Navigation GPS...which one?

[steved]

"and the other is my parents address doesn't exist (very rural area)"



I do a lot of RV'ing in out of the way places. Sometimes the RV park will have their coordinates on their web page (your parents probably do not know their map coordinates). Sometimes I go to Google Earth and find the park (your parents home) and get the coordinates from Google Earth. Then load those coordinates into the GPS as the destination.



Bob Weis

Fortunately for me, I was able to browse through the maps and find the intersection they live near... since it is only to tell me how long to get there, and not for actual navigation, its close enough. I did find the option to input a coordinate... that was my next move.



I wonder how many other addresses don't exist? The funny thing is, they have the house up the road and down the road, but not their's?



One thing I did notice is that the mapping is not consistent... for example: one local road is "State Route 427", while my parent's road (also a state route) is "HWY 417"... go figure.



steved

 

[Pavemen]

hey Steve. Garmin and others buy their map data from one of 2 sources. NavTec and TeleAtlas are the primary map data sources for all GPS units with navigation built in. So any errors are at the source level and typically not caught at the GPS mfg level.

The difference in route naming is dependent on when the data was aquired/updated and person entering the information for that particular segment of road. As to why your parents place is not found, that is odd. Usually if the road segment can be found, the address can be interpolated from the road segment data.

How it works is that there are attribute associated with each road segment, basically a start left, start right, end left and end right address numbers. Any address you enter in between the starts and ends is linearly interpolated along the length of the road. Odd and even determines which side fo the road to support.

So if it will find the houses on either side of your folks' place, but not theirs, its possible that the road segments on either side of their place skip a number or two between the end of one segment and the start of the next segment.

Also, you can search online and find all kinds of specific POI lists. I snagged one for Cummins shops, Love's and Flying J truck stops and loaded them into my Garmin C340. They show up in a separate list under "My Locations"

You can download the Garmin POI loader from their site.

 

[steved]

hey Steve. Garmin and others buy their map data from one of 2 sources. NavTec and TeleAtlas are the primary map data sources for all GPS units with navigation built in. So any errors are at the source level and typically not caught at the GPS mfg level.



The difference in route naming is dependent on when the data was aquired/updated and person entering the information for that particular segment of road. As to why your parents place is not found, that is odd. Usually if the road segment can be found, the address can be interpolated from the road segment data.



How it works is that there are attribute associated with each road segment, basically a start left, start right, end left and end right address numbers. Any address you enter in between the starts and ends is linearly interpolated along the length of the road. Odd and even determines which side fo the road to support.



So if it will find the houses on either side of your folks' place, but not theirs, its possible that the road segments on either side of their place skip a number or two between the end of one segment and the start of the next segment.



Also, you can search online and find all kinds of specific POI lists. I snagged one for Cummins shops, Love's and Flying J truck stops and loaded them into my Garmin C340. They show up in a separate list under "My Locations"



You can download the Garmin POI loader from their site.

Thanks Jason,



The area they live in jumps numbers... and some numbers could never exist because they are placed too close together. I figured it was a source map deal, not Garmin's problem.



I saw that POI downloader... I'll have to search for the Flying J/Loves stuff...



steved

 

[Pavemen]

Here is where I got mine

POI Files for United States & Elsewhere | POI Factory

All kinds of lists there. They are user submitted, so you need to "trust" them to be right, but so far, they have worked for me.

 

[steved]

Here is where I got mine



POI Files for United States & Elsewhere | POI Factory



All kinds of lists there. They are user submitted, so you need to "trust" them to be right, but so far, they have worked for me.

I was actually just looking at that site... just downloaded the POI loader... but I forgot my SD card at home (the Nuvi's memory is almost full at purchase)...



I've considered deleting all the language and text files that aren't applicable to free up some space, but I'm not sure it wouldn't put the unit into convulsions...



steved

 

[PRout]

My Garmin Nuvi 660 works great

Ditto to this.

