What GPS to get?
- Thread starter gemmy
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pezenfuego
Active Member
My dad used to have a Garmin. This resulted in much cursing. He has a TomTom now and likes it. I think it has a lot to do with where you live. The Garmin even when updated didn't have a lot of places in it for us. I would recommend asking people in your area for that reason. Of course I could be completely wrong and one is ultimately better than others.
2quills
Well-Known Member
I think garmin and tom tom's are pretty much the two best brands. They've come along way in the technology so my advice would be that you don't need a real expensive one. I spent about $600 on mine a few years ago and really only ever used it for general directions to jobsites. But they seem to have more "places" in the software than I could ever hope to find
.so I don't know on that one.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376831
I'm going to be working in an unfamiliar area starting Monday and I think I should get a GPS. I'm going to be working in Philly and I can see myself needing to detour and I have no clue where to go in Philly. I don't want to get lost/ So, which one is good?
Well, I know my wife will have an opinion on this since its actualy a forum on the mobile grooming boards. Personally, the only time I used the GPS was the drive back from GA in the new grooming bus. It wasnt like I didnt know the way home and I could have done the trip without the GPS. But having it on and watching it from time to time (looking at a blank screen with a pink road with a white arrow and absolutely nothing else on the screen was a tip off to being out in the middle of nowhere, LOL) I noticed some things that I liked and disliked.
Every single merge and split of major highways is considered a turn. Not a real fan of that but it was helpful in some spots. I have heard that there were some roads missing on our Garmin Nuvi, from the missus, but it still got her to where she was going. I liked the extra features of the GPS; milage, speed, drive time, stop time, time til turn, time til destination, calculator, etcetera, and I used them all.
Not to be disparaging here, but I have not heard anything good about a Bob Bob ever. At all the grooming shows, all the mobiles that I talk to have nothing but horror stories and whatnot regarding their Bob Bobs. Almost all of them are Garmin or Magellin (spel?).
Target usually has a decent model of a Garmin on sale almost all the time. Check out their website to see what one is on sale.
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376831
I'm going to be working in an unfamiliar area starting Monday and I think I should get a GPS. I'm going to be working in Philly and I can see myself needing to detour and I have no clue where to go in Philly. I don't want to get lost/ So, which one is good?
Well, I know my wife will have an opinion on this since its actualy a forum on the mobile grooming boards. Personally, the only time I used the GPS was the drive back from GA in the new grooming bus. It wasnt like I didnt know the way home and I could have done the trip without the GPS. But having it on and watching it from time to time (looking at a blank screen with a pink road with a white arrow and absolutely nothing else on the screen was a tip off to being out in the middle of nowhere, LOL) I noticed some things that I liked and disliked.
Every single merge and split of major highways is considered a turn. Not a real fan of that but it was helpful in some spots. I have heard that there were some roads missing on our Garmin Nuvi, from the missus, but it still got her to where she was going. I liked the extra features of the GPS; milage, speed, drive time, stop time, time til turn, time til destination, calculator, etcetera, and I used them all.
Not to be disparaging here, but I have not heard anything good about a Bob Bob ever. At all the grooming shows, all the mobiles that I talk to have nothing but horror stories and whatnot regarding their Bob Bobs. Almost all of them are Garmin or Magellin (spel?).
Target usually has a decent model of a Garmin on sale almost all the time. Check out their website to see what one is on sale.
1guydude
Well-Known Member
i have the garmin nuvi not an expensive one but it still works great!!! Ive heard that magellins are the way to go though. I would suggest going to the electronic store and playin with each one to find out which one you like before you buy! My garmin was only like $200 on sale for like $125 and this was a couple years ago...
2quills
Well-Known Member
Yep, I got mine from walmarts website, it was a previous years model that had been discounted. If you're new to using a gps in general then there will probably be some cursing involved untill you get used to them, regaurdless. The only time I noticed when things seemed to be missing on mine when I knew they were there was when I would come to a newly built road or neighborhood, business..etc. So it's important to keep the software updated if you're going to be traveling to certain areas. But if you're just going back and forth from city to city then I think most of them will suit your needs just fine. And depending on if you have them set on shortest distance or fastest time you might find them wanting to take you through areas you wouldn't normally wish to go.
The software on my phone seems pretty good, it automatically updates and shows me where all of the latest road construction is and the quickest way to detour. I don't really need a gps around this small city anymore but they are nice to have just incase.
The software on my phone seems pretty good, it automatically updates and shows me where all of the latest road construction is and the quickest way to detour. I don't really need a gps around this small city anymore but they are nice to have just incase.
