| Author | Message | ||
| Frank Allen (Frank66)
Registered Member Username: Frank66 Post Number: 51 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
I would like to get a GPS but know nothing about them, anyinformation would be great. thanks Frank Allen | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 451 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 68.205.165.5 Rating: N/A |
Go here in health: http://gpsinformation.net/ I bought an older Garmin Street Pilot at a thrift store for under $20. New.... They went for around $300... The self contained ones are best, since no PC is required. In most cases, a PC may be used also (subject to the manufacturer's whims). If you plan on using a laptop for the readout, then the MS Streets and Trips package (it includes a GPS receiver), might be the least expensive way to go. | ||
| JJ Woden (Jj_woden)
Registered Member Username: Jj_woden Post Number: 31 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.210.42.121 Rating: N/A |
Frank I just purchased an LT-20 antenna from DeLorme (delorme.com) for $70 including shipping. I since found them on auction for $18 or so. Price includes Streets 2008. Has voice, points of interest, etc. I like what I got but is the first one I have used. Got it for a trip to MO. Having a laptop without a stand is inconvenient, but works well with copilot. YMMV JJ | ||
| Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Registered Member Username: Kristinsgrandpa Post Number: 328 Registered: 2-2003 Posted From: 64.24.208.120 Rating: N/A |
I bought the Delorme, for a laptop, mainly for screen size and print size. If my eyes were good it would probably have been a Tom Tom Go. I like the idea of the smaller units for portability. If I had a co-pilot it wouldn't matter, she could do the map work. (Co-pilots are kinda like new cars, all the good looking ones are too expensive.) Ed | ||
| JJ Woden (Jj_woden)
Registered Member Username: Jj_woden Post Number: 32 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.210.42.121 Rating: N/A |
Ed Good point. Got mine on time share. Share my time with her forever. Next year will be 30 years. Funny thing, she has to turn the map so she can see left and right turns, I use turn east, turn west. DeLorme has that option. Hard to imagine those guys catering exactly to our needs. ha ha The bus will have an adjustable shelf for the laptop next to the driver, but will swing over for co-pilot use, also. By the way, there are a lot of good-looking cars with a few miles on them, looking for a good home. Pretty reasonable I bet. Watch for low-maintenence and reliability, then fall in love with it and make it the apple of your eye. | ||
| Cameron Jones (Crazy71)
Registered Member Username: Crazy71 Post Number: 58 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 208.102.105.3 Rating: N/A |
I just got the Garmin C-550. I really like it. It has the "text to speech" so it says the street name not just which way to turn. I also bought it for the bluetooth for my cell phone. It has excellent speakerphone. Just don't buy it from a retail store...they want a fortune for them. I bought two of them off ebay.. Both brand new....not reconditioned...from two different sellers. Paid 392.00 shipped for first one and 380.00 shipped for second. I also have a Delorme USB unit for my laptop. THe last time I used it I had Streets 2006 installed. I do like the larger screen, and you probably would have your laptop around for other used anyway....but the Garmin gets the job done nicely. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 666 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.117.21 Rating: N/A |
I just bought a Garmen Nuvi350 from Walmart two weeks ago for a trip to Florida. Was very impressed with it, and is nice and compact; can be put in pocket. Liked the way it would recaculate your route if you missed a turn. I purchased that model because it was rated high on several sites. I am very satisfied. A bit pricey for the cost conscious, but I am satisfied. You can shop around and get better prices on these things, but I needed it in a hurry, as the laptop we were going to take was locked and unable to add Streets and Trips, which we use at home on desktop. I also went to gpsinformation forum.com and read up on them before purchasing. The only downsides are that upgrading info on unit every year or two costs money, and you can't select a route, say US322 to stay on your trip. Can be done indirectly by selecting destinations along that route that would require taking that route as the fastest or shortest. Units can give you approx destination arrival time which it calculates on your average speed so far. Also lists your exact speed and miles travelled and miles to go. The full user manual must be veiwed or downloaded on line. The one that comes with will get you up and running, but is brief. You need to play with it some to become familiar with it's features. Also nice is the feature that you can find a particular resturant or hotel etc., as you travel along. It will tell you how far away it is and will give you driving directions to it from wherever you are at that moment | ||
| Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Registered Member Username: Cgoodwin Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 71.212.51.75 Rating: N/A |
It seems that the laptop units have limited speach and require that the mouse be used for functions which would be a real drag while driving a bus. Most of the dedicated units have a touch screen, whihc can be quite small, but has functions like "Repeat directions". Many of the smaller units seem to fail when you leave main roads which can be a drag as well. What we need is a laptop size screen with dimming for night driving, touch screen, voice directions, DVD maps and no requirement for speed sensor - many of the units I have seen require a signal from the vehicles 12vdc speed sensor or the accuracy is in the toilet and I have not been able to get that from my bus. In addition a route planner which takes low clearance into consideration would be nice. I had the first Magellan NAV 5000DX which I used on expeditions and at the time (1989) it was the bees knees, it is now a relic. A few years ago I did a trip across Europe with a laptop program called GPSS (http://www.gpss.tripoduk.com/) and it was great as the designer uploaded files for us during the trip. I have worked with the BMW, Mercedes and Domestic factory systems and they seem quite good although the requirement for the speed and reverse sensors presents an issue for bus use. | ||
| Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Registered Member Username: Pete_rtsdaytona Post Number: 369 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 208.118.12.156 Rating: N/A |
