G.P.S. user opinions?

[Highbanked Hauler]

 Anybody use one? How good is it? Problems?

[MichaelRW]

I have used navigation systems in two different cars since 2000. I find them particularly useful in large metropolitan areas that I am not familiar with. I call my wife the naviguesser because she has trouble reading maps so the navigation system is almost a neccessity for me. They will get you to within 50 feet or so of the address that you programmed.

There are different settings that can be programmed which affects the route that will be planned. Such as highways or avoid highways. I use Mapquest as a "second opinion" and find Mapquest to usually be better in the route it selects than the nav system.

In smaller or rural areas only the main streets may be recognized by name.

The first system I used had CD's for different areas of the US. The CD I used had California and Nevada. If I wanted to go to another part of the country I would have to purcahse another CD.

The system I have now is DVD based and covers the lower 48 states.

Once my wife and I were on I-10 in LA and she had to go to the bathroom right now and the area didn't look too good. I wanted to get to a gas station as direct as possible. So I pushed the voice button, said "gas stations" and the gas station icons popped up on the screen. I found an easy on, easy off gas station and the problem was solved. The gas stations were not visible from the highway so this feature was really nice. It also shows restaurants, police stations, etc.

[ChgrSteve67]

The newer GPS units are great. Especially the ones that do auto route calculation.

I have had a few GPS units.

My first was a Garmin StreetPilot colormap.
Worked well but needed to be connected to a computer to program complex routes and turn by turn waypoints.
System did not do route calculations. In other words if you miss a turn or have a change of plans it will not calculate you a new route.

My current GPS is a Magellan RoadMate 700.
I just updated the software to version 5 adding some cool new features making it now work the same as a 760.
http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=1091

One of the best things about the new GPS units is that it talk to you.
Tells you when a turn is comming.
Tells you if the freeway entrance is on the right or left.
If you miss your turn it will calculate you a new way to get to your destination.
You don't have to try to read/figure out a map.
They contain points of interests (Hospitals, food, ATM, recreation, gas, etc...)

One of the coolest things is that as you drive around you can see things on the screen you never knew was around, (Indian reservations, lakes, golf courses, airports, state lines...) makes you more aware of whats around.

This unit also contains a 20 gig micro drive so you don't need memory sticks or a computer to program routes.
Note: a computer is needed to update the software and maps in the unit.
I have had this unit for over a year and its had 1 software update.
The unit plugs into my computer via a USB cable.
The unit came with a sucksion cup windshield mount but I bought a weighted dash base, easy to move from car to car.
This unit does not use batteries and must be plugged into a cig lighter or AC power.  Unit came with both power chords

I'm not saying mine is the best on the market, other companies make really good units with most of the same features.
The unit cost me $1,000.00 new and the software update was $100.00 and should be good for another year or more.

I am planning on going to vacation this year flying to MI for the SEMA Club car show, Pocono NASCAR Race, Hershy PA then Six Flags NJ and plan on taking it with me. Needless to say I will not need a USA map or MapQuest print outs to tell me how to get from A to B.

Hope this helped.
-Steve

Once you get one you will wonder how you drove around with out it.

[Shakey]

The only time I have used a GPS system is when I rent a car from Hertz when I am in a city that have not been to yet.

I have always had good luck with them with the exception of Boston & San Francisco.

In Boston, it was right in the downtown core, tall buildings blocking the signal and the same in San Francisco, I had troubles close to the downtown core.

I know my way around SFO now and I only go to Boston once in a blue moon.

I usually map everything out on MapQuest before I leave now.

[67_Dodge_Charger]

This story is about a mother and son that relied on GPS for the fastest route.  The service did not have correct information on the road, recorded as a highway-it is a dirt road, open-closed for the winter, travel only advised after consulting the locals.  The mother and son died from hypothermia.

http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=4726687&nav=menu227_7

Don't put to much trust in your GPS service, be sure to consult other sources.

-Robert

[Shakey]

This story is about a mother and son that relied on GPS for the fastest route.  The service did not have correct information on the road, recorded as a highway-it is a dirt road, open-closed for the winter, travel only advised after consulting the locals.  The mother and son died from hypothermia.

http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=4726687&nav=menu227_7

Don't put to much trust in your GPS service, be sure to consult other sources.

-Robert

There is another link in the link you posted.

The quote below is from the last paragraph.

Contrary to rumors...the rental vehicle the Thomas's were driving was not equipped with the satellite tracking system known as On-Star.

I think stupidty played a major role in death of the woman and her son.

What a shame.

[ChgrSteve67]

Just because you are using a GPS does not negate the fact you still need to use your brain.

As for tall buildings and trees, I use an external antena when I need stronger sat reception.

[tin_soldier]

GPS stand for General Population Sedated. 

This is another way for the mass people to lose a skill "Sense of Direction" and rely on modern technology.  Don't get me wrong it has its place just as the above mentioned the all Emergency potty break, as well as local municipalities could come in handy.  I just find it mind numbing to say take me here.   Then you don't have worry and or care how you get there.  Try remembering how you got there bet you can't.  You will need to use the GPS again, and again, until it has become a necessity and longer a cool toy.

just my 

[NHCharger]

I don't need GPS. My wife alway tells me where to go.

[Highbanked Hauler]

Just because you are using a GPS does not negate the fact you still need to use your brain.

As for tall buildings and trees, I use an external antena when I need stronger sat reception.


 
(quote)

 My daughter lives in NYC and when I get in there I need Verbal directions so I watch where I am going and the ability to readjust a course if I screw up which is quite often when I am there.

[dkn1997]

I use GPS every day, but for a different reason...The company i work for uses it to track all vehicles.  When I am runninng 10 crews, it's invaluable.  Also emails me is someone is exceeding a speed I have set, which is 78 mph.  No reason for anyone to be going 80 in the work van!!!works like a champ.