Travel Technology - My new GPS

I've always liked Garmin GPSs, ever since encountering a Street Pilot in an Avis rental after a couple of years of whatever it is that Hertz provides.

I had a Garmin 350 but recently gave it to Mrs. PTravel after she, a virtual Luddite, expressed interest in it. I replaced it with a Garmin 250WT. I love this thing! It was a little over $200 (it's a discontinued model), but has a number of enhancements. It comes with lifetime free FM traffic, which I found to be a very useful feature when trying to to make a flight at LAX yesterday -- it accurately plots traffic congestion in real time, can automatically avoid it, and the plot feature lets shows you exactly where the heavy traffic is so you can decide whether it's worth detouring around or sticking it out. The only downside is it occasionally puts up very tiny ads, but that's a small trade-off for free traffic service.

Unlike the older 350, it doesn't have a little swing-out antenna on the back -- it's built-in. It also boots up much faster than the 350, and locks into the satellites about 3 times as fast as the 350.

I had it in my pocket when I flew yesterday and, apparently, had accidentally turned it on. When I took it out of my pocket, it showed we were "driving" at 497 mphs. When I've used my 350 in flight, I always had to hold it near the window for a couple of minutes before it could get a satellite lock. The 250WT got the lock while in my pocket.

It has a choice of voices, is "wide screen" shows a visual representation of up-coming turns (an improvement over the 350), and appears to have a finer positioning resolution than the 350.

It also can work as a hands-free speaker phone with a BlueTooth cellphone. My Audi has this feature built-in to the sound system, but having the ability to do this when I'm in a rental is nice.

If you're looking for a good, inexpensive GPS, I'd recommend the 250WT.

Does the traffic need an external antenna or does the unit pick it up?

Does the traffic need an external antenna or does the unit pick it up?The antenna (and receiver) are built into the cigarette-lighter power cord, which is thicker than a normal cord. If you don't use the cord, e.g. you're using it on the built-in battery, it won't receive traffic info.

Very cool design, that's one reason I didn't add traffic to my GPS when it became available because it would become a total mess of wires, one for power, another stuck to the window for traffic, etc.

This is worth looking at.

Thanks

Thanks for the review, may have to replace my Nuvi 650. I wouldn't need the traffic that much, but since there's no additional charge that would be a nice feature.

I'm a huge fan of Garmin units. But I still prefer my Dash Express, nothing beats street level traffic and online searches. I really hope Dash manages to find a new home for their service soon :(

Does this unit have street name call outs?

Does this unit have street name call outs?It does, and does a surprisingly good job at pronouncing them correctly. It can also do a variety of languages -- I surprised my wife, who is Chinese, by setting it to PRC Mandarin. I leave it set to British English, rather than American English -- it just sounds more pleasant to me. ;)

It does, and does a surprisingly good job at pronouncing them correctly. It can also do a variety of languages -- I surprised my wife, who is Chinese, by setting it to PRC Mandarin. I leave it set to British English, rather than American English -- it just sounds more pleasant to me. ;)

PT- confused here? I'm familiar with 250W and the newer 200 series but never heard of 250WT until your post. When I do search, it only comes up in UK sites....

PT- confused here? I'm familiar with 250W and the newer 200 series but never heard of 250WT until your post. When I do search, it only comes up in UK sites....

I was wondering the same thing. The only unit I know of in the US with that model number is the 265WT, then again; Garmin have so many different models that Amazon made a chart of them:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-760-Widescreen-Bluetooth-Automobile/dp/B000UX9YJ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233680273&sr=1-1#comparison

And, even though Amazon DOES sell the 265WT (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ELJ9QK?tag=10ktech-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B001ELJ9QK&adid=1DH4AJJYS6ZMSC7CJRWG&), they don't list it in the chart :D

PT- confused here? I'm familiar with 250W and the newer 200 series but never heard of 250WT until your post. When I do search, it only comes up in UK sites....

I was wondering the same thing. The only unit I know of in the US with that model number is the 265WT, then again; Garmin have so many different models that Amazon made a chart of them:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-760-Widescreen-Bluetooth-Automobile/dp/B000UX9YJ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233680273&sr=1-1#comparison

And, even though Amazon DOES sell the 265WT (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ELJ9QK?tag=10ktech-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B001ELJ9QK&adid=1DH4AJJYS6ZMSC7CJRWG&), they don't list it in the chart :DYou're both correct -- it's a 265WT, not a 250WT.

