Recommend me a good GPS unit.

[Vamped]

Our Magellan is great, lifetime updates and live traffic.

^This, works great, and has never failed me, just came back from S.F. with no problems!

[cincojoe]

iPhone4 + Tom Tom is very nice. Also nice have for walking around like in NY city. Worked great.

i'll chime in. being in NYC there is always more than one route. i tried waze, i tried navigon and the one i've settled on is TomTom for iPhone4. waze is just simply retarded. the concept is fantastic, and i used to love it, but when it sent me in figure 8's to get to my destination on more than one occasion. that was it. navigon is perfect and i used it for awhile and then finally downloaded TomTom.

fast, smart routing (goes the way I would normally go) and if you want a traffic subscription, you can purchase one (which i personally think is a crock)

order of preference
1. Tomtom
2. navigon
3. google maps
4. waze.

[zerotosixty]

Nothing beats Google Maps for Android, but for portable units, I prefer Garmin over all of them

[Accidental L8 apex]

Use my phone. Always up to date.

And go out of your service area, which happens while travelling, and you're left on your own as phones use data from towers and not satelites.

I just bought a refurbed 1350 nuvi w/ lifetime traffic and map updates from pcnation for $138.00. Works perfectly.

[blahblahyoutoo]

https://play.google.com/store/device...HVzXzdfOGdiIl0.
+
http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime/handl...t-bbf_1_glance

/end thread

there is no better solution than this as it has built-in GPS, doesn't require data, you can setup offline maps for an 80MB area, relative cheap @ $200, is extremely fast and responsive, and the 7" screen cannot be beat.

the only downside is for POI on the fly, you'll need data.

[blahblahyoutoo]

my Blackberry is garbage.

fixed.

[AKADriver]

And go out of your service area, which happens while travelling, and you're left on your own as phones use data from towers and not satelites.

Phones have the same GPS chips as standalone GPS units, they have for years. They use satellites and accelerometers for fine positioning. They only use the tower for rough position when it can't get a satellite lock, or to load map data. Depending on the navigation software you use, some of them can be set to preload map data for a route.

[adrew]

And go out of your service area, which happens while travelling, and you're left on your own as phones use data from towers and not satelites.

I just bought a refurbed 1350 nuvi w/ lifetime traffic and map updates from pcnation for $138.00. Works perfectly.

To clarify - GPSs like TomToms don't get data from satellites -- they have several GB of maps saved inside the device. They use use the location signals from the satellites.

GPS on phones uses the same signal as a standalone GPS, but most of the time they download the maps on the fly from the cell towers. That said, Google Maps can now pre-cache map areas before you head out to the boonies.

[McBanagon]

And go out of your service area, which happens while travelling, and you're left on your own as phones use data from towers and not satelites.

Phones have the same GPS chips as standalone GPS units, they have for years. They use satellites and accelerometers for fine positioning. They only use the tower for rough position when it can't get a satellite lock, or to load map data. Depending on the navigation software you use, some of them can be set to preload map data for a route.

Yup, that's the difference. Your phone replies on data to view the map, not position. You need both of them.

I believe the Android Google Maps most recent update allows you the option download the maps required for driving directions. As long as you plot the course while you have a connection and chose that option, the whole route will be local to the device, and will still continue to give you directions.

[Accidental L8 apex]

Yup, that's the difference. Your phone replies on data to view the map, not position. You need both of them.

I believe the Android Google Maps most recent update allows you the option download the maps required for driving directions. As long as you plot the course while you have a connection and chose that option, the whole route will be local to the device, and will still continue to give you directions.

But with my job, I drive to Boonie Location 1, do work and then need to drive to uncharted Boonie Location 2. Unfortunately, I'm not in my service area, some 20 mi. away!!, and now have no idea where to go unless I hit wifi at Wendy's or the like.

[2VWatatime]

But with my job, I drive to Boonie Location 1, do work and then need to drive to uncharted Boonie Location 2. Unfortunately, I'm not in my service area, some 20 mi. away!!, and now have no idea where to go unless I hit wifi at Wendy's or the like.

CoPilot on Android (maps reside on SD card, no signal required). Works perfectly.

[Accidental L8 apex]

CoPilot on Android (maps resides on SD card, no signal required). Works perfectly.

Thanks, will download.

[feels_road]

https://play.google.com/store/device...HVzXzdfOGdiIl0.
+
http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime/handl...t-bbf_1_glance

/end thread

there is no better solution than this as it has built-in GPS, doesn't require data, you can setup offline maps for an 80MB area, relative cheap @ $200, is extremely fast and responsive, and the 7" screen cannot be beat.

the only downside is for POI on the fly, you'll need data.

Sounds like a good option (your second link doesn't work). What distance can it typically store?

[leaftye]

I've had street maps on my handheld Garmin gps for a while. I just picked up a RAM mount for it to make it easier to use while driving. It doesn't do audio, but that's okay. A bigger screen would be better, but I don't want another device right now.

