Let's Talk GPS's

[Graphic man]

i am thinking on getting a GPS... ... .



i don't know much about all the features so what should i look for?... . what do i need to get and what do i need to stay away from



i won't be using it much 6 times a year maybe and i don't need to break the bank for one either



so whats a good bang for the buck ???





Thanks

Scott

 

[DonTX]

I have had a GPS on everything I drive for 15 years now.

There are a lot of choices, like first off a stand alone model or one that uses your laptop. The laptop system gives a better screen, but is very clunky to use.

Of the various makes, I think Garmin is the best, I am currently using a 2620 model, several years old, readily available on EBay and as good as they come in my opinion. Whatever you do get one with street level details. A large bright screen is also a definite advantage. Mine tells me turn by turn where to go, the feature I love most of all is that coming to a major intersection, you can glance at the display and instantly see if you are going to have a left exit or a right one quite a distance before the excitement happens.

 

[Graphic man]

..... i do want a stand alone unit... . i didn't want to have to take my laptop everywhere i go.





Scott

 

[JPenka]

I have a tom tom 910, its a very easy to use unit, lots of features and easy to understand directions. Ive borrowed a friends garmin (dont remember wich model) but both seemed to have about the same basic operation and features. I just didnt have as much time to play with the garmin so the tom tom just stood out and came highly recommended by several people. Hey it even comes with a remote!!!!

 

[rvaughn801]

Garmin Nuvi 350

The 350 works right out of the box, no set up. It comes with everything you need - windshield mount, power cord, USB connector. I have never downloaded any maps to it, but it always has great street detail.



It also has an MP3 player and photo viewer, which I have not tried.



This thing saved my marriage on the last vacation



Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[wcjp]

Not all GPS units have a battery. Also, find one that has the most available points of interest (poi). At a minimum make sure it has 1million poi. My Garmin Zumo 550 has 6million poi. It makes a difference when searching for a repair shop, hotel and food. Some units are water resistant. Are you into geocaching? Costo.com and Walmart.com have decent prices on units not always available at the local outlet. My friends and I have bought our Garmin's at various internet stores. Internet prices are quite a bit lower.

 

[rweis]

I have found one of the most useful things is to be able to put in coordiantes of the destination. I go to some destinations that do not have street addresses or the street address is not very accurate.



I use Google Earth and find my end point, read the coordinates from Google Earth, put them into the GPS.



Like meeting in a field for a hunting club. Google the field, load the coordinates.



Bob Weis

 

[Pavemen]

do you want a GPS or a navigation system? A navigation system uses GPS to determine your location and generate route information. A GPS by itself will let you know where you are and where you have been, but won't generate route info for you.

I use a Garmin StreetPilot c340 navigation system in the tow rig for getting to from desitations and located services along the way. It also gets me back on route if I deviate for fuel, food, detours, etc.

I use a Garmin eTrex Legend on my trail rig becuase it does trackback, logging, waypoints, manual routing, gives coordinates, etc.

Two different animals with two different uses.

I assume you want a navigation system. I have heard bad things about Tom Tom routing in areas with parallel roads like frontages vs freeways. I like the Garmin StreetPilot c340 I have from a cost-benefit standpoint. It does what I need and is easy to use, but it does not work for offroad as it does not do tracking/logging and does not make coordinates available.

Also, most nav units have only shortest and fasest route options. Some have most scenic or similar, but I really wish there was a 'simplest' route. Sometimes its much easier to keep driving straight to the freeway for 0. 2 miles farther than make a bunch of turns with a big trailer going to the 'closer' on ramp.

 

[Graphic man]

i guess i am looking for a Nav. system... . like "wcjp" pointed out is pretty much what i am looking for



when we go on a trip and i am looking for a place to eat or a place to stay i want to be able to tell it or type it in and i can find it quick and easy





good info guys... Thanks !!! keep them coming

 

[DonTX]

The "old" 2620 Garmin model will do that very well. Oh, another thing, you want to be able to UPDATE the data easily too. Much better than just throwing them away as it gets outdated.

