Hot Tub Forum

General => General info Somewhat hot tub related => Topic started by: Bonibelle on June 20, 2007, 01:10:14 pm

Title: Navagation devices
Post by: Bonibelle on June 20, 2007, 01:10:14 pm
I know service guys probably use these navigation devices to find customer sites; can someone give me a quick lesson about these devices?  My husband needs one for work and I see that some cell phones incorporate them.  The monthly cost to use the service through Verizon is $17.00.  Do you also pay a fee with the in car devices? Does anyone have a cell phone with the navigation capabilities?  I need to do this by this afternoon, so any help would be really appreciated!!
Thanks,
Boni
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: jfish63 on June 20, 2007, 01:14:06 pm
with the in car devices there is no fee unless you subscribe to a live update traffic service.
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: Bonibelle on June 20, 2007, 01:55:04 pm
thanks so much, any recommendations?
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: cooltoy2000 on June 20, 2007, 02:16:36 pm
I have a TomTom in my Palm Pilot. I think they are all pretty good. I'd get one that you can use in the car and also walk with.
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: East_TX_Spa on June 20, 2007, 02:34:50 pm
Our guys use these.  They're great!
http://www.offroute.com/product/view_product.asp?x_ID=149135&new=1&fromfind=1

Termy
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: Bonibelle on June 20, 2007, 02:53:20 pm
Thanks so much  ;)
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: jfish63 on June 20, 2007, 03:30:04 pm
I have a magellan but the Garmins I have seen are better.
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: SpaNE on June 20, 2007, 03:30:58 pm
I have the Garmin Nuvi and love it.  All the Garmins are good.
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: Vinny on June 20, 2007, 04:12:45 pm
Boni,

I just bought a Mio C220 GPS from Staples and it seems like it does a good job. I paid $150 for it ... remember I'm into value! 8-) (I guess that's another word for cheap!!!) It is strickly a GPS - no MP3 or picture viewers and doesn't have options that the more expensive units have such as saying the road's name.

It aquires satillites fast (it sometimes works in my house), you can put in places to save, has automatic day and night modes and it seems fairly accurate. The window mount is very solid and it has a lot of good writeups in the various online places.

It does have one known problem in it is a little low in volume, but I compensated by having it emit a two signal tone before speaking directions and I have it light up whenever it needs to give directions to catch my attention. I don't blast my radio but there have been times when the radio was a little loud and I couldn't here the spoken directions ... of course I could see the white arrow in the black circle.

I can't compare it to anything else as I really bought it to help navigate as I still look at maps before starting any trip. I couldn't justify the more expensive Garmins, Magellens or Tom Toms for the use I give it.

Hope this helps!

Vinny
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: wmccall on June 20, 2007, 06:57:57 pm
Since I take my laptop on service calls, I use a Delorme product with my laptop, Cost $99
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: Chad on June 20, 2007, 07:35:42 pm

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r165/tileman_photos/compass.jpg)
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: Bonibelle on June 20, 2007, 08:52:03 pm
Got your orienteering merit badge did you, Chad? ;D ;D
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: Brookenstein on June 20, 2007, 10:50:53 pm
Hey, we got one of those too... but my kid knows how to use it.

(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/imnosupermom/DSC00902.jpg)
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: ndabunka on June 20, 2007, 11:15:04 pm
One caution is that these are now the new "Hot Item" for vehicle theft.  The reasonably high cost/value ($400) is worth more than a typical cell phone and since they are very mobile and not very traceable the common "Smash and grab" is once again becoming an issue in larger cities.  If you do give him one, make CERTAIN that he does not simply leave it "mounted in the car" whenever he gets out (if he's in a big city) otherwise, it will simply be another target.
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: apple on June 20, 2007, 11:26:18 pm
Where do you live Boni? The Verizon navigation here in Denver is only $10 a month. I used it for a month and it worked fine, other than being difficult to hear.
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: NE-Phil on June 20, 2007, 11:29:44 pm
In May I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 650 (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=8671)
(http://phil.dixon.net/images/Nuvi650.jpg)
While in FL earlier this year, I rented a car from Avis and got the GPS option. That was a Garmin Street Pilot and it worked perfectly. Twice it rerouted us due to real-time traffic updates which saved us some time.

I decided to go with the slightly larger Nuvi 650 since the larger image is a little easier to see. These eyes aren't what they used to be!

I'm looking forward to a trip to Boston and later Washington, DC this summer. It'll make finding destinations a breeze. And it slips into a pocket so I could use it while walking around.

Phil
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: Bonibelle on June 21, 2007, 08:44:33 am
Thanks everyone...
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: hotubinn on June 21, 2007, 11:40:32 am
I have heard mobile phone gps is not great.  i use a garmin c340.  Big enough screen, volume level is fine, and you just plug and play- nothing really to learn.  All information is entered through touch screen.
Title: Re: Navagation devices
Post by: vlady on June 22, 2007, 09:38:15 am
I've got a Garmin StreetPilot.  I love it and highly recommend it.  It not only shows you the route to take, it can adapt to detours and shows the estimated time of arrival.  It also will list any type of restaurant, hotel, bank, shopping or repair service in the area.