[nickkwhitt]

Iphone.

[nismo4life]

comes with a free GPS.

[Accidental L8 apex]

comes with a free GPS.

I see your BRZ and raise you one torque-laden AMG (YSWIDT?) with the worst stock GPS known to man. Hence, the Garmin. Plus, I put it right on top of the gauges and don't have to look down and to the right at the stereo-face.

[nismo4life]

I see your BRZ and raise you one torque-laden AMG (YSWIDT?) with the worst stock GPS known to man. Hence, the Garmin. Plus, I put it right on top of the gauges and don't have to look down and to the right at the stereo-face.

I see your torque monster, and a big small pen15 diesel dually truck. torq.


iOS 6. Goodbye [insert GPS brand here].

[VwG60Kid]

I use my Nexus 7 as a Nav and its fantastic for it. Though my car has a hardwired 4G hotspot in it so that helps.

general nav: Google Maps
commuting: Waze
boonies: Sygic

that being said... i couldn't function day to day without my android phone and tablet... i depend on them for so many things.

[zerotosixty]

I see your torque monster, and a big small pen15 diesel dually truck. torq.


iOS 6. Goodbye [insert GPS brand here].

Again, just like Google Maps on Android, it relies on cell towers for map data

[nismo4life]

Again, just like Google Maps on Android, it relies on cell towers for map data

I live in civilization, over in the Blue.

[kobra kai]

I have to respectfully disagree that smart phone GPS is the way to go. It's faster and accurate. But the interface is no where near as nice as a dedicated GPS unit. Navigating Atlanta's spaghetti junction on a smart phone isn't fun. Things like highway lane assist are features I've gotten used too on a dedicated unit.

[nismo4life]

I have to respectfully disagree that smart phone GPS is the way to go. It's faster and accurate. But the interface is no where near as nice as a dedicated GPS unit. Navigating Atlanta's spaghetti junction on a smart phone isn't fun. Things like highway lane assist are features I've gotten used too on a dedicated unit.

I'd wait until iOS 6 comes out and we get some hands on time before we jump to conclusions. The new GPS shows substantial promise.

[leaftye]

I live in civilization, over in the Blue.

Try travelling. Data reception is not nearly as good as that picture indicates. Not even close at all. In practice, what that picture means is you'll get one or two bars, but data will be piss poor if it works at all, and those phantom bars might not even be able to make a voice call or send a text.

[ToucheTurtle]

I have a 5 year old Garmin Nuvi and it's always been great.

[leaftye]

In any case, I'll be travelling about 2000 miles cross country next week. I'll try using the phone occasionally, but I'm relying primarily on AAA trip tik's and a standalone gps that has all the maps pre-loaded.

[2VWatatime]

Try travelling. Data reception is not nearly as good as that picture indicates. Not even close at all. In practice, what that picture means is you'll get one or two bars, but data will be piss poor if it works at all, and those phantom bars might not even be able to make a voice call or send a text.

This. Coverage maps are ... useless. Yeah, I said it. TV commercials w/dueling maps would be funny if they weren't so pathetic.
Like I said, download map software on phone = standalone GPS.

[CO Boy]

I use my Android phone will Goggle maps and it works great.

[kobra kai]

I'd wait until iOS 6 comes out and we get some hands on time before we jump to conclusions. The new GPS shows substantial promise.

That looks about the same what Android has to offer.

Dedicated just has more features. I'm sure in a few years that will change.

[nismo4life]

Try travelling. Data reception is not nearly as good as that picture indicates. Not even close at all. In practice, what that picture means is you'll get one or two bars, but data will be piss poor if it works at all, and those phantom bars might not even be able to make a voice call or send a text.

I've traveled up and down the East coast, and back from Buffalo NY. Google maps has never left me stranded. And just fyi, there are apps that you download and pre load the maps onto your phone.

[stascom]

I'd wait until iOS 6 comes out and we get some hands on time before we jump to conclusions. The new GPS shows substantial promise.

Damn, that looks dated

[blahblahyoutoo]

Sounds like a good option (your second link doesn't work). What distance can it typically store?

it really depends on how dense the roads are in your selected area, but I would say probably 100-150 sq miles?
For instance, I was able to grab almost 1/4 of PA.
N-S from scranton to Allentown
E-W from stroudsburg to danville.

[Kar98]

Damn, that looks dated

Yeah, like Pharos GPS dated.

[Kandiru]

Motorola XOOM for me. Google 3D over the horizon navi
with Streetview, A2DP ie BT Stereo music pumping via
the Audi BT Link, wife and daughter tethered on their laptops,
the middle and little 'un savoring Arthur on Netflix, long trips
are now a breeze. Power via Carnetix programmable PSU, Xoom
sits on Padholdr:

[leaftye]

it really depends on how dense the roads are in your selected area, but I would say probably 100-150 sq miles?
For instance, I was able to grab almost 1/4 of PA.
N-S from scranton to Allentown
E-W from stroudsburg to danville.

That's only 3.3% of San Diego County.