Before you get one with all the add ons check out how much the wires and installation run for that stuff. If you do not want to pay for all the extra stuff to install it its not worth having it on the GPS unit.
I have an old 200w. The W stands for wide. I would suggest getting a W version of what your get.
If you dont need all the add ons and just want one that gives directions and need just the basics get a 205w or a 255w. The only difference is the 255 speaks street names and the 205 does not.
I know my way around where I live and use mine ALL the time. Its just a handy piece of equipment to have!
I have gone a different route (oof) I use a GPS that attaches to my laptop. The software and hardware are by Delorme, and I get advantages that don't happen with the all in one units.
I can preplan routes sitting in my family room, and modify them at will anytime before, or during, the trip.
I can keep track of where I was and for how long, which has come in handy a couple of times when my company wanted to pay me a different amount for mileage.
I used my GPS and GIS software as part of planning a wireless network in Dallas, siting radios, spotting obstacles, mapping diversity routes. Of course the company paid for the software there, but I already had the GPS.
I carried one of my computer based GPS modules on a balloon flight a couple of years ago, not the laptop, just the little receiver, and then downloaded the flight into the laptop later, to see where we went and where we hit the ground, and then where we actually stopped.
I also have software for my PDA and can download maps and routes from the laptop to the PDA and then bluetooth the GPS module to the PDA for tracking.
I found this site helpful when I was searching for a GPS last year http://www.gpsreview.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
settled on a Tom Tom because it had the cheapest model that allowed me to set up a trip with multiple stops quickly and easily (very helpful when driving buyer clients to look at multiple listings in one day). The voice that speaks the street names, instead of the hard-to-decipher "turn left in 300 feet," is VERY helpful as well. My father in law's older Tom Tom doesn't speak street name and I made multiple wrong turns when borrowing his car in California two years ago.
I'll second that emotion re: traffic alerts. I use the Sprint GPS that comes on my phone and it's probably added years to my life. I can also enter my destination and it will pick the fastest route at that the time (helps you avoid getting stuck in unannounced construction work or accidents currently working - very helpfull in Houston. Mine speaks to me as well, but not in a cool voice like Mr. T (that must be awesome)
Once I got totally lost in Conroe, pulled into a closed gas station and requested the GPS to get me home. Well it knew EXACTLY where I was and what direction I was facing - told me to proceed foward 47 feet and turn right.
Just a side note if you want to get really serious. I saw a Garmin unit at a Pilot Truck stop that had every bell and whistle known to man - including the abililty to tell you what lane was moving the fastest, and the screen was bigger than my computer monitor. Pretty sweet unit, not much more than the "little ones". Happy trails and Happy Thanks Giving.
chabouk wrote:My advice is to save your money, and buy a Delorme Texas Atlas & Gazetteer (available at any Wal-Mart). And then, read the road signs.
GPS is nice when you're far away from civilization. It's just plain silly when you're driving on public roads and streets.
Actually, I disagree. If you are looking for a specific address or business in a large city it is invaluable. I like to use mine when I am traveling to different cities to find the local gun stores; enter the address and it takes me right to the candy store!!
Keith
Texas LTC Instructor, Missouri CCW Instructor, NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun Instructor and RSO, NRA Life Member
Having used a portable nav device, two Ford OE units, and now my iPhone TomTom, a couple of notes:
Announced street names is a must. When you are trying to find that little 2-block street in a congested area, you don't need to be looking at the screen.
Make sure the "Turn soon" guidance is close enough to be useful. "Turn right in 1/2 mile" is not useful in a downtown area at 25 mph. The best ones prompt you earlier or later, dependent on speed. A 2nd prompt for "Turn now" is also helpful.
Also, the Ford OE unit gives you a sliding graphic starting at 1/4 mile. When the slider reaches the end you are AT your turn, exactly. Neither of my standalones do that. Big screens are very good if you are over 40 Mounting options - some have only the suction cup, some have many more - vent clips, bicycle mounts etc. Updatable - The first Magellan I bought could not be easily or cheaply updated. Most current ones can be updated with maps and POIs, but you need to know how easy that is, and if it costs anything. Traffic alerts - I was dubious about this until I read how they get that information. It seems they monitor cell phones per tower, and time in that cell. If a lot more phones are tracking a tower for longer than normal, it indicates traffic congestion. I am not sure if that is the technology they all use. Errors - I have yet to see a system with perfect routing. All have sent me down a cowpath for no apparent reason. You still need a map. Route planning - A very few portables will do this. Mine do not, but the next one will. If your trips include multiple stops, get it. Search POIs by phone number - I have one unit that does this, and it's very useful to me when visiting customers that I talk to on the phone a lot. Easier to key in a phone number than an address.
So far I am very pleased with TomTom on iPhone. I do not have to pack a separate device everywhere.
I have lived in Tarrant County since 1968. I know the area very well, but I often use a GPS in town. Very useful when buying stuff from classifieds or hunting down an estate sale.
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“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch
chabouk wrote:My advice is to save your money, and buy a Delorme Texas Atlas & Gazetteer (available at any Wal-Mart). And then, read the road signs.
GPS is nice when you're far away from civilization. It's just plain silly when you're driving on public roads and streets.
I tend to agree. I can load my Lowrance H20c i Finder with LEI Mapcreate data for roads and trails, etc. in the mountains and backcountry. OTOH, why do I have more than one sidearm?
#1 benefit of having GPS on a road trip - IMHO: if I feel that the GPS is giving me bad directions, I can yell at it, and my wife won't get mad. (As opposed to...)
I am on the road quite a bit (usually fly into destination and rent a car) for work and having my own GPS is a lifesaver. Sometimes I'll rely on my iPhone but usually it's the GPS. I've got a Garmin Nuvi 265W and I'm pretty happy with it.
RexB wrote:Updatable - The first Magellan I bought could not be easily or cheaply updated. Most current ones can be updated with maps and POIs, but you need to know how easy that is, and if it costs anything.
I'm amazed that no one else mentioned this, as it would be my #1 priority.
I own four Garmin handhelds and one Lowrance handheld. Lowrance allows you to save map data to five cards only. Garmin has gotten uppity about their upgrades. Three of my units accept downloaded highway and topo data. Garmin used to charge $50 for data upgrade which allowed you to update two units by serial number. Then they went to $75 and then changed it to $75 for each unit.
Therefore, this would weigh heavily against Garmin and Lowrance for me. I have no knowledge of how vehicle units are updated or the cost, but I would never buy a unit without learning this first.
RexB wrote:Updatable - The first Magellan I bought could not be easily or cheaply updated. Most current ones can be updated with maps and POIs, but you need to know how easy that is, and if it costs anything.
I'm amazed that no one else mentioned this, as it would be my #1 priority.
I own four Garmin handhelds and one Lowrance handheld. Lowrance allows you to save map data to five cards only. Garmin has gotten uppity about their upgrades. Three of my units accept downloaded highway and topo data. Garmin used to charge $50 for data upgrade which allowed you to update two units by serial number. Then they went to $75 and then changed it to $75 for each unit.
Therefore, this would weigh heavily against Garmin and Lowrance for me. I have no knowledge of how vehicle units are updated or the cost, but I would never buy a unit without learning this first.
Is a card a SD Chip? Other than new residential districts, how often do cities, towns, counties and states change their addresses?
