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Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
21,872
Location
west Texas
Display Name
Dave Taylor
Home Airfield
KMRF
Dad is asking about a gps for the car. Can't deny good ole' dad anything, can we.
What do you suggest?
Will need Canada and US databases, moving map. I suppose 'portable' but aren't they all handheld?(with a mount)

SIMPLE is best. He is definitely old-gen, not too swift with 'puters. (gotta really give him credit though, he has, after 2 years learned to send and recieve emails WITH pictures!) Now if I could get him to not type in ALL CAPS!

Vision is not fantastic either. Big display or fonts is better.
 
I'd go with Garmin considering they are pretty much king in that industry. I would expect auto products to be built with as much reliability as avionics. Granted, the standards may not be there but the quality still is.
 
I bought a Magellan and it died (RIP). Friend got a Garmin and it's nice. Quick redraw and touch screen. Good visual for a small unit.
 
Dave,

Assuming you don't need anything super super fancy, it's hard to go wrong with Garmin's "Nuvi" series. They keep changing models so fast... But I've played with the Nuvi 350 and it's probably about what you're looking for - Touch screen with big on-screen buttons, pretty simple UI, and without all of the XM/Bluetooth/blah frills. It does have full US street level maps. The data is lacking a bit on the Canadian side, but they do have the big cities mapped out at street level and the highways for the rest. (Don't expect street level maps in places like North Bay, ON for instance.) It also reads street names and such aloud.

My sister just called me looking for a good automotive GPS for a friend of hers who is about to move from HOU to STL. He's having some health issues. He wanted one that will do multiple waypoints in one route, which most of the consumer-oriented ones don't. For something like that, the Street Pilot 2720 or 2730 have a bit more capability, and a remote control so ya don't have to lean way forward to program (or see) the thing. Bigger screen, too.

If you want something with a BIG screen for those old eyes, try the Street Pilot 7200. Warning: It ain't cheap. :no:

Good luck!
 
Thanks.
As much a luddite as he is, he's also wondering if these have updateable databases!
 
lroberts said:
I bought a Magellan and it died (RIP). Friend got a Garmin and it's nice. Quick redraw and touch screen. Good visual for a small unit.
Click to expand...

I've got a Garmin Street Pilot and I must say the experience hasn't been all good. For one thing the user interface could be a lot better, the power cord keeps falling off if you look at it sideways, and recently (just after the 1 yr warranty ended) the touch screen went out of whack and cannot be "calibrated" (standard repair charge $300). I don't know if I will get it repaired or live without the touch screen and rely on the remote. Kinda sucks putting $300 into a $800 GPS after one year.
 
I have a Garmin 2620 Street Pilot. Don't think they sell them anymore... Solid unit. I would look at the Nuvi... Others might be cheaper, but Garmin does a good job.
 
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flyingcheesehead said:
Dave,

Assuming you don't need anything super super fancy, it's hard to go wrong with Garmin's "Nuvi" series. If you want something with a BIG screen for those old eyes, try the Street Pilot 7200. Warning: It ain't cheap. :no:
Click to expand...

I have been using a Nuvi 350 for the last year and I think it's supper easy to use. My father who is in his 60's just purchased the 7200 and took his first road trip with it this past weekend. I will call him tonight and get a briefing from him. He borrowed my Nuvi prior to getting the 7200 and I think his deciding factor on getting the 7200 over the Nuvi was the larger screen size and built in XM radio.
 
I got the Garmin Nuvi 660 specifically so I could read the screen without glasses. The screen is big and hi-res. It's $700 on the street. I got it from buydig.com, but Costco.com also has it for close to the same price.
http://www8.garmin.com/nuvi660/index.html

I tried the Garmin i260(?) which works fine, but the screen is postage stamp size. It works OK but you can't see anything less glasses.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare...=8578&compareProduct=6386&compareProduct=6385

The Nuvi 650 should be good. It's the same as mine except no FM traffic or Bluetooth cell phone capability:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=&pID=8671
I see you can buy North American data on a SD card for (Urk!) $199. It should be cheaper on the street. You don't need that. You should have North America the way it comes.

The 610 prolly won't be good because it has a limited RAM and it'll require loading in the map for where you're going.