Does it work worldwide? I've always wanted a GPS when I'm traveling in Asia, to see if the taxi driver is taking the long way, and also as a way of mapping where I've been walking and such.

I don't know if there is a GPS unit that is more set up for these types of activities, since I rarely drive outside of North America.

Does it work worldwide? I've always wanted a GPS when I'm traveling in Asia, to see if the taxi driver is taking the long way, and also as a way of mapping where I've been walking and such.

I don't know if there is a GPS unit that is more set up for these types of activities, since I rarely drive outside of North America.It does work worldwide. You can buy maps for different countries. Garmin has maps that cover all of China (a rather amazing feat), and displays and speaks street names in Pinyin. There are also maps available for Europe and, I believe, Africa.

deleted, wrong unit I posted

I use the same GPS (Garmin 265WT). I agree this is a great unit and the traffic feature can be quite helpful. The text-to-speech is nice as well. The only feature that I wish Garmin would implement that TomTom has is the ability to edit your route in advance to avoid parts of it.

And what do additional maps cost? I'd hate to spend a lot of money on the GPS and then get hit with more fees to get the varied maps I'd like.

You're both correct -- it's a 265WT, not a 250WT. Where did you buy the 265WT for a "little over $200" and how little over $200 was it?

Where did you buy the 265WT for a "little over $200" and how little over $200 was it?I got it at buy.com for $239.

I got it at buy.com for $239.

Thanks for corrections.

I'm really tempted - the mrs. will scream and jump for buying a second unit. Btw, ScottC's amazon link - $250 plus free shipping and their master list of garmin does show the 265wt

And what do additional maps cost?

That varies. Info for specific map products can be found on the Garmin site.

Sometimes resellers discount the map software somewhat, but usually not greatly.

I'd hate to spend a lot of money on the GPS and then get hit with more fees to get the varied maps I'd like.

Hate away :)

GPS prices have fallen to the point where buying a relatively inexpensive new unit for some areas is worth considering instead of just buying the maps to add to another unit.

And what do additional maps cost? I'd hate to spend a lot of money on the GPS and then get hit with more fees to get the varied maps I'd like.

Check this site (forum) re free maps: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/. I remember getting KL Malaysia, Bangkok, Jakarta and Beijing maps - but had problems loading into my nuvi.

Off topic, but does anyone have any experience loading maps (xxx.img files) on a Mac running VMFusion and WinXP. I know garmin was notorious for not supporting Mac OS but now with my new MB thought I'd give it another try.

I got a Garmin Nuvi 670 for like $800 a couple of years ago and I've used it in the Cote d'Azur and Tuscany/Umbria.

The POI isn't the greatest. It won't have a lot of the shops you want.

And the UI really is horrible.

But it does its job.

If Google ever licenses its Maps and Earth data to GPS makers, with all the geotagged photos and Street Level imagery, it might make GPS interesting.

Also bought a GPS logger for a recent trip and was able to geotag all my photos.

If Google ever licenses its Maps and Earth data to GPS makers, with all the geotagged photos and Street Level imagery, it might make GPS interesting.


Who was it, magellan (?) that bought navteq or some other map company for a couple of billion dollars last year. And nokia paid some similar outrageous price for another competitive map company?

Who was it, magellan (?) that bought navteq or some other map company for a couple of billion dollars last year. And nokia paid some similar outrageous price for another competitive map company?

Nokia purchased Navteq and TomTom purchased TeleAtlas.

Those are the two mapping cos.

Navteq is thought to have better North American maps while Teleatlas is better for Europe.

Google uses both.

I saw the 265WT at my local CostCo for $249, fyi.

Off topic, but does anyone have any experience loading maps (xxx.img files) on a Mac running VMFusion and WinXP. I know garmin was notorious for not supporting Mac OS but now with my new MB thought I'd give it another try.
Garmin has several utilities for Mac OS and they work well! It's part of the reason I bought a Garmin unit, because you can have my Mac when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

I got a Garmin Nuvi 670 for like $800 a couple of years ago and I've used it in the Cote d'Azur and Tuscany/Umbria.

