GPS

[Archive]

After reading the article in the latest TDR reference GPS units we finally decided on which one to buy, we just ordered a Garmin ColorMap from www.navtechgps.com , they were backordered, but will ship Monday. I have a lot of experience with aircraft type units we used for wildfire infared mapping and locating radio collared animals from aircraft. We will be doing a 3000 mile trip soon with our Colormap and I will report on it afterwards.

------------------
2001 QC4x4 eth dee slt+ 3. 54 blk agate leather Warn transformer mount Hella 4000s, Hella 530 backups, Optima redtops Toro liner, jacobs ebrake, wired front and rear for Warn 9000 winch, backup lights inset into rear bumper,bumper powder coated silver vein, bedliner on 6" of rocker

 

[Archive]

Boy, has this market changed. The first unit I bought in 1992 was a Sony for $700 (big, ugly, awkward, battery-eater).

My Eagle Map Pro was $400 and I still like it. But now, the price continues to fall and the size is shrinking. I hear Casio is coming out with a limited capability unit in a wrist watch!! Whew #ad
Joe.

Let us know how it works.

------------------
White 1999, 3500 QuadCab, 6x6, Stock ISB, Automatic, Diamond Plate Running Boards and Flaps, Pac Brake, Missing Muffler, Wants to be BOMBed.
"SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL"

 

[Archive]

The Casio wrist GPS is now available; I've seen one. Neat device, but the over 40 crowd should keep their reading glasses handy. I'll be sticking with my Garmin 12XL, with DeLorme StreetAtlas 7. 0 for in-truck use.

 

[Archive]

I baught a De Lorme street atlas with GPS for my ibook that I use while on roadtrips. You sure can't beat the price... 128$ including maps down to infinate detail for the entire USA. Works great!
-Paul R. Haller-

 

[Archive]

Paul, thats DeLorme's Earthstations GPS, your using it with a laptop, correct? I have this system but haven't used it yet. Any tips or suggestions?
Thanks, Larry.

 

[Archive]

Well, no. I think mine is called the Delorme Earth Mate with road atlas. I bought it about 3 months ago and it works on the serial port and is for a Mac operating system. I think it was originally written for a PC platform but was subsequently rewritten for Mac with the usual loss of features. Like no verbal commands and it's a little difficult to access the mouse when you are driving so I let the copilot handle the details. Unfortunatly, my ibook only has a USB port so another gismo was required. My only complaint is that it does not run with a printer driver turned on... must be some kind of conflict over the USB port, and it eats 4AA batteries in about 8 hours. I ended up buying a battery replacement blob that you install into the GPS antenna but it needs another cord to plug into the cigar lighter. Too many cords.
All in all though it works real well and the mapping software is very good. The GPS tracks as you are moving and it is in perfect position on the map overlay. It includes all 50 states down to infinate detail even in highly populated urban ceters like San Francico. I am very impressed with the quality of the mapping and map display. I would rate the mapping as 5 out of 5 but the instuctions and tools are not as intuitive as they should be. I would rate that as a 3 of 5. You must always punch in a steet address starting point instead of the GPS knowing where the start point is, when asking for directions while on the road. I dont know my starting point when I am traveling so what's the point? You sure can't beat the price of 126$ though and I have a beautiful 13 inch full color display. Try that with your 5 inch Garmin color steet pilot! #ad

-Paul R. Haller-

 

[Archive]

I can't speak for the "Mac" version, but in the IBM compatible version of Street Atlas, chose "GPS", then "use GPS Position as Route start" and it will begin your route from your present location.
Version 7. 0 has an additional feature, "back on track". When this feature is turned on, if you miss a turn the computer will start talking to you when you are 1/2 mile off course (or, you can set this to some other value like 1. 0 mile). It also immediately redraws the route from your present location to your intended destination, so if there is a short cut back to your route, it finds it.

One other comment: I do sometimes find "errors" on the map, but no more often than on paper maps. There seemed to be more errors in Western states like Idaho than in states further to the East. I suspect this is just a reflection of the accuracy of the available maps for that part of the country. And these errors are still RARE, even in Idaho. It is an amazing program!

