I there a GPS that just work?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Body Roll, Sep 17, 2006.

  1. Body Roll

    Body Roll Guest

    Did anyone find any standalone gps that works and does not have to be
    rebooted daily after
    hangs? I've been reading reviews on Roadmates and it does not look like
    those
    are bullteproof. I don't have any gps yet and would hate to pay
    $500-600 for some unreliable
    piece of junk.
    Not interested in extra functionality.
    Thanks.
     
    Body Roll, Sep 17, 2006
    #1
  2. Body Roll

    Seth Guest

    My Garmin 2610 (actually a pair of them) has been bulletproof. The Quest I
    got my wife before getting her a 2610 was not so good.

    The 2610 is discontinued but still available on the net. Replaced by the
    27xx series.
     
    Seth, Sep 17, 2006
    #2
  3. I have had good experience with the Garmin C340.
     
    Jim Artherholt, Sep 18, 2006
    #3
  4. I'll second that. Have had several Garmins over the past few years and
    the 2610 is my favorite. Have the Quest as well to take on trips
    (flying to destination and renting car) and haven't had a problem with it.

    Another nice feature is that Garmin just lowered their price of the map
    DVD upgrades to $75 and that's for TWO units, not just one. $75/yr and
    I'm assured of having the most recent mapset for both the 2610 and the
    Quest.

    I've always had good luck purchasing my Garmin's through www.gpscity.com

    Standard disclaimer: No financial interest. Just happy with the prices
    and service of this company.

    Nice thing about the 2610 is that it will fit quite nicely in the
    storage console beneath the radio on my 2006 Accord EX. Now, all I have
    to do is figure out how to remove some of the trim so I can drill a hole
    in there to run the external antenna and power cable to it.

    Don't suppose you've done that yet, have you, Seth?
     
    Unquestionably Confused, Sep 18, 2006
    #4
  5. Body Roll

    Seth Guest

    No. A) I use the area below my radio for assorted "crap" so it would be too
    crowded and B) I move mine back and forth from my car to motorcycle too
    often. Would make it inconvenient.

    My wife's van I have to use an external antenna (and an external EZPass)
    because of her windshield, so I might make a more permanent mounting for it
    someday.

    I've never bought from GPSCity as the prices always seem quite high. Almost
    $100 cheaper at Amazon. IN fact, as of this posting they have a bundle of a
    2610 with a 2GB CF card for $605 where GPSCity is $620 for the GPS alone.
     
    Seth, Sep 18, 2006
    #5
  6. Body Roll

    Body Roll Guest

    Reviews for 2610 on pricegrabber seem to be good. No so for 2720.
    For 2820 There are no reviews!!!
    What's the deal with the beanie bag and mounting business?
    What are the mounting options?
     
    Body Roll, Sep 18, 2006
    #6
  7. Body Roll

    Seth Guest

    Works pretty well. Stays on the dash of my '01 Accord except during HARD
    aceleration (slides a little) and always stays on the dash of my wife's van.
    Also comes with a moutning cup that's held on with double stick tape.
    I use the Garmin motorcycle mounting bracket on my bike.
     
    Seth, Sep 18, 2006
    #7
  8. The unit ships with the bean bag mount and a extra quick release mount
    with adhesive backing.

    Bean bag's been my choice thus far. I find it's quite stable sitting on
    the dash or on the seat. Bag fits just about any contour you're likely
    to set it on and the base is a non-skid, soft foam material that keeps
    it in place even when taking corners at speed.

    In the first car I used it in, I had a stalk mounted on the side of the
    center console (made for cellular phone handset) and just affixed the
    extra quick release to it. Worked great for adjusting the angle for
    optimum viewing.

    I purchased the optional hardwire connectors so as to avoid using the
    cigarette lighter plug. Also picked up and mounted a good external
    antenna for mine.

    Haven't moved this from my old Buick to the Accord yet but will do so
    shortly. Using the external antenna I was able to just set the GPS on
    the hump under the dash. While not the best angle of view (in the dash
    would be nice) it was pretty good. The 2610 comes with a IR remote
    control allowing me to manage all functions without bending over to
    actually touch the unit.
     