The POI isn't the greatest. It won't have a lot of the shops you want.

And the UI really is horrible.

But it does its job.

If Google ever licenses its Maps and Earth data to GPS makers, with all the geotagged photos and Street Level imagery, it might make GPS interesting.

Also bought a GPS logger for a recent trip and was able to geotag all my photos.

I wouldn't be surprised to see more Garmin / Google integration. My Garmin for Blackberry software already integrates Nuvi-like software w/ Google online location searching. ^

I have the 755T and I am pleased with unit and the software and the no flip antenna.

However, I am little less than thrilled with the traffic data. I drove through some areas with heavy freezing rain not that long ago and it was 30 mph tops and it showed nothing. I know they are the mercy of their traffic data provider.

And, I am little disappointed with the Lane Assist feature...the biggest reason that I decided on this model. Number 1, there aren't that many interchanges in the system. Secondly, just yesterday, I was in the DFW area, it led me to an interchange and immediately after there was kind of a second interchange. I was in the lane that it told me to be in but about 2 seconds after that one, I needed to be in a lane farther over. I missed the exit. Of course, it did a descent job of getting back on track. The Lane Assist image only displays for a very short while too.

I surprised my wife, who is Chinese, by setting it to PRC Mandarin. I leave it set to British English, rather than American English -- it just sounds more pleasant to me. ;)
When I'm renting from AVIS I normally set the Garmins to Australian English, which sounds more pleasant to me... :p

It's now on NewEgg.com for $178 with free shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16858108328

Edit... sorry this is the 265t not the WT.

I was just going to pull the trigger to purchase a second gps, either the 265WT or 780 from Costco - both with great prices ~ $250. Then just read that Garmin announced in CeBit Germany a new nuvi 1200 and 1300 series - thinner, cheaper and pedestrian friendly for launch second half of 2009.

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2009/03/garmin_announces_new_nuvi_1200.php

Think I'll hold off....the 1370T and 1390T look intriguing.

The way I see it GPS units are like phones. There's always something better, thinner, faster on the horizon but if you don't actually have one, the one pending release isn't going to do you much good. The equation of course changes once you've actually bought into the market. I like my 265WT quite a bit and I don't forsee that I'm likely to do more than upgrade the maps for several years if possible.

If life no cost live traffic updates is a top desired/needed feature, look at a Navigon. Almost all their units have this, ... last time I looled. Get a $250 unit and you have lifetime traffic updates.

Yes, most of us don't need a GPS in our daily routines. We only need it on occasion looking for a street we are not familiar or find a way home that is out of normal routine.

We use the GPS much more while on a trip to cities unfamiliar to us.

Since I have many GPS units now and over the years, I have been loaf to update maps and only do it once in every two to three years. A current release mapset may not include the new freeway ramp that came in last year or even a restaurant that had been there for two to three years anyway.

Personally I don't see the benefit in a kitchen sink type device. This is like using GPS function on a phone and get a 85% functionality or a GPS playing music.

So normally a GPS only device is good enough for me.

but if you don't actually have one, the one pending release isn't going to do you much good.


Totally agree, if you don't own one and need one, buy now - the 265WT is a great unit. We already have a nuvi 360, and this would have been our 2nd -- as such not immediately needed.

My earlier post was merely an fyi about some new models coming out....

If life no cost live traffic updates is a top desired/needed feature, look at a Navigon. Almost all their units have this, ... last time I looled. Get a $250 unit and you have lifetime traffic updates.

I have a previous generation Navigon with lifetime traffic (with the proviso you need to be in a metro zone that Clear Channel is transmitting the data), and have been very pleased with it. Also added a three year map update subscription, when it was featured last Summer for about $25 (IIRC, might have been ScottC who turned FT'ers on to the sale).

Amazon is currently offering a Navigon 2100 Max for $181. This comes bundled with lifetime traffic, and two years of quarterly map updates. There is a slightly cheaper Navigon with traffic (model 2200), but it has a smaller screen, which makes data input a bit more challenging.

