I've been doing some research on GPS units with street finder capability. I've looked at Sony, Garmin, Magellan, and Tom Tom

Does anyone have any experience with these units? I'm not interested in what is factory installed in your vehicle, more like one I can stick to the dash/windshield and has a larger screen with voice direction.

Recommendations? Experiences?

Thanks

Hi Bob

I hope others have had better experience than I have. Dad and I have tried the Tom Tom and Magellan ( don't remember the number on each ) but on both units the directions to the house were good the turn by turn worked good the only problems is that they were from 1 -2 miles off. On the Magellan it got lost in town because it did not have a road that has been there 1-2 years. The way it looks to me out here in the country all the info these companies go by is off because I can go to Map Quest and type in my address and it is off by about the same amount. I hope others have had better luck than us because I'm interested also.

Kevin S.

             Garmin is the one I have its a STREET PILOT III.6 or 7 years old.

             Up date it every 3 months at the County Airport..

              The Magellan out now does RFD that's  nice.

             TOM TOM never checked one out.

             They will all get you lost that's how you get to know your way around.

Thanks Guys,

There are so many models out there, it's hard to make an educated decision. One thing I'm hearing from everyone I talk to is the necessity to update.

Scooter, How do you update at the local airport? and what is RFD?

The updateable units I've seen require a purchase of a new card or chip or something like that, or a connection via the internet to download updates. I don't know how much it costs to do that.

DaviRob, I've pretty much discounted the GPS and laptop thing. If I were traveling alone it might be the way to go. But my wife, I'm sure, doesn't want our laptop sitting in her lap throughout an entire trip. Your idea was suggested by another friend and I took my GPS with the data cord and plugged it into the back of my laptop. Nada, zip. I'm not sure what, if anything, I expected to happen but obviously I need software to open it. I realize I would have to buy a program from someone like Garmin, but I was hoping that the computer would see new hardware or something like that! Didn't do it. The owners manual is in my boat, which is still covered by about two feet of snow, so that'll have to wait! I really like the idea of voice and touchscreen anyway.

RKS, I was reading some comments on various websites and found one comment about one unit(I don't remember which) that did what you mentioned AFTER updating. The person said that before an update the thing took them just about to the door. After, it was a mile or two off. I'm not sure what to make of that! Apparently, they didn't get any satisfaction from the manufacturer.

I really hate it when there are so many choices!

There is a Garmin dealer a one of the little airlines we have vendors at.

Real nice people they get up dates all the time.

 We had a truck route program for bridge height and weight limits thing change here to fast to keep that up.

 Rural Fire District is a address in and out of city limits NOW

District are in grids like an address 7 N 598 G F D Handy Rd.

 That would be Grid 7 North  Building 598 Handy Rd Geneva Fire Dept something like that.

Its like buying bluejeans now compared  to when  we got ours.

 Do a long hard look the girls have them hook up to blue tooth and the phones can tell it to find pizza

Will find call and you place an order.

You might want to use it on the lake depth finder may find fish but I'm SURE YOU DON'T NEED THAT....

Reason I bought one had a man did not speak a word of English

 HE WAS ON A WORK  PERMIT 

Wants to be automat popraviti covjek u dom

He could program it and get to where he had to go.

 I'd tell him that we knew that we were being watched not like a the others that don"t have G.P.S.

 He thought that was "SVJEZE"

Update....

Scooter, I should have known that RFD was rural fire department. I've seen it before, but it just didn't click. Thanks.

I spent about a half hour on the phone with Garmin today. They seem to have a good rep and I have had and do have a Garmin GPS. The service rep and I figured out which unit that would fit my needs without all the extra (confusing) stuff. Comes with a data to USB cable for online updating if necessary. But the rep said that it usually is good for two years or so. It has all of North America on it.

So I searched online for a Garmin NUVI 750. It has a large screen and does everything that I want. I ordered it through Amazon.com and was happy with the price. I opted for the free shipping so I'll be a couple of weeks before I get it. I'll repost my findings....

