Garmin GPS - Nuvi 750; the final solution to all GPS?

Author

Nuvi 750; the final solution to all GPS?

nomail@spam.com

2008-02-22, 10:33 pm

Okay, I'm ready to buy, and I'm leaning to the best GPS I can get
without the bluetooth, traffic alert, and window defroster...the
Nuvi750.

MUST HAVE's:
--internal antenna
--TTS
--wide screen
--FM transmitter for MP3
--Map updateable

A few final 750 questions:
--max SD size...1GB or 2GB?
--why don't they have replaceable AA batterries?
--are MGRS coordinates allowed?
--can off-road coordinates be saved/tracked?
--can I correct routes? (I prefer business routes rather than bypass)

NewEgg has these for under $400 with free shipping...buy now?

Thanks, George

z.entropic

2008-02-22, 10:33 pm

On Feb 22, 6:37=A0pm, nom...@spam.com wrote:
> Okay, I'm ready to buy, and I'm leaning to the best GPS I can get
> without the bluetooth, traffic alert, and window defroster...the
> Nuvi750.
>
> MUST HAVE's:
> --internal antenna
> --TTS
> --wide screen
> --FM transmitter for MP3

the sound quality is poor because of the imposed low transmitter power
in the US... also, you need a clean band when you drive a distance,
which isn't easy in densely populated areas.

> --Map updateable
>
> A few final 750 questions:
> --max SD size...1GB or 2GB?

2+

> --why don't they have replaceable AA batterries?

??? maybe internal space?

> --are MGRS coordinates allowed?

don't know

> --can off-road coordinates be saved/tracked?

yes; if you downgrade to SW 2.3, activate the hidden track feature and
upgrade to 2.6, you can even have 200+ full days of tracking (1 pt/s)
without rubber-banding to roads. Check http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/t=
opic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3D98909
for more details. Otherwise, it's 10,000 pts (ca. 350-500 miles).

> --can I correct routes? (I prefer business routes rather than bypass)

I'm not sure...

>
> NewEgg has these for under $400 with free shipping...buy now?
>
> Thanks, George

z.entropic

Creig Rice

2008-02-23, 7:33 am

I have a 4 GB SD card in mine and love it. I loaded it up with
everything from Pink Floyd and on a recent trip to Florida and never
heard the same tune twice. Next time I will add all the Led Zeppelin
and still have room to spare.

I did run into a couple of strong stations and had to use the built in
speaker. Changing the frequency on the fly is not the best thing to
try while driving. I have mine set to 93.5 MHz and works very well.

Also loaded the unit up with a number of POI files and that was so so.
Rest areas and speed traps / Red Light caners were set to 2 miles and
it worked great. I put in to many restaurant chains and that became
annoying when driving around the city's.

I was hoping the POI would work like a bubble as you drive down the
highway and alert you when anything in the POI file is within the
radius that you have set. It does not work that way. For example,
Harley Davidson now is locating all their dealerships near the
interstates. One here in the local area I used as a test would only
alert me if I was driving down the road the dealership was on. At the
test location I think I could throw a rock and hit the parking lot
from the freeway but you receive no notification when driving down the
freeway. Now if I am driving down the road that the dealership is on I
will get a warning. This happened at every dealership that I passed on
the freeway.

Not sure where Garmin gets it's POI's from but I found at least on Bob
Evans restaurant that I have been going to for over 10 years not in
their list.

On the trip I was able to lock the unit up a few times by hitting too
many icons in a row. For example I may have been in the music list and
wanted to get back to the map and I would keep hitting back / back /
back very rapidly and the unit would just hang. A guck powering the
unit off and back on again reset everything and I did not miss
anything. All the travel times did not reset which is what I wanted.

I used the unit in the pedestrian mode to track how many miles I
walked down the beach and it worked great. Just remember to switch it
back to highway mode when you want to use it on the highway. I forgot
and as I started my trip back home I wanted to reset the trip stats. I
could not figure out why the unit would not show or update time
remaining or give me audio directions. As soon as I figured out what I
had done and rest the unit to travel mode everything worked.

Only once did it send me down a dead end road and that you could see
that recent construction changes the right of ways.

Overall I am very satisfied with the Nuvi 750 and I don't leave home
without it.

Under $400 is a great price.

