Anyone HAVE A NAVIGATION SYSTEM - GPS

[abdiver]

I am pondering ordering the Nav system Would like your opinion regarding if Dodges Nav is worth it of course it's about 750 bucks with the H pkg. My wifes honda nav system is great.



Thanks

 

[evldsl]

The nav rb4 system is the best but I do'nt know if you can still purchase it on the trucks, I beleave you receive the rb3 which does'nt show a active map desplay. I installed the RB 4 in my jeep last year and it works great but if I bought a new truck I would buy the pioneer it is much nicer and has a larger interactive desplay.

 

[WM-300]

I did it the cheap way. Hooked my Garmin GPS into my Laptop running Streets and Trips.

Laptop sits in the console facing my navigator in the right seat. Dirt cheap way to go and works great.



WM-300

 

[abdiver]

I did it the cheap way. Hooked my Garmin GPS into my Laptop running Streets and Trips.

Laptop sits in the console facing my navigator in the right seat. Dirt cheap way to go and works great.



WM-300

Thats sounds like a good way to go that way I can save on and put more money into the truck



Please tell me More about it.



What model GPS do you have.



Thanks Clueless

 

[WM-300]

The Garmin GPS is Model 45. Old iron by todays standards. The laptop is a old IBM 740

with large color display. The Software is Microsoft Streets and trips. The GPS you select MUST have a NEMA output. You simply plug the correct cable into the output on the GPS and into the serial port on the computer. I have the Garmin external antenna that mounts on the roof with a suction cup. I run the cable out the door top, the gasket seals well. The final result is a complete GPS system with a huge display compared to just a GPS display. And you can use all the options in the Streets and trips program to measure miles, find places such as fuel, food, hospitals etc. Its a quick and cheap way to have a nice GPS system in your truck. We made a wrong turn in Burlington Iowa and got down town. By just looking at the computer screen, I was pin pointed by a icon. It was simple to just make a few turns on the map and get back on Route 34.



WM-300

 

[JArcher]

I have a similar setup to WM-300, just have a different GPS. Mine is a Garmin etrex. The system works great. Hard to get lost when you can see where you are on the map at all times.

Ja

 

[GerryDrake]

Another setup

We use a Garmin Etrex Vista and place it on the dash. We hook it to the laptop and use DeLorme's Street Atlas USA on the computer.



One caveat... . The Garmins I have seen take ONE cord, so you need to get the combo cord that has both a cigarette lighter plug to power the GPS and a connection to the computer for data. They make a data cord, a power cord, and the combo... Use the data cord, and your batteries will run down in the GPS. . Use the power cord, and you can't hook it to the computer...



The Etrex will not take an external antenna, but we have never found one necessary. .



DUH ... Now that I think about it, I actually have the Earthmate on the dash, and use my Etrex mostly handheld for geocaching. The Earthmate drawing its power from the laptop is nice, but if you ONLY have it, you can't use it independent of the laptop... .



Going today to likely pick up a lap top stand for the truck...

 

[WM-300]

Thanks Gerry for mentioning the daul power/data cord. I forgot about that. Otherwise on a long trip, The Pink Bunny will love you for buying batterys. You should be able to find an older GPS on Ebay that for this application will work great. In my application, I did find I was not getting good signals all the time with the standard attached GPS antenna.

We are in the mountains, lots of sky cover in some places. The older Garmin 45 has a BNC connector on the attached antenna. The optional outside antenna , also has a BNC connector on the end of the cable from the antenna. Simple 1/4 turn to unhook the attached antenna and hook up the outside antenna.



There are quite a few great Map Software programs on the market. Just be sure to read the box and be sure it will take GPS Input.



WM-300

 

[RustyJC]

I love my Garmin StreetPilot 2620 as much as the Alpine factory OEM nav system in my Acura 3. 2TL-S.



Rusty

 

[KennethS]

My 2004 has the RB3 system and I dont like It. It shows latitude, longitude and elevation which you don't need. My wife car Chrysler2005 E class hemi shows the map which Is nice. If I was flying like In a airplane It might be OK. As far as I am concern It was a wast of money In the truck. Its all together different then her car.

