GPS navigation

[Death from the Sea]

Anyone here have a GPS receiver? I am looking at getting one and was looking for some input on what to look at and what to avoid.

price is a consideration but I want the thing to work well and have some good usable features.

[Ubiquitous]

My Blackberry has GPS built in and I got it free with my £25 contract. You might want to take a look at that when you need a new phone.

[Death from the Sea]

My Blackberry has GPS built in and I got it free with my £25 contract. You might want to take a look at that when you need a new phone.

really? does it call out directions and all that? plan trips etc?

[Darth Wong]

I've only used one GPS before, but it's a real lifesaver when you're navigating in unfamiliar territory. I've never felt that I needed fancy shit like trip planning; just tell me how far it is to the turn-off. That's all I ever really need to know, because one of the worst things about driving in unfamiliar territory is not knowing how far it is to the turn-off, or whether you already passed it and didn't notice.

[Broomstick]

My exeperience with GPS is for aviation navigation, which may be more than you want.

www.garmin.com has at least some GPS simulators you can download so you can play with it before you purchase. Not sure if you'll find what you want.

There are small hand-held units, and units intended to be mounted in a vehicle. Both can be very useful, and the handhelds usually come with an antennae you can stick to a window to improve reception in a vehicle.Do you have some particular use in mind?

Keep in mind that some receivers are intended for specific uses - say, hiking, or aviation, and something like Tom-tom (is that actually GPS?) is very focused on driving around urban areas.

Shop around a bit. Buy something easy for YOU to understand and use - some of them can get quite involved in button pushing and the user interfaces are all different.

The point about the cellphone is a good one - you might be able to get what you need that way.

[Bounty]

I've borrowed a Garmin a few times and they're really good, but pricey. Their entry model (Nuvi 250? 200?) starts at around €110, so that's $150ish; I think it comes with a clamp to put it on your dashboard.

The only brand I've vowed never to use again is TomTom. A GPS that makes you take a three-street detour on a two-street trip? No thanks.

[Macunaima]

I use a Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx, and has served me great so far as an all-purpose handheld unit. I use it primarily during trips, so it was important to have the unit with me when I'm walking by foot, but also with the capacity to have turn-by-turn directions for when I'm driving. Price is around 250-280 USD range, if I recall. Additional maps software from Garmin is pricey, though.

[Broomstick]

Yes, Garmin is pricey. On the other hand, there's a reason they've come to dominate the aviation GPS market to the point many pilots don't say "Do you have a GPS?" they ask "Do you have a Garmin?"- they're really good. I'm a Garmin fan because I fly with them, but even the most primitive Garmin I've used flying has far more in it than I'm likely ever to need. Like I said, don't buy more than you need, unless you don't mind doing that.

[Enigma]

I've got a Garmin Nuvi 250 and overall I give a 6 out of 10. Not good for areas with lots of tall buildings but then again maybe the brands have the same problem. Despite their claim of updating the maps every 12-18 months, I can tell that the maps is more like 3 years out of date. I only use mine to find addresses I am not familiar or to give me an idea where to go. But in areas I am familiar, the directions it gives are a hit and miss (more miss than hit). It is ok but I should have waited and gotten the 650 version.

[Death from the Sea]

thanks for the input. I also asked around from people I know around here and with their input and advice was able to find one for me. I ordered a Garmin Nuvi 660 from Best Buy online. The price was $349.99 (plus tax) but I also am getting a free $50.00 gift card with it, so relatively speaking it was $299.99, which is a pretty good price for what I am told (by many and my research) is towards the high end of the Garmin GPS receivers.

I should be getting it in the mail in the next week or so, I will let ya'll know how it works out.

Thanks again to all.

[Enigma]

Good choice. It is the one I should have gotten.

[CaptHawkeye]

Yes, Garmin is pricey. On the other hand, there's a reason they've come to dominate the aviation GPS market to the point many pilots don't say "Do you have a GPS?" they ask "Do you have a Garmin?"- they're really good. I'm a Garmin fan because I fly with them, but even the most primitive Garmin I've used flying has far more in it than I'm likely ever to need. Like I said, don't buy more than you need, unless you don't mind doing that.

