GPS
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mbilderback
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thibodeaux
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That would explain why you describe the 3.5" drive as "roomy."I like my Garman, but it doesn't connect to a computer. You're eventually going to want to do that.
In fact, I think everything should connect to a computer.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
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mbilderback
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Just means you're starting to think more like me. Scary, eh?Is it a bad sign for me that I got that joke?That would explain why you describe the 3.5" drive as "roomy."I like my Garman, but it doesn't connect to a computer. You're eventually going to want to do that.
In fact, I think everything should connect to a computer.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
There are two maing GPS companies, Garman and Magellan. Think of it like the Mac Vs. PC feud. People who use Garman's think Magellans are crap, and people who use Magellans think Garman's are crap.
When I got mine a few years ago, I think they where about equal. I think Garman is outselling Magellan now.
I bought a Magellan. When mine broke after a few years, they replaced it for about $80 (I paid $200, used, on eBay). They also gave me a bunch of free stuff with it (carrying case, charger, etc.) The replacement ended up being funky, and when they exchanged that for a new one (for free) I got more free stuff.
They where really easy to deal with over the phone.
If I bought another one I'd go Magellan.
The maps are what take up the most memory. I think mine has 32 MB. I've never filled it, but I only have central KY and Los Angeles on there.
Mine came with mapping software and a car kit. I can plug it into my car's lighter, and mount it to the dash board.
The mapping software is neat. It runs on my computer. I can add waypoints or whatever to that program, then upload it to my GPS. I can also transfer the waypoints and such to my computer. When my GPS crapped out, I was able to upload most of my stuff back in because it was saved on my computer.
I don't think I can upload some of the commercial GPS mapping software though. I think I can only use the proprietary stuff that they gave me. Of course, my GPS is pretty old. I assume newer models can import other maps.
When I got mine a few years ago, I think they where about equal. I think Garman is outselling Magellan now.
I bought a Magellan. When mine broke after a few years, they replaced it for about $80 (I paid $200, used, on eBay). They also gave me a bunch of free stuff with it (carrying case, charger, etc.) The replacement ended up being funky, and when they exchanged that for a new one (for free) I got more free stuff.
They where really easy to deal with over the phone.
If I bought another one I'd go Magellan.
The maps are what take up the most memory. I think mine has 32 MB. I've never filled it, but I only have central KY and Los Angeles on there.
Mine came with mapping software and a car kit. I can plug it into my car's lighter, and mount it to the dash board.
The mapping software is neat. It runs on my computer. I can add waypoints or whatever to that program, then upload it to my GPS. I can also transfer the waypoints and such to my computer. When my GPS crapped out, I was able to upload most of my stuff back in because it was saved on my computer.
I don't think I can upload some of the commercial GPS mapping software though. I think I can only use the proprietary stuff that they gave me. Of course, my GPS is pretty old. I assume newer models can import other maps.
I should note that GPS' are more like calculators than computers. If a GPS doesn't do what you want, you can't really upgrade it, so get one with all the functions you want built-in. Make sure that whatever you get can do what you want, and what you think you will want it to do in the future.
If you suddenly decide that you want a color screen, and need it to plot routes, and you only have a basic model, tough titties.
Mine can't plot routes, and I'm limited to the proprietary mapping software. I can buy world maps, but I basically have all the streets in the U.S. and that'd fine with me.
For example, if I'm lost, I can see what steet I'm on. I can then zoom out farther and see where I am in relation to where I want to be. Then I have to figure out where I need to go to get there.
Oh, and my distance from the destination is as-the-crow flies. It figures I can get there in a straight line.
If you suddenly decide that you want a color screen, and need it to plot routes, and you only have a basic model, tough titties.
Mine can't plot routes, and I'm limited to the proprietary mapping software. I can buy world maps, but I basically have all the streets in the U.S. and that'd fine with me.
For example, if I'm lost, I can see what steet I'm on. I can then zoom out farther and see where I am in relation to where I want to be. Then I have to figure out where I need to go to get there.
Oh, and my distance from the destination is as-the-crow flies. It figures I can get there in a straight line.
I had a "make your own circuit board!" kit when I was about 11. It had diagrams to show you how to make a simple radio, and stuff.I've done that. How geeky am I?I know high school kids who can burn a simple circuit board.
