GPS units....

[Darin]

I'm in the market for a GPS. Any recomendations on a good unit? Money is no object....as long as it's under $500.


If you have one let me know what it is and how you like it.

Thanx!

[MacLean]

I think this came up in another thread too....

I like the Garmin Nuvi and the TomTom series.

I'm leaning towards the TomTom now, because it will work with my phone, removing one more bluetooth thing I have to plug in.

[Darin]

I think this came up in another thread too....

I did a search on GPS and couldn't find squat.

I was playing around with them in Beast Buy and Circuit Shitty and was liking the Garmins. I want a big screen and seen a Garmin with a 5.3" screen. It was on sale from $799 to $499. It was a bit much tho....

[Jks9199]

Most of them get their data from the same place, and use the same software to develop the routes. So it comes down to a couple of issues: antenna system (we had two Garmins in Texas last week, and one was taking 10 minutes or more to find the satellites; the other was only a minute or two), and the interface.

I'm not an expert on the antenna systems; search the web a bit and you'll find various opinions from folks who do know.

In terms of interface... see if the store'll let you experiment a bit. I've got a Magellan Maestro, and one thing I don't like is that I have to start by city, instead of offering a street and letting it find the city. The headache is that sometimes the city in the database doesn't match what I think or expect... But there are things about Garmin's I've looked at that I didn't like, too.

Bottom line? Figure out what you want it to do, and which one fits your budget and car, and screen size needs.

[CTR man]

I did a search on GPS and couldn't find squat.

I was playing around with them in Beast Buy and Circuit Shitty and was liking the Garmins. I want a big screen and seen a Garmin with a 5.3" screen. It was on sale from $799 to $499. It was a bit much tho....

Try Garmin http://officerresource.com/forums/se...earchid=330288

[Cool Breeze]

Garmin + amazon.com

[Darin]

Try Garmin http://officerresource.com/forums/se...earchid=330288

Well if you wanna go THAT route....

[MacLean]

Most of them get their data from the same place

They *all* get their data from the same place.

The only difference at this point is the software they use and the features they include.

[Jim1348]

If you are interested, Sams Club has the Garmin Nuvi 750 for about $300. They have a pretty liberal return policy if you don't like it and have to return it.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...=5&item=377706

[Just KC]

I bought my husband the TomTom...he loves it. It talks to him and gives him turn by turn directions vocally....without him having to look at the screen. They don't all do that........so that is one nice feature i recommend.

[gopherpuckfan]

My suggestion is to find out how often that brand updates their maps and if it will cost you money for the update.

I have a Magellan Maestro and really like the features. However, it hasn't had an update yet and, when it does, it will cost me $80. If I would have done my research ahead of time, I wouldn't have bought it.

[CTR man]

I bought my husband the TomTom...he loves it. It talks to him and gives him turn by turn directions vocally....without him having to look at the screen. They don't all do that........so that is one nice feature i recommend.

I wonder how that works in Utah with their crazy gridded street names. IE Turn right on 2300 South, Turn left on 1800 West. I suppose it works ok. I had a hard time figuring out how to get around the last time I was there until I figured out their system.

[Rhino]

I got the Garmin Nuvi, it's about $250 at Best Buy (or if you wait until they go one sale about $200).

Like anything else the more money you spend on a GPS, the more "bells and whistles" you get. But I found the Nuvi to be a happy medium.

[Darin]

If you are interested, Sams Club has the Garmin Nuvi 750 for about $300. They have a pretty liberal return policy if you don't like it and have to return it.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...=5&item=377706

Thanks for that tip!!!! They have it for $100 cheaper than everywhere else.

[CTR man]

If you are interested, Sams Club has the Garmin Nuvi 750 for about $300. They have a pretty liberal return policy if you don't like it and have to return it.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...=5&item=377706

Thanks for that tip!!!! They have it for $100 cheaper than everywhere else.

What do you expect? It's Wal-mart. Only in a Costco type facade.

[Jks9199]

My suggestion is to find out how often that brand updates their maps and if it will cost you money for the update.

I have a Magellan Maestro and really like the features. However, it hasn't had an update yet and, when it does, it will cost me $80. If I would have done my research ahead of time, I wouldn't have bought it.

Are you sure? I updated mine several months ago for free. (OK, I had to buy the SD cards -- but they're reusable.)

Last I checked, Magellan plans to update maps annually, along with occasional software upgrades.

[Just KC]

My husband says the updates for his TomTom are free. I had gotten him the 3rd Edition for Xmas.....not sure if that makes any difference.

[armsmaster270]

At my lock wholesaler I was given a Garmin streetmap series with a 600.00 Master/American Lock order at 50% off I like it a lot it does the vocal directions and bluetooth. I even downloaded a squad car to show my position

[Xiphos]

The Garmin and the TomTom have similar features and similar price points.

I use the TomTom. I like the Bluetooth capabilities along with the MP3 and FM Transmitter. I have the large, wide screen version. TomTom has periodic firmware updates as well. Every week there's a download that tells the TomTom where to predict the location of the satellites. You get a GPS fix in seconds. If you miss the download it still only takes a few minutes on a cold start.

I recently got a free map update. It's not the latest map but it's newer than the one I had. The latest and greatest maps are available for usually $75-$100.

TomTom gets their maps from Tele Atlas which they are in the process of buying. Garmin gets their maps from Navteq. Neither company has perfect maps. One may be better than the other for a particular area. They only way you can know is using it. Research on some Internet forums will help.

I've found the Tele Atlas maps in the TomTom nearly perfect for our area Darin, I rarely have problems. The TomTom has a feature that allows you to report map errors right from the unit. The corrections are distributed in the newer map updates.

I've also had an easy time downloading new points of interest files. The TomTom also has third party (free) software you can download to use Google Earth or Google Maps to plan trip routes that download to the unit. I'm not sure how Garmin handles that but I know it has similar features. I use the TT though and it's very simple.

[Hannibal]

Just a thought.... my "smarter than I am" phone has GPS built in. I find it to be very helpful since I always have my phone with me anyway.

I have a Lowrence GPS that we use on trips, etc. It is easier to use and has a lot more features than my phone, but it is bulky. My phone comes in especially handy when I go somewhere with others who don't have GPS and we get misdirected (I never get lost, that I'll admit to anyway).