MapSend® DirectRoute
Note: The following instructions may vary slightly, depending on your software
version.
DirectRoute on the GPS
Hardware Questions
Firmware Questions
MapSend PC Questions
Miscellaneous Questions
DirectRoute on the GPS
Q: Can I load more than one DirectRoute map region to the GPS receiver
or an SD card?
A: It is possible to load multiple DirectRoute map areas to SD cards,
and to switch between regions on the GPS receiver. It requires an SD
card reader/writer to load multiple regions. You should be comfortable
manipulating files on your computer if you want to do this. Please refer
to Tips and Tricks for instructions on how to handle multiple map areas.
It is not possible to load multiple regions on SporTrak receivers.
Q: Why does DirectRoute take me on a route that I do not think is the
fastest or shortest?
A: DirectRoute calculates routes using the “shortest time” or “least
cost” routing technique. The program looks at the start and end
points. It looks at combinations of road segments between the two points,
starting with an area around the start. It mostly considers the length
of the possible road “paths” and the posted speed limit data
that is stored with each road segment. (There are some additional factors.)
It basically chooses the shortest total road path having the highest
total speed limit. It doesn’t know about local traffic patterns,
road closures, etc. So, you will usually be better than DirectRoute at
finding an appropriate route in areas you know well – because you
have more info. DirectRoute helps you find a viable route in areas you
don’t know well.
Q: Is there a limit to how many maps or memory cards I can use with
the program? Do I need to pay a fee for use of more than one card?
A: You may use DirectRoute with as many SD cards as you wish, subject
to the limitations discussed in questions above. There is no fee for
using more than one card. However, the end user license is only for use
on one Magellan GPS receiver.
Q: Sometimes the first guidance
instruction I see is “Proceed
to Route” What does that mean?
A: If your current position is in a location where there are no mapped
roads, e.g. a shopping center, park, etc., DirectRoute will calculate
the route starting from the nearest street location that fits the intended
route. In this situation, you will see your current position icon and
the start of the highlighted street route on the map screen will be separated
from it. You may have to zoom out a step or two to see the start of the
route. Proceed to Route can also be the first step if you activate a
saved Waypoint Route as a street route, if your current fix is not near
the route. The map screen is much more help than the Route List screen
for navigating to the start of the route.
Q: When I zoom out on the map screen,
I don’t
see the highlighted street route any more. Why?
A: At zoom levels above .20 miles, DirectRoute displays the route as
a series of straight line segments rather than highlighting the actual
road. This improves performance of map redrawing on the screen as you
travel. DirectRoute will still prompt you for the next maneuver, regardless
how the active street route is displayed.
Q: I see the route. I know a better
way to get to the third (or subsequent) turn so I just proceed to
that point, but
DirectRoute doesn’t pick
it up there, it just keeps showing the first turn that I skipped. Why?
A: DirectRoute will usually start normal guidance if you follow the route
from the start point or even the second maneuver, but if you try to shortcut
it and start at the 3rd maneuver or later, it won’t pick it up – so
you should just push GOTO twice when you get to the point where you really
need guidance and let DirectRoute reroute you.
Q: I missed my turn and my partner
tried to re-route while we were in a highway overpass. DirectRoute
gave strange guidance
instructions. What’s
happening?
A: If you try to route or reroute while in the middle of an elevated
highway interchange, DirectRoute can’t easily tell which of the
intersecting highways you are on, and it may give inappropriate guidance
instructions. You should proceed beyond the interchange and reroute.
Q: I tried to route or reroute from a highway ramp. DirectRoute tells
me to make a U turn. Why?
A: This can happen when a highway and its entrance ramp are connected
and/or have the same name in the database, and you try to start route
calculation from nearby the ramp. It also can happen if you have an active
route, but the unit is off, and you turn it on near the highway ramp.
DirectRoute is helpful, but not perfect, at street guidance – so
please use common sense and trust your judgment over any guidance instruction
DirectRoute provides.
Q: I’m not sure how to route
to the Points of Interest in the map.