Thanks to all who input, it was much appreciated.

I did alot of research on GPS's before I purchased one a few months ago. I bought a Tom Tom One 3rd edition. It has free lifetime updates, maps of US AND Canada, Points of interest, shortest route, fastest route, reroute and even has a feature available for daily local traffic like accidents etc. It seems to be quite accurate to the foot. It has voice directions (that let you know well ahead of time when to turn), easy to read and use with touchscreen functions. You can get expensive models that play mp3s and everything else, but all I wanted was a GPS, I can listen to music on the radio.
I saw a Walmart ad for this GPS for about $168 which is good deal. Paid more than that on sale when I bought mine.
If you go onto retailers sites you can read reviews from people who have bought them. Try Staples.com, Walmart.com, Amazon.com, etc.
Judging by the reviews, Garmin is also a very good unit, as was the Tom Tom. Pay close attention to what maps are included (sometimes only 48 US states), updates (some units are not upgradeable or charge for map updates), etc.

Until this past Christmas I never thought I needed a GPS unit. As long as I had my maps I could find my way.

Then for Christmas my wife bought me a Garmin GPS. It was simple enough for anyone to use. As far as locations it was spot on. I was usually within feet of where it said I was. The directions were clear and in plenty of time.

Other things I liked were things such as:

1. You could either set it for the fastest route, the shortest route or even off road. Now the shortest route (as we found out) might not be through the best of neighborhoods.

2. You can program in latitude & longitude or an address and it will still get you there.

3. It can be loaded with maritime information, for boaters.

4. There is one screen that is a 3D view, tap on that one & switch to an overhead view. In either the find a address mode or just current map mode you can zoom in or out and get a better view of either your route or where you currently are.

5. It has certain preselected items on a menu so you can locate shopping, restaurants, police mine will even show you where the closest repair shop is (and usually includes a phone number).

6. I like the Garmin because I can switch the unit between my work truck, or personal vehicles. In fact I saw the same unit for sale at a local Chrysler dealer for $100 more than mine cost.

7. My daughter has one that can also be tied into your Bluetooth cell phone & can be used as a hands free phone while driving.

8. The notifications on when to turn are clear and given several times and even the turns are shown on the screen.

9. It has another screen that looks like a dash board, and tells you how fast you're going, your fastest speed reached, how long you've been moving, how long you've stopped, what time you can expect to arrive, your total travel time.

It's so easy my wife can use it.

Now are they 100% accurate? No! But they're pretty close.

We like to take short trips and with this we can travel back roads and know where we're at always. 

One other thing to keep in mind is the number of "points of interest."  I have seen them at 1 million, 3 million, 5 millions, etc.  This will only be a factor if you are using the GPS to find nearest gas stations, restaurants, etc. and obviously the more points of interest the unit holds the more accurate the results would be.  Best of luck either way.

Keep us posted as to which one you decide to go with and later, how happy you are with it...My wife wanted one, then changed her mind...I imagine it's only a matter of time until she wants one again!

Chadillac

UPDATE!!!

I'd like to thank all you folks who helped me make some educated decisions. And without your input, I wouldn't have known the question to ask.

I told you I ordered the GARMIN Nuvi 750. It actually came in about 5 days but the wife wouldn't let me have it until my birthday last Fri. Since then I've been playing with it.

We took a three sided trip over a familar route. The only button on it is the ON/OFF button, the rest is touch screen. I bought it through Amazon.com for $335.

It has a large screen, great for us old guys. It talks (either Jack or Jill!) Very clear and easy to navigate. Our trip was just over 80 miles and it took us DEAD NUTS on at EVERY point. It was incredible. Yes, there were some changes that it didn't have. But I was able to download a free program from Garmin, plug in the enclosed USB cable to my 'puter, plug it into the unit and in about 5 minutes, it was updated to Jan. '08. There is another update coming out sometime next month and that will be free also.

