Do GPS’s work for you?

Waiting for UMPC (a proper one) to be released :)

Till then I am using the "Streets and Trips and girlfriend" combo.

www.gpspassion.com
www.buygpsnow.com
are good resources for gps/pocket pc combos

This is a good comparison for the navigation softwares available for pocketpcs
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/compareomatic/ind...


Don't you have one on the BMW? How is it?

I've used the one that comes with the Acura MDX and love it. Don't know the dets on the instrument though.

Waiting for UMPC (a proper one) to be released :)

Till then I am using the "Streets and Trips and girlfriend" combo.

www.gpspassion.com
www.buygpsnow.com
are good resources

This is a good comparison for the navigation softwares available for pocketpcs
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/compareomatic/ind...


Don't you have one on the BMW? How is it?

I've used the one that comes with the Acura MDX and love it. Don't know the dets on the instrument though.

I too use Streets and Trips - and in a BMW.

The BMW navagation system is crap, although I haven't tried any of the newer ones, but it's just another distration... I have a remote with 2 buttons mapped to F3 (rebuild route) and spacebar (give the instructions again) It works great for me - I love the new voice directions in S&T 2006.
On my todo list is to try to map a couple of the buttons on the wheel to the computer, I need to tap a good car computer hacker... I know a few, just don't really trust them.

Screw Garmin and their proprietary GPS protocols.

I have TomTom on my Dell PDA with their bluetooth GPS module and it has never steered me wrong in Europe.

I use Streets and Trips too. Can anyone recommend a good usb GPS device?

Liew, try this database:
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/compareomatic/

I would advise you to check other softwares, too. Streets and Trips is very basic. For e.g it doesn't announce the street names, which means you would have to glance at the screen for each turn.

OK, admittedly a niche market, but if any of your readers are into rowing (or other similar watersports), we have been running a series this week on GPS in rowing....

Rowing Science Weblog
http://daily-erg-workout.blogspot.com

I am a huge GPS fan, and I actually really love my Garmin. I chose a more portable model, the Garmin Nuvi. I tried the TomTom softball sized unit, I found it to be too limited in many ways. The Nuvi reads street names, tells me what side of the street my destination is on...and it works everywhere I have taken it (except the mapping is a bit off in Juneau, Alaska).

I think the big things to look for in navigation are:
reading street names
decent POI database
size/formfactor that works for you

Any other quirks you can probably work around.

I have the Tom Tom 910.

This thing is amazing. 20gb hard drive with all the North America and Europe maps loaded; connects via bluetooth to my cell phone and continously updates traffic information and reroutes as appropriate; speaks the actual street names.

I could go on and on...

Played with the Garmin Nuvi 350 and the recent PDAish 360...best in my tinkerings.

Streets and Trips is really more Trip-Ups...as a static Pocket PC map app, it's liveable, but it's no GPS'er, and undoable on a laptop. Plus it seriously lacks, so much more, given Garmin's Marco Polo...

Garmin Nuvi 350/360...or StreetPilot 2820...anything else, is well, less -- darned sick of the half-working Pocket PC GPS apps.

This is my experience in using a TomTom 500 in Spain:

http://tech.am/2006/06/02/tomtoms-hidden-all-te...

Teaches you to be careful when using one of these things, and always have a good old paper map as backup, just in case. The even older roll down the window and ask someone method still works too.

There's little point using a GPS for driving on well-marked roads, but they're useful for boaters (in open water), hikers, and pilots.

I have a Garmin 196 GPS that gives driving directions, but I rarely use it outside of my plane.

I use a TomTom 500 and am totally in love with it. All the maps are contained on a 1gig SD card, and the level of detail is incredable. I was touring the Mississippi delta with my Dad, and the TomTom took us through some dirt roads that went through cotton fields. Had a great time looking at old blues singers grave sites, only problem they don't often have addresses :-)

pics of the mississipi trek here:
http://flickr.com/photos/karllong/sets/668721/

Cheers,

karl

While he is in Germany, vowe has reviewed quite a few GPS units:
Navman iCN 530:
http://vowe.net/archives/007454.html
Navman iCN 520:
http://vowe.net/archives/006893.html

I tried using Streets & Trips with the GPS. The user interface is terrible for someone driving alone in a car. You need a second person in the car to make it useable.

Problem 1:

It says the voice directions only once. If you miss it, you have to fumble with the keyboard and hit space to repeat. Not easy while you are driving.

