GPS recommendations

[vraiblonde]

Well, you all must have scared it into submission because miraculously it has taken the update after a few fits and starts. "Can't connect" "Software error" "Nyah nyah nyah"

Once I got the stupid firmware updated (this was what was blowing up the last times I tried to update), it only took me a few tries to update the maps (as long as I chose only the South/East of 48 instead of the whole US). It shouldn't be this tedious to do a simple update.

 

[GWguy]

My wife's NUVI has "previews' of intersections and exits so you can see what the signs should look like and which lane you should be in. Basicaly they have a CGI of the ramp so you get to see what it 'really' looks like before you come upon it

All of these things are wonderful, if you have a navigator in the seat next to you. I find it's just too much and takes my eyes off the road way too often to use these features by myself. I always use my laptop or phone to callup Google maps and examine my route before i start driving. Google Street View will also show you the signs and intersections. I guess that's why I prefer the built-in which is basically just maps, traffic on a big screen, and provides voice turn-by-turn if I want it, and I don't have to futz while I'm driving.

 

[Misfit]

(as long as I chose only the South/East of 48 instead of the whole US).

I had to do that with my garmin unless I wanted to buy a memory card.

 

[John Z]

I haven't totally mastered updating the maps yet (and probably never will) on our two Garmin GPS units. We have an old one, and a really old one. I purchased lifetime updates for both. They use two different Garmin update programs. And during one update a few years ago, both of them insisted they didn't have room any longer. I guess there are more roads in the USA than there used to be. So I got 1 or 2 GB SD cards for them (which are quite cheap), and was able to do updates again. Still there is always some strange thing that happens during my quarterly update, like a failure to recognize the device connected to my computer, not enough room for even the mid-Atlantic region to be loaded, etc. etc. Eventually, the update works, I sigh relief, and put them back in the cars. At some point, I'll have to replace them, as they probably will stop being supported in a soon-to-be-released computer OS environment.

 

[GURPS]

Phone. Waze.

This


I really like Waze

 

[GURPS]

You need this:

View attachment 107945

And this:

View attachment 107946

I did that for 4 yrs
.... I still have a nice collection of Topo's [250,000, 100,000, 50,000 and 10,000] for Va / WV from my 4 wheeling days .... pre gps

 

[GURPS]

What's interesting is that the GPS knows when traffic ahead is congested, and other real time alerts, but can't update itself. Duh. You should be able to update without plugging the GPS into your computer.

it is not a high bandwidth signal

 

[RoseRed]

St. Mary’s 911 center to provide traffic info to app

St. Mary’s ‘first’ to share with WAZE

http://www.somdnews.com/article/201...traffic-info-to-app&template=southernMaryland

 

[RareBreed]

Just downloaded the Waze app. Will try it out on my commute home today.

I used the Waze app driving home last night and into work this morning. I loved it! It's part GPS, part Social Networking, and part Video Game. I like that I finally have something that "tells" me the directions instead of just showing me. For some reason all the other apps I've tried wouldn't talk to me.

I also like that you can see other people on Waze on the road map. I passed a few of them driving in today. I also liked that it showed your estimated ETA, how many miles left to go, and how much longer to go (hours/minutes). You can report traffic, construction, disabled vehicles with just a tap of the screen. What was really fun was that things pop up on the screen (this morning it was basketballs). You tap it and you are awarded points. Like LT said earlier, no sure what the points are for but they are fun to get!! You also get points for driving a certain distance, driving for a certain length of time, etc.

The app also lets you say whether or not reported "issues" are still relevent. Like, it will say there is a car on the shoulder and gives you the option of tapping a "thumbs up" for "yes it's stil there" or "Not There" if the issue has been resolved. I also like the night driving mode better than during the day. Darkens out the surrounding roads/area and makes your path stand out clearer. Another great part is you get to pick what type of icon your car is represented as on the map. Blue car, yellow car, SUV, truck, and my favorite... race car!

 

[Vince]

I don't need no stinking map. I never get lost.

 

[RareBreed]

I used the Waze app driving home last night and into work this morning. I loved it! It's part GPS, part Social Networking, and part Video Game. I like that I finally have something that "tells" me the directions instead of just showing me. For some reason all the other apps I've tried wouldn't talk to me.

I also like that you can see other people on Waze on the road map. I passed a few of them driving in today. I also liked that it showed your estimated ETA, how many miles left to go, and how much longer to go (hours/minutes). You can report traffic, construction, disabled vehicles with just a tap of the screen. What was really fun was that things pop up on the screen (this morning it was basketballs). You tap it and you are awarded points. Like LT said earlier, no sure what the points are for but they are fun to get!! You also get points for driving a certain distance, driving for a certain length of time, etc.

The app also lets you say whether or not reported "issues" are still relevent. Like, it will say there is a car on the shoulder and gives you the option of tapping a "thumbs up" for "yes it's stil there" or "Not There" if the issue has been resolved. I also like the night driving mode better than during the day. Darkens out the surrounding roads/area and makes your path stand out clearer. Another great part is you get to pick what type of icon your car is represented as on the map. Blue car, yellow car, SUV, truck, and my favorite... race car!

The "thumbs up" is to thank the person who reported the issue, not to say the issue is still there. I've gotten a few "thank yous" over the last two days.

 

[Hodr]

I know you already have a million suggestions, here's one more.

Keep an eye out the next time you are in Radio Shak / Dollar General / Walmart, if you ever go to these places. They often have heavily subsidized mid range phones for the 3rd party carriers (Boost, Net10, Straight Talk, etc.), often with pretty crazy sales prices.

I picked up a Boost LG Volt from Wal-Mart for $35 six months ago, and use it as a dedicated car GPS.

You basically just need a 5 inch screen or larger (4.7 should be fine too), and any phone with that size screen should have more than enough horsepower.

Then you can make use of a couple of free Map products. Google Maps can be used offline, but it is a paid to cache all of the maps for where you want to go.

I use CoPilot, the free version will let you download the entire US map and it is meant to be used like a Garmin or TomTom and is very user friendly. The premium version periodically goes on sale for like $10 or $15, but if you don't have cell service you may not get much out of the extra features (live traffic updates, etc).

 

[Hodr]

I also like that you can see other people on Waze on the road map.

If it would let me message them through the App I would be sold. They could have some pre-set messages like "Pull over grandpa!", or "Whoa there speed racer."

 

[RareBreed]

If it would let me message them through the App I would be sold. They could have some pre-set messages like "Pull over grandpa!", or "Whoa there speed racer."

You can send messages. They are called Map Chats. But I found out that there is a time delay when it comes to seeing people on the road. Something like 2 minutes so as to prevent stalking and other things.