stev32k
Premium
join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL
 ·Mediacom
| GPS systems for cars
I guess you could say I'm topographically challenged because I have a hard time finding my way around new places. Because of that I'm seriously considering buying a GPS system to use in my car.
Looking around on the internet it seems there are only two major suppliers - Magellan and Garmin. However, the two of them have a huge range of different units and I really don't know what to look for or to avoid. I don't mind spending up to $1,000 or so to get a good, usable, and reliable unit.
I want something portable that can be moved from car to car without much hassle. I also want the ability to download map updates, and using CF cards would be convenient since I already have several.
Anyone have any advice or recommendations on what to look for or specific bands/models/features? |
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91439306
15,000 Watts of Bass Power
join:2002-10-16
New Milford, CT
| While I was tooling around in Raleigh/Durham, NC a couple months ago, I used a Magellan RoadMate 700. It is quite an impressive unit, and uses audible speech and sound cues to indicate turns approaching and when to "turn now".
The only thing I would have liked was an easy way to get a wider view of the area, but that may be possible and I just didn't know how to access the feature. It was in my friend's mini van most of the time, so I used it while driving around the downtown area and only got to explore it superficially. It did do what it is required to do, very well. And if you make a wrong turn, it recalculates where to turn next to get back on-route. Had I had access to it while driving from Orlando to Inverness, FL, I would not have gotten lost on that Florida Turnpike with it's skipped exits numbering system!
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Anonuser
join:2003-01-03
Milwaukee, WI
| reply to stev32k
Mapquest has one for sale, called the Tom-Tom. I tested one out at Sams Club, and I will be purchasing one for my grandmother for christmas.
I myself, have a $100 GPS (that i got for $80 ^_^ ) from the company deLorm. It plugs into my laptop, so it's very portable. Just plop it in the seat of whatever vehicle I am in.
In my truck, I built a laptop stand that is Bolted down, so I can place my laptop on it while driving.
This is good for my navigation, as well as war driving, and playing movies while i am on my long drives ^_^
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Do the Dew! |
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jig
join:2001-01-05
Hacienda Heights, CA
 ·Verizon west (ex G..
| reply to stev32k
most of the ones i've seen (and bought) are pretty standard. the hardest thing is to know what you can ask for.
you want one with a loud and clear voice navigation. you want a screen that is probably color, and isn't too large if you want it to be transferable from car to car, but of course you want it large enough to be functional. you also want to be able to get around the menu system pretty easily.
one new (maybe too new to buy) option is to incorporate traffic statistics as well.
anyway, the one we're happy with is the magellan 700. it was on sale at costco for about $750 recently, and it might be available for less since the magellan 760 came out. it might be worth a perusal. however, the 500 and 300 aren't really worth considering. |
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stev32k
Premium
join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL | reply to stev32k
What is it about the 500 and 300 that makes them bad? |
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caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
Graham, WA
·Comcast
edit:
November 23rd, @07:31PM
| reply to Anonuser
In my truck, I built a laptop stand that is Bolted down, so I can place my laptop on it while driving.
This is good for my navigation, as well as war driving, and playing movies while i am on my long drives ^_^
A another idiot that plays with their computer and watch movies while driving.  |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to stev32k
I had the TomTom 700 for about a month and I returned it to Costco. The unit was great...it's the only one with bluetooth integration with your cell.
Anyway, I think the Garmin 6720 is much better than the 700 in terms of it's map routing. I had some weird issues with the routing on the GO.
Anyway, I saw Costco has the GO for 699..which is a $100 less...and if you don't like it, you can return it..you'll be even refunded the shipping fee. |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to stev32k
500 isn't available in N.America, it's only for Europe (TomTom is a European company). The 300 stores maps on SD cards that you need to swipe.
The 700 has all of N.America on the hard drive. You can download additional content(POIs,voices) through your cell phone. |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | reply to stev32k
GPS questions are best asked in the TEch Toys forum..real experts there. |
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jig
join:2001-01-05
Hacienda Heights, CA | reply to stev32k
they're just in a different class. |
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nfx
The Wire
Premium
join:2001-05-21
Vancouver, BC
clubs: | reply to stev32k
hope you don't mind me asking, a bit OT, but does it cost anything to receive GPS signals from the satellites? Something like a monthly cellphone plan for a cellphone.
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nfx |
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AR
Premium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | No.
But if you want new maps everytime they update them, you gotta pay. Plus, with TomTom, there's the premium service in certain areas for weather, traffic conditions etc etc. |
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Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs: | reply to stev32k
nope GPS is free, it's funded by Tax payer dollars. |
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| reply to stev32k
»Garmin StreetPilot 2610 In-Car GPS $550 S/F
»Garmin StreetPilot 2610 In-Car GPS $550 S/F
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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3SGTE
ST215W
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
clubs:
edit:
November 26th, @05:29AM
| reply to stev32k
Some toys you can't have:
»panasonic.jp/car/navi/products/index.html
And a general introduction from Crutchfield:
»www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-···ion.html
And the Crutchfield sales site:
»www.crutchfield.com/S-Hyd20Mg4oI···TjvonnDi |
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BurntCricket
Gotta Do What Ya Gotta Do
Premium
join:2000-09-02
Here
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
edit:
November 26th, @12:13PM
| reply to Subaru
said by Subaru  :nope GPS is free, it's funded by Tax payer dollars. Not to sound like a smartass(well maybe I am) but that isn't "free" then is it ??
GPS Sats have been flying around for a long time(full operation in 96 with 24 satellites) >>
All your receiver is doing is "finding" where in the sky each Sat is and tri-angulates your exact(I do mean exact)position - one afternoon while you are bored to tears, take your handheld and go for a walk around your neighborhood..
On a hiking trip we located our position, next trip we didn't pay attention to where we were at just went by the GPS and the readings took us to the exact spot where we took the reading from.
»www.navcen.uscg.gov/faq/gpsfaq.htm#How
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Follow the Money |
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BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| gps main down fall is the fact it relies on satellite timing to find where you are. atomic clock  using triangulation. The more satellites you can see the more accurate. no bird no location. big cities and dense roads in the sticks cause all sorts of problems.
gps has more then 24 sats if you include the ones the government uses with sa (they say they turned it off but it is still in use), and the Galileo project from eu.
i personally find the cellular/gps hybrid location devices to be the most accurate especially in the city. Down to 9 inches from the center of the receiver if your in the clear. Regular gps is 9 meters and government issue with sa can be as accurate as 3 inches.
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"It's always funny until someone gets hurt......and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!" |
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stev32k
Premium
join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL | reply to stev32k
Thanks for all the replies. I just ordered the Garmin 2610 for $550 from Amazon. Seems like a good price and I read good reviews on it's performance. Now maybe I won't get lost so often. |
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Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs: | reply to stev32k
Best Gps reciver is one that has the Sirf III chipset. |
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jig
join:2001-01-05
Hacienda Heights, CA | reply to stev32k
when you get it up and running, after using it for a bit, post back and let us know how you like it. it seems to have some interesting features. i wonder how you'll like the screen. |
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