The FM traffic is worthless. I haven't gotten a single traffic alert yet, prolly because I don't drive in rush hour in the city. The Bluetooth phone interface works OK, but I must have a mute button and it doesn't have one.
 
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Let'sgoflying! said:
Thanks.
As much a luddite as he is, he's also wondering if these have updateable databases!
Click to expand...

I know you can buy maps on SD cards. I don't think there's an map update subscription service.

You can download updates over USB. I got firmware updates and a few more car icons, but I dunno about map updates.

I'm going to check myself, because as I've mentioned the maps on my Nuvi 660 don't match all of the roads in my area. I would imagine I should be able to download new maps.
http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=172
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Thanks.
As much a luddite as he is, he's also wondering if these have updateable databases!
Click to expand...

Yes. Garmin comes out with new data about once a year. It's on a DVD-ROM which they will send you for free, but you have to pay to activate and load the maps. The first update is free.
 
lancefisher said:
I've got a Garmin Street Pilot and I must say the experience hasn't been all good. For one thing the user interface could be a lot better, the power cord keeps falling off if you look at it sideways, and recently (just after the 1 yr warranty ended) the touch screen went out of whack and cannot be "calibrated" (standard repair charge $300). I don't know if I will get it repaired or live without the touch screen and rely on the remote. Kinda sucks putting $300 into a $800 GPS after one year.
Click to expand...

Lance,

Which Street Pilot do you have? They improved the user interface with the newer models (though now *I* don't like it as much, 'cuz mine has the "old" interface which is probably better for gadget geeks like you and me).

Power cord... Yup. Gotta make sure there's some slack in it before turning. Kind of a weird connector.

I coulda sworn you could calibrate the screen. (looking) OK, on mine you can. From the map page, press "Menu" and choose "Display." That shows the brighness and contrast controls on-screen, and the fine print at the bottom says "Press FIND to calibrate touch screen." Again, finding this will depend on what model you have due to the UI change.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I coulda sworn you could calibrate the screen. (looking) OK, on mine you can. From the map page, press "Menu" and choose "Display." That shows the brighness and contrast controls on-screen, and the fine print at the bottom says "Press FIND to calibrate touch screen." Again, finding this will depend on what model you have due to the UI change.
Click to expand...

Well, if you're using the touch screen to press those "buttons" and it's badly miscalibrated, you could be in a catch-22 situation, because the section of the screen that maps to the button doesn't exist in real-space! I had that problem on one of my PalmPilots.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Lance,

Which Street Pilot do you have? They improved the user interface with the newer models (though now *I* don't like it as much, 'cuz mine has the "old" interface which is probably better for gadget geeks like you and me).
Click to expand...

2720.

Power cord... Yup. Gotta make sure there's some slack in it before turning. Kind of a weird connector.
Click to expand...

Turning? You mean like, turning the car? Or turning the cable? This one slides sideways onto the unit.

I coulda sworn you could calibrate the screen. (looking) OK, on mine you can. From the map page, press "Menu" and choose "Display." That shows the brighness and contrast controls on-screen, and the fine print at the bottom says "Press FIND to calibrate touch screen." Again, finding this will depend on what model you have due to the UI change.
Click to expand...

The calibrate screen function is there, but when I run through the sequence it finishes with "Calibration Failure" or something like that and most of the touch screen functions don't work.
 
lancefisher said:
2720.
Click to expand...

That's the first one with the "good" interface. Good for newbies, anyway, and enough to drive gadget freaks like us mad.

I've got a good old-school-Garmin interface 2620 for sale, cheap. ;)

Turning? You mean like, turning the car? Or turning the cable? This one slides sideways onto the unit.
Click to expand...

Turning the unit. Mine's got the same power cord yours does, and that's what always makes it slide out for me. Stays in fine as long as I don't turn the unit in its base.

The calibrate screen function is there, but when I run through the sequence it finishes with "Calibration Failure" or something like that and most of the touch screen functions don't work.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. That's no good! :no:
 
flyingcheesehead said:
That's the first one with the "good" interface. Good for newbies, anyway, and enough to drive gadget freaks like us mad.
Click to expand...

Yes. It seems to be rather dumbed down.

