GPS Recommendations? [MRG] - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

BlackArcher101 · 07-06-2009, 10:12 PM

I don't believe you can add maps to the Garmin with MapPoint. You need mapsource and a different mapping product.
If you want MapPoint to read the GPS data, then I think you need to change it's output to NMEA.

ma-skis.com · 07-06-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by @theCBE

I just picked up the Garmin 250w from futureshop for $179 down from $269 last week. It came updated with 2008 maps, so I didn't need to update. Its a pretty sweet device.. I really like the widescreen.

I bought it for my parents as because they were taking a trip out of town. I never saw the appeal of an expensive GPS unit when you can just use a map, but after playing around with it I really like it.

I looked at that tomtom you linked and some of the reviews said that the speaker on it was terrible and barely audible.

I just got the same one a month ago as a gift and I'm pretty pleased with it. lots of features I'm still figuring out, something about google maps talking to it too.

psicodude · 07-07-2009, 12:07 AM

Sales dude at Future Shop says traffic updates in Calgary (and all major Canadian cities) will be live in spring 2010. Take it for what it's worth I guess.

Sainters7 · 07-07-2009, 12:41 PM

First of all, sorry if this is a fata. I tried searching "GPS", but the results said the word is too small to search. So for my birthday last week, my girlfriend told me she is getting me a GPS. According to her I'm quite finicky with electronics though, so she's letting me pick it out. Since it's her money, I wanna keep it under $200. I know zero about GPS devices, and from my researching it sounds like TomTom may be a good way to go, but I'd like to get advice from the good people of CP. Any recommendations? Thanks guys!

STeeLy · 07-07-2009, 12:44 PM

A lower-end Garmin will do you good.

And you can almost never go wrong with Garmin.

Sainters7 · 07-07-2009, 01:05 PM

I thought I remembered there being another thread for this, which is why I searched in the first place. Lots of good advice in this thread, thanks.

MonsieurFish · 07-08-2009, 12:52 PM

Im considering getting a GPS too, but just wondering about these traffic updates. Should I wait until those are here before I buy one? Or are they going to be updateable on a GPS if i bought one tomorrow, so that it will eventually be able to give me traffic updates?

ken0042 · 07-08-2009, 03:20 PM

Personally I wouldn't wait for traffic updates; nor would I even want to trust them. I have heard "helicopter traffic" reports on the radio talking about an issue that has since been resolved, so I cannot see a GPS being able to get you info that is up to date enough to be of much help.

I used my GPS on my trip to Winnipeg for things like telling me where POIs (Points of Interest) were. For example, how far off the highway was the McDonalds in Moose Jaw. I've passed the signs dozens of times, but until I saw it was only 1km into town I had never stopped. Then on Thursday when I was going out to the cabin, I found a Canadian Tire location between where I was and where I was going.

The real beauty of a GPS is that it uses a signal that is paid for by somebody else (mostly US military) and gives you an interactive map. The only cost you have now is the one time fee for the software to give you the roads, POIs, etc. Once you add things like traffic reports, it could start the process of having monthly fees to cover that, or the level of service would have to be poor to be affordable for the GPS company.

ken0042 · 07-09-2009, 08:45 AM

The Source has the Garmin 250 on for $130.
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/produ...roduct=1917044

The thing I always look for is all Canadian and US maps; which this has. (Beware of it having Canada and "Northern US.")

Of course this one isn't widescreen, but I'm not sure that is really needed. When navigating my widescreen GPS shows me further down streets that I'm not going to turn down. For example, as I drive down McLeod do I really care that Blackfoot is way over there, and what streets run off it?

Roast Beef · 07-09-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by @theCBE

I just picked up the Garmin 250w from futureshop for $179 down from $269 last week. It came updated with 2008 maps, so I didn't need to update. Its a pretty sweet device.. I really like the widescreen.

I bought it for my parents as because they were taking a trip out of town. I never saw the appeal of an expensive GPS unit when you can just use a map, but after playing around with it I really like it.

I looked at that tomtom you linked and some of the reviews said that the speaker on it was terrible and barely audible.

I have seen similar comments about the speaker volume on the TomTom One in the link but i purchased it and it's freaking LOUD. It might be a problem with some units but i got lucky and grabbed a loud one.

