GPS for Global Travel
 

I am not much of a tech person, but I find myself in need of a solid GPS system for truly global travel. I mean US, Europe and Asia mostly in a car but also hand held. I have read lots of reviews but they essentially have me under the impression that such a product does not exist. With the products currently available, or that are around the corner, what is the best way to accomplish this?

Much thanks for anyone's thoughts...

gpsmagazine.com does review of most good models, garmin IMHO is the way to go. i'd stick with nuvi 2xx or 7xx series (without the flip out antenna in case you use it as pedestrian).

garmin sells maps of asia that can be installed.
free maps for asia available but you need to search them out - singapore, malaysia, china, bangkok are a few available for free.

For me, the solution is Mobile Google Maps* on my Blackberry Curve and a Freedom Keychain bluetooth GPS.

*But beware! I recently upgraded to Mobile Google Maps 3.2.1 on the BB, only to find out it doesn't work with bluetooth GPS pucks. After much frustration and internet searching, I got back to version 3.0.2 which does work with the bluetooth GPS.

Agree about Garmin Nuvi. I use Nuvi 370 (with flip-out ant though)
Where do you find free maps of Asia, places you mentioned? I search on and off for months to no avail.

Google search
1. "garmin maps for singapore" = http://www.malsingmaps.com/portal/
2. "garmin maps for Thailand" = http://www.asiagps.org/forum/showthread.php?t=187


Try harder :)


Also, try here: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp

Just have to be careful here as the data charges roaming to use Google Maps would be pretty significant.

I picked up a Garmin on sale on Black Friday for use overseas for exactly this reason.

Thanks to everyone for their input!

Sounds like a garmin it is. Would the nüvi 1370T be a good choice for what I am looking for?... or does that have the without the flip out antenna thing?

1370T does not have the flip! Only the first two series of garmin nüvi had the flip antenna (3x0 and 6x0)!

I got myself a Garmin Oregon 300, since it both have street navigation and good for hiking, skiing, etc, and it is waterproof! No maps comes with the 300, but I already got maps for it!

I use a Nokia n97/E75, basically any of the newer phones have built in GPS and with Nokia Maps you can download the maps for free.
i also pay for a licence which gives me the voice guided navigation.
ive used it extensively throughout the states and europe, never trid it in Asia, but they do have the maps for asia.
best benefit is not needing internet to access the maps

Sorry to say this, but I think you will get a better gps experience by installing Garmin Mobile XT on your phone! Just a suggestion! I drove with it last year, and it performed outstanding! I have also tried the Nokia Maps 3.0, but it didn't performed well on my Nokia N95 8GB...

Garmin Nuvi uses internal rechargeable battery with about maximum of 6 hours battery life, not enough for a full day of walking around or cross ocean flight. There are models with removable batteries that you can change out. But charging two batteries nightly is not fun.

I would go with a etrex Cx any models. These have up to 30 hours battery life and use widely available AA cells. "x" models have microSD cards to hold maps and have rudimentary auto routing functions. I carry an eTrex Venture Cx while traveling internationally.

Domestically, most flight are less than 6 hours and a newer Nuvi should work. Although I am using a Quest with about 20 hours battery life.

PS: Losing a GPS is a distinct possibility. I left my twice but was able to get it back both times. So a less expensive model is better.

A bit OT, but whats the chance of a GPS interfering with a flight. is it the same as a mobile phone left on, zero?

how often do any of you turn on GPS during a flight, and what have FA's said if any?
thanks

You are at the mercy of the rules of the carrier in question. Some permit GPS and some do not. Unless you are in a window seat odds of getting a signal are pretty low.

The GPS is mainly a receiver. In order to get long battery life, at least the eTrex is operating in very low frequencies. But it is still prohibited at take-off, landing and some airlines all together.

Here is one that I left in a door portal the whole flight and the FA just took a look in curiosity.
FRA-SFO

Here is one that recorded 750mph+ over Japan.
TPE-SFO

There are models such as eTrex H with high sensitivity that can get a signal even away from a window in the plane. But battery life is shorter.

GPS is ONLY a receiver. There is no two way communications between GPS units and satellites. There is no two way communications between GPS units and land based differential transmitters.

Some GPS units may have additional communication functions (like a GPS in a phone) possibly to download data maps from non GPS sources. Some GPS units can transmit waypoints to other ones. Again that is a non-core function

I have a small GPS unit on on almost every flight.

If it is against airline rules that is a different issue but my unit does not transmit