I recently upgraded the Garmin V to the Nuvi 680 when I needed to make a trip out of state for 6 weeks and it was extremely helpful in finding my way around out in the middle of bfe at nighttime in pouring rain from the airport.

Plus they have the built in hands-free bluetooth that connects with your phone automatically when you turn it on, and other neat features that almost all work well and navigation instructions have been very accurate. It receives traffic updates and warns you ahead of time so you can use the detour feature to avoid it. It looks up businesses and you only need to tap the screen for it to make a call to them, or route you to them. "Slicker than Cheeze Wiz". .

The only problem is finding a way to mount it to the dash that I am happy with. The old unit fit perfect with some velcro under the dash and an external antenna mounted up front of the dash, these newer models can be a bit challenging with the flip-up antennas. But reception is much improved from just a few yrs ago.

 

[Camelracer]

I've just started looking for a GPS so this is an interesting thread. The problem I've had in selecting one is that the sales people don't know much more than how to turn them on. The companies web sites help but it's nice to hear from real users.

I'm looking for a unit that can be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle and also used as a handheld on the trail. I also need to have maps for as many BLM/forest service trails as possible. The software also has to be Mac compatible. I've looked at the Garmin and Tom Tom units so far.

My question is how much mapping and POI information comes with the different units? Do I need to purchase additional software to get the detailed trail information and what is the cost? Are there any maps available for Baja? Can you input map coordinates to navigate to?

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[steved]

My Nuvi 200W is the size of a PDA (flat, fits in a pocket).

I have ran it in all three cars in the last week of owning it... since it can run on batteries, I simply charge it at night and then use the batteries during the day. Portability from car to car isn't an issue... its actually kind of nice having internal batteries.

Not sure about the mapping, but as previously noted, only a couple places seem to make the actual mapping software... and I believe Navtech is what Garmin uses. I know they offer SD cards with mapping info for $140/card, but I have yet to find anywhere they would have helped (but again, only had this unit a week or so). I believe the Garmin stuff is MAC compatible... look under downloads on their website to be sure...

My Nuvi was advertised as having 6 million points of interest (POI)... that was one reason we bought it. And you can upload POIs fairly easily, as well as input coordinates.

As for the maps of Mexico and more detailed maps... haven't gotten anyplace yet to see if it has that level of detail, hopefully this weekend.

I'm know there are better units on the market, but this is a pretty good intro unit...

steved

 

[2Rowdy]

Has anyone tried the in dash unit from alpine. It has a removable unit to take in another vehicle with 2 hours of battery life. I think they are also the ones that came up with navteq. What is everyones opinion of dvd mapping, versus downloads. Thanks for the replys.

 

[Tinman]

ENafizer:



What is that device under the radio?

 

[wlowe]

So am I correct in assuming that if the re-chargeable battery in the Nuvi or Tom Tom takes a dump the unit is no longer useable or can it still be powered by a DC power cord? Can the battery be replaced?

 

[steved]

So am I correct in assuming that if the re-chargeable battery in the Nuvi or Tom Tom takes a dump the unit is no longer useable or can it still be powered by a DC power cord? Can the battery be replaced?

My Nuvi can be powered by the cord... for a bad battery, it most likely would require a trip to the Garmin factory for replacement.



steved

 

[JCasper]

Do any of you have experience with one of these Magellans 4040. I just got one today.



http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product. aspx?Prodid=11225835&whse=BC&Ne=5000001+4000000&eCat=BC|79|4842&N=4001412%204294966517&Mo=6&No=2&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=

 

[PRout]

Dont have any experience w/ the magellans. .

I wanted to point out that one thing the Nuvi doesn't do that is the reason I wont give up the old garmin V is the nuvi wont do "tracking" and therefore if you are off-roading exploring unknown trails, it won't show you where you have been (like which turns you made, where exactly did you turn from - things can look different when you are heading back sometimes and get confusing).

