. You would be hard pressed just using just Garmin topo to get you on the right track if heading south.. Doug T showed some me some sign posted sections but they must be lower on the CSR. CSR is definitely not defined as well in Garmin Topo as other maps for garmin and i dont think you should have to be zoomed right in to be able to see signposted roads. Looking at a large line in the middle of the screen serves no purpose at all.. My other complaint is if you buy Garmin on SD card, the maps are 1,8 gig placed on a 2 gig card, there is no room for music, very short sighted.. Im fairly new at this, maybe i have it all wrong, but i dont think so!! Michael

Hi Sigmund
I always use OziExplorer as well and thought that I would be on a par when used off road. I had a good success with it on Lindsay Island but was next to useless past the Docker River turn off. After another person in the group was using a Hema Navigator, that would be the way to go, if only a larger screen.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Oldpop
Have you tried a firmware upgrade from the Garmin site, as your Nuvi 760 is a top unit and should not be performing like that. My issue here is not with Garmin GPS units or Nuvi units, but the Garmin Topo Australia maps sold as an add on for off track use, and better remote area tracks.

I hope you get your problem sorted.

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen

updates are current done last weekend but still no joy travelling along one section of road near home wants me to do several left hand turns over 3 metre drop off. Stop in driveway at home shut down car get ready to get out car still doing 6-8 K.P.H

Regards

Oldpop

Oldpop, start logging your problems and take it back, im sure they will just change it for you.. I wouldnt put up with a faulty unit. My first Uniden 501 said i was doing 180kph, sitting at the lights, the speeds and distances were all over ther place, the shop (ebay shop) just exchanged it no problem.. Michael

Michael

Have spoken to the experts at DSE not really interested Have emailed Garmin no reply maybe next is a personal visit with couple of heavies

Regards

Oldpop

Hi Oldpop
I am sorry to hear of your problem. The Garmin units are top units, but the service from Garmin needs a lot to be desired, compared to when Standard Communication were the Australian distributors when their service was first rate.
DSE should be able to sort your problem out, do not just speak to the salesperson, request the Manager.

All the Best

Stephen

Stephan

Only updated from a 250W to get the TTS and blue tooth option and have fitted an extra radio and speakers to handle FM transmtter and mobile phone not happy jan
the 250 was really good

Regards

Oldpop

Hi Oldpop
I would say that he is not too far away.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Warfer69
Lets hope that the above comments come to the attention of someone from Garmin and it makes them get up think, that they should listen to their customers and also take up my offer so that their cartographers can compare my correct data, with the data that they have, that is very inferior.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Bob
Sounds like we both think the same. When you think that Shonky maps are free and far better quality, Garmin have a lot to answer for.

Cheers

Stephen

Bob, I made the same comment a few weeks ago, the cotour lines are to thick and distinct, they should appear as a watermark and not blend in with the roads.. Michael

Hi Doug,
I do not have to go and learn how to use it! The Garmin Topo Australia is long way out when it comes to the accuracy of the data supplied from Garmin. I am well an truly qualified to comment, as I do freelance mapping for on of Australia's major mapping companies, so I know when a map is accurate or not and what I am talking about. When the units show me travelling for much of the Great Central Road "Off Track" and Shonky has me spot on, you tell me which one is correct? After all, if the Garmin Topo Australia was spot on, why do two GPS Units show otherwise.

How do you have to learn how to use it. It is as simple as inserting the SD Card into the Nuvi 5000, settings, maps, untick city navigator, I have map units set to the highest quality. It was also the same when I have it in the GPS Map 60CSx.

I am sorry Doug, but I am 110% correct with my comments and Garmin are the ones that will have to lift their game and supply a product that is what we all pay for.

Cheers

Stephen

Doug T.
I know I was on the Jardine River, I had just paid $88.00 for the ferry ride.
The point I was making was that it did not identify any of the river crossings, including the Jardine. Apart from referencing GPS co-ordinants (which you can do without the OZtopo software) back to a hard copy map there is no way of determining where you are positioned.

For the record I have the V2 system. Upon my return from the Cape trip I questioned the system from where it was purchased and the excuse was a combination of the map data that is provided and the way the Garmin Nuvis software operates.
It is dissapointing to hear the 'blah blah blah' line. I paid for the premium product thinking that it would be superior to the free software options as I just wanted to get something that works without any hassles. ( i could just imagine the grief I would be copping from the Mrs and family if we were lost in the bush because I was relying on some shonky free map system to find my way round)

Sounds like my best intentions were not correct anyway. You do not always get what you pay for.