That's why I figger a homegrown GPS system shoul;dn't be impossible, unless something about it was "black box" classified.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
After a bunch of research, I was finding that in order to get all the features I wanted, I was going to be pushing the 1k mark. That was more than I wanted to spend. Features I wanted:
Color screen.
Import addresses from Excell/DB/txt.
Route logging (I want it to tell me where I've gone all week).
Voice directions.
I know someone who bought a laptop and Microsoft's Streets and Trips with GPS. He said it was great. It did everything I wanted, except the voice directions. I want it to tell me when my turn is coming so I don't have to look at the screen to keep track of where I am. I want it to say "closer. . . . closer. . . closer. . . OK, TURN NOW!!" It sucked that it didn't have it. However, at $130, I figured it was worth a shot. If it didn't work, I'll sell it used on Ebay and buy a real one. Went to Best Buy and had it in my hand. Then I saw the DeLorme EarthMate. They advertise WAAS support (accurate to 3 meters) and voice capabilities. It not only reads the directions to me, but I can speak commands to it. It was only $99. I picked up one of those devices that convert your cars aux (lighter) power to 120v power. Did that instead of the laptop car adapter incase there is some other device I want to power with the car. That was $50. I could have gotten one cheaper, but, didn't have time to do alot of shopping. I've been playing with it. It's great having a huge map set available as you can dump all 550MB of data to the laptop. The Garamin or Magellen require proprietary maps. I'm guessing it's Magellen based on what Paul said. And for some reason, I think Garamin has memory card issues as well. Some people say theirs works fine, others report problems. Cool thing about having it all on a laptop is, the huge screen. Super easy to read the roads, etc. Lots of info. Problem with having it on a laptop is, it's huge and cumbersome. Going to buy or make a stand that mounts to the floor of the vehicle and holds it off to the right of the console. I have alot of learning to do before I'm really using it well. Right now, there are times where it has me a good 50 feet off the road. To the point where I'm driving down the expressway and it thinks I'm off course and keeps trying to direct me back onto the highway via various service drives and on ramps. I bumped up the 'Auto correction limit' from 100' to 300' to make it stop. Don't know if the GPS 'puck' is not accurate, or, if the map software doesn't line up with reality. Haven't gotten to the part where I upload the DB of my regular stops yet. I have done some route plotting and I like the direction and up coming turn reminders. However, it needs some tweaking. Default settings have me going 45 on the highway, and 22 on regular city roads with 45mph speed limits. No idea what's up with that. But, it will often say "Turn left on 1st street in 4.2 minutes which is 1.4 miles away." At 45, it's more like 2 minutes. It should read my current speed (which it does quite accurately) and calculate the ETA with that. As far as the route logging, they all do the same thing. They leave 'bread crumbs'. They use those crumbs to recreate your trip. It's combersome and having it track a weeks worth of driving, or really, even just a days worth is proving more difficult than I wanted. I basically have to save a file at every stop. I think I'm going to find it easier to just have a spreadsheet open that I track my milage on. Down side of running it on my laptop is that I lose the touch screen abilities of most of the other GPS systems. However, you have to be in the $500+ range to get those.
I think when all is said and done, and after I've gotten use to it, running this software on the laptop won't be too bad. It's not going to track my driving the way I wanted it to, but, I don't think any of them would. The voice directions are going to be real helpful once I tweak the road/speed settings. But even if I don't, being that it says "in 1.2 miles", I can pretty much judge when the turn is coming. And assuming I can create a database of 'my locations', it will be very easy to pull up a site on the fly and get there. No more calling the wife and having her guide me in using Yahoo maps. . . Also, with it being on the laptop, I can sit and plot site locations. So, if I have to visit 35 sites in 3 days, I don't have to manually print Google maps and highlight each location. The software will do that for me as well as create the most direct route connecting them all, and I can include stops at various hotels in various cities along the way.
However, in the end, if it proves to be too cumbersome, too clunky, or too anything else bad, the software came with a 30 day money back guarantee. So, I can just return it (and the power adapter for that matter) and get a real system. But, I think I'll learn to like this setup.
I typed all that assuming of course someone cared.
Color screen.
Import addresses from Excell/DB/txt.
Route logging (I want it to tell me where I've gone all week).
Voice directions.