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376865
Hey I just realized, didn't you say you have an Iphone? You can use it for gps.
Thanks to my Iphone I was lost in Philly for an hour today. I want something with a bigger screen. I used my old phone all the time for GPS, but I had some issues with signal in my area.
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376865
Hey I just realized, didn't you say you have an Iphone? You can use it for gps.
Thanks to my Iphone I was lost in Philly for an hour today. I want something with a bigger screen. I used my old phone all the time for GPS, but I had some issues with signal in my area.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376888
Thanks to my Iphone I was lost in Philly for an hour today. I want something with a bigger screen. I used my old phone all the time for GPS, but I had some issues with signal in my area.
Ahh, yes...satillite is probably the better way to go then. Good luck with the job Gemmy, I hope it works out for you. Let us know what you decide to get and if you like it.
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376888
Thanks to my Iphone I was lost in Philly for an hour today. I want something with a bigger screen. I used my old phone all the time for GPS, but I had some issues with signal in my area.
Ahh, yes...satillite is probably the better way to go then. Good luck with the job Gemmy, I hope it works out for you. Let us know what you decide to get and if you like it.
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376891
Ahh, yes...satillite is probably the better way to go then. Good luck with the job Gemmy, I hope it works out for you. Let us know what you decide to get and if you like it.
Thanks! I'm going to get one this weekend and I'll let you know how it works out for me.
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376891
Ahh, yes...satillite is probably the better way to go then. Good luck with the job Gemmy, I hope it works out for you. Let us know what you decide to get and if you like it.
Thanks! I'm going to get one this weekend and I'll let you know how it works out for me.
bionicarm
Active Member
Get you a Sprint Epic or EVO. I have the Epic, and it has built-in GPS. Comes with a navigation package that even ties in with Google Streets. I never really look at the screen because it 'talks' the directions while I'm driving. What's cool is when you reach your destination. I was looking for this small business the other day to pick up some parts. It was in one of these business parks where all the buildings looked the same, with the exception of the facades. I typed the address into my phone, and when I got to the address, there was a picture of my destination on my phone that matched the business I was looking for.
1guydude
Well-Known Member
really i think it depends on the person! I have a buddy whos house is like a pawnshop lol hes a hussler im not gonna lie, garmins sell quick and tomtoms and magellins stay because of the $, however he swears the magellins the best. He tried to sell me one lol, but the nuvi 1250 works great. Yes you do have to upgrade the road maps every couple yrs but i have yet to do this and it still works fine. Let us know gemmy which one u pick!
yearofthenick
Active Member
GARMIN!!! I have a garmin and I love it. Great battery life, and it monitors traffic ahead and recalculates an alternative route to avoid living bumper-to-bumper. Way awesome.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Yeah, like I said, I think the technology and software has come along way on all of them. I believe they all pretty much have voice activation don't they? Some of the new ones have 3D maps that show you the actual buildings and stuff as you're driving by. Looks pretty cool.
I've had an older Magellan for a number of years and I love it. Never had a problem with it and its never gotten me lost like I've heard happening with some of the other brands. I also have Google Maps built into my Droid but it takes a long time for the built in GPS reciever to pinpoint where you are (like 5 minutes) so if you need it in a pinch while you are already on the road it doesnt work that well.
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefraff http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376912
Try to find one that includes lifetime map updates. Garmin charges 79 bux to update otherwise. Also the traffic feed which you have to subscribe to can be a nice feature if you are in a metro area.
Good things to keep in mind. I need the traffic feed, especially since the Walt Whitman was all backed up on my way home. Also, I have to take a prime shore route home and summer is just around the corner.
I have had bad luck with GPS on my phone and need something more reliable.
Originally Posted by reefraff http:///forum/thread/385159/what-gps-to-get#post_3376912
Try to find one that includes lifetime map updates. Garmin charges 79 bux to update otherwise. Also the traffic feed which you have to subscribe to can be a nice feature if you are in a metro area.
Good things to keep in mind. I need the traffic feed, especially since the Walt Whitman was all backed up on my way home. Also, I have to take a prime shore route home and summer is just around the corner.
I have had bad luck with GPS on my phone and need something more reliable.
reefraff
Active Member
If you aren't in a huge rush check Amazon. They get good deals from time to time. I got a Garmin with the traffic capability for 89 bux instead of paying the 79 for the new maps.This thing has street names and a highly accurate speedometer and tags the speedlimits within feet of the damn signs. It's scarry how accurate these thing are.