GPS?

[Hawkmoon]

I admit it, I'm a technical Luddite. Don't know anything about GPS, but my wife is always getting herself lost and that's a problem because her English isn't all that good, so if she has to ask for directions she can't easily explain where she came from or where she needs to get to. Our adopted daughter agrees with me that Mom needs a GPS.

Last I knew, I had only heard of Garmin and Magellan, and the ones I knew about were the hand-helds with topo maps, for hiking and so forth. I gather that there is now an entirely new class of GPS units specifically for road navigation -- and a new (?) player on the block named TomTom.

So ... which is best? Who uses GPS, what do you use, what's good about it and what are your gripes or "I wish it would ..." list?

TIA

[Ben]

From your description of who will use it and how it will be used, don't worry about which one is best. The Garmin Nuvis, Magellans, and Tom Toms will all get you from point A to point B. Since you haven't used any of them and become accustomed to navigating a particular menu (they're all different), one is just as good as another. Go to Amazon and get whichever one you can get the best deal on. It's sounding like you don't care about Bluetooth integration, voice recognition, MP3s, or any other add ons, so you can get something pretty cheap.

Any of these manufacturer's vehicle GPS units will get you to your destination 98% of the time as long as you input the address correctly. All of them will generally get you there efficiently 50% of the time. Meaning they'll always find their way to a location, but not always by the most efficient route. If you use one in your hometown, you'll often think, "Why is it wanting me to go down Main St when Maple is way faster with less traffic lights?" But if you're in an unfamiliar area, getting to your destination is likely more important than getting there by the absolutely best route, and all of them will do that for you.

[MicroBalrog]

Unless you use a GPS professionally (i.e. as a taxi driver, for example) or for a hobby where accuracy is paramount, practically every model will do. In fact modern smartphones usually have GPS in them. iPhone 4S and Motorla Razr have combo GPS/GLONASS, which is probably going to succeed regular GPS at least in phones.

[zxcvbob]

I've been very happy with these:
http://www.ecost.com/p/Garmin-International-Telephony/product~dpno~7888434~pdp.fhabaea

And if you catch model 265W on sale, it has a traffic reports receiver built in to the power plug, with a lifetime subscription.

[RevDisk]

So ... which is best? Who uses GPS, what do you use, what's good about it and what are your gripes or "I wish it would ..." list?

TIA

I use Google Maps and Google Navigator on my HTC Thunderbolt cell phone. Has never failed me yet, and is handy for not having to type in addresses.  Click on it on a web browser, email or txt, and get directions to location. Comes free with the phone.

For wish... uh.  Uhm.  Sub <1m accuracy would be nice ? But not physically capable with standard equipment.  10cm or less accuracy survey equipment took up part of the cargo space of a HMMWV.

[makattak]

It may also behoove you to find one that includes your wife's native language among the options.

[Ben]

I use Google Maps and Google Navigator on my HTC Thunderbolt cell phone. Has never failed me yet, and is handy for not having to type in addresses.  Click on it on a web browser, email or txt, and get directions to location. Comes free with the phone.

For wish... uh.  Uhm.  Sub <1m accuracy would be nice ? But not physically capable with standard equipment.  10cm or less accuracy survey equipment took up part of the cargo space of a HMMWV.

Google Nav is definitely the way to go. It's what I use too, but it sounds like Hawkmoon doesn't have a smartphone.

I get 10cm with the Trimble XR sitting on the shelf in my office, but I look like a dork walking around with a backpack and antenna sticking up above my head, so stick to my phone. :)

[Doggy Daddy]

I've been very satisfied with this TomTom:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003B3P2BK/ref=oh_o06_s00_i00_details

$80 delivered from Amazon.  It has lifetime map upgrades, the mount will attach to the dash (attaching to the windshield will get you a ticket in California), and there is a voice that will announce street names etc.

DD

[bedlamite]

I've been using GPS for about 20 years. For the occasional use, phone based systems are fine as long as you have a cell signal. If you need to find directions to Wal-Mart or Starbucks when you are two states away from home and may not have a cell signal, Garmin or Tom-Tom are good. If you plan on going off the beaten path or over open water, Lowrance is by far the best. The brand new Garmin my mom got for christmas does not have the accuracy or speed of my 15 year old Lowrance Globlamap.

[Ben]

I've been using GPS for about 20 years. For the occasional use, phone based systems are fine as long as you have a cell signal.

Actually that's only true if you're using Google Nav or similar. If you use something like Orux Maps, it works directly off your phone's GPS. I use a Google Earth basemap running in Orux on my phone all the time for a portable cockpit awareness device when we're flying over open ocean well past any cell towers.

[MicroBalrog]

Actually that's only true if you're using Google Nav or similar. If you use something like Orux Maps, it works directly off your phone's GPS. I use a Google Earth basemap running in Orux on my phone all the time for a portable cockpit awareness device when we're flying over open ocean well past any cell towers.

I thought the Assisted GPS chips require a 3G connection to do their calculations?

[Ben]

I thought the Assisted GPS chips require a 3G connection to do their calculations?

I can tell you neither my EVO, nor my coworkers Droid need it. I have a year's worth of correlated tracklines to confirm it. The GPS chips should work the same as those on stuff like the Xoom and iPad, which a lot of pilots are using for Air Nautical Chart displays.