Sorry
I made a mistake. I have TOPO Australia in my Nuvi 5000 not Oz TOPO.

Hi Jeff,
Like I said above, I am very happy with my Nuvi 5000 as well, just the fact that we pay very good money for very poor mapping that is out a very long way.
It sounds that you are like the rest of the people here that have problems with the quality of the Garmin mapping.

We will all have to now see what Mr Garmin has to say.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Mrbrush
To answer your question,I am afraid so. You would have been better to stick with Shonky maps. At least you can see where you are, not driving on a well used track, that Garmin Topo Australia has you driving "Off Road" and no tracks at all.

My reason for this post is to save people money that are thinking of buying this poor product from the Garmin.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Bruce
I always like Garmin products, as we sell them at work and I know of the quality of their products. I am afraid that the Topo Australia by all the replies above is not just confined to one area, the whole of Australia in general. We still have stock at work and I am afraid that I will not sell them on principal alone.

How could I tell a customer that they are great when I know better.

I think that this is a real Lemon for Garmin


Cheers

Stephen

Hi Mrbrush
When it does work, it is good, but when it does not, the shonky is far better.

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen, Would you know what version 2 has against the original ?

Also, Earlier this year I went over to nth stradbroke island, and we travelled across this well used sand track that traversed through the centre of the island, its been there for years at a guess, But shonky maps did`nt have it ?

cheers

Hi Mrbrush
I am not aware of a Version 2 being released as yet, as the first release was only early this year. As for the tracks on Stradbroke Island, I am sorry but I could not comment, as I have not been there, but for a free map, it may only be a small issue, compared to many issues with large areas on well travelled parts of Australia on the Garmin Topo Australia.

Cheers

Stephen

Version 2

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Garmin-TOPO-Australia-Street-Maps-V2-microSD-SD-card_W0QQitemZ270449265630QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_GPS_Accessories?hash=item3ef8084bde

Hi Mrbrush
When I spoke to our Garmin rep last week and complained, he made no mention of V2 and did admit that there were issues with Topo Australia. When I looked at getting a copy, as expected, he was of very high praise of the product.

Cheers

Stephen

The question is, why does`nt your rep know about a version 2, when its on on ebay ?
I went to the garmin site and could`nt find any version 2 either ?

Cheers

Well, that solves that little mystery for me.
Here I was, thinking you guys were on drugs or something :-)
I've found Topo Australia to be far better than Shonkymaps.
But I've got V2....I didn't even realise that there was an older version.

Haven't had much of a chance to try it out in the field on my Nuvi yet.....but in Mapsource it does show more tracks than shonky and t4a.
But there are a few tracks in shonky that topo aus doesn't show.

It does autorouting too. I'm happy with mine.

Cheers
Glenn

The first and current version is called Garmin Topo Aus V2 , Version 1 never was released to the public

Hi Glenn
I am not sure if the V2 is an upgrade of the First release. Like I said above, our rep made no mention of a fix or a release of an upgraded version. If you are like me, I did have a play with it and looked fine, until you hit the unknown and the tracks that should be there, well they are not where they should be.

It would be very interesting to see if V2 gives the same results on the Great Central.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Kenny
At least that solves that issue,so there is no upgrade at this time.

Thanks

Stephen

And as for the town of Adelaide River , Shonky is a copy of T4A.

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So no more BS about what's good and what's not ,

.

Hi Doug
Thanks for that. In the areas that it did work, it was great and spot on. My issue hear is that many of the tracks in the Great Victoria Desert Area, including the Great Central Road out from Yulara. At one stage, when travelling about 80kph, we lost all track on the Garmin Topo Australia, full satellite signal, yet Shonky still had us on track, a fact that lasted for nearly half an hour, still showing all the contours, but having us travelling "Off Road". I have spoken to a helpful lady at Garmin today, forwarded my emails that I have sent and she is going to talk it up from here.

Like I have said, Garmin make top quality GPS units, I have 4 of them including the Nuvi 5000, yet the quality of Topo Australia lets their quality down.

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen
I just checked my copy of the GCR on Garmin Topo and it's 1 contiuous unbroken line from the Olga's to Laverton, your copy must be faulty,
I do notice however the QAA line is not complete ,

Hi Doug,
I do not think that is a fact of a faulty maps, more like that the data that they have is faulty and way out of where the actual road is. I can go to my GPS, zoom out find the correct roads, but when you get out there and travel the actual route, that is when the problems start.


Cheers

Stephen