GPS 4.3" Widescreen

[Pete Masterson]

90+ of the time, my GPS seems to have reasonable routes. But that
other 10% of the time can come up with some doozies. On one trip, it
told me to turn onto a gravel road -- that eventually got to my
destination. It just didn't seem to believe that the 4 lane divided
highway I was on existed.

When I was in Texas last year, I asked for a route from Kerrville (in
the Texas Hill Country) to Denver. The GPS directed me to drive to El
Paso, then turn north!! The route was totally bogus and when hundreds
of miles out of the way. (The most direct route was north on U.S.
87/287/I-27 via Lubbock and Limon CO.)

Today, I was traveling along a freeway near Phoenix, AZ -- there was
some serious construction going on, and the lanes were actually
running along what may some day be a frontage road. The GPS went
bonkers -- "recalculating route!", "recalculating route!", "Turn left
at the next intersection" (that didn't exist) and so on. At times
like that, it's best to just turn off the vocalizations.

I now plan my trips using Google maps (maps.google.com) and use the
GPS for navigation while enroute. If something sounds fishy (from the
GPS), I'll verify it against the Google map.

There are also times where the GPS can be completely bamboozled. In
the SF Bay Area, there are streets that are duplicated in several
cities -- and an error during entry can direct you to the totally
wrong place. (Don't ask how I know.)

Most of the time the GPS is great. A few times, it's totally crazy. I
now do what seems to make sense, and I let the GPS go on
"recalculating route!" until it and I seem to be in agreement.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Williams, AZ



On Dec 3, 2008, at 7:02 AM, Michael wrote:

> Hello All, I ended up getting a Garmin Nuvi 660. With the 700 series
> out these are really good deals now. It has the bluetooth phone,
> external memory chip, and FM wireless broadcast (my favorite). So I
> can load up all my music and listen to it over the stereo in my bus
> with amplifiers and sub woofers.
>
> HOWEVER, since this is my 1st GPS I'm not sure what to expect as far
> as navigation. I've played with all the settings (bus, truck, car,
> motorcycle, shortest, quickest, etc..) and it will still turn me off
> into a residential area when i can see the "main" road just 1/2 mile
> ahead???? I'm not sure I understand its logic??? I was able to
> update it off the web for free, I bought it last April.
>
> Anyone else have these strange navigational issues? I just want it
> to keep me on major roads and highways!
>
> Michael
> 78FC35
> Mesa, Az
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Kurt Horvath"
> wrote:
>>
>> George,
>>
>> I just bought the kids and Mom Garmin Nuvi 760's and a 755T from
>> http://www.tigergps.com New not REFURB!!!! The have a good online
>> rating for sales and service. $249 delivered for the 760' and $299
>> for the 755T. They also have the huge 7" 7500 for $400. In stock
> and
>> shipped. I did lots of surfing for info and the 760's are rated 5
>> 5tars, and the 755T is the same with life time traffic service.
>>
>> Sorry I just went to that web site and all the prices have gone up.
>> Yesterday was Cyber Monday, stuff was on sale. The 760's ars nor
>> $269.00 with free shipping still a good deal.
>>
>> Kurt Horvath
>> 95 PT 42
>> 10AC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "George Burke"
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I want to thank all of you that responded to this thread. Since
>> Jack, Pete,
>>> Gary, and others who passed on info. on the two brands and
> models
>> that I
>>> was looking at, I have decided to go with the Garmin 650. For my
>> purposes,
>>> it will give longer battery life than the 205W that I was
> initially
>> looking
>>> at, along with maps of North America instead of just the lower
> 48.
>> There are
>>> other features included at very little to no extra cost, some
> that
>> I will
>>> use, some not. Thanks Pete, for the heads up on Magellan. I
> despise
>> companys
>>> that give lousy customer service. We should all stop doing
> business
>> with
>>> them. There are some companys on E-Bay that are selling
> refurbished
>> Garmin
>>> gps units at very good prices, all coming with a full one yr.
>> warranty from
>>> Garmin. Thanks again, George Burke 1977 FC31 Charlotte
>>>
>>> On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 4:14 PM, drw907 wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have the older Garmin street pilot 330 3.5" diaganol touch
>> screen
>>>> and like it - very user friendly. In the car I run it on the
>>>> windshield with suction cup mounts that came with it (I can
> reach
>> the
>>>> touch screen on the windshield mount). In the motorhome it sits
>> in a
>>>> optional dash mount, with a optional remote magnetic GPS remote
>>>> antenna on the roof (the mount and antenna so I could reach the
>> touch
>>>> screen from the drivers seat of the coach - this unit could not
>> read
>>>> through the roof of the BMC)
>>>>
>>>> This year I updated the software for $70 and like it even more.
>> The
>>>> new software calculates quicker, has all the new streets, and
>> points
>>>> of interest.
>>>>
>>>> I have ordered a GPS handheld unit - the new Delorme PN-40. We
>> will
>>>> use it for hiking, bicycling, and sea kayaking. We will start
>>>> fulltiming this year, so it should get good use. The nice thing
>>>> about Delorme is that for a $29 annual subscription fee, you can
>>>> download as many detail maps as you want (topography, water
>>>> navigation, other countries, etc). Delorme PN 40 info at:
>>>> http://www.delorme.com/
>>>>
>>>> They do make vehicle mounts for the PN40, and it has the latest
>>>> antenna tech that "may" read through the roof of a BB. Screen is
>>>> small so it is primarily a listen to directions while driving.
>>>> Unit is likely better as a handheld than a driving tool - and
> the
>>>> NUVI better as a driving tool but not as much as a handheld
>> compared
>>>> to the PN40. The PN 40 is the latest and greatest for it's
>> intended
>>>> use.
>>>> Dan
>>>> 94 BB BMC 37'
>>>>
>>>> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com >> 40yahoogroups.com>,
>>>> "George Burke"
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I am looking at giving my self a early Xmas gift,(Guy code
> for
>> I
>>>> don't want
>>>>> the wife to Know about this just Yet). I have narrowed it
> down
>> to
>>>> the Garmin
>>>>> Nuvi 205W, and the Magellan Roadmate 1412. I like the 4.3"
> wide
>>>> screen on
>>>>> these units, and they are currently on sale at roughly $150.
> The
>>>> Magellan
>>>>> has maps of the U.S. and Canada, while the comparable Garmin
>> only
>>>> covers the
>>>>> lower 48 + Hawaii & P.R. Both carry a 1 Yr. P&L warranty.
> Would
>>>> like to hear
>>>>> from any of you who own one or more of these things. Need
> input
>> on
>>>> the
>>>>> pluses and minuses of both units. If you had a bad experience
>> with
>>>> one or
>>>>> the other, would love to hear how either of these companies
> took
>>>> care of
>>>>> you. Thanks, George Burke 1977 FC31 Charlotte
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
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