Travel Technology - Car Nav Advice

Hi all,

Looking for a system that I dont need to install that would be of good value. I see the Garmin Street Pilot III on Overstock and of course on Ebay. Basically I would like something that would be able to give the turn by turn and auto re-route for USA mostly NYC and State and parts of Canada like Toronto. Can anyone offer advice on whether or not something like the Garmin Street Pilot is the best thing going or are there other less expensive options out there that might be worth a look? I appreciate the advice!

I am a big fan of the Magellan Roadmate 300. It is cheap (from as low as $425), is easy to mount and remove, and has the same cool "ping" as Hertz Neverlost :D

I would also like to ask if anybody has recent experience with the DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20, which costs $99.95 and plugs in to a laptop for use in the car.

DeLore is advertising that a new version is coming out in August. I called the company and they're not accepting orders in advance. The rep said that if it's purchased now the upgrade in August will cost $39.95 so I'm planning to wait.

In the meantime, is it a reasonable choice if one already owns a laptop? It certainly appears to be the cheapest option that I know of.

I use the Garmin 18 with nRoute software. Approx C$150. Installed on my laptop.

Maps cover all NA. Great detail.

Look also at Microsoft's map product and gps antenna -- similar price.

I would also like to ask if anybody has recent experience with the DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20, which costs $99.95 and plugs in to a laptop for use in the car.

DeLore is advertising that a new version is coming out in August. I called the company and they're not accepting orders in advance. The rep said that if it's purchased now the upgrade in August will cost $39.95 so I'm planning to wait.

In the meantime, is it a reasonable choice if one already owns a laptop? It certainly appears to be the cheapest option that I know of.

I've tried all laptop and PocketPC based products, and not a single one of them come close to a dedicated nav unit.

I've tried all laptop and PocketPC based products, and not a single one of them come close to a dedicated nav unit.

I have to agree with you, but it is kinda convinient using a PocketPC + Bluetooth GPS for car navigation vs. having to carry around a dedicated car nav unit. It saves space and chargers as both the PocketPC and Navunit use the same car/ac charger. Plus you will have the PocketPC at your finger tips when needed.

Well, I have used PocketPc products for years, testing new versions of many of the big competitors. I find the nicest and currently most user friendly is the Copilot 5 from ALK. It has pretty good maps (this you will find is one of the major differentiators of mapping companies) and the interface is nice, fast and simple. My #1 1K GF picked it up in about, oh five minutes. Similar to most, one "loads" map data for a region or area that they are driving in.

pros: fast acquire time, uses Bluetooth, so no hockey puck necessary, and BT receiver can be best placed for pickup. Re-acquire of signal is very fast, no WAAS, but I can live without that.
cons: volume on directions is a bit weak, but the text to speech is nice.

that said, we picked up a NAVMAN ICN510 last year for about 300$, which is nice for the second car and for travel and for when we BOTH are driving cars.

If ScottC likes the Magellan, that is a good plug, currently there is a refurb version available from ebuyer, for 389$ delivered. IT WAS 359$ yesterday.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=649794209&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=196988

I have bought from ebuyer, but not this product.

I tried a magellan about 1.5 years ago, and found the interface a bit slow, and the map paint a bit slow. I also found the signal acquisition was slow and the re-acquire was slow. This is a problem in cities, tunnels and really cloudy days. Problems you might encounter in and around the NYC area. I do like the DING, reminds me of driving Hertz cars back in the early 90's, when this type of technology was whizz bang.

After all that, I am just about to go dedicated in my primary vehicle with a Pioneer AVIC-N2, which has large map data, uses satellite data for current traffic conditions and has a large slide out screen. Costs a bit more though, I picked up one on ebay for 1200$ complete and new. Product seems fine, came from an LA seller.

I'd stay away from anything palm related, they just don't do GPS well. And I would not buy anything that is laptop only, that is never really going to work for a car system. A dedicated like the Magellan or the PocketPc solution is best for portability.

