GPS receivers

[Mark@Sea]

Just trying to get a feel for how many use one. I picked up a garmin nuvi 200 for my wife. At first she hated the idea, now she's happy with it. Anyone have recommendations or comments?

[-boatman-]

I use a hand held Garmin GPS60csx. It is a great GPS receiver that gives visual turn by turn directions with beeps. I also use a Garmin usb18 that turns a laptop into a GPS and gives you a huge screen with lots of detail with visual and audio turn by turn directions. I use city select street software, topo software, and US inland lakes and river software. I do not have a GPS reciever that is made just for a car. If this is what you are wanting I don't really know what is best. I use them both all the time for travel, boating, and geocaching.

[Fallguy]

I have a Garmin Zumo 550. The biggest selling point for me was that it came with mounts for the motorcycle and car. If I was going to have one I wanted to be able to use it easily on both. Also the Zumo has a board (almost as good as TGO:)) at www.zumoforums.com

[Pokey]

Just trying to get a feel for how many use one. I picked up a garmin nuvi 200 for my wife. At first she hated the idea, now she's happy with it. Anyone have recommendations or comments?

Mark...I have this model and LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! I've used this for a couple long trips and wouldn't go on another without it. I love the fact that I can tell someone what time I'll be there and it updates for bathroom breaks and gas stops...I've used a TOMTOM and Magellan and they all work the same so as far as which one's the best, it's all in what you like. They all have the same concept and all are great!!! I think they're well worth the money and good luck with it. I hope you all enjoy!!!! Also, if everyone had one you wouldn't have to post directions to your place...you'd just give us your address...sorry for the long winded answer I just love the things!!!

[strickj]

Fallguy,Dude you do know thats its a sin to put such a thing on a bike right?Whats the fun in riding if your not getting lost and finding your way back to civilization

[Fallguy]

Fallguy,Dude you do know thats its a sin to put such a thing on a bike right?Whats the fun in riding if your not getting lost and finding your way back to civilization

LOL....true, until the first time you hit reserve and don't know where the nearest gas station is.

[strickj]

Thats why you get one of those little gas gauge on the gas cap thingies

[Ricochet]

We just bought a Garmin nuvi 200W last week. I had borrowed a GPS from Natosha when I went to Savannah Ga a few months back and I had accidently took the wrong way right in the middle of Atlanta and if I hadn't had that GPS I would have probably freaked because I was alone.

So far I haven't had to use the Garmin but I have played with it around here and I like it a lot.

[Guest atomemphis]

I have the Nuvi 200. I may buy my fiance one soon, but I'll likely get her the 200W, slightly larger screen.

[TGO David]

We have the Garmin Nuvi 350. So far I'm very pleased with it.

[Guest bkelm18]

I use a TomTom in the car and a Garmin Venture Hc for any hiking, geocaching, or boating. Both are great and have performed fantastically every time I have used them.

[dralarms]

Don't buy a MIO, it works ok most of the time but after the last update it keeps sending me up peoples driveways, It's frustrating to drive out of town and the GPS to tell you to take such and such road, you take it and it tells you to turn next right and it's a gravel drive or a parking lot that ends at a lake or some crap like that.

[Fallguy]

I think they all can have a directional quirk in them at times.

One of the best quotes I've hear on the GPS board I'm on is...

"Think of your GPS as 'co-pilot' not and 'auto-pilot'."

[ShaunM]

I have the Garmen Nuvi 350 and like it alot, very easy to use.

[willis68]

I have the Garmin Nuvi 680,I bought it when they first came out, Paid over $750, you can now pick them up for $350.00 if you look around, I never leave home without it, we have driven cross country with it a few times and it is the best travel assistant I could hope for,the MSN direct is awesome as is the bluetooth cell phone features. The 880 just came out, all of the features of the 680 with voice recognition I will be getting that and letting my wife have my 680, in my opinion the Garmin Nuvi is the best GPS on the market

Edited May 12, 2008 by willis68

[Mike.357]

please tell me none of you are the types that use them things for their commutes to work or school?

I see this one lady about two mornings a week where I stop for a newspaper and she has one lit up on her dash. I do not think she is getting lost on the way to her office. Anyway it always makes me chuckle.

[willis68]

please tell me none of you are the types that use them things for their commutes to work or school?

I see this one lady about two mornings a week where I stop for a newspaper and she has one lit up on her dash. I do not think she is getting lost on the way to her office. Anyway it always makes me chuckle.

LOL,

they are VERY nice when you are somewhere you have never been, or not familiar with

[Mike.357]

hey are VERY nice when you are somewhere you have never been, or not familiar with

i refuse to drink that kool-ade, get rid if it and get lost like real men do, LOL

[Fallguy]

There not only good for directions, but for knowing where POI (Point Of Interest) like gas stations, banks, grocery stores, etc... are when you are in unfamiliar territory.

[willis68]

Exactly,

whenever you find a point of intrest, Restraunt, Hotel, Airport anything, it links up bluetooth to your cell phone and displays the phone number of the buisness and you just press talk, also gas prices, Movie times, dont knock it until you try it!!

[TGO David]

Also good for finding alternate routes home on those commutes when every major artery in and out of town gets clogged with wrecks. As sometimes happens here in Nashville.

I'm pretty knowledgeable about the roads around here (+10 years resident) but I still need a little help every now and again. When I do, the GPS comes out of the glove box and up onto the dash.

[dralarms]

Since my "place of work" changes almost daily, Yes I do use it to find my way to work. M ost of the time it's the situation where I'm out in the middle of nowhere and been through 50 back roads following someone or something and decide it's time to go home, hit home, route to and I'm gone. 3 times it has taken me into someone's drive way and I thought once I was in the movie deleverance:death: . I'm waiting on the next map update before I decide to pitch it and get something else.

[Guest db99wj]

Some advice: One of the appraisers here had one, had left it in his glove box and it got stolen. The police told him that GPS units are a hot item right now and they are getting stolen, even when they are not in site. The reason is because they look for the suction cup circles on your windshield and then break in after it. So be careful.

Another person in our office has one and I use hers when I am looking at properties. I will often have to go to mulitple properties and it is great for getting to each location, going to the best way.

In my Jeep, I also have a Garmin Etrex Legend, with road map software installed. My laptop also has Street Atlas USA and I can hook my Garmin up to it, and the screen becomes a huge nav screen, has voice promts as well.

[Mark@Sea]

Seems to be working great so far. Bought it recently enough that I got the map upgrade (2009) free.

But, ha ha, if you follow it to my place, it stops at the edge of the property, which will confuse anyone looking for a house, mailbox or what have you.

Wife has decided it is good to have, but still would rather have a male voice. I just tell her that I'm used to a woman telling me how to drive, she can get used to it too...

[Marswolf]

In my Jeep, I also have a Garmin Etrex Legend, with road map software installed. My laptop also has Street Atlas USA and I can hook my Garmin up to it, and the screen becomes a huge nav screen, has voice promts as well.

That's what I have for my handheld. The car GPS is an older Garmin with updated maps. About a thousand bucks back then.

I thought I saved the coordinates of Mark's range last time, but I guess not.