Chris check out Delorme / EarthMate LT-20 with voice recognition - You most-likely need a headset because of the backround noise in a bus (Message edited by pete RTS/Daytona on July 26, 2007) (Message edited by pete RTS/Daytona on July 26, 2007) | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 668 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.117.21 Rating: N/A |
I don't believe the current ones need a speed sensor- they calculate it from the change in the position of the vehicle in relation to the satellites. Maybe they have a unit available for truckers that would include clearance considerations. Haven't used mine enough to see how remote a road it would recognize, although any that it wouldn't see wouldn't be a consideration for my coach anyway. I do like that I can use it for about 3 hours without a 12volt connection. Will be nice to use with my cycle on some short trips on back country roads without getting lost.I tend to like to find local state roads that I've never travelled on before; sorta like finding treasure. Well....a cheap pleasure at least. | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1007 Registered: 7-1997 Posted From: 70.55.230.68 Rating: N/A |
Frank, I'm an authorized TomTom dealer. You can read all about them at www.tomtom.com. They are the industry leader in stand-alone GPS. Please let me know if you're interested. The prices online on this site are not current. The only one that is in short supply right now is the new TomTom One XL. Ian www.busnut.com | ||
| Dilip & Zoe (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member Username: Vintagehounds Post Number: 96 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 67.166.131.55 Rating: |
hate to make more trouble but thought id throw my cent and a half in..........Men wont stop for directions and women have great hindsight so who needs a gps? | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 676 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.117.21 Rating: N/A |
And when Men FINALLY stop to ask directions......what do they hear? " I'm sorry, I'm not from around here. " | ||
| Tom Connolly (Tomconnolly)
Registered Member Username: Tomconnolly Post Number: 47 Registered: 9-2003 Posted From: 71.98.136.98 Rating: N/A |
I have this on a Toughbook with touch screen! http://www.alk.com/copilot/laptop.asp CoPilot Live is a full featured Trip-Planning and GPS Navigation system offering the latest map data, new POI database, dynamic route guidance and auto-recalculation. It is your one stop solution for all your traveling needs. NEW FEATURES INCLUDE: NEW! The most comprehensive street level Maps of U.S. & Canada Over 750,000 miles of updated roads Over 60,000 miles of new roads NEW! Over 6 Million POI's including phone numbers NEW! Real-Time Traffic enabled nationwide NEW! RV Routing now with 12’6” and 13’ Height clearance option NEW! Speech volume increases with increased speed of vehicle NEW! Toll Road alerts > Information for RV Drivers! | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 61 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 66.191.128.66 Rating: N/A |
Now that sounds like a great system. I really like the RV features. Great link, Thanks Tom. Think I'll get one. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 186 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.240.213.247 Rating: N/A |
Had one for several years now...three updates at great prices. Wouldn't trade it. A suggestion.....solved all reception problems when I moved the receiver to the roof via a 4" inspection port...wire concealed in ceiling ...usb connection wire so receiver can be removed. Smoke lens on top, solid screw plate (or clear) on the bottom.(Defender.com) Just use good sealant. (I used P&L) FWIW...oh and BTW, your choice of male or female voice as it talks to you  RCB | ||
| Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Registered Member Username: Cgoodwin Post Number: 95 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 71.212.49.21 Rating: N/A |
John - I currently have the Eclipse AVN-5500 ($1800) and it requires a speed signal and reverse indication as do the stock mercedes and GM units. The reason for this is to suplement the internal sensor so it can interpret movement accurately without having to refer to the sat signal, this is what enables units like these to tell you directions as accurate as 50 meters when travelling at 60mph. Unfortunately if you have a unit which requires a speed signal and it does not have it, the accuracy is greatly reduced. Tom -That is an impressive unit (never thought I would say that to a man) I have 3 Toughbooks, all the older CF27 units, I did some of the testing on them for Panasonic in the UK, drove a Mercedes 6x6 troop transport over one, etc. I wrote about 6 articles about them for publications in the UK and here and took one on my last expedition before the birth of my daughter changed my travel habits, we walked from Addis Ababa Ethiopia north to the coast of the Red Sea in Eritrea through the Danakil Depression retracing the steps of an explorer from 1931 Wilfred Thessinger. You simply can not damage a Toughbook and the program you posted a link to seems like it may be just the answer I was looking for, thanks. | ||
| Justin Griffith (Justin25taylor)
Registered Member Username: Justin25taylor Post Number: 27 Registered: 4-2007 Posted From: 70.149.128.185 Rating: N/A |
Like Tom I have used Co-pilot for years. It makes more sense in routing a large vehicle. If you have a live internet connection (cell phone etc) it will update traffic and construction info in real time. You can program poi's (truck stops,washes, etc) to pop up when they are along your route. You can also search along your route for rest areas, fuel stops, etc. Another cool feature is if you are on-line and you allow it, other people can see where you are, how fast you are going etc. It makes it nice for my girlfriend who always worries about me while I am gone. Speaking of internet, I just bought a new router made by Kyoccera that has a place to plug in your PCMIA air card and have instant WI-Fi all over your bus. It is the neatest "toy" I have bought to date. I have also payed for it by charging the bands I drive $10.00 a day for Wi-Fi I use the latest version (9) I think? If you call ALK they will help you in any way they can. They allowed me to install it on 2 computers so I can keep one in my bus and one to the hotel room each morning so I can plan that nights route. The downside is you have to use a computer. The up side is a company called Jotto-desk makes a neat stand for your laptop that bolts to the floor and swivels all kinds of ways as well as can be removed with a wingnut. I also have a Sony NAV-u all in one for my 4 wheeler. It is ok but is nothing like Co-pilot. Feel free to call or email me with any questions about it. You would think I work for ALK. I don't, I just think they make the best product for folks like us who drive large vehicles. Good luck in whatever you choose. Best, Justin |