Of course, with a PocketPC ones needs the PPC, and THEN the program, which ramps up the cost 2-3x.

What are the criticisms of laptop installations? (The only ones I can see are the inconvenience of the laptop which must be connected to the antenna or the open laptop, or power and stowing the laptop so it won't get stolen on arrival at a destination.)

The advantages of laptop are: The display software and USB drivers are also upgradeable easily. The maps are updated yearly at little or no cost.

I always travel with a laptop, and so the antenna is always with me. A trip can be plotted easily with different routes easily. Phone nmbers and addresses are always available. (I was just in Seattle and wanted a route from hotel to a restaurant and phone so worked it out. Prevously landed SMF and wanted best route to Davis, CA. Easily worked it out while in the air. In March plotted routes from Ottawa, ON to Stowe, VT for ski trip. Needed restaurants or ski shops near to the inn.) All of this is on the dedicated in car unit, but in the air or in my house or hotel room can easily work out a number of possibilities.

On my boat I have both a dedicated chartplotter connected to a gps and my laptop with marine navigation software. I don't see a quality or accuracy issue.

What are the criticisms of laptop installations? (The only ones I can see are the inconvenience of the laptop which must be connected to the antenna or the open laptop, or power and stowing the laptop so it won't get stolen on arrival at a destination.)

The advantages of laptop are: The display software and USB drivers are also upgradeable easily. The maps are updated yearly at little or no cost.

I always travel with a laptop, and so the antenna is always with me. A trip can be plotted easily with different routes easily. Phone nmbers and addresses are always available. (I was just in Seattle and wanted a route from hotel to a restaurant and phone so worked it out. Prevously landed SMF and wanted best route to Davis, CA. Easily worked it out while in the air. In March plotted routes from Ottawa, ON to Stowe, VT for ski trip. Needed restaurants or ski shops near to the inn.) All of this is on the dedicated in car unit, but in the air or in my house or hotel room can easily work out a number of possibilities.

On my boat I have both a dedicated chartplotter connected to a gps and my laptop with marine navigation software. I don't see a quality or accuracy issue.


1) Power - need a power cord for long trips

2) Address entry - not as quick and easy as on a dedicated unit

3) Large - my Magellan is mounted on a nice mount

4) Startup time - I can start the car and be navigating in 20 seconds, doing that with a laptop is impossible

5) Theft - I don't mind leaving my Magellan in the car, but I'd never leave my $3000 laptop behind

All in all I simply don't see the practical side of a laptop as a navigation unit. Perhaps for the once-a-month trip, but most certainly not for daily use.

Hey, what is your read of the Mag 300? Good, would you get a differant one today? For 359$, I might just spring for it, but didn't really like the past experience with another magellan, I think the 700 it was.

Hey, what is your read of the Mag 300? Good, would you get a differant one today? For 359$, I might just spring for it, but didn't really like the past experience with another magellan, I think the 700 it was.

I am really happy with it, it calculates extremely fast, has good rerouting, decent POI database and the combination of the touchsceen/buttons is very good for entry.

I also got an external GPS antenna for it and a dashmount kit from promount.

Hey, what is your read of the Mag 300? Good, would you get a differant one today? For 359$, I might just spring for it, but didn't really like the past experience with another magellan, I think the 700 it was.

I am really happy with it, it calculates extremely fast, has good rerouting, decent POI database and the combination of the touchsceen/buttons is very good for entry.

I also got an external GPS antenna for it and a dashmount kit from promount.

Sounds like the decision should be based on usage:

1. Local area with some roadtrips leads to selecting a fixed, dedicated unit for convenience.

2. Travel -- some dedicated units will be easy to manage but laptop installation provides good use.

What we really need is to have it interfaced and overlayed with radar and realtime automatic road reports with wire drive so we can get from here to there without having to watch the road!