The Garmin GPS we have in the training Cessna is awesome. Their isn't much more you could ask for on a trip than a second map that not only shows the world, but where you *are* in that world. I use it all time, even though most of my VFR planning is dead reckoning/pilotage anyway.

That being said, i'd never use it as an excuse to run around in Instrument conditions in a light aircraft. Hell, i'd never use anything for an excuse for that.

[Broomstick]

I said the same thing, then one day misjudged the weather and would up in the soup. But I didn't tootle around in it - I opted to land in a farmer's backyard, and glad I did. Nothing broke, nobody hurt, but a whole lot of surprised people - including me.

Had a little discussion with the authorities the next day, but they backed me up on the "precautionary landing".

So, yes, do your planning but do be aware that you can make a mistake or get bad information and wind up in sticky situation. So pay attention to those emergency procedures, m'kay?

[CaptHawkeye]

So, yes, do your planning but do be aware that you can make a mistake or get bad information and wind up in sticky situation.

Weather forecasting is not an exact science and even a sunny day can suddenly turn into the world through the eyes of Ray Charles. My instructor has made no hessitation in pointing this out. Rely on no single entity in flight.

So pay attention to those emergency procedures, m'kay?

Of course. I've heard plenty of stories of less fortunate airmen because they didn't immiedietly go to best glide speed upon engine failure. Among other things.

[Broomstick]

I should also mention that GPS is not infalliable, either - I recall one occasion where a Garmin failed to show important information that, had we not had a paper map and current NOTAM, might have resulted in our being pulled over by an air force jet, among other things.

I'm a big fan of using multiple sources of information and cross-checking everything.

[Enigma]

I should also mention that GPS is not infalliable, either - I recall one occasion where a Garmin failed to show important information that, had we not had a paper map and current NOTAM, might have resulted in our being pulled over by an air force jet, among other things.

I'm a big fan of using multiple sources of information and cross-checking everything.

And if I trusted my Garmin implicitly, I would have driven off a cliff.

[Death from the Sea]

I should also mention that GPS is not infalliable, either - I recall one occasion where a Garmin failed to show important information that, had we not had a paper map and current NOTAM, might have resulted in our being pulled over by an air force jet, among other things.

I'm a big fan of using multiple sources of information and cross-checking everything.

And if I trusted my Garmin implicitly, I would have driven off a cliff.

I have heard similar complaints from all brands of GPS systems.

[Admiral Valdemar]

The GPS in my N95 is priceless. I have at least three applications to use on it for free that help depending on what little thing I want. Nokia Maps is a nice in-built map system that doesn't need net access, but requires payment for navigation and new maps. Google Maps is slick, efficient, but not as powerful as MGMaps which is a handy amalgamation of all free cartography services along with bringing up local attractions and places of interest along with traffic and weather conditions.

I've never had any signal or navigation issues, bar when the Internet has been cut-off and a map didn't load quickly enough, or I was surrounded by high-rises that disrupted the GPS signal.

Though before I got this phone, I did consider getting a satnav for my car as the Garmin Nuvi was on offer at Sainsbury's for £150. Ordinarily, I'd just use my AA road atlas. Like Mike, I just need to know turn-offs so long as I have a good idea where I'm going.

[Death from the Sea]

UPS delivered it today. I played with it for a few minutes until the battery went out, I guess they didn't charge it before sending it. So now I am waiting for it to charge.

[Phantasee]

I'm looking to get a GPS receiver, something relatively cheap, just to pick up coordinates, and maybe show a series of points set by me, with lines connecting. Just something to use when I'm out hiking or walking about (geocaching!).

I don't need any fancy street navigation or anything like that (my cousins in Windsor do have a nifty one that sits on the dash though, I thought it was useful).

What should I look at?

[Death from the Sea]

So far I am loving my Garmin Nuvi 660. I am however, slightly disappointed that some of the functions require purchasing extra things from the Garmin website.