Versatile GPS?

April 3, 2007 6:12 AM

What is the ideal GPS device that will offer the most versatility?

I am currently in the market for a GPS device. I have begun to travel a lot for work, and need a navigation system for my vehicle. However, I would also like something that I can create waypoints 'on the fly' on the device, and be able to retrieve them later, so I can create some maps later on.

I'd like something compact, but versatile. The Garmin Nuvi line looks nice, but I don't think it will do everything I want it to do.

posted by benjh to technology (7 comments total)

Check out the newest Delorme product. I have their GPS and it is great. And the maps are the best for me. Even trip plannin, ect.
www.delorme.com
posted by JayRwv at 6:49 AM on April 3, 2007

This recommendations page might be useful in helping narrow down the choices.
posted by jaimev at 7:29 AM on April 3, 2007

I have settled on using the Garmin Nuvi for driving and Garmin eTrex Vista for hiking, etc. You can't do better than the Nuvi for a driving GPS, in my opinion.

The Vista, on the other hand, has a built-in compass, is waterproof, and has waypoints.
posted by qvtqht at 9:41 AM on April 3, 2007

(sorry for the Piggy-Back ride)

I'm looking in to buying a used PDA from ebay.
I heard that there are GPS devices like memory chips that I can insert in to the memory card slot and use the PDA as a GPS.
I dont travel often, so rather not spend money for a GPS.

Can u suggest me a PDA, GPS chip and the map software (cheapest possible)?
posted by WizKid at 11:38 AM on April 3, 2007

I don't own one (I wish), but I think the Garmin StreetPilot 2610/2650 may do what you want. At least, I think it's closer than the Nuvi.

Unlike the Nuvi, it will upload and download waypoint files, and store waypoints for later use (entered either manually as Lat/Lon or on the fly from the unit's current position). It will even output an NMEA datastream so that you can interface it with other equipment. Here's Garmin's FAQ:
http://www.garmin.com/products/faq.jsp?product=010-00273-03

Refurbished, they seem to be going for about $300 when I did a quick search (Tigerdirect was $299).

Unfortunately, on their newer models they seem to have dropped a lot of the "geeky" functions like on-the-fly and advance waypoints, NMEA data, etc.

Not sure how offensive the idea is to your sensibilities, but you might want to think about just buying two GPS units rather than trying to get one unit that "does it all." The little eTrex units (they have one that's only $90 or so at Walmart) work beautifully in my experience for basic mapping functions. A cheap handheld GPS for waypoints and tracks, plus one of the newer automotive models for navigation, might be better in the long run than trying to find a compromise unit.
posted by Kadin2048 at 11:45 AM on April 3, 2007

I love, love, love my Garmin nuvi 350, which can be had for a relative song these days. It is the best for automotive use. Super accurate and easy to use. And, there's a huge line (14 models now?) of nuvis for every price point and almost every feature need.

I say almost - the issue has to do with your desire to create waypoints on the fly. You can do so pretty easily but uploading them to a PC would require some hacky solution, or transferring the waypoint coordinates by hand, which is a kluge.

The only other major bummer is that you only create routes with one "via" point, but it's probably good to keep the electronics as simple as possible when you're behind the wheel, eh?

I believe numerous TomTom GPSes can overcome these shortcomings but their user support and maps are both notoriously unreliable. Garmin, on the other hand, has the best maps and the support gets great reviews.

For much more info on Garmin and competing GPSes, check out the forums at nuvipassion. A second for the link above to gpsinformation.net as well; you can lose days and weeks reading all of the info on that site.
posted by gazole at 12:59 PM on April 3, 2007

I recently bought a Garmin etrex vista (the monochrome one) from ebay (approx $120).

It's been great so far, and it interfaces to the PC (serial)

Just for the car, I would opt for the nuvi, or something bigger, but the vista seems to be a reasonable one-device solution (car, hiking, biking, boating)
posted by Artful Codger at 8:41 PM on April 3, 2007