Sounds like the decision should be based on usage:

1. Local area with some roadtrips leads to selecting a fixed, dedicated unit for convenience.

2. Travel -- some dedicated units will be easy to manage but laptop installation provides good use.

What we really need is to have it interfaced and overlayed with radar and realtime automatic road reports with wire drive so we can get from here to there without having to watch the road!

The TomTom to go units (in Europe) can connect through your GPRS cellphone and download traffic information, speedtraps and other data. The TomTom online service isn't available in the US (yet).

Having your unit tell you to take an alternative route because of traffic is amazing.

I was seriously considering getting a TomTom to go 700 till i found out that it doesn't have an external GPS antenna connector :(

The TomTom to go units (in Europe) can connect through your GPRS cellphone and download traffic information, speedtraps and other data. The TomTom online service isn't available in the US (yet).

Having your unit tell you to take an alternative route because of traffic is amazing.

I was seriously considering getting a TomTom to go 700 till i found out that it doesn't have an external GPS antenna connector :(

Won't be too long 'til it's here. That will be a very helpful innovation.

Won't be too long 'til it's here. That will be a very helpful innovation.

The main problem in the US seems to be that there are so many providers of traffic information. Getting them all together is probably a major hassle.

But since TomTom managed to get their units in major reatilers like Circuit City I'm sure they'll manage...

I use the Garman 18 USB on my laptop. I am too cheap to pay Hertz $9 per day for a Neverlost system that is out of date.

As previously stated above, I can control my laptop GPS better than any Neverlost system. I travel weekly and my laptop rides shotgun on every trip. I have to have an Igo power supply for the plane -- works in the car as well.

I program in my destinations before I leave or worst case in the air. I never get lost and I have a time calulation so I know when I have to leave one customer appointment to make it to the next appointment ON TIME.

On short trips, < 1 hour don't even plug the laptop into the power supply.

At $110 off the internet, Garmin can't be beat.

I very much enjoy the Garmin C330. Very easy to use and has great accuracy. Comes with all US maps preloaded, will work on its internal battery, has a suction cup for windshield mount, and you can set the voice that speaks the instructions to you to a variety of different languages. Also has a port to upload free map upgrades for the life of the unit.

It can be had for $570 on www.tvnav.com. Normal list price is $899.

I just got a Garmin iQue M5. It is a full featured GPS and Pocket PC. Comes with all US street maps and I bought US Topo maps for hiking. Also got the external antenna which is a great add-on.

I love this unit, it is the best all around GPS for hiking and car navi.

Hi all,

Looking for a system that I dont need to install that would be of good value. I see the Garmin Street Pilot III on Overstock and of course on Ebay. Basically I would like something that would be able to give the turn by turn and auto re-route for USA mostly NYC and State and parts of Canada like Toronto. Can anyone offer advice on whether or not something like the Garmin Street Pilot is the best thing going or are there other less expensive options out there that might be worth a look? I appreciate the advice!

I have the Garmin iQue 3600 and like it. It is Palm OS based so it functions as a Palm PDA as well. You need to get the car kit which has a weighted dashboard mount with a combination speaker/power cord for the 12 v outlet. It gives turn by turn directions which are easy to hear and understand. It recalculates when you get off course. It comes with maps for the US and Canada and you can purchase Europe. It does searches for restaurants, stores, services, etc. It is easy to use. It costs around $400 if you check prices on Froogle.com.

I had the same decision last year as re-located to Australia. I bought the Navman over a separate unit for a couple of reasons:-
- The "outdoorsy" type units didn't seem to do good navigation and the car ones did poor navigation
- Can get the maps for UK/Europe/US/Australia, and its PocketPC so if wanted to go off map could just get a different software provider
- PocketPC gives me flex to add nautical charts for sailing (as a back-up to my laptop on the boat), and add topo charts etc for hiking
- Has an integrated GPS antenna so less cumbersome than one that clips on.

Has worked really well for me, and would still go this way even though I use none of the PocketPC functionality (use Blackberry day to day) - so not sure how it would compare to others (though know it has no Bluetooth or WiFi which might be a handicap for some).