    Unquestionably Confused, Sep 18, 2006
    #8
  9. Body Roll

    Body Roll Guest

    Does it stay in place when you drift the car?
    Where did external antenna go? Windshield?
    Also how does the speed of the unit compare to the hard drive based
    ones?
    What are the two most annoying things about 2610?
     
    Body Roll, Sep 18, 2006
    #9
  10. Body Roll, wrote the following at or about 9/18/2006 11:08 AM:
    Never tried it. I doubt it just as I doubt it would remain in place in
    a rollover. So use the self-adhesive mount and anchor it that way.
    You can place them just about anywhere that gives a good view of the
    sky. It doesn't take much. If I use it or the Quest in my Corvette in
    the winter when I have the hard top in place, it just sits on the seat.
    The fibreglass is transparent to the satellite signal.

    On my Park Avenue, I hid the external antenna completely - just as I
    will do on the Accord. I checked out the rear package shelf and found
    that it was constructed of plastic rather than metal. I found a spot
    that gave a good view of the sky, took a piece of duct tape to test the
    location and confirmed that it worked well there. I then put a liberal
    amount of RTV compound on the puck, stuck it in place and put more duct
    tape on it to hold it until the RTV cured. Bingo! Routinely get
    accuracy readings of +/- 7 feet.
    Since the data is stored on compact flash memory, the transfer should be
    quicker than hard drive based. In any case the processor of the GPS is
    the limiting factor as for speed. I use a high speed 2 gig compact
    flash card which allows me to have the entire continental US, HI, AK,
    and Canadian Provinces loaded at all times. When it first boots up, it
    takes maybe 15 seconds longer to read the maps than it formerly did but
    it's really a non-issue. Once the unit's warmed up and has acquired the
    satellites, it takes maybe 10 seconds to plot a course to a urban
    location 65 miles distant to my present position.
    1. That I didn't buy one of these sooner

    2. See number 1
     
    Unquestionably Confused, Sep 18, 2006
    #10
  11. Body Roll

    G-Man Guest

    I love my Garmin Nuvi 360. I have factory NAV in my 2006 Accord, but this
    works as good. Use it in our Pilot.

    G-Man
     
    G-Man, Sep 18, 2006
    #11
  12. Body Roll

    MAT Guest


    Seriously consider the Garmin C320, I'm familiar with all the units
    mentioned but as a thrifty person, I will laude the c320 all day. It has a
    street price of about 300 bux and has been an absolute gem of a gadget to
    me. I have been using it in the mid-atlantic, most gps complaints are
    similar, as if people expect it to be a brain replacement which it is not!!
    I just got back from a backpacing trip to central Idaho and was duly
    impressed with its coverage! Even overgrown NFS roads were covered! It has
    truly changed my driving perspective, sometimes for kicks I route to avoid
    highways anf opt for the 'shorter distance' algorithm and you will come
    across beautiful roads that have been under your nose for years! In central
    ID where there are no interstates, you can see the lay of the road/curve as
    you get to it, like Star Trek! hahaha I will never not have a car GPS unit
    ever, it is just too darn cool.
     
    MAT, Sep 21, 2006
    #12
  13. Body Roll

    Body Roll Guest

    That includes points of interest? Is there any reason to get a 4 gig
    card?
    Anything else accessory wise? Did you try the motorcycle mount in the
    car?
     
    Body Roll, Sep 21, 2006
    #13
  14. Body Roll, wrote the following at or about 9/21/2006 10:55 AM:
    That includes EVERYTHING offered and even then, it only requires maybe
    1.5 gig. So don't waste your money on a 4 gig card. Were it not for
    the fact that I landed a SUPER deal on a couple 2 gig CF's I would have
    just stuck with the 1 gig I had and let it go at that.

    Nope
     
    Unquestionably Confused, Sep 21, 2006
    #14
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