31. Configuring Navigation Settings

Figure 112: Changing Navigation Settings

Figure 113: Setting Avoidances

Avoidances can be configured to avoid certain roads or highways. More importantly, you can have the nuvi automatically avoid traffic jams (provided you're in an area with traffic data coverage and have a valid traffic subscription). You can also configure the nuvi to route using the least use of highways by adding Highways to the list of avoidances. Setting the option here isn't quite as convenient as having the GPS ask you each time how you want to calculate the route, but at least the nuvi 680 includes a way to avoid highways.

Figure 114: Setting Routing Preferences

There are three options for setting your routing preference: Faster Time, Shorter Distance, and Off Road. Off Road is useful for navigating to coordinates instead of a street address, or Geocaching. Faster Time and Shorter Distance are slightly more complex. I always leave my GPS set to Faster Time. In some cases, however, Shorter Time may be the best choice, since the GPS may route you around congested streets.

I'd like to see Garmin include the ability to have the nuvi calculate both Faster Time and Shorter Distance, present each method's estimated travel time, and then let you choose the best method for each trip. I know this would add some route calculation time, but without it this setting is of little value.

Figure 115: Setting Vehicle Type

Some roads and highways have vehicle type restriction, such as forbidding large trucks or commercial traffic. The nuvi 680 allows you to specify what type of vehicle you're driving, and have it route you appropriately. Although I don't use this feature, if you're a commercial driver, the ability to set this option can be a life saver.

Figure 116: Setting Alerts

The Alerts feature allows you to set custom proximity alerts. When you specify alerts, the nuvi can notify you if you're within a defined range of the POI you specified.

Figure 117: Setting Alert Types

For example, if you save any custom POIs, you can have the nuvi 680 automatically alert you if you're close to one of them.

Figure 118: Configuring the Attention Tone

If you want to have the nuvi beep before each maneuver to notify you that a turn is approaching, you can do so by turning on Attention Tone. The default setting is Off, and I found the attention tone unnecessary.

32. Custom POIs

You can use Garmin's free POI Loader (http://www.garmin.com/products/poiloader/) to load custom POI databases, such as safety camera locations, Dunkin Donuts stores, etc. The nuvi can also alert you when you are approaching a safety camera and warn you if you're exceeding the speed limit. This feature is probably popular in Europe, where speed cameras are common. Here in North America, speed cameras aren't all that common. Garmin has a subscription service that allows you to download updated speed camera information weekly at http://my.garmin.com.

Once a custom POI database has been loaded, you can also navigate to a custom POI by tapping on Where To -> Extras -> Custom POI.