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:37:14 GMT, nomail@spam.com wrote:

>Okay, I'm ready to buy, and I'm leaning to the best GPS I can get
>without the bluetooth, traffic alert, and window defroster...the
>Nuvi750.
>
>MUST HAVE's:
>--internal antenna
>--TTS
>--wide screen
>--FM transmitter for MP3
>--Map updateable
>
>A few final 750 questions:
>--max SD size...1GB or 2GB?
>--why don't they have replaceable AA batterries?
>--are MGRS coordinates allowed?
>--can off-road coordinates be saved/tracked?
>--can I correct routes? (I prefer business routes rather than bypass)
>
>NewEgg has these for under $400 with free shipping...buy now?
>
>Thanks, George

2008-02-23, 10:33 am

To get a good open frequency try here
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/vacant

z.entropic wrote:
> On Feb 22, 6:37 pm, nom...@spam.com wrote:
>
> the sound quality is poor because of the imposed low transmitter power
> in the US... also, you need a clean band when you drive a distance,
> which isn't easy in densely populated areas.
>
>
> 2+
>
>
> ??? maybe internal space?
>
>
> don't know
>
>
> yes; if you downgrade to SW 2.3, activate the hidden track feature and
> upgrade to 2.6, you can even have 200+ full days of tracking (1 pt/s)
> without rubber-banding to roads. Check http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/...?TOPIC_ID=98909
> for more details. Otherwise, it's 10,000 pts (ca. 350-500 miles).
>
>
> I'm not sure...
>
>
> z.entropic

nomail@spam.com

2008-02-23, 10:33 am

Creig, thanks for the info...good to know 4GB works. I think that
"bubble" would include what you say, it's seems to be a basic thing, I
would hope something like that would be adjustable. Good point asking
where Garmin gets their POI's, I think there are a few third-party
companies that provide them to all GPS manufacturers. I work with a
non-profit historical association that does a summer and fall festival
during Pennsylvania apple season, and they aren't listed as a
POI...gotta find out who you "pay" to get on that list.

Does your 750 let you save a location if it's not on the map? I went
to a new shopping center and my "current" cheapo GPS wouldn't let me
save the location because (apparently) I wasn't "anywhere?"

I suspect that yours locked up when you cranked up the solo on either
"On The Turning Away" or "Comfortably Numb." I once drew a crowd at a
busy Philadelphia intersection trying to sing along with "The Great
Gig In The Sky," up load and I'm screaming to hit those notes, and I
notice everyone looking at me...bunch of hip-hop fans or something!
Great move adding Led Zeppelin, add only the stock albums, none of the
newer compilations, and stop uploading after Physical Graffiti.
Consider adding Deep Purple In Rock and crank up Speed King when you
get on I71 or I76. I've recently rediscovered Frampton Comes Alive,
when he comes off that talk box and goes into that solo, I don't
realize how fast I've sped up! Oh yeah, we were talking about the
GPS...sorry....

Thanks again for the long notes. --George

Creig Rice

2008-02-23, 12:33 pm

On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:12:05 GMT, nomail@spam.com wrote:

>Creig, thanks for the info...good to know 4GB works. I think that
>"bubble" would include what you say, it's seems to be a basic thing, I
>would hope something like that would be adjustable. Good point asking
>where Garmin gets their POI's, I think there are a few third-party
>companies that provide them to all GPS manufacturers. I work with a
>non-profit historical association that does a summer and fall festival
>during Pennsylvania apple season, and they aren't listed as a
>POI...gotta find out who you "pay" to get on that list.
>
Yes you can save the location but it will in your favorites and not in
the Garmin database. You can then create your own POI file and even
add an ICON for the map and voice notification. I was told by Garmin
that restaurant may be listed under a franchise name and not the
common store front name.

If you Google POI you can find a lot files listing just about
everything you want. The one thing I liked is that while on the trip I
wanted to know how far it was to the next rest area. I went to my
favorites and got down to the rest area file and it will display the 4
closets rest areas and an arrow as to their direction. I came in very
handy at times.

The one thing I would like to see for all rest areas is to have them
listed by the direction and mile marker. In the file that I have some
are listed that way and others are not. That comes in handy if the
area is not on both sides of the interstate.

>Does your 750 let you save a location if it's not on the map? I went
>to a new shopping center and my "current" cheapo GPS wouldn't let me
>save the location because (apparently) I wasn't "anywhere?"

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (part 1 & 2) put together is all that I
need. I can drive forever with that and never get tired of it. I have
it on CD and listen to the entire 23 minutes drive into work almost
every day. Another CD that I found was Smoking Blues. It is great.

Another good driving tune is the Allman Brothers Mountain Jam off Eat
A Peach. Good for when driving in the South with the windows open.

Try pulling into a Geezer's community blasting In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. I
can see the roll bars (walkers) and kick stands (canes) vibrating
already. Along with a BIG smile on everyone's face.

Yes the 4 GB card is worth the money.

>
>I suspect that yours locked up when you cranked up the solo on either
>"On The Turning Away" or "Comfortably Numb." I once drew a crowd at a
>busy Philadelphia intersection trying to sing along with "The Great
>Gig In The Sky," up load and I'm screaming to hit those notes, and I
>notice everyone looking at me...bunch of hip-hop fans or something!
>Great move adding Led Zeppelin, add only the stock albums, none of the
>newer compilations, and stop uploading after Physical Graffiti.
>Consider adding Deep Purple In Rock and crank up Speed King when you
>get on I71 or I76. I've recently rediscovered Frampton Comes Alive,
>when he comes off that talk box and goes into that solo, I don't
>realize how fast I've sped up! Oh yeah, we were talking about the
>GPS...sorry....
>
>Thanks again for the long notes. --George

JBDragon

2008-02-24, 4:33 am

Can it be Directly plugged into your Radio instead of using the FM
transmitter? I have a couple of Direct inputs on my Radio, one I use for XM
Radio, but the other just sits unused. I'd like to be able to stream some
MP3's with it directly to my radio. Would sound a whole lot better. I've
used FM transmitters before and they aren't that great. One of them
Cassette adapters sounds better then a FM transmitter. Only problem is more
people don't have a Cassette slot these days, it's DVD.