A: To find a Point of Interest and route to it, push the GOTO key and
select Street Route. The Points of Interest are organized into categories
in the list you see on the screen. At the bottom of the screen you’ll
see that you can arrow right or left to search the POIs on a “Nearest
To” or “Alphabetical” basis. Nearest to searches can
be based on current fix, a city name, an address, or other criterion.
First you should decide which of the two search methods with the cursor
key. Then pick the POI category you wish to search. In a few cases, like
restaurants, the POIs may be further divided into subcategories. It may
take some trial and error at first, but you’ll find the POI search
capabilities are powerful.
Q: Can I set up and store several different routes I may drive later?
A: You can use any stored route in your Routes List as a street route,
as long as the start and end and a viable street path are in the active
DirectRoute map on your GPS unit. DirectRoute uses only the start and
end points of any stored route for this. The User Manual for your GPS
details how to set up and store a Waypoint Route. To make a street
route from a stored route, just use the cursor key to move down the
Route List to the desired route, press the GOTO key, and select Street
Route. The street route will be calculated and activated. Note: if
your current fix is distant from the origin of a street route calculated
in this way, the first maneuver will most likely be “Proceed
to Route.” See the following FAQ for more information, "Sometimes
the first guidance instruction I see is “Proceed to Route” What
does that mean?"
Q: I’m trying to create a street route, but I get a message saying “Unable
to Route”. Why?
A: When the unit is unable to calculate a street route, usually the reason
is that the destination is not included in the active map, or your current
fix is outside the active map. Occasionally this message will display,
even if both points are within the active DirectRoute map, but the destination
is on a road segment for which there is no address range data stored.
This is rare – but it can occur in private compounds, military
bases, schools, or other locations having non-addressed street networks.
Hardware Questions
Q: How many GPS receivers can I use the program with?
A: Purchase of DirectRoute entitles you to use it with a single GPS receiver.
You are free to define any map area you want to use on your receiver,
and to change from one mapped area to any other you define. You can
also load mapped areas to multiple memory cards to use on your GPS
receiver. Each time you prepare a map for use on your unit, the map
will be set to work only on your unit. If your GPS unit develops defects
or needs repair, Magellan Repair can help make sure you can continue
to use DirectRoute as intended in the license on a replacement unit.
Q: Will DirectRoute work on the SporTrak Map?
A: We don’t recommend using DirectRoute on the SporTrak Map, because
the available memory on that unit isn’t enough for most people
to load a reasonably sized DirectRoute map (DirectRoute involves much
more data per square mile than our other map products.)
Q: Why won’t DirectRoute work
on the MAP 330 or 330M?
A: There is not enough flash memory on these units to hold the DirectRoute
receiver firmware. If you are interested in DirectRoute but don’t
have a compatible receiver, Tech Support may be able to help you trade
up to a newer receiver that is DirectRoute capable.
Firmware Questions
Q: How do I know if I have the right GPS receiver firmware to operate
DirectRoute?
A: After you install DirectRoute on your PC, when you start the program,
there is a startup screen that will help you determine if you have DirectRoute
capable firmware. If you don’t have the right firmware, the Firmware
Upgrade CD and the Magellan website can help you find the right firmware
for your GPS receiver. Please be sure to use only firmware designed for
your GPS unit.
Q: The PC shows that the firmware
has completed loading, but my receiver is still on and I can’t
turn it off.
A: Try pressing the GOTO, ESCAPE, AND ENTER keys simultaneously. If the
unit does not power down, you may have to remove the batteries.
MapSend PC Questions
Q: Why does my unit using a MapSend
DirectRoute map indicate "Error:
Can't create route, memory full" when I try to create a "Street
Route"?
A: Waypoint memory may be nearly full or you may be trying to make a
very complex street route. DirectRoute stores street route maneuver points
and guidance instructions in waypoint memory. It also stores previous
destinations in waypoint memory. The upper limit of maneuvers on an active
street route is 50, and the past 10 previous destinations are kept. Total
waypoint storage is 500. So, if you frequently make very complex street
routes, you should keep your user waypoints stored on the GPS under 440.