Other GPS systems, warn you several times about the next turn, "Turn in 100 feet.... Turn in 50 feet... Turn now. Adding this feature would make the product useful.

Problem 2:

When you go off course, it just keeps repeating "Off Route". You have to fumble with the keyboard to recalculate your route. It should do it automatically.

Other aspects of the user interface could be improved also. Some simple changes could make this a good product.

The people who write the software should try using a Tom Tom if they want to see how it should be done.

Too bad you never had a job at Microsoft. They had this concept product called a Pocket PC that is great for using as a GPS. There are many attachements for mounting one on your dashboard on a temporary or permanent basis. Of course you should totally avoid Microsoft's Streets and Trips software as it is the most basic and relatively useless GPS software on the market. Try Tom-Tom or one of the more professional packages. This stuff works on the UMPC as well although the UMPC doesn't have any third party dashboard mounting hardware yet.

A few things on GPS (from research I've done):

1. For use mostly in the US, make sure the device has a NavQuest map source (ex. Garmin). NavQuest, from what I've found, has better detail and is more updated in the US.
2. For mostly in Europe, go with a Tele Atlas device like the TomTom.
3. Make sure the device has a SirfStarIII chipset or higher (I haven't seen any IV's yet). Otherwise it will take forever to find a signal, and sometimes won't even get one. The Garmin nuvi has SirfStarIII.
4. Look for devices that can have traffic info updated on them if you are in a high-traffic area. Garmin makes a nice one that has built-in XM radio and XM traffic.

Other than that it is just preference I guess. I use the nuvi which I like. It can run on battery, which is nice. So I stick it on my windshield and there are no ugly wires. I can also easily hide it or take it with me in shady areas.

I would love it if HP would release their phone/GPS/PDA already, but who knows when that will be out.

I use a handheld GPS for hiking, and it has saved my bacon on a couple of occasions. Of course one should ALWAYS carry a paper map and compass as a backup, but having the GPS leave "breadcrumbs" for you to follow back to a location is really convenient and safe.

A whole sport has grown out of handheld GPS's called "geocaching" -- I have a great time taking my boys out for a treasure hunt -- teaching them to read maps with a real world goal... It's a lot of fun! Check out http://www.geocaching.com/

I never used my handheld unit in the car. But, i recently purchased a 2006 Nissan with the built in navigation system and use it all the time. Way more than I thought I ever would for sure. The UI is suprisingly good, with just a few quirks. The data is stored on a DVD in its own drive underneath the seat. The maps can be updated and the software can be upgraded by changing out the DVD. I think I would like some touch screen controls, but it works pretty well with its joystick type interface.

I have a Garmin Quest and am no longer capable of driving anywhere without it. It's small, easy to use, and always gets me where I need to go. It's great for finding a nearby restaurant or grocery when I'm traveling. And when I have several errands it figures out the most efficient route.

I'm in the middle of a 10,000 mile plus roadrip on my motorcycle and have had some great success with my GPS setup. I put a computer into my tankbag with a touchscreen mounted on it and I run iGuidance (modified with a program called iGmod) and it's really been helpful. I use Streets and Trips to plan the trip but for mobile applications and touchscreen usage I'd go with iGuidance. I've also been recording my track and uploading it with gpsvisualizer.com which can then display it as a Google Maps overlay. Anyways, all the details are on my site (www.carotidbattery.com). Pictures/videos, etc. Oh, and a link to my on10.net interview, too. So, yes...GPS works for me. I'd probably be lost somewhere in the Yukon without it.

My Garmin fortrex 201 GPS works for me on the water. http://savage.org.za/colin/ViewItem.asp?Entry=42

I use on of those iPAQs with built-in Tom Tom GPS. Works pretty well and a lot cheaper than buying it as an option on a new car. The UI is a bit of a fiddle - better to set it up before taking the brake off. However, in my plane, GPS is an absolute god-send. Infinitely easier than using a map and a stopwatch!

Is there any way that I can be traced using a GPS reciver thorugh internet, like if am outside and my GPS is working is there any application by which anybody can trace me sitting on computer?

Hi, I just got a Garmin Vista HCX. I reset everything and recalibrated it right at the ocean, why does it start off at -4 elevation?

Thanks

Great information. I'm finding the GPS unit to be a great portable tech item for my car.

On my mind, garmin is the best navigator. I have been using tomtom for a while, but Garmin nuvi 770 is much better!