Navigation Systems

[Gryphon]

I want to get one of those portable-ish navigation systems...like a Tom Tom or a Garvin...because I have no sense of direction whatsoever. Anyone have any idea what to look for or can suggest a good one?

[Locutus]

Go with the Garmin.  I have 2 of them and I love them both.

[followsthewolf]

What models?

[Locutus]

I just bought a 60-CSX.  You can download all of the mapsource data for the entire US after upgrading to a 1 GB memory card.

My other one is a GPSMAP-295 which I use for aviation.  Unless you're a pilot, that one won't do you much good.   

[followsthewolf]

I piddle with airplanes upon occasion.

[Gryphon]

I just bought a 60-CSX.  You can download all of the mapsource data for the entire US after upgrading to a 1 GB memory card.

My other one is a GPSMAP-295 which I use for aviation.  Unless you're a pilot, that one won't do you much good.   

any idea how much they run or wheres the bes tplace to get one. (Im sticking it in a honda pilot, does that count?)

[Locutus]

Mine came with the auto kit.  I ordered it from GPSDiscount.com.  Just click that link and you can shop around.

Mine was right around $500.00, but it's a good one.

[Gryphon]

sweet! thanks!

[Gryphon]

Hey Loc...know anything about this one?
http://www.gpsdiscount.com/products/index.html?p=905

it has XM radio too...which is another plus for me.

[Locutus]

There are a couple of drawbacks about the street pilots.  First and foremost, they are most useful in the car.  Most of them don't have batteries, so you can't use them anywhere that there isn't a power source.  Another drawback is that you can't enter waypoints (LAT/LON coordinates) into them.  This becomes useful (and necessary) if you ever want to use it in any capacity other than in your vehicle.

For example, I can't have one of these because I do the geocaching.  However, I can load all of the mapsource data in my unit, and with the auto kit, it can go on the road and provide the same sort of directions that the street pilot does.  Another instance where you couldn't use it is if you do a lot of boating.  You couldn't take it out on the lake (or ocean) and mark a favorite fishing or diving spot.

Those are some of the considerations that you need to make when choosing a unit.  You need to consider what you may want to do with it in the future and choose appropriately.

[Gryphon]

Im thinking I will only use it in the car...but waypoints might be a consideration...because I know from the old built in I had in another car that a lot of places I go arent "there" yet...my house and street for one! My reservation with a handheld is visibility of it while Im driving...and I want one that talks to me!

[Locutus]

Well then the Street Pilot may be a good match for you.   

[Graybeard]

Gryphon, If you haven't bought anything yet you may want to hold off for a little while. In the near future several more satelites will be in the system, but won't be accessible to the equipment that's already in use. The new equipment will be much more accurate than any handheld or car system in use today.

[Gryphon]

Gryphon, If you haven't bought anything yet you may want to hold off for a little while. In the near future several more satelites will be in the system, but won't be accessible to the equipment that's already in use. The new equipment will be much more accurate than any handheld or car system in use today.

thanks for the tip, I havent yet, just because Im car shopping and thought I might get one with factory nav. When will these new satellites be up and running?

[Graybeard]

thanks for the tip, I havent yet, just because Im car shopping and thought I might get one with factory nav. When will these new satellites be up and running?

I'm not real sure. The goverment is kinda strange when it comes to GPS. They could very well already be in use, But the gov may be holding up the access. They can move the satelites around and put them in the orbit which best suits their needs. If you just want one for car travel, what's out there now will do you just fine, probably no more than a fifty foot error at the worst case and the error is random, so at times it may be extremely accurate, plenty good enough for car travel.