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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/29/2007 : 06:55:37

Our Chevy S10 Blazer finally gave up this week, perhaps it was those tow trips pulling in 2005!

The new 'car' is a RAV4 6cyl Base Plus, and has no compass. Anyone reading my past posts knows that the Admiral has no sense of direction and if the boat didn't have a GPS and compass, I'm certain we would never get lost when she is at the helm as we would be going around in circles

(Ask her! she'll admit it!)

Anyway... I want to install a compass or low cost GPS unit. What are your favorites and which ones would you not buy again??

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2007 : 08:53:03

Paul,
This doesn't qualify very well in the "low cost" category, but I'm slowly talking myself into a [url="https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=233"]Garmin GPSMap 276C[/url]. You can use it on the boat as well as in your car, and you can get a plug in speaker setup that'll give you turn by turn instructions. The thing I like about it better than the Garmin 60 or 76 (virtually identical in specs) is that it has a much bigger screen. Easier on the aging eyes.

Rita is similarly direction challenged, so I bought her a GPS enabled phone (Motorola RAZR) so she can find her way when she gets lost. Of course she hasn't used it once in that mode since I got it.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2007 : 09:59:24

I would reccomend a low cost driving gps. Too many uses for those things. Magellen has some that are 2-3 BU that will do much more than a compass. You can get a aftermarket mirror for about 2BU that has a compass.

Tom.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2007 : 10:41:08

Just thought of something else, you might pay attention to [url="http://www.woot.com"]Woot.com[/url], they frequently have in-car GPS systems for sale as well as lots of other cool stuff.

Edited by - on

dblitz
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2007 : 11:17:09

Costco has a Magellan 2200T that gets the signal INSIDE the storage bin between the seats for $ 219.-
I'm very happy with it.

Edited by - on

mhartong
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2007 : 15:18:59

The Garmin i3 is another possibility. I've seen it as low as $180. Has voice identification of turns ( though it doesn't speak the street name on which you are turning). It has both map (speed/direction) as well as navigate mode (just enter the destination, gives you distance and time to next turn). Also has the ability to select from pre-identified locations (churches, schools, hospitals, restaurants, etc) and enter waypoints. Also has the option of prefered type of route)

Only issue I have with it is in very bright sunlight the screen is washed out. I find it is not really a big deal with the voice commands. It's primarily designed for car use.

Size wise its a bit bigger than a baseball, has both battery and 12V. I travel a whole lot with my job, and the size makes it ideal to take along when I've got to be someplace in a strange city.

Mark

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2007 : 18:55:10

I'm going to take the compass course because of the Kiss rule and a growing concern that drivers are facing too many distractions in driving conditions that are only getting more complicated.

I realize however that compass is not of a lot of use to those who navigate by the "turns method" where lost is the condition that applies after making one wrong turn. If the wife is one of those and can't change her stripes, then forget the compass and fork over the extra bucks and get a gps... but again, I'm going to take a different course and say, don't get her a gps that you would use on the boat.

They are too distracting, better would be a talking street model that will audibly tell her how to get to where she wants to be.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2007 : 20:11:19

I use a Garmin 276C in the car and boat and like it... For car-only purposes, there are probably better, simpler choices now. As for distractions, I find that in an unfamiliar environment, the GPS helps immensely by either telling me when and where to turn (voice) even when I make a wrong turn, or just telling me (on screen) what street is at the next intersection, and how far I have to go to the next turn or exit. A little information at a glance can make everthing easier.

Edited by - on

roberoo
Navigator

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USA
182 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2007 : 22:21:11

lowrance iWay 250c. I paid 189.00 free shipping.

Use the amazon link on the site. But here is the direct one.

http://www.amazon.com/Lowrance-Multimedia-Portable-Navigation-System/dp/B000GSQDPM

Simple/Basic color and does everything that the more expensive do. Also has marine nav points. Canada and US on the same memory card. I have been extremely happy.

Also found this for the boat when I went to the Plastimo sight to get a compass cover.
Check out the Navman 5110 175.00. I just installed mine and it does all I need. now i just need the memory cards to finish it off.

http://www.plastimousa.com/overstock.htm

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2007 : 08:36:49

Paul,
Check out the listing for a Tom Tom GPS on [url="http://slickdeals.net/"]SlickDeals[/url] today.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2007 : 09:09:24

I just bought a refurb Garmin GPSMAP 76 CS for $209 from edgegps.com
Granted I bought it for my boat and to start geo caching but my criteria for a GPS as a sailor is a compass rose page. Most street and some chartplotters (Navman 5110) don't have a compass rose page.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2007 : 19:51:27

So I got the email from David and promptly emailed the link to the Admiral (at work today). She called me and advised that we could not afford the ToysRUs slick deal... because she ordered one from Tiger Direct yesterday!

I guess it was just going to magically appear on the doorstep.. "Hey Honey, what's this?"

Paul

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2007 : 18:25:42

Hey Paul, what kind of GPS did Peggy get? I'm looking to get Cyndi one for her explorer.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2007 : 18:46:11

Tom, appro-pro - she purchased the Tom Tom One. It is excellent! only $179 from Tiger direct.
The best part about it is the voice guidance. Because:- When the gps is not in the car and if peggy asks 'which way do we go?' then it's easy to adopt the gps persona

"At the next junction - Turn Right, then Turn left"
"Turn Right"

Of course, I'm waiting for the TomTom to get hissed off at me when I don't follow the directions.... "I said, Turn Right!, dang brits cannot follow directions. now! Turn R I G H T!"

But instead, it cleverly reworks the route and starts to give new directions.. it's good!

Paul

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2007 : 19:04:26

I looked at the Garmin Street Pilot 330 today at WM, they have marked them down to $224. I believe its been discontinued thus the reason for the sharp discount. They had a TomTom One($174) next to the G330 but someone had removed the card so it wasn't working. I did play around with the TomTom 510($245). The choice is between those two, I'm leaning toward the Garmin.

Does the TomTom make allowances for driving on the wrong side of the road.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 10/06/2007 19:05:58

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/07/2007 : 09:02:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Does the TomTom make allowances for driving on the wrong side of the road<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ouch!

The TomTom does have maps for all of continental usa including Alaska (I had to zoom out to find some habitation in Alaska!)

Best thing about the tom tom... it's a no brainer!

Worst thing .. the page always orients in the direction of travel (unless someone knows how to change that!) Of course this feature is really a boon for Peggy.

I'm thinking of cutting out a large vinyl arrow and printing 'You Are Here' on it and tying it to the rear bumper so that she always knows where she is

Paul

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 10/07/2007 : 09:39:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusaI'm thinking of cutting out a large vinyl arrow and printing 'You Are Here' on it and tying it to the rear bumper so that she always knows where she is

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

So, you're looking to become a single handed sailor are ya?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2007 : 21:30:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 ...Of course, I'm waiting for the TomTom to get hissed off at me when I don't follow the directions.... "I said, Turn Right!, dang brits cannot follow directions. now! Turn R I G H T!" But instead, it cleverly reworks the route and starts to give new directions.. it's good!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Once mine told me, "At your earliest convenience, do a U-turn, and then..."

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2007 : 19:05:24

Now, if you really want to get her going, secretly change the guiding voice to Chinese, Samoan or Norwegian.......

Edited by - on

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