GPS Devices

[ArkanDan]

Kinda got the go-ahead from "the boss" to purchase a GPS unit. Just got an e-mail from Home Depot advertising a Garmin Quest II for $499, a "in thier words" SPECIAL. Looked around and found the same unit for $345 including S/H. I've never seen one of these things up close or even researched them. I have read threads on other forums indicating the Garmins are top shelf units. What might be the opinions of this learned crowd, if you don't mind my asking? Is this unit more than I need, just mainly road map help? Something less expensive that'll do just as well? Try not to do the "I own it so it is the best" thing please. Oh, I'd probably use it to locate machinery and tool auctions so it isn't really off topic. Thanks in advance.

 

[J-TEX]

I have a Lowrance(sp) bought at Cabela"s for 179.00 or close to it. Never had done any resarch on them either. they had them on the counter from 899.00 down to my 179.00. I asked the guy what the difference was, basically I was told both will get you there the 899.00 one just has a fancier way of doing it. I really like my unit and I have seen the others I personally cant tell any difference.

Just my .02 worth

 

[Anonymous-0]

We have a Garmin 330 that was $269.00 (much cheaper now) that does a good job of getting you to where you want to go. My wife is a realtor and it does come in handy. It can be moved from car to car which makes it handy. With the ads I see in the paper, I don't think I would pay over $150.00 for one now.

 

[JT]

My dad has a Tom-Tom and it works great. It has not steered him wrong yet. LOL
Jim

 

[dlplost]

If there's a Bass Pro Shop any where near you, go there. They have dozens of models on display, you can play with them and the guys at the counter can explain it all to you. And Garmin IS the best.

 

[John T]

Got my favorite daughter a magellan maestro bluetooth compatible with speech to text feature 4040 with the 4.3 screen for $300 on sale at Rat Shack. Id only buy Garmin or Magellan myself

JT

 

[jamesinok]

I have a Garmin Quest. It has addresses and road maps of U S and Canada. Talks to you and tells you where to turn. Tells you which way to go on exits, whether to keep right or left on exits. able to add stops on the route. Has fuel, food, and lodging findsin a area by pushing button. I love mine as sometimes I have to search for homes and farms in my business. Cost around 150 bucks at Wal-mart jamesinok

 

[Pair-a-dice farm]

I've got an old GPS it don't have all of the bells and whistles but it always gets me where I want to go and the batteries have never gone dead. It cost $4.99 at wallyworld. It's a Rand-Mcnally brand. >) I guess the new kind are best, they usually will get you there....if you don't mind going outa the way

 

[rockyhawaii]

Make sure the price includes the cost of the antenna of your choice and whatever data cards you may need for the areas you will be using the GPS.

 

[JD 60 Puller]

I have a Garmin Lengend and it is great. I use it for boating. It is fully water proff and only runs about $200-$250.

 

[DumOLeBob]

By "GPS" unit are you asking about one that has a larger screen for use in your vehicle and gives driving directions, etc? Or a handheld unit used to locate points on the earth? Not that I know the difference. I just want to fig out what the other folks are taling about.

Thanks - Bob

 

[rustyj]

Well, i figger, wherever i go--there i am---don't need some fool gadget to tell me that! I can still read a road map, ask questions, follow directions! And,with my aging brain-by the time i figgered out how to make it work, i'd be 40 miles past the turnoff!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've ogt an old garmin 12 ,no mapping capability ,but has gotten me into and outa trouble lots ,kayaking on the open ocean and having the fog roll in so you can't see 2 feet infront of ya ,,,GREAT FUN ..
I've beeen researching the newer Garmins and the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx is what my Ground Search and rescue folks are using..
If your using it for streets and thats it there are auto models on their website as well..I'd go to a couple of local shops thatr sell em and try and get sales guys to show you the ins and outs ,,but go to a couple places cause you'd want to compare what they're saying ,,but GARMIN is my recommendation,,

 

[Crem]

I had a Garmin 660 Gps. Almost $600. I only had it about a month and my window was smashed in a store parking lot and the GPS was grabbed as the car alarm went off. Always take the GPS with you or have it out of sight or it is bye bye.

 

[ArkanDan]

I'm looking for one that will work as a "navigator" while tooling down the highway. My "navigator" of the past 38 years gets a little testy when I grumble about not knowing our where abouts and having missed the last three or four turns. Haven't been doing that much traveling up to now, but intend to get some in before the full effects of senility overcome me. There's a Bass Pro (miniaturized version) just up the road from me so will have to stop as suggested. It's going to be "off season" in Branson real soon so the traffic and crowds won't be that bad. Hoping to get one that is sort of "plug n play" without having to purchase a bunch of software or whatever these things need to keep them going as time passes.

 

[huntingreen]

I have a Delorme hooked to a laptop. I would not go on a trip without it. Went to 1/2 Century of Progress and had to do a lot of detours. 50 miles or more. It was the only way I knew where I was. Get them on ebay. Less than $ 75.00

 

[buickanddeere]

Cheap laptop and a Garmin GPS18.
If the wife is navigating odds are better destination wise to turn right where she says to turn left. Of course the political fallout is considerable.

 

[big fred]

It probably depends on where you might be using it. I was in Queens, NY, for a meeting a few weeks ago, and was driving down a narrow street with lots of traffic and pedestrians, no time to actually look at the thing to see where it's telling you to turn, so having the voice prompt was a godsend. This particular one (a Magellan) also spoke the street name, so instead of "turn right in 0.1 miles", it would say "turn right in 0.1 miles, Astoria Boulevard". That feature is listed on the specifications as "text to speech", where the one that doesn't say street names is often called "voice prompt". In any case, if you're likely to be in a strange city during high traffic periods, voice prompt is a minimum necessity, and text to speech is a real nice feature to have. If you're only going to be in small towns, or rural areas, or if you can avoid high traffic periods, you can probably get by without those features.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Grocery store is selling them for 99.00 here.Hunter from Vermont got lost in mondays snow storm . Left his matches and radio in the truck.His gps froze up and wouldnt work.Bet he would have traded the GPs for some dry matches.I have had 2 compasses quit working.I carry 2 now.A fellow trying out a new snowmobile found the lost hunter.