chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 8:47:44 GMT -5
Post by chassroc on Mar 9, 2011 8:47:44 GMT -5
I guess by now the technology is proven and it is safe to buy a GPS. They seem to be oriented to city and highway driving which would be 99% of waht I woul duse it for.
There are those off-road and rockhounding occasions too. Is there something I should look for to satisfy both needs. Any reason to buy or shun the brand names like TomTom, Garvin, Magellan? Anything that makes a unit portable emnough to mount in a car and remove and take on a plane or in your hiking equipment?
Charlie
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 9:13:04 GMT -5
Post by jakesrocks on Mar 9, 2011 9:13:04 GMT -5
I use a Garmin hand held for off road. They are small enough to be slipped in a pocket, and most are accurate to within 15 feet of the target. You can buy them with down loadable maps, but I'm getting too old for those miles long hikes into the boonies, so I just use the cheap eTrex-H model and carry a small notebook with me to record locations.
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 9:49:30 GMT -5
Post by Toad on Mar 9, 2011 9:49:30 GMT -5
We use a Garmin in our car. And, yes it is very portable. I would take it on business trips with me. Very easy to use. I would recommend it, but don't know how it compares to the other - we've been using the same one for over 3 years now.
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 9:55:51 GMT -5
Post by texaswoodie on Mar 9, 2011 9:55:51 GMT -5
I use a Garmin for road use. There are 2 different kinds as far as I can tell. The ones for the road are useless off road.
Mine is several years old and I'm going to wait a while to buy another one. I've heard the ones in phones will make the portable ones almost obsolete. In a couple of years the price should drop like a rock.
Curt
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 10:04:14 GMT -5
Post by frane on Mar 9, 2011 10:04:14 GMT -5
I will say that most of the GPS for the car really need map updates that are current and that seems to be the biggest problem. Roads that are under 2 years old are still not on the newer downloaded maps so at times, you look like you are driving through paths. Now, they still really help you to get to your destination but you always have to use your smarts too, just in case they are goofing up. Our phone seems to be great on either road or off-road. Off-road it does use a lot of the battery since it is always trying to get a fix on your location and in the car, it can be hooked into the charger. I have not tried the biking ones. Fran
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 18:20:00 GMT -5
Post by mc2 on Mar 9, 2011 18:20:00 GMT -5
For the phone type gps, are they not dependent on having a good cell signal? I have been using the garmin Nuvi gps for the car, it is a good one. BUT, a very large but, is about the accuracy of the maps. There has been a time or two it guided me to the wrong location. As said before, we have to use or heads with the things. They are not totally dependable. The gps itself is good, just the maps sometimes have errors. A hand held unit for hiking would be great as it would have topo maps. My nuvi has an off-road usa option, but it does not have any topo maps that I am aware of. However, if you mark your beginning location/waypoint, it can definately help you find you way back to where you parked/camped. Be sure to have a compass also, the gps can give a heading, but only when moving. Now, because this unit will give you lat and long co-ordinates for where you are, a hand held topo map would be a good addition for in the woods. Hope this helps some. There are many good units out there. Just have to be familiar with their limitations. Fran is spot on about needing to have updated street maps in the unit, so an important consideration is about what is needed to update them. Around here, seems like new streets pop up every week. In rural areas where there is not many changes to roads,then updating is not always a concern. Unless, of course, the map is wrong,lol!! Good luck, be sure to let us know what you settle on. I know of a great little gps user forum if you would like to read up some, it is www.poi-factory.com/ They have sections for all the main brands of gps. Mike
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 21:20:23 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Mar 9, 2011 21:20:23 GMT -5
I use googlemaps on my droid! It is so much better than a dedicated gps that I gave my tomtom to my wife. Only problem is that it only runs about 2 hour on the battery. Real nice to as I can use the google sat images to find locations when I'm off road. If you are in the market for a smart phone I highly recommend the droid with google maps and google earth. Otherwise I liked my tomtom. Once in awhile it seemed to get lost but in general it was pretty reliable
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 21:28:01 GMT -5
Post by sandsman1 on Mar 9, 2011 21:28:01 GMT -5
i dont know if they have up dated there mounts but before a year was up my mount fell apart and it took a year or so to get them to send a replacement after many emails -- just for that reason alone i would never order another tom-tom -- it was one of there first units but that dont help that it took there cust-service a year to send a replacement -- the unit still works but it does get lost and have to start a new search alot
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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GPS
Mar 9, 2011 21:44:20 GMT -5
Post by NDK on Mar 9, 2011 21:44:20 GMT -5
I have a Garmin (had it a little over a year now) and love it, especially on the motorcycle. I do haev 2 small complaints though. First, see if the one you're interested in has free map updates. Mine doesn't, and Garmin charges 50 bucks for one update, or 90 for lifetime updates. I haven't pulled the trigger on that yet, as I haven't found it to be needing updates yet. My 2nd complaint is if you're trying to enter a destination, you need to type in exactly how they have the road name written, or it won't find it. These are 2 minor issues, but I wanted to let you know.
One other thing to consider, is screen size. My buddy has a regular size screen on his GPS on his bike, and has to scroll through 2 screens for typing something in. I have a wide screen, and it's got a qwerty keyboard on the touchscreen, so it's all on 1 screen.
Also, make sure you know your local laws pertaining how mounting is allowed. I know in some states it's illegal to have them stuck on the windshield.