"Creig Rice" <crice@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:m7uvr3peq5nunru
f8e3l0olcbm76k6qni1@
4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>I have a 4 GB SD card in mine and love it. I loaded it up with
> everything from Pink Floyd and on a recent trip to Florida and never
> heard the same tune twice. Next time I will add all the Led Zeppelin
> and still have room to spare.
>
> I did run into a couple of strong stations and had to use the built in
> speaker. Changing the frequency on the fly is not the best thing to
> try while driving. I have mine set to 93.5 MHz and works very well.
>
> Also loaded the unit up with a number of POI files and that was so so.
> Rest areas and speed traps / Red Light caners were set to 2 miles and
> it worked great. I put in to many restaurant chains and that became
> annoying when driving around the city's.
>
> I was hoping the POI would work like a bubble as you drive down the
> highway and alert you when anything in the POI file is within the
> radius that you have set. It does not work that way. For example,
> Harley Davidson now is locating all their dealerships near the
> interstates. One here in the local area I used as a test would only
> alert me if I was driving down the road the dealership was on. At the
> test location I think I could throw a rock and hit the parking lot
> from the freeway but you receive no notification when driving down the
> freeway. Now if I am driving down the road that the dealership is on I
> will get a warning. This happened at every dealership that I passed on
> the freeway.
>
> Not sure where Garmin gets it's POI's from but I found at least on Bob
> Evans restaurant that I have been going to for over 10 years not in
> their list.
>
> On the trip I was able to lock the unit up a few times by hitting too
> many icons in a row. For example I may have been in the music list and
> wanted to get back to the map and I would keep hitting back / back /
> back very rapidly and the unit would just hang. A guck powering the
> unit off and back on again reset everything and I did not miss
> anything. All the travel times did not reset which is what I wanted.
>
> I used the unit in the pedestrian mode to track how many miles I
> walked down the beach and it worked great. Just remember to switch it
> back to highway mode when you want to use it on the highway. I forgot
> and as I started my trip back home I wanted to reset the trip stats. I
> could not figure out why the unit would not show or update time
> remaining or give me audio directions. As soon as I figured out what I
> had done and rest the unit to travel mode everything worked.
>
> Only once did it send me down a dead end road and that you could see
> that recent construction changes the right of ways.
>
> Overall I am very satisfied with the Nuvi 750 and I don't leave home
> without it.
>
> Under $400 is a great price.
>
>
>
> On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:37:14 GMT, nomail@spam.com wrote:
>

TVNAV.com

2008-02-24, 4:33 am

"JBDragon" <JBDragon at someplace dot com> wrote in message
news:j7qdnWtbgpMvklz
anZ2dnUVZ_u6rnZ2d@co
mcast.com...
> Can it be Directly plugged into your Radio instead of using the FM
> transmitter?

Yes, the nuvi 750 has an audio out jack.
--

Darrel Goheen
GPS@tvnav.com
http://www.tvnav.com

JBDragon

2008-02-24, 10:33 pm

That's good as I have a 780 on the way!

Now to sell my 2610, which has a 2gig CF card and North America Version 8
installed. Normally kept in a case except when I needed it. Looks like
new. Works great, but I needed Blue Tooth Capabilities for use on a
Motorcycle. I know the 780 is not waterproof like the 2610, but there's
solutions to that minor problem, and the fact I rarely rid in the rain
anyway.

"TVNAV.com" <GPS@tvnav.com> wrote in message
news:kbOdnRoB75axjlz
anZ2dnUVZ_gudnZ2d@ne
ws.ruraltel.net...
>
> "JBDragon" <JBDragon at someplace dot com> wrote in message
> news:j7qdnWtbgpMvklz
anZ2dnUVZ_u6rnZ2d@co
mcast.com...
>
> Yes, the nuvi 750 has an audio out jack.
> --
>
>
> Darrel Goheen
> GPS@tvnav.com
> http://www.tvnav.com
>
>
>
>
>

Tim Strickland

2008-02-24, 10:33 pm

George,

You asked if "...MGRS coordinates allowed?"

No. The nuvi product line only supports Lat/Long. Odd that a land-nav GPS
only supports a marine/aviation coordinate system.

MGRS, like the National Grid System (NGS), is based on the Universal
Transverse Mercador (UTM) coordinate system. This is the primary system
used by many federal, state & local emergency services organizations. It's
a shame Garmin has decided to make the nuvi line so incredibly
feature-restricted.

Regards,
Tim

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