 

[DonTX]

I am not trying to sell you on a Garmin 2620, just reporting it has been a fine one for me. I see they can be bought on EBay for the 150-200 dollar range, more money don't seem to get you anything for your bucks. I paid $450 for mine used, was a heck of a deal at the time.

 

[Graphic man]

The "old" 2620 Garmin model will do that very well. Oh, another thing, you want to be able to UPDATE the data easily too. Much better than just throwing them away as it gets outdated.

good point !!



is the 2620 Garmin a voice activated unit?



I just don't want to buy something and have to look for something new in a year or so... I'd like to do it once and have it last a few years





Thanks!!!

 

[DonTX]

Not sure what you mean by that, it has a voice to tell you when to turn etc. It has a remote and touch screen controls.

 

[Graphic man]

this may be a stupid question but... . do any of these have a monthly bill to get the up-dated maps?

 

[Graphic man]

Not sure what you mean by that, it has a voice to tell you when to turn etc. It has a remote and touch screen controls.

i heard some of them you can just say what you are looking for... ex. "Pizza hut" and it will find the closes one to where ever you are

 

[DonTX]

That just could be the case, I have not seen one that does that, it would be handy if it worked well.

Mine is so easy even a cat can operate it:

 

[Pavemen]

my StreetPilot c340 has voice prompts, including street names. That is a very nice feature, especially when you are in a place with a lot of side streets in one area or lots of road signs to help decipher which turn is which.

The c340 comes with USB cable and you can download updater software for free from Garmin. No fees at all to use. However, a lot of nav units support traffic reporting/avoidance but those services can cost money and require additional hardware.

I also wanted a unit that I could take between vehicles so portability was important for me. I went to the local store and tried several of them. The Garmin was my favorite for the price.

You really do need to try them and test how well they work, screen size, ease of use, touchscreen sensitivity, glare, brightness (the c340 automatically swaps to day/night mode at sunrise/sunset) and what features they offer.

For my trip to Moab last week, I was able to download POI lists for Love's and Flying J truck stops and Cummins locations directly into the unit and have them available under my favorites list. Nice to have.

 

[DonTX]

The "old" 2620 does all that too, but there is one thing the C340 does that may appeal to you, it gives you a choice of a "flat map" view or a "3View".

As an old pilot, I far prefer the flat map view, but many find the flat map hard to understand, and the C340 view may be FAR more to your liking. As said, look them over first.

my StreetPilot c340 has voice prompts, including street names. That is a very nice feature, especially when you are in a place with a lot of side streets in one area or lots of road signs to help decipher which turn is which.



The c340 comes with USB cable and you can download updater software for free from Garmin. No fees at all to use. However, a lot of nav units support traffic reporting/avoidance but those services can cost money and require additional hardware.



I also wanted a unit that I could take between vehicles so portability was important for me. I went to the local store and tried several of them. The Garmin was my favorite for the price.



You really do need to try them and test how well they work, screen size, ease of use, touchscreen sensitivity, glare, brightness (the c340 automatically swaps to day/night mode at sunrise/sunset) and what features they offer.



For my trip to Moab last week, I was able to download POI lists for Love's and Flying J truck stops and Cummins locations directly into the unit and have them available under my favorites list. Nice to have.

 

[AHarris]

Tom Tom

I've had real good luck with the Tom Tom 910. It comes pre-loaded with US and European maps on its built in 20GB hard drive... so it's been great the last 2 years going back and forth between Germany and USA on TDYs. It's never gotten me lost.



The downside of the Tom Tom is the quirky power on/off, crappy mount and software. If I don't turn it on and off just right it will lock up and I have to reset it. #@$%! The Tom Tom software is also quirky--sometimes it locks up in Windows XP. The mount that came with it sucked--it would always droop down and I had to mount the Tom Tom so it would rest on the dashboard. I fixed that by picking up a new mount off of eBay.



All in all I am satisfied with the Tom Tom and plan to use it until it wears out.

 

[Graphic man]

good info..... nice cat Don/Tx:-laf