We had a detour on our route for a bridge closing. As soon as we made the 'wrong' turn, it updated and plotted a new route to our origional destination in about three seconds. It was easy to understand and didn't yak at you all the time. Just, turn on (street name) in (distance). This unit was a tad higher priced, but I found in my research that the cheaper units will tell you.."turn in 500' or whatever", this unit actually uses street names.

The next model up, the 760 is Blue tooth compatable. I didn't want that so I didn't get it for an extra $60 or so.

It has a ton of features that I haven't even used yet. Books on tape, FM broadcast through the car radio (I did play with that on the home stereo, worked perfectly!). MP3 (whatever that is) capable, and has a slot for a SD chip.

Windshield suction cup or a very smooth adhesive disk to mount on the dash, and then the suction cup locks on to that. Power cord is plenty long.

All in all, I've VERY happy with it. It also has enhanced satellite detection. It works perfectly in the house. I use it to find my bedroom (LOL). I've already programed a couple of addresses and locations that we'll be traveling to in the near future.

B F N

           Don't forget to tell yourself.

 You are one of the few that knows Big Brother is watching us!

 MP3 is iPod and such plug it in to the GPS and play it over the raido.

 The SD is to expand memory?

 Satellite radio?

 Great gift!

 NOW YOU NEED TO COME DOWN HERE TO THE BIG CITY AND PROGRAM :

 SHOPPING / RESTAURANTS /  ITALIAN / 50 MI /  and bada bing bada boom. over 500 pizza places 300 feet away too 50 miles away it's heaven.........

Program your address and when its time to go home.

"Click"

 You are on your way and you don't even have to know where you are! 

 Enjoy!!

Bob

I am glad that you have found what you needed.

When those things first came out I decided that I needed one.  I bought a Tom Tom and installed it in the Motor Home.  About two weeks later we took off headed for Washington State.  North on I-29 to I-90 and stay on it until you hit Western Washington.

Well the first night we stoped in Wyoming for the night.  I looked at the Tom Tom and it had us in Denver Colorado.  The next morning I fiddled with it and then got back on the road.  That night we stoped in Missoula Montana and my friend Tom had me somewhere near Las Vegas.  The next morning was a repeat of fiddleing and then we hit the road.  That evening we stoped in at Moses Lake in Washington to visit a friend of mine and Tom said we was just outside St. Louis Missouri.  The next morning when I took a walk down by the lake I took my friend Tom with me, and he is still about 80 off my friends dock at the bottom of the lake.

So I am glad that you got one that worked.  For me its my Truckers Atlas and a good compass. 

LOL,

Great story CM!!

I had considered the Tom Tom and did a bunch of research on them. I also read the feedback that many websites have and found EXACTLY what you are talking about with Tom.

When on long trips, we generally rely on state and regional maps also. I belonged to AAA for almost 40 years when I got pissed at their rates! So, I quit them. When we planned a trip, I would go to state websites and request maps. My poor wife was left with the navigating duties, and does very well with them. But sometimes, especially in cities, it gets dicey. Then, if you want to stop in the city, having a decent street map is really hard to do. We'd stop at the local Chamber of Commerace if we could find it.

This unit is so easy to use. We can save places and routes. My wife has already learned to use the basic features and can program it from one place to another. She's also learning to use some of the special features, places to eat, fuel, etc.

Scooter, the SD slot will do lots of things. Garmin.com has a list of cards available to plug in there. Foreign countries and cities, expand memory, and use for MP3 downloads, if I understand the way it works. The FM over the radio thing we probably won't use much. As I found out, when it is in the active mode, it cuts out the internal speakers. I would have to keep the FM radio on the broadcast frequency from the unit (I used 88.1) in order to hear the navigator. So I don't see the advantage of having the FM broadcast feature. Possibly, I could tune the unit to a working frequency and then it would come in over the normal programing on that station?, hmmmm something to try. Also, this unit updates so fast, that the map moves with a curve in the road or a turn, as it's happening with no lag time!

