What GPS to buy

Bought the Garmin 2597 (I think) at Costco in Canada. Love the new features like rest stops, pictures of intersections as you get to them, what lane to choose and no more "recalculating" annoyance. There is also an app you can get for free on the iPhone that lets you put info into the Garmin via Bluetooth. You can also use the Garmin as a wireless hands free iPhone link. Probably more that I have not discovered yet.

4aSong wrote:

RonYVickie wrote:
We also have a Garmin Nuvi - can't remember the number, but it has all of North America. The accuracy is pretty good, but several times I have been prompted to turn where there is no road, plus going south from Oaxaca I was apparently driving cross-country even though that part of the highway has been there at least since 2006. just use caution and, of course, it's better if you check any unsure places on Google Earth and on a map before the gps gets you in a tight spot. There is a recent addition to causes of death and it's called "death by gps", as in the Canadians who got stranded on a Nevada backroad ! RYV

Good information for everyone that uses a GPS. Double check any unsure places using Google Earth and a map before you get into a tight spot.

X2
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

RonYVickie wrote:
We also have a Garmin Nuvi - can't remember the number, but it has all of North America. The accuracy is pretty good, but several times I have been prompted to turn where there is no road, plus going south from Oaxaca I was apparently driving cross-country even though that part of the highway has been there at least since 2006. just use caution and, of course, it's better if you check any unsure places on Google Earth and on a map before the gps gets you in a tight spot. There is a recent addition to causes of death and it's called "death by gps", as in the Canadians who got stranded on a Nevada backroad ! RYV

Good information for everyone that uses a GPS. Double check any unsure places using Google Earth and a map before you get into a tight spot.

We also have a Garmin Nuvi - can't remember the number, but it has all of North America. The accuracy is pretty good, but several times I have been prompted to turn where there is no road, plus going south from Oaxaca I was apparently driving cross-country even though that part of the highway has been there at least since 2006. just use caution and, of course, it's better if you check any unsure places on Google Earth and on a map before the gps gets you in a tight spot. There is a recent addition to causes of death and it's called "death by gps", as in the Canadians who got stranded on a Nevada backroad ! RYV

Just bought the Garmin Nuvi 2757 at Walmart for $187, http://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-nuvi-2757LM-7-GPS-Unit-with-Free-Lifetime-Maps-of-North-America/22960507 . If in stock, local Walmart will match the online price. The price is lower than their Cyber Monday price. Thus far very pleased!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

Have had our Nuvi 2797LMT for about a month now and all I can say is WOW, the features, accuracy, etc. are second to none.

Isn't BaseCamp a free/better replacement for MapSource?

part of the Garmin package is software called MapSource

Tony,

I think this only comes when you buy a DVD map of certain parts of the world. Since our 2757 comes with all of North America we have had no reason to buy other maps so as far as I can tell we do not have Map Source. I cannot find a way on the Garmin website to get it unless I buy special maps.

On certain Garmiin devices we can use our Streets & Trips to plan a route and then transfer it to our Garmin. I have never actually done this but others have.

The Garmin does have things like gas stations, ATM machines, restaurants and other things of interest. But some things are very out of date - for example they get their RV park (camping) locations from Woodall's and this has not been updated for a long time. It is much better to use the Church book and enter the Lat Lon of a location to find it.

I know you travel the world with your various vehicles but we only travel North America in our Bus. We have talked about renting or buying an RV in Europe but we have not done it yet. So we do not have extra Garmin maps or Map Source. I certainly would be interested in seeing it and fooling around with it to see how it works but at this point not willing to buy maps I already have just to get Map Source - sure wish Garmin would find a way to offer this as an option when you buy a device.

When towing I really like the lane warning function on my Garmin Nuvi. Also the lifetime map updates are a big plus. Just did the update yesterday to get ready to go South tomorrow.

Brian, part of the Garmin package is software called MapSource which allows you to use the Garmin maps (and open street maps) on your computer. Pretty sure you can also do route planning and then download them to the GPS.