There have been a couple times while out in the boonies exploring old trails, you can make so many different turns, you can forget which way was the best to get back. It's even worse when you are trying to get out of there before sundown. With the garmin V all you needed to do was follow the tracking line to get back where you came from (on the first attempt).

You can't do this with the nuvi that I know of. .

So, it looks like one gps for off-roading with the topo maps, etc loaded, and the Nuvi for street navigation, bluetooth, etc. Too bad the nuvi wont do all of that alone for its price. If there is a way that I'm not aware of that would be great, but I don't think so. .

 

[JLEONARD]

Tom Tom takes a dump the unit is no longer useable or can it still be powered by a DC power cord?

The Tom Tom can also be powered by the cord. The battery is lithium ion and they are pretty durable. Wife has one for her dig camera and has taken 10,000 + pics over three years and the battery seems as good as it was when new.

 

[Graphic man]

The Wife just got me a TomTom one XL S for X-mas



i was looking at the Garmin with the 3-D... . that looked nice also!!!

 

[DFriedson]

I bought a Garmin 260. I wanted one that I could use in the truck or could put in my pocket (portable). It's works great!

 

[steved]

Sdll, have gotten to use the Nuvi quite a bit lately (mostly for driving back and forth to known places)...

I have found:

Not all addresses are in the base mapping software... and not all roads names are consistant (e. g. State Route 417 = Hwy 417).

Not all roads are present (found some forest highways in the Allegheny NF that weren't provided), nor does it have all the turns properly labeled (e. g. "make a left turn" = take a jug handle exit). Sometimes it doesn't know which leg of the "Y" is the main road, or that one road is more "main" than another.

It will try to make you turn around instead of simply plotting a new course. Unless you hit "detour", then it will.

And my biggest complaint, the computer in the GPS will show that you have exited a highway (where IT thinks you should turn) even though you passed the exit (on the highway), that is before it recalculates a new course. This might be a "nuvi" thing and the faster processors might not have this issue.

All-in-all, it is a pretty nice unit for what I wanted it for... it shows upcoming roads, navigates pretty reliably, always has good signal, and best of all... it is easy to read. The complaints I have are going to be navigation-unit wide, not just a Nuvi thing... so it wouldn't matter if I had a better one, the base maps will still be off since they all use the same mapping software.

I would buy one again... and again, since this is only a "supplemental" navigation device for the wife and I (supplemental to an actual map), it doesn't need to have all the bells and whistles of the more expensive units.

Oh, and two main things I'll point out... the Nuvi is very easy to use, which is good since the instructions are less than helpful!

steved

 

[steved]

i was looking at the Garmin with the 3-D... . that looked nice also!!!

My Nuvi has 3-d... I don't like it (I set it on "track up" which is a plan view). The 3-d might be ok if you are simply relying on the unit's voice promts, but it distorts the map to a point you can't really get a feel for what other roads are around you, or how far the upcoming road is away from you.



Just my opinion of the 3-d option...



steved

 

[steved]

I wanted to point out that one thing the Nuvi doesn't do that is the reason I wont give up the old garmin V is the nuvi wont do "tracking" and therefore if you are off-roading exploring unknown trails, it won't show you where you have been (like which turns you made, where exactly did you turn from - things can look different when you are heading back sometimes and get confusing).



You can't do this with the nuvi that I know of. .



So, it looks like one gps for off-roading with the topo maps, etc loaded, and the Nuvi for street navigation, bluetooth, etc. Too bad the nuvi wont do all of that alone for its price. If there is a way that I'm not aware of that would be great, but I don't think so. .

No, it doesn't hold the track...



I'm keeping my old Eagle Accumap for the off-road adventures... more accurate, can set waypoints, and you can see the track you took.



I guess you could set favorites (similar to a waypoint) in the nuvi, then navigate to them? But in this respect, a handheld GPS does have an advantage.



steved