SinceDay1 · 07-10-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

The Source has the Garmin 250 on for $130.
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/produ...roduct=1917044

The thing I always look for is all Canadian and US maps; which this has. (Beware of it having Canada and "Northern US.")

Of course this one isn't widescreen, but I'm not sure that is really needed. When navigating my widescreen GPS shows me further down streets that I'm not going to turn down. For example, as I drive down McLeod do I really care that Blackfoot is way over there, and what streets run off it?

Agree 100%. I recently purchased a Garmin Nuvi 550 Multimode for work. It's not a widescreen either and I was a bit wary. After using it, I quickly came to the conclusion that the standard screen is perfect for general navigation. The only time I can see the widescreen having any utility is on higher end units that have "lane assist" and you're zoomed in very tight.

BTW, I highly recommend the 550 if you want to use your GPS for more than just driving navigation. It has 4 switchable modes (driving, walking/hiking, biking/motorcycle and marine). It's waterproof and has a high capacity battery (up to 8 hrs). It came with City Navigator NT North America 2009 maps. You're allowed a one time free download upgrade to City Navigator NT 2010 within 60 days of first acquiring satellites. This download also includes the latest version of Garmin Mapsource desktop software. If you're planning on using it for hiking and such, I recommend purchasing the Garmin TOPO mapset. The only quibble I have is the speaker volume is a bit weak. Hard to hear if the stereo is cranked.

Sainters7 · 07-13-2009, 12:37 AM

I got a ridonkulously good deal on the Garmin Nuvi 770, just picked er up today. I've never had GPS before or even played with one, I'm still blown away with all the crap it can do. Besides work, I'm basically doing nothing but playing with this thing all week.

jayswin · 07-13-2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I got a ridonkulously good deal on the Garmin Nuvi 770, just picked er up today. I've never had GPS before or even played with one, I'm still blown away with all the crap it can do. Besides work, I'm basically doing nothing but playing with this thing all week.

Dude, seriously, you haven't truely played with your Garmin until you've visited this site....

http://www.sciuridae.co.uk/change_ga...hicle_icon.htm

I'll tell you what happened. I have the Garmin nuvi 760, and was about to sell it here on CP for like $100, so I searched online to find a good specs page to show people. Then I stumbled upon this webpage that allows you to load dozens of new vehicles, and needless to say the Garmin will now remain in my car, as I pretend I'm a police car, firetruck, tank, riding mower, helicopter etc.

jayswin · 07-13-2009, 01:28 AM

jayswin · 07-13-2009, 01:30 AM

Sainters7 · 07-13-2009, 01:33 AM

Haha nice, ya my girlfriend's bro has a Garmin and was tellin me about that stuff tonight. On a complete side note, how the hell do you charge it?? Idk if the 760 comes with a wall charger, but the 770 doesn't, at least not in the box. I'm assuming you leave it in the wall mount, and then plug in what looks like a car charger into it. Will it even charge in your car if it's not running?(shows you how much I know about this shyte).

jayswin · 07-13-2009, 01:34 AM

The webpage tells you step by step how to load them, and they work on ANY Garmin GPS.

jayswin · 07-13-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Haha nice, ya my girlfriend's bro has a Garmin and was tellin me about that stuff tonight. On a complete side note, how the hell do you charge it?? Idk if the 760 comes with a wall charger, but the 770 doesn't, at least not in the box. I'm assuming you leave it in the wall mount, and then plug in what looks like a car charger into it. Will it even charge in your car if it's not running?(shows you how much I know about this shyte).

I usually charge it with the USB cable on my computer. It seems to charge ridiculously fast that way. That way I don't have to have the car adapter dangling from my windsheild down over my stereo.

The charge lasts about 5 hours I believe, so I guess depending on what your using it for (ie long trips) you may need to have the car adapter with you.

STeeLy · 07-13-2009, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

Hey Look... It's Ray Emery.

Sainters7 · 07-13-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

I usually charge it with the USB cable on my computer. It seems to charge ridiculously fast that way. That way I don't have to have the car adapter dangling from my windsheild down over my stereo.

The charge lasts about 5 hours I believe, so I guess depending on what your using it for (ie long trips) you may need to have the car adapter with you.

Beauty, thanks bud!