[BridgeRunner]

I can't quite figure why have a smartphone and a dedicated GPS unit, but I know plenty of people who do. However, as someone mid-road-trip, I'm gaining insight.  

Ended up somehow with the wrong addy auto-completed during the course of multiple refreshes and switching between apps. That's mostly a function of ditzy + driving with kids + bad weather, but with a dedicated unit it can just sit there and do its thing.

After ending up at the wrong address, figured out how to get where I was going via phone + Google maps. Apple iPhone lets me do this, but I understand a lot of smartphones can't talk and think at the same time. Of course speakerphone in a car is of limited utility. Dedicated units are handy for multi-tasking.

Even absent ditziness and kiddos, a dash-mounted unit has got to be safer in a forty-mile-across near-white-out "flurry".

I realize this wasn't the question  posed, just eh, mid road trip. Viva la thread drift!

[Tallpine]

I'm a firm believer that anyone who can't find their way around without GPS needs to be locked up in a safe place so they don't hurt themselves 

[Hawkmoon]

It may also behoove you to find one that includes your wife's native language among the options.

True.

Spanish -- should not be a problem. (??)

Google Nav is definitely the way to go. It's what I use too, but it sounds like Hawkmoon doesn't have a smartphone.

Not only do I not have a smart phone (nor want one), she doesn't -- and we just re-upped her cellular for a new two-year contract, so a smart phone is not on the radar.

[Doggy Daddy]

I'm a firm believer that anyone who can't find their way around without GPS needs to be locked up in a safe place so they don't hurt themselves 

I have mine mounted and running 90% of the time.  Even going back and forth to work.  I find value in being able to glance at it and get a very good estimate of my arrival time.  I also like being able to "see over walls".  That is, as I drive down the street it shows the streets on the other side of the block walls that are all over this town.  I've found a few shortcuts with that x-ray vision.

DD

[Tallpine]

I have mine mounted and running 90% of the time.  Even going back and forth to work.  I find value in being able to glance at it and get a very good estimate of my arrival time.  I also like being able to "see over walls".  That is, as I drive down the street it shows the streets on the other side of the block walls that are all over this town.  I've found a few shortcuts with that x-ray vision.

DD

So it's a helpful convenience, but you could get around without it - right?   

[Harold Tuttle]

The gps eliminated "which way is best?" Arguments from family travels

I can dead recon my way across most cities and states but my wife has to know where we are going. I just need to know where we were and where we want to end up. The middle stuff I take as it comes. No stoping to look at maps anymore, in fact I like using it to recon alternate paths.
I now know that that back road way into our valley only adds 15 minutes of travel time, someday I might need to roll that way in a storm.

[Doggy Daddy]

So it's a helpful convenience, but you could get around without it - right?   

Dood.  I was a Boy Scout.  All I need is a stick to poke in the ground.   

DD

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

have several  i like the nuvi for what i do though my magellan is better for my wife

[RoadKingLarry]

I'm kind of old school.
http://store.randmcnally.com/road-atlas.html

[seeker_two]

It may also behoove you to find one that includes your wife's native language among the options.

Agreed.....and having the ability to add a memory chip can help with storing extra maps and direction-voices is a good thing, too....

[Boomhauer]

I can't quite figure why have a smartphone and a dedicated GPS unit,

I live in an area without 3G coverage. There is no downloading/updating Google maps on the fly when you have no data coverage.

It's also nice to keep a cheap GPS unit in the car for those times when you have to go places and need to find your way around an unfamilar area.

I prefer Garmin GPS units, by the way.

You do need to make sure she completely understands the limitations of GPS units. The map databases aren't always the most accurate. Construction changes, mistakes made during the map survey, and so on lead to innacurracies. Make sure she understands to cross-reference the GPS with a paper map to make sure the route makes sense. Sometimes the GPS unit will also figure out odd routes when you'd really want to stick to another route.

GPS car units aren't perfect, but to me they are a great tool if you understand your limitations. They are excellent for keeping track of exits and city driving, IMHO, and for going through areas with confusing/non-existant road signage.

[dogmush]

FWIW, and I don't know your budget;

I used the portable GPS's for several years before the radio in my Cobra died.  Then I bought an older Pioneer Nav/Stereo.  The built-in-to-the-car units are WAY better then the smaller portable units.  They integrate the directions into the sound-system so you GPS isn't trying to shout over your tunes. They have bigger screens. They usually have better processors for faster tracking.  They are MUCH less likely to cause a smash and grab in a parking garage. (A real problem here in Tampa, don't know about your locality).  And are overall more effective and user friendly.


Of course they're more expensive and complicated to install too.  But I'd at least look at the costs of some.   I did the install myself, but the unit (factory refurb), wiring harness, vehicle specific mount, iPod input cable, and video input cable set me back about $500.  If you don't want iPod and video you can knock about $75 off that.  After several years with my AVIC, I'm never going back to windshield mounted units. (nor will I pay what carmakers want for built in NAV, but that's another thread)

[Tallpine]

The gps eliminated "which way is best?" Arguments from family travels

If you follow the GPS recommendation out in our neighborhood, you will go down a dead end private road that has been closed by the landowners on both ends.

You may even meet a long haired bearded mountaineer with a shotgun