Portable Navigation Device
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 2
From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
my boss just gave me one of them..not good for tractor trailer drivers but a very nice tool to go on trips or walk the city with...
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I have owned three Garmin and two Magellan. The Garmin locks in much faster. No contest there.
I like the routing with the Magellan better. When I am towing, the Garmin keeps sending me through cities regardless of which setting I use.
The Garmins have better screen contrast. The Magellan looks washed out, at least in the model I use.
The new Magellan screens are way too busy, in my opinion, and sometimes the added garbage blocks the route, if there are several turns in rapid succession. The Garmin model Sam's Club carries has had numerous problems with locking up and will not always reset without sending it into the factory. The blue tooth in my aftermarket Pioneer receiver is miles ahead of the blue tooth built into the Magellan, again in my opinion.
I currently use a Magellan, but if I could get comparable routing in a Garmin, I would prefer the Garmin set up. I haven't use any of the phones preferring a larger screen. I use mine mostly for work and depend on it daily. With GPS, like everything else, there is no perfect world.
Steve
I like the routing with the Magellan better. When I am towing, the Garmin keeps sending me through cities regardless of which setting I use.
The Garmins have better screen contrast. The Magellan looks washed out, at least in the model I use.
The new Magellan screens are way too busy, in my opinion, and sometimes the added garbage blocks the route, if there are several turns in rapid succession. The Garmin model Sam's Club carries has had numerous problems with locking up and will not always reset without sending it into the factory. The blue tooth in my aftermarket Pioneer receiver is miles ahead of the blue tooth built into the Magellan, again in my opinion.
I currently use a Magellan, but if I could get comparable routing in a Garmin, I would prefer the Garmin set up. I haven't use any of the phones preferring a larger screen. I use mine mostly for work and depend on it daily. With GPS, like everything else, there is no perfect world.
Steve
Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
Tomtom was looking into doing it, but last I heard they stopped due to liability.
I just found this company that makes truckers GPS...Not sure how good they are?
Truck GPS: WorldNav Truck GPS units for Commercial Truck Drivers
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 2
From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
thanks for the link..they look like a nice unit...ill send it to my boss...im from the old school ..i use map's..but its only because that is how i was taught..i do use map quest a lot...that works well....i never had the chance or took the time to use GPS to give it a chance.....i hear they give the shortest rout..not the best rout..
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 2
From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
that would be like sitting in front of the TV.....nice unit...could have it most any place and still see it..i need to see over my dash....i dont need to add things on top of it...
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 568
Likes: 0
From: Irwin,Pa
I have a Garmin Nuvi 260 & like it a lot. I only wish I had a bigger screen. I also chose to mount it on my left dash vent for a couple of reasons.. Its right in line with my gauges & I also don't like it on my windshield because of the distances to view it ,its easily more visible for thief's & I really don't like stuff in my line of sight when driving. I'm a 911 dispatcher & I take a lot of calls for vehicles broken into & GPS's stolen. Its sad to say, but GPS's can lead a burglar right back to your house. If you are out shopping, it is easy for a thief to break into your vehicle.. steal your GPS & hit the home butom which will lead them right back to your house.
Here's a pic where you can see my GPS mounted to the left of my steering column.. Its still visible from the outside, but not nearly as visible as they are mounted on the windshield.
[IMG]<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad344/ghig1967/?action=view¤t=0925001432.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad344/ghig1967/0925001432.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]
Here's a pic where you can see my GPS mounted to the left of my steering column.. Its still visible from the outside, but not nearly as visible as they are mounted on the windshield.
[IMG]<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad344/ghig1967/?action=view¤t=0925001432.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad344/ghig1967/0925001432.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]
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Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
thanks for the link..they look like a nice unit...ill send it to my boss...im from the old school ..i use map's..but its only because that is how i was taught..i do use map quest a lot...that works well....i never had the chance or took the time to use GPS to give it a chance.....i hear they give the shortest rout..not the best rout..
I loved it in the truck, I drove semi dump, it gave me the best routes when paving certain roads, especially when we would pave thru an intersection, and we had to find another road to come in on, and then back down to the paver. I also like the fact that you can relax and daydream instead of looking at every street name worrying if you passsed the road.
Some will also have an FM antenna that gives you real time accedent reports that will re-route you. They also take into account what time a day it is, and re-route you to miss heavy traffic.
On my Tomtom, I can report a cop shooting radar, an accident, ect and it will instantly notify others on my route so they are aware. Thats with the FM antenna connected.
If I get back into trucking, I will definetly have buy a trucker GPS.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 2
From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
thanks for peaking my intrest in this Frank...i was just reading what it can do..i also like the fact it skips toll roads (if i wish) and tells you where the truck stops are...i already sent this link to my boss..i may have to give this unit a chance...
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,399
Likes: 188
From: Norco,CA
I am a pilot also and I would go with garmin. They were the first in flying so I guess they should be one of the best. My son has this brand I don't Know what model but he takes it in and out of his truck and its great. Chet
Not a liberal...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 4
From: Cut & Shoot, Texas
My Dad is here visiting from California so I have been driving his truck some this past week. He's running a Garmin unit that is really nice. It even picked up my house and our road doesn't usually show up as the neighborhood is too new. Does a great job.