You can transfer and store your user waypoints between the GPS receiver
and your PC using MapSend, and with Meridian receivers, you may transfer
waypoint to an SD card.
Q: Why must I have the CD inserted to run the program?
A: DirectRoute checks the CD in the drive to ensure that a legitimate
copy of the map data is being used. The CD is also copy proof, so please
take good care of it. Tight copy protection helps prevent data piracy.
The benefit to you is that the price of the product stays reasonable.
Q: I have a 128MB SD card (or larger), how can I load a region larger
than 64MB?
A: The maximum single region size for upload to the GPS receiver is set
at 64MB. You can define any rectangular area you wish in MapSend on the
PC, and generally 64MB will cover quite a large area. You can also upload
more than one region to an SD card – see FAQ ##.
Q: Why won’t my DirectRoute
CD run on my DVD drive?
A: We have encountered rare instances where DirectRoute would not run
on CD/DVD drives. It has not been determined yet whether this is specific
to a certain manufacturer and model of DVD drive, a particular PC implementation
of a drive, or DVD drive software. We’re sorry for any inconvenience
this causes. If you encounter this problem, please check the website
of your PC or drive manufacturer – there are frequently driver
updates from these sources that will fix multiple issues you might
encounter with your DVD drive. If you are still unable to use DirectRoute,
contact Magellan Tech Support.
Q: Can I transfer my waypoints from my PC map program directly to the
memory card?
A: No. The waypoints must be transferred to your Meridian Handheld unit
first, then transferred from there to the memory card.
Q: I loaded my map, with the Points
of Interest (POIs), from MapSend. Why do I see no Points of Interest
on the GPS unit’s
map screen?
A: When you upload a map to the GPS, the POI info goes with it, by default,
but the POI icons are not displayed on the map screen. It’s easy
to display some or all of them – press the MENU key on the GPS
unit, select “Map Setup”, and use the cursor key to arrow
right to the Display tab. In this screen you can choose to display all
the POIs, not display any overlay features (Clear All), or specify any
particular Point of Interest categories you want to display. You can
change your selection anytime. Also, even when Points of Interest are
set to not be displayed, you can still search them, view them, and use
them as routing destinations.
Miscellaneous Questions
Q: How much of Canada is covered?
A: Major highways in Canada are covered, and there is street detail and
Point of Interest data for the following cities:
Eastern Canada
Windsor
London
Hamilton
Toronto - Golden Horseshoe
Ottawa - Gatineau
Montreal
Western Canada
Calgary
Banff
Edmonton
Whistler
Vancouver
Victoria
Quebec City
Stratford
Q: Does DirectRoute cover Hawaii or Alaska?
A: DirectRoute has detailed street maps of Oahu and good map detail and
some POIs for the other Hawaiian Islands. DirectRoute does not cover
Alaska.
Q: How often is the map data updated?
A: Our plan is to offer updates of DirectRoute annually. The product
launched in Fall 2003 is based on Navtech’s database revision
of second quarter, 2003. We will remind registered DirectRoute users
when DirectRoute updates are available, so please register at www.magellangps.com.
Q: Can I use my DirectRoute compatible GPS receiver for street routing
and for marine use with the BlueNav charts?
A: Yes, but you have a GPS firmware decision to make. For most people
who want to use their GPS with DirectRoute and BlueNav, the right choice
is the Standard receiver firmware. It will do street routing if a DirectRoute
map is active, and it will do all functions except marine tides and currents
when a BlueNav chart is active. Conversly, if you choose the Marine firmware
load because you really need tides and currents, you can use DirectRoute
maps, search POIs, etc. but you can’t street route with that firmware.
The one exception is SporTrak Color – it has only one firmware
load, and it can do both routing and tides/currents. Firmware Update
CD 1.00e contains all the current firmware, Standard and Marine, and
detailed instructions on their uses. Firmware for handhelds can also
be downloaded from the Magellan website.
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