[This message has been edited by HC (edited 08-30-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Excelent information guys. But, I'm not sure I understand how the GPS and laptop interact. Is the map downloaded to the GPS or is the GPS signal up loaded to the map software loaded on the laptop? In other words, are you monitoring the little GPS screen or the BIG laptop screen? I know what I'm trying to ask, but not sure getting it across right. I'm looking at the Garmin eMap as a possible Christmas present, but I don't know what all to tell the wife I need with it. Also, how detailed are the basemaps? For driving mainly major highways, are they good enough to get you from point A to point B, without the additional mapping software? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

David

------------------
'01 2500 QC 4X4 ISB LWB 5SPD Cab Lights Fog Lights Dark Garnet Red Chrome Westin Nerf Bars Line-X Leonard Cab High Shell
GOA & NRA Life Member
My Pics Updated 7/29/00

 

[Archive]

David,

There are two products. One is the GPS which contains a primary cities, roads, rivers and lakes. The GPS map can be improved by purchasing either additional regional map modules or down loading from a CD depending on the GPS. Since I prefer the CD style, I bought the Garmin III Plus. This choice was for two reasons 1) I get the whole US for one reasonable price and 2) I can get an update CD again for a reasonable price.

The lab top contains a seperate map software... in my case Street Atlas and Map'N'Go. The lap top and GPS are interconnceted thru a special port on the GPS and the RS232 port on the lap top. I purchased a seperate cable that interconnects the two and connects to the accessory port to supply power to the GPS. This eliminates the batteries. I just leave it on all the time and have it by the 4X shifter. Then it's just pluggin in the labtop. One other thing I liked about the III+ was the removable antenna. I purchased an amplified external magnetic mount antenna. It may not be necessary unless you spend a lot of time in the big city or under foilage.

I have a friend that bought the Garmin Color Pilot prior to starting a 4K mile trip. The 'co-pilot' feels that inspite of the larger screen, it's still too small to work with on the road.

In retrospec, the III+ was overkill to say the least because we always use the laptop when heading into an unfamiliar area. My wife loves it and always takes it with her when she leaves immediate area. She calls it her 'cheat sheet'. We totally agree we'll never go back to paper maps.

If you'd like more info on my setup, experiences with the hardware or software, drop me an email.

------------------
<font color=#990000>~<font color=#990000> '99 2500 SLT <font color=#990000> ~ QC ~ 4X4 ~ LB ~ Auto ~ 4:10 LSD ~
<font color=#000000>*<font color=#990000> BD E-brake<font color=#000000> *<font color=#990000> BD Autolock<font color=#00000> *<font color=#990000> Gear Vendor OD<font color=#000000> *<font color=#990000> Jordan Research T-brake <font color=#000000> *<font color=#990000> Bullhide spray-in Liner<font color=#000000> *
<font size=-2>... Lookin' for the 'RE' to go next to my 'TIRED' so's I got more time to Play!... <font size=-1>

[This message has been edited by Rattlin (edited 09-04-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

While your looking at GPS units. check out this URL http://www.defenderus.com/cgi-bin/Web_store/web_store. cgi?frames=yes&page=product_search.html

On the RS under manufacture, look up the manufacture of the GPS you want. When I was looking for one they had the best prices I could find.

 

[Archive]

Originally posted by HC:



One other comment: I do sometimes find "errors" on the map, but no more often than on paper maps. There seemed to be more errors in Western states like Idaho than in states further to the East. I suspect this is just a reflection of the accuracy of the available maps for that part of the country. And these errors are still RARE, even in Idaho. It is an amazing program!

HC,when studying cartography(map making) in college we learned that mistakes are added on purpose for copyright protection. This was reenforced when a local newswriter did a series of articals where he'd throw a dart at the county map then go investigate what was happening,history etc of the place the the dart hit. One week he hit a small town on the AAA map that never exsisted and was on no other maps. Took him a couple of weeks to find out that the AAA cartographers had wrote it in to prove if their maps were being copied. Learn some thing new everyday...

 

[Archive]

The website I mentioned in my original posting has better prices, at least for Garmin products.

------------------
2001 QC4x4 eth dee slt+ 3. 54 blk agate leather Warn transformer mount Hella 4000s, Hella 530 backups, Optima redtops Toro liner, jacobs ebrake, wired front and rear for Warn 9000 winch, backup lights inset into rear bumper,bumper powder coated silver vein, bedliner on 6" of rocker Garmin Colormap GPS

 

[Archive]

Excelent information guys. But, I'm not sure I understand how the GPS and laptop interact. Is the map downloaded to the GPS or is the GPS signal up loaded to the map software loaded on the laptop?

Depending on which system you buy, the data could be going either way. Since you mentioned Garmins, you might want to look at http://www.sni.net/~lwjames/GGPS.html
which has a good discussion on some basic choices in GPS hardware. I see the GPS as being like many other pieces of electronic gear - every few years, you need to buy a new one to 1) get the latest features and 2) avoid equipment failures due to age. Thus, my choice is to buy a relatively inexpensive GPS with no internal mapping features, and then use the laptop for the advanced mapping features. Other people like having the base maps in the GPS. My eyes don't like the maps being on a 1. 25" wide screen, so this feature has limited value for me. I don't think there is a "best" system - it's all about your budget and your preferences.