Turning the unit. Mine's got the same power cord yours does, and that's what always makes it slide out for me. Stays in fine as long as I don't turn the unit in its base.
Click to expand...

The only way I can get mine to stay in is to wrap the cord around behind the base and then down the opposite side.[/quote]
 
lancefisher said:
The only way I can get mine to stay in is to wrap the cord around behind the base and then down the opposite side.
Click to expand...

Wow... Haven't seen one that bad yet. Garmin should send you a new one that'll stick better. :yes: Have you talked to them about it? What was the response?
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Wow... Haven't seen one that bad yet. Garmin should send you a new one that'll stick better. :yes: Have you talked to them about it? What was the response?
Click to expand...

Yes I talked to them. The support tech suggested I try updating the operating software. When I asked if this was a known problem with an older revision he didn't know. Apparently they just tell people to upgrade regardless of what the problem actually is. WRT the cord, they will sell me a new one for about $50 but he admitted that it might be just as loose and there's no fix for that problem. And for the touch screen I can send the GPS to them and they will repair it for only $300. Considering the thing probably isn't worth much more than that I might just try to live without the touch screen. The GPS is slightly over one year old and the warranty only lasts one year.
 
lancefisher said:
Apparently they just tell people to upgrade regardless of what the problem actually is.
Click to expand...

Not such a bad idea, I guess... :dunno:

WRT the cord, they will sell me a new one for about $50 but he admitted that it might be just as loose and there's no fix for that problem.
Click to expand...

Hm. Well, FWIW I've had my hands on quite a few of these as my trainees see mine and go get their own, and I've NEVER seen one quite that bad. In fact, most of them are better than mine. I haven't ever tried swapping power cords to see if it's the unit or the cord that's causing it to be loose, but my bet's on the cord. If you want, I can bring mine the next time we meet somewhere and see which it is.

And for the touch screen I can send the GPS to them and they will repair it for only $300. Considering the thing probably isn't worth much more than that I might just try to live without the touch screen. The GPS is slightly over one year old and the warranty only lasts one year.
Click to expand...

Gack. That sucks.

I actually don't use the touch screen hardly at all 'cuz I *hate* dirty screens and my hands are almost always dirty. There's nothing on mine that you can't do from the remote, but IIRC yours does have a couple of things that require a tap on the screen (the OK button when typing in the name of something maybe? I can't remember for sure).

I'm still holding out for something that combines the best of the 496 and the 2820.
 
Another vote for Nuvi 350. I've loved it. I paid almost 800 when it first came out, but it's coming down quite well. One of the really nice things about the 350 is the SiRF chip. Quicker acquisition and stronger signal (even in urban valleys) compared to other GPS chips.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Hm. Well, FWIW I've had my hands on quite a few of these as my trainees see mine and go get their own, and I've NEVER seen one quite that bad. In fact, most of them are better than mine. I haven't ever tried swapping power cords to see if it's the unit or the cord that's causing it to be loose, but my bet's on the cord. If you want, I can bring mine the next time we meet somewhere and see which it is.
Click to expand...

I took a closer look at the power cord problem and discovered that the connector on the end of the cord is deformed with the GPS side becoming curved instead of flat. I might be able to repair that condition with a little glue.

BTW I tried updating the software and found that I'm already up to date, so that bit of advice from Garmin was as useless as I expected.


Gack. That sucks.

I actually don't use the touch screen hardly at all 'cuz I *hate* dirty screens and my hands are almost always dirty. There's nothing on mine that you can't do from the remote, but IIRC yours does have a couple of things that require a tap on the screen (the OK button when typing in the name of something maybe? I can't remember for sure).

I'm still holding out for something that combines the best of the 496 and the 2820.
Click to expand...

I've been learning to use the remote more now that the touch screen isn't working. So far I haven't uncovered anything that can't be done with the remote but the manual simply doesn't explain much about this, so it's all trial and error with the emphasis on error. One I learned last night is that left/right on the "joystick" allows moving through the entry field for names and numbers. I still haven't found a way to delete characters there though, other than cursoring over to the delete key on the screen which is a PITA. AFaIK pushing in on the "joystick" always does the same thing as touching any "OK" button on the screen.
 
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