I'm looking at getting my wife and I GPS's for Christmas..
- Thread starter Ed L.
- Start date
Bill Savoie
Active member
Ed,
My wife and I went through the same thing last year, we wound up getting the Verizon Android phones since it has the Google navigation built in. The only drawback to these phones is that on long trips (4 plus hours) the charger in the car won't keep up with the draw of the phone.
Just my .02
Bill
My wife and I went through the same thing last year, we wound up getting the Verizon Android phones since it has the Google navigation built in. The only drawback to these phones is that on long trips (4 plus hours) the charger in the car won't keep up with the draw of the phone.
Just my .02
Bill
Bill Savoie
Active member
When I first saw his note I read it as GSP's and I thought what a nice present, a brace of German Shorthair Pointers... that would be the last Christmas present I'd have to worry about buying
Bill,
We've had 3 German shorthairs in the family at different times when we did a lot of pheasant hunting. Great upland dogs.
My son has the Android and loves the google GPS and is pushing me that way. My wife and I have dumb phones with Verizon. 2 phones and 700 minutes is pricey enough but I hate what they want to charge you for broadband access.
Jim,
I was told to look at the Tom Tom as well.
Thanks,
Ed L.
We've had 3 German shorthairs in the family at different times when we did a lot of pheasant hunting. Great upland dogs.
My son has the Android and loves the google GPS and is pushing me that way. My wife and I have dumb phones with Verizon. 2 phones and 700 minutes is pricey enough but I hate what they want to charge you for broadband access.
Jim,
I was told to look at the Tom Tom as well.
Thanks,
Ed L.
BamaBill
Active member
Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, Trimble, etc. all started in a GPS niche OTHER than the auot nav market. Garmin and Magellan are great for handhelds. Lowrance is excellent for marine. Trimble makes great survey/commercial application stuff. None of them view the auto navigation market as anything other than another product group in which to gain market share/business. I'm not saying that Garmins, Magellans, etc. don't have good auto GPSs. However, that's where TomTom started and have stayed, and after having Magellans and Garmins (a couple of each), the TomToms I got for myself and the wife are head and shoulders better for vehicle navigation use. Back country, marine, and project sampling are different requirements from driving down the road. I wou;dn't use a new TomTOm handheld, if they came out with one, but I won't put anything else in my truck, yet.
Phil Nowack
Well-known member
We have a Nuvi... 260... I think... does what it is suppose to...
Chuck J
Well-known member
Bill
Although my batteries dont hold up to the draw of the GPS long, I have no problem running all day with the GPS running and the car adapter plugged in. You may have some other background programs running that is doing this to you.
As a side note, I was out hiking/scouting in a SGA after a morning hunt this fall and came to a split in the 2 track, and although I knew relatively where I was and that both paths would eventually lead me back in the direction of my vehicle, I pulled out the phone, and with the satilite image from google the phone pinpointed me at the break in the trail...couldn't have asked for a better result.
I don't know what the phone and service runs, I'm lucky enough to get it through work.
Chuck
PS Does anyone know how to use charts and maps any more? I see people driving to the grocery store using their GPS to find the way.
Bill Savoie
Active member
I run my phones through the business too, since I have to have them anyways for being on call and the fair bit of traveling I do. One of the last perks of owning a small business...
Scott Farris
Well-known member
Ed,
We have a 205W for each car. I like them but have used them only for simple navigation so far. Main draw back is that she says the local street name rather than the route number. It's not uncommon here in New England for highways to have a different name on each side of town going through each town, and of course the bigger traffic signs simply give the rte number D'oh! You have to look for the small intersection signs to verify the names. Weekend before last I wanted to find the Dunkin Donut shop I was meeting Wendell at. It was on Rte 32 per map quest but the Garmin doesn't take rtes D'oh! On my second time past Wendell spotted me (02:45 and towing a duck boat) and called my cell. Darn DD sign was small, turned off, and wedged between larger signs up on an elevated pole. Still using the 205W is way better than trying to read directions in the dark while driving. One of these years I'll learn to use it's features to find places to eat, shop, and find services, but hey I'm in my mid fifties and feel accomplished using my cell phone :^)
Scott
We have a 205W for each car. I like them but have used them only for simple navigation so far. Main draw back is that she says the local street name rather than the route number. It's not uncommon here in New England for highways to have a different name on each side of town going through each town, and of course the bigger traffic signs simply give the rte number D'oh! You have to look for the small intersection signs to verify the names. Weekend before last I wanted to find the Dunkin Donut shop I was meeting Wendell at. It was on Rte 32 per map quest but the Garmin doesn't take rtes D'oh! On my second time past Wendell spotted me (02:45 and towing a duck boat) and called my cell. Darn DD sign was small, turned off, and wedged between larger signs up on an elevated pole. Still using the 205W is way better than trying to read directions in the dark while driving. One of these years I'll learn to use it's features to find places to eat, shop, and find services, but hey I'm in my mid fifties and feel accomplished using my cell phone :^)
Scott
Mark W
Well-known member
Hey Ed -
All will work fine. I've owned TomTom and Garmin. Wish I would have stuck with the TomTom. Here is what I kow.
TomTom has user inputted map updates. I can't recall what it is called but the TomTom automatically does its magic fufu stuff and sends updated map info (from your actual driving - and everyone else in the world's actual driving) and updates their software through update. Last I knew this was free. With Garmin, map updates need to be purchased at $75 on up/update.
One thing to look for is the chip they use inside. The cheaper units use cheaper chips and while the accuracy isn't changed much from the more exxpensive chips, the turn on time is greatly affected. Ican't recall the best chips Ed but it started with a "S". Google best chips for GPS might be of some help.
I do like the Garmin user interface more than the TomTom but the TomTom in my opinion is the more powerful gps.
Mark W
All will work fine. I've owned TomTom and Garmin. Wish I would have stuck with the TomTom. Here is what I kow.
TomTom has user inputted map updates. I can't recall what it is called but the TomTom automatically does its magic fufu stuff and sends updated map info (from your actual driving - and everyone else in the world's actual driving) and updates their software through update. Last I knew this was free. With Garmin, map updates need to be purchased at $75 on up/update.
One thing to look for is the chip they use inside. The cheaper units use cheaper chips and while the accuracy isn't changed much from the more exxpensive chips, the turn on time is greatly affected. Ican't recall the best chips Ed but it started with a "S". Google best chips for GPS might be of some help.
I do like the Garmin user interface more than the TomTom but the TomTom in my opinion is the more powerful gps.
Mark W
Thanks for all the help guys. I stopped at Best Buy on the way home tonight. The guy in that department convinced me the Magellan Roadmate 1424 was a good one. In fact he has one in his truck and took me outside to show me how it works and the features. I think he wanted a smoke but none the less I got a good overview of the unit and it's on sale. I bought one. I'll try it in the wifes car then go from there. Now I look and see the Garmin 255WT is listed one sale at the same price as the Magellan. Maybe I'll buy this one for me and see which is better. I see the battery life is better with the Garmin.
Ed L.
Ed L.