 

[mberry]

I have the RB4 and I think it's great. I may try the etrex/laptop option to see the difference.

 

[Pawpaw]

If you're thinking about going the laptop route, consider Delorme Streets Atlas with the Earthmate GPS receiver.

The GPS is a very small device (about 1. 5" x 1. 5" x . 5"). It connects to the laptop's USB port and draws power from there. No batteries.

The software is not perfect (none of them are), but offers some very handy features -- like voice control. I have a $10 headset that I use. I only plug in the microphone, then stuff the headset above the visor.

I travel all over the country and use this system in lots of different rental cars. I'm 110% sold on it.

The total package costs about $129, assuming you already have the laptop. Add another $100 for an airplane/auto power supply and you're all set. It's even cheaper if you just use an AC inverter and the original laptop power supply.

Bob

 

[exfuzz01]

Have a factory navigation system in our 2004 VW Touareg. . (worthless) Have used the DeLorme system with a laptop. . (too cumbersome) Now have a Garmin 2620 love it... found it on a website (can't remember the name) $160. 00 rebate and free shipping and no tax...

 

[rover]

I have the RB-1 on my 2005 with the Sirius Radio. As a user of the Hertz 'Never Lost' system, I find the RB-1 a little more basic, but serviceable. We also have the

Magellan RoadMate 700 System and it mimics the functionality of the Hertz system. The Mopar does not show all of the streets on the map, just the occasional one. It also is not a touch screen like the Magellan. Overall, I have used it in the New England area and find that it does what you want a navigation system to do..... lead you to the address. If you don't care about a built-in system, suggest you take a look at the Magellan. Portable for our other vehicles, programable for up to three users. You can program it on the fly (hopefully your co-pilot) unlike the RB-1

The system (RB-1) is made by Alpine for Mopar. I managed to encourage my dealer to install the system along with the Sirius for a decent price as the Laramie I purchased did not have either.

On another note, the remote start on the diesel has been very problematic with the ablility to start the motor, but usually it will die in about 20 to 30 seconds. Not sure that was the best of investments. Have an aftermarket on my 2001 Dodge Caravan and it works wonderfully, will be checking in with the dealer on this as soon as I get a chance to pursue.

For now..... Have a great holiday season!



rover

 

[MBudnick]

I am currently using the Magellan Meridan Color. Nice unit, suction cups to the glass, and its portable to use on my ATV when I reach my destination. The unit itself goes for about $270 plus street software, mount, and cables ran me a total of $410. Not bad considering its mobility and use in any vehicle I'm in when not driving. It's also waterproof.



I too, have used Microsoft Streets & Trips in the past and you don't need a fancy GPS unit to plug in the Laptop. I used a unit that was the size of a Zippo lighter with a magnet in it, a serial port adapter connection to the Lap top and thats it. I'll find some more info on it if anyone is still interested.

 

[Bloomy]

Just got the Delorme Earthmate GPS. I have only made one trip with it, but really like it. Farily inexpensive, and I was only going to use it with the laptop while driving.



Thomas

 

[john3976]

I have it in my 2005 Ram 3500, but the Disk was missing from the truck and one from a car would not work in it, so the dealer has ordered a new disk for the truck.



I wonder if there is a difference between the car system and the one Dodge puts into the trucks.



I can't wait to try it out.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I also have the Garmin StreetPilot 2620. I considered the Chrysler RB-1 to replace the OEM radio, but I wanted to have a unit that I could use in my truck or my wife's SUV. I'm highly satisfied with it.



Bill

 

[TAllen]

I just bought the DeLorme street atlas also. It seems very hard to use, not user friendly. The voice thing on it tells you that you made a wrong turn , and can't seem to get you back on track. At first it wouldn't recognize a zip code. ,and tells you that you are on one street when you are on another and about every other address I try to find it can't find. Maybe it's me, but I'm not impressed. Anybody in north Florida have one of these that knows how to use it?

 

[Bloomy]

TAllen

I haven't had much problem with my Delorme. It has found every address I have put in so far. There have been some roads in my are that aren't on the maps, but they just opened in the last year or so. There is a lot to read in the users guide. And I have only scratched the surface. Sorry I can't help you much, but it has been working well for me.



Thomas