You can find Navigon units for cheap. I like mine but, but it has it's shortcomings. The one big one for me is the interface to locate POIs. The lists on mine seem to be buggy, for example the 'Shopping Center' category is listed twice, if you don't pick the correct one, you'll be lead ot believe the POI is non existent. There's no pattern to what POIs appear in which of the two entries.

And some POIs it clearly knows about (you drive into a grocery store parking and and it shows the name/icon of the store), but you cannot find that same store name using any combination of name, category, or even show all businesses. It's a big downfall.

So for me it's good for traffic updates, and nothing else. Been fooled too many times driving right by the very POI I tried to find a few miles earlier.

I'm waiting for my first GPS unit to arrive in the mail. Decided to jump in while planning a two week driving trip for May and considering the reliability of my old navigation system (Mrs BJ2757)...

Question though after reading all this - we're going to Germany for 3 weeks with some friends next year - and I know my unit (TOM TOM) comes with USA and CA maps - will I just need to contact Tom Tom (with credit card in hand) if I want a map for GE for it?

Thanks :confused:

Question though after reading all this - we're going to Germany for 3 weeks with some friends next year - and I know my unit (TOM TOM) comes with USA and CA maps - will I just need to contact Tom Tom (with credit card in hand) if I want a map for GE for it?



Or you can go to TomTom's website and download the map from there. It'll probably cost somewhere between $60-90.

Please recommend some sites with downloadable POI files. My Magellan RoadMate 1412 is lacking in that area.

Funny, I was going to come looking for this thread sometime this week, and here it is again.

Our Tomtom started dying (same problem many of them have, the mounting board works lose and cracks the solder joints so it may or may not work) and I decided to go for the Garmin 275T as a replacement for it. Picked up a couple weeks ago at J and R for $240 (other places offer it for about the same price). The 275 has maps for both North America and Europe installed.

In another thread, somebody calls the Garmin units Grandmother Friendly, and I have to agree. It's almost treating everybody like a moron, where some things that use to be options on their units (like customizing the trip computer) are no longer options. They assume you want it one way, and that's that. There is also very little costomization you can do on the front screen. You can not for example add a clock.

The estimated arrival time quite inaccurate. The Tomtom was conservative and would adjust the time as you progressed, usually downward as it assumed you would travel the speed limit or below, and counted slower travel on city streets. The Garmin assumes you are going to fly (a 30 mile trip on roads with a 50 mph speed limit at rush hour in 25 minutes?).

There are other minor annoyances, like having to retype the city each time you want to look up something, or having the favorites icon being on the second page when you tell it you want to go someplace, but that's more in the realm of getting use to it.

Compared to the TomTom it's tiny. It can be mounted not touching the dashboard, the TomTom jiggled too much if it was not on solid ground. The Garmin does not need to be online once a week to get satellite positions so it doesn't take 20 minutes to find it's position, which is another huge advantage.

It has free traffic for the lifetime of the unit, or until they break the contract with the traffic provider. It's ad driven, but the ads are so tiny I actually had to go looking for them to find it. They are not a bother at all, and totally easy to ignore. Traffic is only as good as it's data service is, I have been stuck in traffic for a half hour or so and the unit didn't know about it because the service it was using did not know about it (in it's defense, half the radio taffic reports were not covering it either, probably use the same service). It has also indicated it would be best for me to be in a local lane instead of an express lane because of an accident which probably saved me an hour delay. It's good to have, it's great it's free, but it's just one set of data points in your journey.

Traffic requires it be plugged into the lighter in the car, so if you need to charge something else you will need a splitter. It runs fine on it's internal battery, just without traffic.

One feature I miss from the TomTom is the ability to make map changes on the device and share those. When a road goes from two way to one way or the map is wrong on something, a few clicks and you have marked that as an area not to try to navigate next time. The Garmin just keeps telling me to use roads that don't go there anymore. Minor annoyance as so far it's in areas I'm familiar with, but it would be a pain if I was in an area someplace I knew nothing about.

I would recommend the unit, as gps it works, it will tell you to go where you want to go. I wish it had the additional options available on the TomTom, and allowed for a bit more customization, but not having to pay every month or year for traffic is a huge benefit and sort of offsets the lifetime cost of the unit.