Thanks for you comments,....(oh, my Explorer does have a built in compass)!

PS. CM, if you'd take I-90 the other way, when you meet up with I-94 you'd only be about 15 miles from my house!

Bob, is that the state house in Black River falls?? LOL, I know that 's north of you.  All this time I was thinking that Necedah was that town between Appleton and Oshkosh, I guess my memory isn't what it use to be.

Swiley,

You're thinking of NEENAH. People confuse that all the time!

We're not that close to BRF either. Probably 65 miles I'd guess!

I and two friends have Garmin GPS's and they all three take us about a foot from our destinations. I have the nuvi 350 and really love it. Have been all over Or., Calif. Az. and Alaska have never been more than a car length from the address programed into the unit.

EJ From Or.

So far, we've driven to almost every city withing 100miles and haven't had any problems. I even tried to confuse it by going into shopping centers, around the block etc. It always 'corrects' almost immediately.

Hodapp, thanks for the testimonial. I feel better about my Nuvi decision know that someone has had such great luck with it.

I also notice that this is your first post. Would you mind taking a minute to drop down to the New Member's area and introduce yourself. Tell us about yourself and what you are good at, or just plain like to do (other than travel!!).

I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself here, welcome and have a great time!

Bob:

It's been a couple of months since your last update. Now you have traveled a good distance from Wisconsin to Michigan (where you even found me and Debbie for lunch). Then on over to Toronto, Canada. I would say that is a good test run.

Debbie is considering a GPS for my B-Day July 27 and any input would help decide which unit to buy. I get a 40% discount through my son-in-law at Bass Pro Shops so that's a plus. I would like to have a portable unit to take into the woods or out on one of the Great Lakes. As you know my wife travels around the State (Mich.) doing seminars at different Colleges and this would help her find her way. (Then I don't have to tag along and sit and wait anywhere from 3 to 6 hrs. waiting for her)

So if you would please post your likes/dislikes with the GPS unit you bought.

Thanks........

"OLDMAN"   aka brye1

Kell,

I'm glad you had 'success' with your Garmin. I've got the NUVI 750 and I opted NOT to pay for the detour feature. In your case, it work(s) very well, and would probably work great in mine too. But I couldn't see the extra expense. I've heard stories, some on this board about other brand units being less than satisfying. I doubt that any other brand could be more accurate than the Garmin.

As far as the download time. You've got to understand that the entire download is several MEGS and completely updates the entire map, not just adds changes. Mine actually took overnight at my download speed, but no big thing because I wasn't going anywhere anyhow. That only has to be done every few years, more often if you think you need to pay the price of the update.

On a side note. I changed vehicles since I made the origional post. My new vehicle is a Ford Expedition  and as luck would have it, has a navigation system in it. But let me tell you (you too OLDMAN!!) that the system in my Navigator is light years behind my Garmin. The Garmin is pinpoint accurate and if you make a wrong turn or detour, it will update and "recalculate" in  just a couple of seconds. The one in my Navigator keeps saying " make a U turn" or " unable to navigate because the selected route is not in our data banks. DUH, how many other county roads are not in "your databanks"!!!

Kell, regarding your problem with "streets not found". I had that same thing happen to me until I figured out that I was putting in TO MUCH information. If you just put in part of the street name or #, it is much better and will give you a list to choose from. I found that if you don't put in ST, RD, BLVD, HWY, etc, if will list them for you. I actually had trouble programing in my home address because there is a N and a S 17th Ave. When I just put in 17, no N or S or Ave, it came up with it dead nuts!! So, try less, see what happens!

