GPS Units

[Kyle_in_Tex]

That's the same one I bought. My computer will not nown load the map up-dates. Do you think the popup adds is what is causing me problems?

It is my neighbors and it took him all night to download when he got it last week. It made him download a new "framework" for windows before the download could begin.

 

[bigtiller]

It is my neighbors and it took him all night to download when he got it last week. It made him download a new "framework" for windows before the download could begin.

That's something I can't do. Heck, I don't even know what it means. The Geek Squad at Best Buy will download the free maps for $40.

 

[deepNdirt]

5 years ago I bought what I was told one of the best GPS's on the Market at the time, was the Garmin nuvi 350, but like all electronics they become obsolete quickly and are replace with higher advance gadgets, the garmin was good for about 2 years then it always said that I need to update maps ( More money of course )and after not updating i think it purposely would pee me off by sending me in circles, or either have me pull to the side of road sit still for 5 minutes in order to receive a Sat. signal,........
so instead I now use this GPS as a MP3 player and a digital picture storage unit, and went and got a cheaper GPS Garmin nuvi 250 and it works better then the more expensive one ever did,

Purchased a Tom Tom to give to the in-law last Christmas and she didn't even know how to get it out of the plastic packaging let alone operate it, she still insist to look up on map quest and prints out her way of travel,:thumbsup:
got-ta-love modern technology

 

[ronjhall]

I just downloaded and installed the new maps and if anything the things I hate are worse. I don't hate the gps at all, its just these particular features that I hate. It has gotten me where I need to be 98% of the time. Only a couple of times it has gotten me lost (once is Los Alamos, NM trying to find Bandelier National Monument - it got me totally lost there. The traffic feature is pretty much worthless - it frequently wants me to get off a main highway - interstate, tollway etc and drive for miles on the service road. When I follow those directions most of the time it takes me longer and sometimes when I don't I get into a traffic jam and regret the decision. Also, the speed limits are only correct maybe 60% of the time where I drive - I figured updating the map might help but it has not.

I have been through all the configuration options and I don't find anything that would correct the problems I have with the way it is reporting to me.

I have downloaded National Park Points of Interest from POI Factory.
Provides a much easier way to find places. Many of the locations are provided by people that have been to the location. Lots of other POI at POI Factory for just about anything you may want to get directions to.
For your directions that take you off the main route. Do you select faster route when finding a new destination?

 

[dmccarty]

Last year at this time we started looking at GPS mapping units. Reading a variety of reviews did not give me warm fuzzy feelings about any unit on the market.

Then there was the price of the units.....

We also were looking at getting rid of our very old cell phones and moving to smart phones.

For the price of a GPS unit we could buy a smart phone that would function as a GPS. We got a very good deal, $50 for a smart phone, so it worked out even better.

Our Android 2.1 phone had issues with locking on the satellites at GPS application startup and battery life. When Android 2.2 was released for our phone, the GPS lock up and battery life issues were resolved. The GPS on the phone works very well and we use it fairly frequently. The map updates are free unlike some of the GPS units.

The GPS sometimes has problems in built up or hilley country. One time we were on a highway and there was another major road right next to us. The GPS was having problems figuring out which road we were driving.

The biggest issue we had was on vacation last year. We were going to a place we have been before but the GPS had us turn off at an exit a few miles early. We had programed in the resort address. The problem was the resort mail address was different than their street location. :laughing::laughing::laughing: We still got to the resort but 10 minutes later than expected.

We have a mount that holds the cell phone on the dash, windshield or air vents as well as power adapters for long trips. Works well.

Later,
Dan

 

[JB4310]

I just opt out of the map updates. For my service truck I have an older unit, I work in an area where the roads have not changed in a long time so there is no reason to update maps.

Gps is great for service/ delivery vehicles. I use to have to look up several addresses a day on paper maps. I still like to study maps if I'm going on any kind of road trip, but Gps is a huge time/ nerve saver some times.

JB

 

[EarPlug]

The traffic feature is pretty much worthless - it frequently wants me to get off a main highway - interstate, tollway etc and drive for miles on the service road. When I follow those directions most of the time it takes me longer and sometimes when I don't I get into a traffic jam and regret the decision.

Go to your Tools> Settings> Navigation> Avoidance's > And un-check Traffic. This will ignore the Traffic function when calculating routes.

Jack

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have a 5 or 6 yr old nuvi, works great. Have never updated the maps, have never seen a reason to. Not too many roads been built since then.

 

[Alan L.]

Its the second time I have updated the maps, wish I hadn't this time. It keeps telling me I have a turn ahead on the same road I am on and it is running me crazy. And it never says to turn on a highway number - always a street name that means absolutely nothing to me most of the time. I don't trust the thing as much as I did before.

I have not had much luck with GPS on my iphone, the dedicated unit has been easier and more convenient, or at least it was.

Did I mention that I hate it when it tells me to turn every 2 or 3 miles....onto the same highway I'm driving on?

