I there a GPS that just work?

[Body Roll]

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.

 

[Seth]

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.

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.

 

[Jim Artherholt]

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.

I have had good experience with the Garmin C340.

 

[Unquestionably Confused]

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.

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?

 

[Seth]

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?

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.

 

[Body Roll]

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?

 

[Seth]

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?

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.

What are the mounting options?

I use the Garmin motorcycle mounting bracket on my bike.

 

[Unquestionably Confused]

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?

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.

 

[Body Roll]

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.

Does it stay in place when you drift the car?

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.

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?

 

[Unquestionably Confused]

Body Roll, wrote the following at or about 9/18/2006 11:08 AM:

Does it stay in place when you drift the car?

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.

Where did external antenna go? Windshield?

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.

Also how does the speed of the unit compare to the hard drive based ones?

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.

What are the two most annoying things about 2610?

1. That I didn't buy one of these sooner

2. See number 1

 

[G-Man]

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

 

[MAT]

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.

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.

 

[Body Roll]

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

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?

 

[Unquestionably Confused]

Body Roll, wrote the following at or about 9/21/2006 10:55 AM:

That includes points of interest? Is there any reason to get a 4 gig card?

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.

Anything else accessory wise? Did you try the motorcycle mount in the car?

Nope