OLDMAN, my advice to you would be to go to the Garmin site and look at all the different units available, then select the one that is the right unit for your and Debbie's type of driving. For example, the only difference between the NUVI 750 and the 760 is that the 760 has Bluetooth capibility. If that is important to you, for the extra $60, then that's what you need. I chose the NUVI 750 for US. Last weekend we went garage 'saleing' and Marge put in about a dozen or more addresses in a distant city. It arranged them by distance, the closest first. It has ALWAYS been dead nuts on!

Note, some of the more cost conscience units don't give street names. They will say, "turn .......in 500'". Which for some people may be fine. Me, I like street names. The NUVI tells you " turn left/right in 500' on ......street. That is nice when the streets are close together as they are in some cities.

Our big test was when we left Sterling Heights, Mi. for an address in Toronto, Ontario. You can chose FASTEST or SHORTEST route. In any event, it took us dead nuts in front of the house we were going to in Toronto! You just don't get any better than that!!

I only wish that I had bought one years ago. I remember plotting routes, stopping at visitors centers in new cities and getting a map. Then having to find a street on the map. Then trying to figure out which way on that street we had to go to find our address. I know I made a ton of "U" turns because I was headed in the wrong direction. The GPS doesn't have that problem.

Enjoy!!!!!!

Kell,

You're absolutely correct, it was a 2+ GIG file. That's why it took me so long to download!!

Are you using JACK or JILL?? LOL

The SD slot will let you load/view JPEG files and also MP3 files (about 100 songs can be loaded, on my unit and probably yours), with just the memory in the unit, the SD card increases that per size of the card.

I tried the FM transmitter, but it doesn't work on a working freq. It works great on a vacant freq. but then you can't hear the radio. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but JACKS voice is plenty loud in our vehicle.

When Oldman and I and our wives met at a restaurant, Marge just put in the name of the restaurant and it took us right to the door. The POI's, is an excellent feature to find just about anything!

I'm glad you are enjoying yours......and you're right, I ordered mine from an internet company. Cheapest price I found for my unit was $334 including S&H.

I consider that quite a bargin, especially with the large screen. These old eyes need all the help I can get!! LOL

Gary and Bob:

I thank you both for the info. Reguarding your GPS units. I'm sure there are many other members here that are considering a GPS unit also as I am. I will shop all the stores mentioned plus a few more such as Bass Pro Shopes where my son-in-law receives a great employee only discount of 40% off.

Bob, I think you have a GPS on your boat. This would be a great navigation tool when fishing on any of the Great Lakes around Michigan. That is one feature (portability) that I would like to have. I also do a lot of Trail riding on two track trails looking for dead Oak trees for firewood. No street signs here LOL.

I can visualize many applications where a GPS would help me out. For instance beating Harold to those Bargains at the Dumpsters and Garage Sales. LMAO

I THANK YOU BOTH once again as you have gave me some very valuable information to work with.

"OLDMAN"   aka brye1

LOL LOL

R2D2 or C3PO while driving down the street!! That's great!!

I don't think I'll be going into service screens anytime soon. My computer skills (or lack there of) is legendary!!

On the map mode, while navigating between two points has an "arrive at" time in the lower left hand corner of the screen. It you touch that point on the screen, it'll go into a trip mode. Time to, current speed (a great way to check the accuracy of your car's speedometer), as well as elapsed time. Nice little feature.

Oldman........as Kell mentioned, the handhelds are great and a whole lot cheaper than the street version. I have a handheld that I mount in my boat for navigation and to find the 'hot spots'. I also used to lay it on the dash of my car for trip distance and speed info. We used it when we went to Branson last year.

If you only need a handheld, the Garmin E-trex would be worth looking at.

The one I have is the GPS 72, now way outdated!

Besides the streets and points of interest etc, the navigation GPS that Kell and I have are equipped with enhanced satellite reception. I know with mine, while traveling on a curvey country road, it is as close to realtime as possible. The little car icon is right at the point of the road where the turns are. It is incredible. I've told Marge that I could paint the windshield black and just look at the GPS and be able to follow the road...........She didn't think that was such a good idea, might wipe out an Amish buggy!