 

[jonyyuma]

5 years ago I bought what I was told one of the best GPS's on the Market at the time, was the Garmin nuvi 350, but like all electronics they become obsolete quickly and are replace with higher advance gadgets, the garmin was good for about 2 years then it always said that I need to update maps ( More money of course )and after not updating i think it purposely would pee me off by sending me in circles, or either have me pull to the side of road sit still for 5 minutes in order to receive a Sat. signal,........
so instead I now use this GPS as a MP3 player and a digital picture storage unit, and went and got a cheaper GPS Garmin nuvi 250 and it works better then the more expensive one ever did,

Hey my same Garmin problems-- drive in circles...I too now have a Tomtom..Still use the garmin, just cannot take it serious. It has put us thru the woods too.

 

[deepNdirt]

Hey my same Garmin problems-- drive in circles...I too now have a Tomtom..Still use the garmin, just cannot take it serious. It has put us thru the woods too.

The very first time I noticed my GPS had lost it's eva-lovin-mind was when it lead me to turn left onto a dirt road, I thought what the heck! I guess it knows a short cut, after all it is a GPS right! I travel this dirt road for 2 miles think surely I would come out somewhere soon, I was too far in to turn around plus was towing a trailer, so I kept pushing thru, it took me another 2 miles when finally I came out 1 1/2 mile up onto the same road i had came off from in the first place, so much for short cuts I did learn never to turn onto dirt roads,
and when driving a v/10 truck pulling a trailer I certainly don't want to waist gas going around in circles :confused2:

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Have you all seen this


GPS Signal in Jeopardy

As a result of a new proposal to use radio bandwidth right next to the existing GPS service, the future reliability of the GPS system across the United States is now in question. We encourage you to contact the FCC during a short 30-day public comment period, to help them understand the public’s need for continued, reliable GPS signals for safe navigation on boats, in cars, and for so many other daily uses.

For more information: BoatUS.com: Government Affairs

BoatUS.com: Government Affairs -- Will your GPS work when you need it?

 

[forgeblast]

I have an etrex legend, and its junk. It will not leave the main screen and, cannot find any gps sats. I have done the updates that they told me, even with customer service on the phone we could not get it to update properly or reset. I asked what to do and they said send it back but we are not sure if we can fix it and it will cost you 75.00. I laughed and said your jokeing, the unit is defective they said no it will cost you 75.00 for us to look at it and have a good day. Thanks garmin for a 150.00 paper weight. last garmin product i ever buy.

 

[bigtiller]

My Garmin 350 stopped working correctly 15 days after the warranty expired. I talked to them on the phone and sent it to them in the mail. They sent me a replacement at no cost to me. I still have that one and it works like new, just needs a $50 map update which I'm not going to do.

 

[CurlyDave]

The biggest reason to update the maps is not road changes. It is the businesses along the roads.

I use my GPS to find gas stations, food, all kinds of stuff when I am traveling. These places come and go faster than the roads change.

 

[Alan L.]

I discovered a feature on the GPS that helps to solve the problem with directions to turn on the same road you're driving on. If you touch the name of the street at the top that you are to turn in to, the display switches from map view to a chronological listing of turns on the the entire trip, and how many miles to each. Nice feature, didn't know it would do that and have had the GPS for 2 years.

 

[Redbug]

Here are two good links that give all kinds of tweaks to your GPS...

GPS Receiver Information, Software, and Hardware Reviews of Garmin, Lowrance, Magellan and other GPS Receivers
Garmin Nuvi GPS Tricks, Tips, Work Arounds, Hints, Secrets and Ideas -- Page 1

 

[jonyyuma]

The very first time I noticed my GPS had lost it's eva-lovin-mind was when it lead me to turn left onto a dirt road, I thought what the heck! I guess it knows a short cut, after all it is a GPS right! I travel this dirt road for 2 miles think surely I would come out somewhere soon, I was too far in to turn around plus was towing a trailer, so I kept pushing thru, it took me another 2 miles when finally I came out 1 1/2 mile up onto the same road i had came off from in the first place, so much for short cuts I did learn never to turn onto dirt roads,
and when driving a v/10 truck pulling a trailer I certainly don't want to waist gas going around in circles :confused2:

That is exactly what just happened in the Cumberlands, two weeks ago. I passed a farm twice that was painted brightly and got out of the car restarted the unit and got out the tom-tom which I don't understand much, and fought my way out about 6 miles down the same hwy.Then I blamed the wife, which I lost that fight too....Only happens when the sun is not out?

 

[JB4310]

Driving in Vermont near Stratton Mountain, the road forks off, the proper paved portion goes to the right, the left fork is a dirt road.

Someone made a large hand painted sign at the beginning of the dirt road that read, " go back this is not a public road, not matter what your GPS says"

Guess they were tired of people having to turn around in their yards.

JB.

 

[om21braz]

My small amount of experience with GPS units of any kind tells me that in the downtown of a big city(Atlanta) drive slowly as the signal seems delayed; you get directions to turn after passing said street. In the mountains, the GPS just does'nt have good data - it will have you turning through a pasture that appears to have been there for years, then recalculates and has you turning on an even more narrow pigpath.