I know someone who bought a laptop and Microsoft's Streets and Trips with GPS. He said it was great. It did everything I wanted, except the voice directions. I want it to tell me when my turn is coming so I don't have to look at the screen to keep track of where I am. I want it to say "closer. . . . closer. . . closer. . . OK, TURN NOW!!" It sucked that it didn't have it. However, at $130, I figured it was worth a shot. If it didn't work, I'll sell it used on Ebay and buy a real one. Went to Best Buy and had it in my hand. Then I saw the DeLorme EarthMate. They advertise WAAS support (accurate to 3 meters) and voice capabilities. It not only reads the directions to me, but I can speak commands to it. It was only $99. I picked up one of those devices that convert your cars aux (lighter) power to 120v power. Did that instead of the laptop car adapter incase there is some other device I want to power with the car. That was $50. I could have gotten one cheaper, but, didn't have time to do alot of shopping. I've been playing with it. It's great having a huge map set available as you can dump all 550MB of data to the laptop. The Garamin or Magellen require proprietary maps. I'm guessing it's Magellen based on what Paul said. And for some reason, I think Garamin has memory card issues as well. Some people say theirs works fine, others report problems. Cool thing about having it all on a laptop is, the huge screen. Super easy to read the roads, etc. Lots of info. Problem with having it on a laptop is, it's huge and cumbersome. Going to buy or make a stand that mounts to the floor of the vehicle and holds it off to the right of the console. I have alot of learning to do before I'm really using it well. Right now, there are times where it has me a good 50 feet off the road. To the point where I'm driving down the expressway and it thinks I'm off course and keeps trying to direct me back onto the highway via various service drives and on ramps. I bumped up the 'Auto correction limit' from 100' to 300' to make it stop. Don't know if the GPS 'puck' is not accurate, or, if the map software doesn't line up with reality. Haven't gotten to the part where I upload the DB of my regular stops yet. I have done some route plotting and I like the direction and up coming turn reminders. However, it needs some tweaking. Default settings have me going 45 on the highway, and 22 on regular city roads with 45mph speed limits. No idea what's up with that. But, it will often say "Turn left on 1st street in 4.2 minutes which is 1.4 miles away." At 45, it's more like 2 minutes. It should read my current speed (which it does quite accurately) and calculate the ETA with that. As far as the route logging, they all do the same thing. They leave 'bread crumbs'. They use those crumbs to recreate your trip. It's combersome and having it track a weeks worth of driving, or really, even just a days worth is proving more difficult than I wanted. I basically have to save a file at every stop. I think I'm going to find it easier to just have a spreadsheet open that I track my milage on. Down side of running it on my laptop is that I lose the touch screen abilities of most of the other GPS systems. However, you have to be in the $500+ range to get those.
I think when all is said and done, and after I've gotten use to it, running this software on the laptop won't be too bad. It's not going to track my driving the way I wanted it to, but, I don't think any of them would. The voice directions are going to be real helpful once I tweak the road/speed settings. But even if I don't, being that it says "in 1.2 miles", I can pretty much judge when the turn is coming. And assuming I can create a database of 'my locations', it will be very easy to pull up a site on the fly and get there. No more calling the wife and having her guide me in using Yahoo maps. . . Also, with it being on the laptop, I can sit and plot site locations. So, if I have to visit 35 sites in 3 days, I don't have to manually print Google maps and highlight each location. The software will do that for me as well as create the most direct route connecting them all, and I can include stops at various hotels in various cities along the way.
However, in the end, if it proves to be too cumbersome, too clunky, or too anything else bad, the software came with a 30 day money back guarantee. So, I can just return it (and the power adapter for that matter) and get a real system. But, I think I'll learn to like this setup.
I typed all that assuming of course someone cared.
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mbilderback
- Posts: 1282
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- Contact:
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mbilderback
- Posts: 1282
- Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 9:50 am
- Location: Memphis
- Contact:
They advertise WAAS support (accurate to 3 meters) and voice capabilities.
Used to be the military GPS gear was accurate to within 10 meters, and the civilian (and therefor the russian, chinese, iranian, etc) versions were only good to 100m.
My GPS has WAAS. That only works when something is broadcasting a WAAS signal in my area though.
The military used to put some sort of encryption in their signal that made results only accurate to within 100 meters. I think Clinton got rid of that. The day they got rid of encryption, someone celebrated by hiding a prize in the woods and posting the coordinates, and Geocaching was born.
I think the military is down to about 2-3 feet now.
Edited By Paul on 1124832448