Can you reccommend a GPS for me?

[Eric M.]

I need my first GPS. I've done a few searches on line for reviews, but, am only coming up with reviews done 1 or 2 years ago. I'm assumming technology for GPS units changes faster than that?

-I'd like a handheld / portable unit. Not fixed to 1 vehicle, I want to take it with me from 1 vehicle to the other.

-Simple to use. I'll be letting my delivery guy use it at work. I don't want to spend a lot of time teaching him (or myself for that matter) how to use it.

-Not too pricey. If it's being used at work, it'll be abused at work. I don't want to be in tears if it is lost or broken.

-Just the basics. From what I have read, they can come with all sorts of options. This would used for local trips mostly. Voice directions would be nice and anything else any of you have found useful.

Lastly, if any of you know of a GPS forum where it might be better for me to post up this question, please, let me know.


Thanks for any advice,

Eric M.

 

[Code3K5]

Tomtom is good, cheap and easy to use.

 

[lectric80]

Couple of things to keep in mind but I like my Garmin Nuvi unit. Easy to move between vehicles by just pulling the suction cup mount out. However, last I heard it was illegal to have anything attached to the windshield in CA. This means you have to permanently mount the GPS to the dash, or get a unit that has an external antenna option and put it down lower in the vehicle. Obviously this is going to make it hard to be portable, but it can be done by picking up a second vehicle mount kit and just move between vehicles.

Now my Garmin is very easy to use, my wife has been able to do it for a cross state trip. It is lightweight, and can be carried with you. It uses a non-replaceable li-ion battery like most automotive GPS units. It is a no-frills almost bottom of the line unit, but for the cost it works well and covers the majority of the US and Canada.

 

[Eric M.]

Do you remember what you paid for the Garmin? Does it do voice directions?

Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[lectric80]

If I remember correctly it was about $100 even for this one. It does turn by turn voice directions, and is very simple to use. When you first turn it on, it asks if you want to view the map or enter an address.

 

[clandr1]

X2 on the Garmin Nuvi line. I've had one for about 4 years now and it's great. Super simple to use and it's help up well.

 

[Expeditionwheeler]

garmin nuvi 500

hands down best unit to get for a 4x4, the replaceable battery lasts for 8 hours and you can have 2 of them, only needs 5 watts of usb power to charge. get the topo maps for your area and it is 24000:1 topographic.

 

[Expeditionwheeler]

you can also get a boat mount and a bike mount for it

 

[Eric M.]

I went with the Garmin Nuvi 265 WT. My first GPS! It took a little while to get use to how it works and gives directions, but, I really like it, use it all the time now.

The Traffic feature is interesting, I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it comes in handy from time to time, not sure if I'd pay for the feature.

The unit sometimes makes mistakes. I notice when I use the "Home" feature, about 1/3 of the time, it tells me to turn the wrong way when I get to my own street. The map is correct and shows my home to the left, but the verbal directions tell me I'm on the right and around the corner from my place. Odd, and it has me worried it could make mistakes to locations I'm not familiar with. Anyone else have experiences like this? Any suggestions, I have upgaded the map and software.


Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[sweetk30]

garmin nuvi also has a cable avalibe to plug to computer to down load / upload stuff from there site or map sites like mapquest and others.

dont wast the money on a garmin new cable or aftermarket for close to 25 bucks.

i went on ebay and got a brand new one in the bag oem garmin for 99cents and 8bucks shipped from china. showed up in about 6 days also

i used the 1 free update map load to redo the maps and down load diffrent voices and vehicle icons.

if you want to you can map out the whole trip and then down load to the gps via the cable and go from there.

 

[driney]

Some digital camera cables will also work for Garmin. I like to use Google Maps to locate addresses and then you can click on send to GPS and it goes to your GPS Favorites.