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The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: Gratiot on September 26, 2009, 08:12:25 AM

Title: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Gratiot on September 26, 2009, 08:12:25 AM
Which do you have or prefer?
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: NHSparky on September 26, 2009, 08:35:59 AM
Had a Magellan.  Batteries died after less than two years.  Never replaced it.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: jinxmchue on September 26, 2009, 09:46:12 AM
I use a map and my brain.  I have a great sense of direction and an excellent spacial memory.

Besides, it's bad enough having my wife trying to tell me where to go.  I don't need another woman's voice doing the same.   :-)

(Was that too sexist?  I can never tell.)
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: RightCoast on September 26, 2009, 09:46:13 AM
Use a magellan, works pretty good although I find it gets confused if I start the route guidence in a parking lot and then pull into traffic.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: asdf2231 on September 26, 2009, 09:58:44 AM
We have a Garmin for each of our cars.  We love 'em... fantastic devices!
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: RobJohnson on September 26, 2009, 10:45:32 AM
Last time I was in Las Vegas for a week, I simply used the GPS on my Verizon phone. It worked great.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Gratiot on September 26, 2009, 01:54:40 PM
Last time I was in Las Vegas for a week, I simply used the GPS on my Verizon phone. It worked great.

That's what I've been doing for awhile now  :cheersmate:

Unfortunately, I tend to use it so much, that I'm wanting something a bit less of a hassle to use.  Larger screen, dash/window mount, voice navigation, etc. 
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Gratiot on September 26, 2009, 01:55:55 PM
Use a magellan, works pretty good although I find it gets confused if I start the route guidence in a parking lot and then pull into traffic.

Thanks, that's the kind of tidbit's I'm looking for  :cheersmate:
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Gratiot on September 26, 2009, 01:59:37 PM
I use a map and my brain.

I have a collection of maps (over a dozen) in my car too, but it's quite a bit easier to input an address and receive turn by turn navigation and other info about the trip.  Especially when you find yourself driving hours away with regularity.  I can't keep detailed maps of every place.  Everyone should learn how to read a map, but technology isn't the enemy!
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: jinxmchue on September 26, 2009, 02:33:46 PM
I have a collection of maps (over a dozen) in my car too, but it's quite a bit easier to input an address and receive turn by turn navigation and other info about the trip.  Especially when you find yourself driving hours away with regularity.  I can't keep detailed maps of every place.  Everyone should learn how to read a map, but technology isn't the enemy!

I look it up online beforehand and either simply remember it or also write it down.  I just have to remember to look up detours.  Last trip we took, I got thrown by a detour in Schade's town.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Odin's Hand on September 26, 2009, 04:42:00 PM
Garmin Rhino HCx...highly recommended. They make a dash mounting bracket for it. It's about $30.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Thor on September 26, 2009, 04:50:11 PM
People rely too much on technology. What happens when the satellites go down?? (they WILL at some point). People need to learn basic land navigation, use the sun and the moon for directions and learn how to read a ****ing map and a compass. Of course, there will become a time when the compass will have to be redone after the polar shift.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: LC EFA on September 26, 2009, 05:10:15 PM
People rely too much on technology. What happens when the satellites go down?? (they WILL at some point). People need to learn basic land navigation, use the sun and the moon for directions and learn how to read a ****ing map and a compass. Of course, there will become a time when the compass will have to be redone after the polar shift.

I was taught the land navigation side in the scouts. I also learned coastal and river marine navigation because I like fishing. Presently looking for someone that can teach me how to use a sextant correctly.

All that is really good for cruising about the inside reefs seeking fish or walking about with a rifle and / or a metal detector but doesn't really help much if you're trying to get around the city.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Rick on September 26, 2009, 05:33:28 PM
HAve a real old Garmin that I like.

Tried a Tom tom this spring a a trip to Dog Town. It had me going the wrong way, on a one way street in Vegas, and missed a gas station by a block. I returned it when I got back.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: thundley4 on September 26, 2009, 07:12:45 PM
My brand isn't listed. Hasn't anyone heard of Rand McNally?
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: jinxmchue on September 26, 2009, 08:21:32 PM
My brand isn't listed. Hasn't anyone heard of Rand McNally?

 :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: Chris_ on September 26, 2009, 08:53:59 PM
Which do you have or prefer?
Garmin, Nuvi 350.

I also add custom POI's from the POI Factory.

Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: NHSparky on September 26, 2009, 08:57:37 PM
That's okay, the center console on my Expedition I used to own was the perfect size for Thomas Guides.  Those things were pure gold in SoCal back before GPS.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: RobJohnson on September 27, 2009, 02:13:49 AM
That's what I've been doing for awhile now  :cheersmate:

Unfortunately, I tend to use it so much, that I'm wanting something a bit less of a hassle to use.  Larger screen, dash/window mount, voice navigation, etc. 

Also have a TomTom but the software is all jacked up & it appears to be a major headache that I don't want to deal with right now. It worked great the first couple of years, but when doing an update, soemthing went wrong.
Title: Re: Car GPS Units: Garmin, Magellan, TomTom?
Post by: docstew on September 28, 2009, 04:09:22 AM
Have a garmin installed in the truck as part of the DVD/CD/stereo... directions are ok, but voice prompts are annoyingly frequent.

Have a removable Navigon for the other car that I prefer.  Good directions, tells you which lane to be in, will navigate on mil reservations, and warns of speeding ( :hammer:).

Only thing I wish either of them had was voice recognition.