Travel Technology - How Current Should I Expect GPS POI to Be?

I just purchased a lower end Garmin GPS. (Nuvi 205). I've done latest updates on the Garmin site. Mapping data has a date of April 2008 - that's fine, I understand that it's impossible to keep absolutely up-to-date. However, in doing brief scan of restaurants, hotels, service stations, etc in this general area, the GPS is showing some that have been out-of-business for more than 3 years. Also, some businesses which have been in town for longer than 2-3 years do not show.

Is this to be expected? Any advice?

I suggest you look at the POI-Factory files and forums.
http://www.poi-factory.com

I just purchased a lower end Garmin GPS. (Nuvi 205). I've done latest updates on the Garmin site. Mapping data has a date of April 2008 - that's fine, I understand that it's impossible to keep absolutely up-to-date. However, in doing brief scan of restaurants, hotels, service stations, etc in this general area, the GPS is showing some that have been out-of-business for more than 3 years. Also, some businesses which have been in town for longer than 2-3 years do not show.

Is this to be expected? Any advice?

My experience is.... that they almost ALL suck :D

Like the previous poster said, get your own POI files (if the GPS unit supports it).

Tom Tom has the ability to get updates over the internet. I know I get map updates but haven't checked the POI. Though I've rarely (if ever) used the POI function in a GPS.

My experience is.... that they almost ALL suck :D

Like the previous poster said, get your own POI files (if the GPS unit supports it).

I'd generally agree with this. In my experience, the accuracy and current-ness of the POIs on Garmin supplied maps can vary -- meaning really good and current, or very out of date -- by region or state. In some areas they are very current, and in some areas, New England (except Boston metro) for example, they do not know about things -- grocery stores and restaurants -- that have been in existence for many years.

Also, in my experience, if you want to know for sure something is there, import custom POIs, from the link above, and explained for Garmin units here (http://www.gpsinformation.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=18) and here (http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/).

Nowadays I just use my Dash Express combined with Yahoo search or the Microsoft Live database on TellMe which can send the address directly to my device.

What I have noticed is that a lot of POIs will be up-to-date as far as adding new businesses, at least as current as the most recent map addition, though they are not so current when it comes to replacing the old business. This kind of makes sense as when someone is starting a new business they want to get their name out and advertise though you don't do the same when you go out of business. I see this a lot with restaurants and banks, where you will get a name a bank per se though it has since been acquired by a new bank, so it is still a bank though not necessarily the one you were looking for.

Garmin released "2009 maps" a while ago. If you recently got your gps, you're entitled to a free upgrade.

Try here: https://my.garmin.com/maps/updates.htm

I think a 2-3 year delay before POIs are updated are pretty common.