NAUTIQUE wrote:
My understanding was that, using S&t with a GPS puck would allow you to plan an exact route that you wanted and then follow it like a Garmin type GPS. Is this correct? Advantage of planning your own route & bigger laptop screen.
I believe only S&T and Delorme programs had that option?
You are correct...and of course you can save the S&T route for reuse or REVERSE trip later.
When i used MSFT S&T I would add in all the Flying J's so i knew where i could stop & how far it was to the next potential stop - allowed me for better "tank to tank" planning.
I used to run a tethered cell/modem and refresh weather maps & check live fuel pricing "on the fly" (about as realtime as you could get, at the time).
Unfortunately if you're running a macbook there aren't as many choices (now) and only a few for windows laptops these days too.
In S&T I liked that i could calculate departure / arrival times (and MANUALLY adjust the anticipated speed) to estimate my arrival times. S&T is also good for calculating the cost of a trip (based on fuel prices and your configured mpg).
Road Trip Planner (for the mac) has a lot of the MSFT S&T features.
NAUTIQUE wrote:
Also,
I tried the WAZE app on my IPhone6 today - Very neat little program showing me real time slow traffic, break-downs, police officer locations, etc. on my commute home tonight. I understand it will also re-route you around major tie-ups. This would be great to have running along side a laptop running S&T in the motorhome!
Only drawback I found was that I couldn't get it to play thru the phones external speaker or through bluetooth connection on Ford sync?? It was just coming thru the normal phone speaker like you had it up to your ear.
WAZE will re-route based on CURRENT (realtime) conditions....BECAUSE...the data feed is 2-way.....your position and progress (aka speed) are reported and collected (normalized to a point of anonymity) for reuse & updating of the present / live conditions.
When WAZE senses your not moving it will prompt "are you sitting in heavy traffic"....a simple yes or no helps keep the data current. IF WAZE can shorten your route (because of a wreck or delay) it will OFFER the course deviation and tell you how much time it could save you (you DONT have to accept the route change).
I don't use the feature myself but there is built-in voice recognition so you can further reduce the "touch-ing" and selecting of items on the screen.
there is an option/preference selection to USE the phones speaker or bluethooth - i play my smartphone music via either the hardware phone connection or bluetooth & WAZE will periodically / briefly interrupt the music to warn me "police reported ahead" or when i need to turn etc.
you can reduce or turn off the periodic / brief interruptions if you don't like your music OR PHONE CALL being interrupted.
NAUTIQUE wrote:
It sounds like Delorme is not well liked and there are no other programs like this?
From the comments I have read, I still can't figure out what is hard about Delorme.
Saving a map file is just as easy as saving a Word or Excel document.
Well, I guess I have an advantage because I work in IT and have been using personal computers since the early 80's.
I mean, I don't care what you use or your skill set, but Delorme is no more difficult than any other mapping utility, and I have owned several. I have no association with Delorme except being a repeat customer year after year.
Another thing, all companies that create maps for purchase purposefully place errors or other indicators to protect their copyright.