I would also like to ask if anybody has recent experience with the DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20, which costs $99.95 and plugs in to a laptop for use in the car.I lust for a factory in-dash navigation system, but in the meantime, I use a laptop loaded with Delorme Street Atlas 2005 and a generic GPS receiver I bought on eBay for $20. I've used a Delorme Earthmate, and it didn't work any better than the generic receiver. It's not the most convenient setup, since I have to rig the laptop to run in the car, but I was set up to do that, anyway, with an auto-desk doohickey that resides in the passenger seat, and a car power adapter for the computer. The receiver has a magnet that keeps it on the car roof, and the cord runs through the door seal. I've used this system for trips in unfamiliar towns and for long cross-country drives, and it's been great.

One "gee whiz" feature I like in the Street Atlas software is their "radar" function. Say that I'm on the road in an unfamiliar area and in the mood for pizza. I figure out where I'll be in 30 minutes or so, and set the map center to that area. Then I run the radar function to look for pizza restaurants within X miles of that location (the X is whatever you want it to be). I get a list of prospects, complete with phone numbers. I choose one, call them on the cell phone and place my order, and tell them I'll be in the pick it up. By clicking on that selection in the radar list, the program will automatically route me to that address as a stop on my route. I get my pizza and I'm back on the road in five minutes. This function works for just about any mapped feature: hotels, fast food, restaurants, hospitals, government buildings, etc.

One feature of Street Atlas that isn't too cool is their voice command function. You can supposedly tell the program "recenter map," "zoom out," and lots of other functions, but it just doesn't work, and wearing the required headset microphone is a PITA. I don't know why they bother to keep this feature.

Try TomTom Go ( 300 500 or 700 ).
Is better than a PDA nav system.
Easy to use and to connect.

I have just change my Nav with 300 for 499 Euro.
With 149/169 Euro I cab buy All European ( WesterEuopre ) Maps.

^

My #1 1K GF picked it up in about, oh five minutes.

How long did it take #2?

:-)

ha ha

i have both the magellan roadmate 500 pro and the garmin 2610.
They both have their disadvantages and whatnot.

the garmin is annoying that it loses signal everytime you go under a bridge or something and it warns you and covers the screen

the magellan tracks as long as it can then has a little indicator telling you signal is gone but the gps changes to what the next directions you need to take are. so if you really lost signal at least you have a point by point direction

the garmin i find is faster but and the roadmate has this annoying lag.

reading wise i like the magellan.

but i really think you should go to a store and try them out. bestbuy and such have all them on display to look at but can't really show you the gps functionality cause your not really moving.

but look it up.

I like my Tom Tom GO. ( the original version)

It's totally self contained. With a charged battery, there is no need to have any wires dangling across the dash. It's pretty easy to use. The built in speaker is VERY good. Loud and clear.

Is it perfect? No. I run into map issues. But I suspect that happens on any GPS navigator. Roads change. IT takes a while to get stuff into the databases. IT does "weird" routings some times. But it's really nice about it when you deviate. No nags to "get back on the route". It quietly and quickly re-calculates a new route and continues to direct you.

I just ordered the DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20 with the new 2006 Atlas. For about $100 Mrs. Fredd, who already uses our laptop regularly when we're on road trips, can use it to augment her own instructions to me rather than just playing Free Cell. ;)

I've been checking the DeLorme website almost daily because they wouldn't accept advance orders for the 2006 version, and previously told me that the "upgrade" would cost $40.

I'm posting here in case anybody else was interested in picking up the newest version. FWIW they claim "inventories are low" and direct the buyer toward a phone number. Maybe I'm just an easy mark.:)

Thanks to all who posted here with a great variety of pros and cons about the various products on the market. ^

I am very happy with my Garmin Quest. Small shape, good graphics and MapSource v6 seems to be pretty accurate.

GPS? I won't leave home without it.

So what about the Garmin C330? I see Best Buy has it for $499. The guys in the store said it was better than the Magellin, any feedback here?