Garmin GPS - Which GPS System?

Author

Which GPS System?

Tom G

2006-05-12, 5:48 pm

I have a Toshiba Notebook computer and would like to add a GPS system, any
suggestions? I only plan to use it in my car and within the US.

Any and all suggestions most welcomed.

Tom G

peter

2006-05-12, 5:48 pm

Tom G wrote:
> I have a Toshiba Notebook computer and would like to add a GPS system, any
> suggestions? I only plan to use it in my car and within the US.
>
> Any and all suggestions most welcomed.

Garmin's GPS-18 with USB interface and included CitySelect-NA/nRoute
software works well. It uses the same NavTeq-based maps as most of the
built-in automotive systems. They cover all of the US, almost all of
Canada, and Puerto Rico. Despite the NA (North America) name, they
don't cover Mexico.

And if you later decide to get a Garmin handheld receiver the software
license lets you use the same CitySelect-NA maps in one additional GPS
unit.

Tom G

2006-05-12, 11:48 pm

I assume you have an Garmin GPS-18 (?) a few questions-
How clear and distinct are the voice commands?
Are they given in enough time to allow for lane changes, etc.?
What do you think of their routing? Shortest, only interstate, or?
How close to the destination are you able to get? Read MS Streets & Trips
only get within 1/4 mile and bad routing, per Smart Computing.

Thanks for your prompt reply.

Tom tomaz@cox.net

"peter" <prathman@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1147454854.178931.287770@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
| Tom G wrote:
| > I have a Toshiba Notebook computer and would like to add a GPS system,
any
| > suggestions? I only plan to use it in my car and within the US.
| >
| > Any and all suggestions most welcomed.
|
| Garmin's GPS-18 with USB interface and included CitySelect-NA/nRoute
| software works well. It uses the same NavTeq-based maps as most of the
| built-in automotive systems. They cover all of the US, almost all of
| Canada, and Puerto Rico. Despite the NA (North America) name, they
| don't cover Mexico.
|
| And if you later decide to get a Garmin handheld receiver the software
| license lets you use the same CitySelect-NA maps in one additional GPS
| unit.
|

peter

2006-05-12, 11:48 pm

Tom G wrote:
> I assume you have an Garmin GPS-18 (?) a few questions-

I use the nRoute software and the CitySelect-NA maps on a laptop.
Instead of the GPS-18 mouse I actually connect my handheld Garmin to
the laptop, but that shouldn't affect how well the system works,
sounds, or routes.

> How clear and distinct are the voice commands?

The voice is nice and clear (in comparison I sometimes had problems
with StreetAtlas voices not being loud enough even when turned up all
the way), but they're rather brief.
> Are they given in enough time to allow for lane changes, etc.?

You get two announcements, one in plenty of time to change lanes, etc.
and then a second just before the actual turn. The screen also
displays a pop-up closeup of the intersection with an arrow showing
your route.

> What do you think of their routing? Shortest, only interstate, or?

Not perfect, but seems to get me there fine. You can customize it
depending on whether you want shortest distance vs. quickest, whether
you want automatic re-routing if you get off the route, what speeds to
assume for various road types, and some personal preferences such as
avoiding toll roads, freeways, etc. You also input the vehicle type so
it knows if you're carpool lane eligible, or restricted to truck lanes,
etc.

> How close to the destination are you able to get? Read MS Streets & Trips
> only get within 1/4 mile and bad routing, per Smart Computing.

AFAIK, all the map databases only store street address data in blocks;
i.e. it may know where 1000 is and where 1500 is, but not the
individual location of each address. So the program interpolates based
on the known locations and figures that 1200 should be about two-fifths
of the way between those two ends. Usually it works well and I end up
in front of the right address or only off by one lot, but sometimes the
numbers aren't uniform or they follow a different rule and it can be
off a ways.

LinkBot