Nate
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GPS
Mar 10, 2011 2:13:42 GMT -5
Post by Woodyrock on Mar 10, 2011 2:13:42 GMT -5
We have Garmin Rino GPS units for off road use. These have enhanced antennas, and a built in two way radio. Even though the radio is line of sight, like other two way radios, the Rino can communicate via satelite by texting. The Rino uses seperate maps that only have two states on them, but the detail is very well worth the cost. Not only do the maps show all the unpaved roads, but trails as well. We also have a Tom Tom for the road. Woody
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Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
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GPS
Mar 10, 2011 11:11:24 GMT -5
Post by Gem'n I on Mar 10, 2011 11:11:24 GMT -5
I have a Garmin Nuvi with the latest upgrade ($60) and it is worth its weight in gold for travel but I have not used it for backwoods travel. Upgrades should be done every three years or so since roads change. I guess whatever one you decide on will depend on costs....if you are puter savy an android seems like a good bet.
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GPS
Mar 10, 2011 13:35:46 GMT -5
Post by Roller on Mar 10, 2011 13:35:46 GMT -5
I have 2 garmins ... a handheld and a vehicle use one .. my vehicle use one I have had for over 5 years now i think and still kicks butt ... there was a few instances (3)where it needed to be reset by the rest button in the summer months ... I think there is an overheating shutoff programmed when it gets too hot in the window .. my other handheld is new so I have only used it a few times and its great so far ... I also bought my gf a LG for 150$ two years ago and it froze up couldnt be reset and they wanted $125 to repair it ..ohh that was after 7 months .. what a waste ... after that ill never by a LG anything ...but highly recommend Garmin!!!!!!!!!
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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GPS
Mar 10, 2011 16:55:35 GMT -5
Post by chassroc on Mar 10, 2011 16:55:35 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies..seems like you probably needs different units for different purposes(on and off road) and since I usually on road...My sone has a 'droid phone and is enthusistic about the GPS but I doubt I'll ever want anything more than the basic cell phone (unless I go back with a company that pays for it). A few years ago, i was addicted to my crackberry but I've gone cold turkey. Lots of Garmin fans out there...I have topo maps for several western states when I go rock collecting (wyoming, motana, New Mexico, Utah) and they really help but are not at all portable.
Charlie
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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GPS
Mar 11, 2011 9:56:50 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Mar 11, 2011 9:56:50 GMT -5
Addicted to my phone?? Oh yes! I cancelled my Land line, and my crappy dialup service. I hook my phone into the puter and can surf that way- or just use the regular browser on the phone. After all was said and done we are saving $60 a month using the cell phone! Oh and sands noted that the tomtom mounts were junk- and they were (my neighbor had one that also fell apart). They have been updated and mine has not failed in over a year!
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GPS
Mar 11, 2011 10:13:35 GMT -5
Post by jakesrocks on Mar 11, 2011 10:13:35 GMT -5
Hey Charlie, why don't you order the Forestry Suppliers catalog ? They have loads of GPS units at real good prices. Lots of other neat stuff too. It's a 700 page wish book for outdoors folks. You can order their catalog online at www.forestry-suppliers.com/ , and it will only take a couple of days to get it. Real speedy service, and great folks to deal with. Every time I've ordered from them, they've called to make sure that I was happy with my order.
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GPS
Mar 11, 2011 13:37:46 GMT -5
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 11, 2011 13:37:46 GMT -5
Yes, Charlie, you definitely need a hiking GPS for off road use, and an auto GPS for on road, unless you have a smart phone. We have one of each, both Garmins.
Chuck
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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GPS
Mar 14, 2011 8:32:47 GMT -5
Post by chassroc on Mar 14, 2011 8:32:47 GMT -5
So I bought a Garmin Nuvi 265WT yesterday.
passed the first couple of tests 1) Took only five or ten minutes from the time I got out of the store to having it operating in the car
2) Got me to and from a couple of addresses within 30 miles or so of home
3) When you miss a turn, it recalculates pretty quickly
4) Verbal instructions if you need to concentrate on the road ahead
So far I have not tried it in anything but car mode with it plugged into the car charger adapter but I like it and more importantly my wife (who did not want GPS) said "If I knew it would be so easy, we would have gotten GPS a long time ago"
Thanks for all your advice
charlie
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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GPS
Mar 14, 2011 21:38:00 GMT -5
Post by NDK on Mar 14, 2011 21:38:00 GMT -5
Great choice Charlie, that's the model I have. My wife and daughters actually bought me the 1300 for my birthday last year, but I traded it for the 265wt. It's an older model, but has all of North America on it. The 1300 I believe only had the US on it. Check out the Garmin website if you haven't already. You can download a bunch of different voices, and tons of different vehicles for the diaplay.
Enjoy! Nate
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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GPS
Mar 14, 2011 21:49:23 GMT -5
Post by NDK on Mar 14, 2011 21:49:23 GMT -5
Oh, and one other point I want to emphasize.
DO NOT PROGRAM YOUR HOUSE FOR "HOME" ON THE UNIT. I have read that thieves have stolen GPS receivers and garage door opener buttons, only to drive to your house and loot the place. They know you're not home...
I just have the pizza place a few blocks away programmed as "home". Then if I'm galavanting around on my motorcycle and want to head home, it's easy to do and I know how long it'll be to get there.
Hope this helps, Nate
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