GPS Geez People School me

[Food_Maven]

After 2 weeks of daily research, I've come to the conclusion (almost a info concussion) that most if not all GPS are not worth the $ paid for them. Every time I read a review of a new, somewhat new or old unit, the 3 star reviews scare me. Mostly that is about the directions being wrong. For example the vehicle should turn right, but the gps indicates to go left. Other things like use the XXX freeway when nobody in that area uses that name. (I even have that problem with Google Mapping and my phone.) Then there is the RV (trucker) gps versus Car issue. I don't care about putting in the length, width and weight, but I do care about height. I've already smashed the top at a service station once. Between the multiplicity of models, add-on software, etc. can we please have a conversation to enlighten my ignorance?

[Chuck_thehammer]

price is a big deal .. on how it behaves...

Never use shortest route.. NEVER. regardless of brand.

my opinion. Garmin is near the top... but Top is empty..

I have (2) Garmin.. 2597 and dezl 770 "trucker".

not just directions. . but warns of hills, sharp turns and change in speed limits...
the 770 is much better then the 2597

and YES, I have owned other brands as well.. 9 years now.

[time2roll]

Food Maven wrote:
After 2 weeks of daily research, I've come to the conclusion (almost a info concussion) that most if not all GPS are not worth the $ paid for them. Every time I read a review of a new, somewhat new or old unit, the 3 star reviews scare me. Mostly that is about the directions being wrong. For example the vehicle should turn right, but the gps indicates to go left. Other things like use the XXX freeway when nobody in that area uses that name. (I even have that problem with Google Mapping and my phone.) Then there is the RV (trucker) gps versus Car issue. I don't care about putting in the length, width and weight, but I do care about height. I've already smashed the top at a service station once. Between the multiplicity of models, add-on software, etc. can we please have a conversation to enlighten my ignorance?

GPS is just to help guide you. GPS does not allow you to turn off your brain. GPS is good at many things but should not be followed blindly. The funny names and wrong turns should be a source of humor not a driving disaster.

[Tom_Barb]

We plan a trip by using Google Maps and making a few notes on a pad. north/east on 20, south on 5, east on 2 etc.

yes old habits die hard.

[azrving]

I tried my android phone again yesterday and it's pretty good but instead of keeping me on two major highways and making one right turn to reach my destination it wanted to take me on back roads with 6 extra turns and was only 2 miles shorter.

I like the gps for things like telling me how far a McD is but as bighatnohorse said it's like a good friend that is sometimes unreliable. For the few hundred miles that I go in one day I can usually look at maps on my computer and remember where to go. Overall it may just be one more of those things that I'm actually better off doing manually and exercising my old brain rather than have a robot hold my hand. When the robot fails for whatever reason it's just me sitting there dumbfounded.
I also seem to find that I'm more aware and alert if I have to watch for everything myself and if I had a conversation with someone I could actually remember the roads and how we got there. They say that using crossword puzzles or puzzles or things like that are good for old brains so maybe going on a trip and mapping it out and following it step by step are similar. Whatever works for you.

[john_bet]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
How tall is your Rig? Hit a service station canopy??

I HAD a Garmin...2 goof ups (wrong directions that did NOT agree with paper map) I muffed her and stuck her in a bag never to come out again.
Besides I couldn't stand the sarcastic 'Recalculating' when I deviated from route.


Atlas/paper maps..........
7 yrs FT secondary/back roads and they got us where we wanted to go with no issues.

As for 'height'
PAY Attention----Look UP

X-2. I started driving cross country in '67. Paper was all you had back then. I even got into and out of downtown LA and surrounding areas with out fail. Been traveling to/from the Black Hills and western Montana mostly for the last 39 years for military assignment and to visit family so no need for a GPS. Will be going to south east N.M., new area for us, about the 16th from Rapid City and am not using a GPS to get there. Going back to Indiana from there and still will not use GPS.

[wa8yxm]

Some years ago one of hte gear head magazines (GPS magazine as I recall) Ran a bunch of routes using Tom-Tom. Garmin and one other (Magellin? or Rand/Mcnally? not sure)

On all the routes.. The garman driver got there fastest and turned RIGHT into the parking lot.

I use Microsoft Streets & Trips or "Maps" on my 'droid (Google maps) depending on how far I'm going and what I'm driving.

[bighatnohorse]

most if not all GPS are not worth the $ paid for them

That's about right - but depends on one's attitude.

It's sort of like having a good friend who is sometimes unreliable.

[wtmtnhiker]

I use the Co-Pilot app on my phone and tablet. It has an RV selection with a 13' height restriction. I was able to download all the US maps to the SD card so I never need internet access. I have used it for a couple of years with good results although nothing is perfect. We still verify routes with books and maps. The app also has live traffic if you want but that would need wifi and there is an extra fee. I think I paid 9.99 and believe it is 19.99 now but not sure.

[OLYLEN]

Most of the errors in routing are operator error. Like the RV learn how to operate the equipment correctly. Then ALWAYS check the routing, there are some errors in the GPS data bases. GPS or phone GPS will be behind the curve on road closures and new additions, but updating helps. Position awareness, have an idea where you are and where you wish to go, most likely a boat ramp or a mountain gravel road is not what you want to travel on. One last caution, always check the how to get there on campgrounds, this is where I have found the most concern routing under a car only RR bridge or over a bridge that wont carry the weight. Now all that said I am a GPS junkie, I cant move without it. For me the RV760LTM or the new RV770LTM are the only way to go, but the new Heads up system that you can drive on could be next(little tongue in cheek here)maybe! Between the RV GPS, gas buddie and RVparky I got it covered. OH we do carry a good atlas, but I dont think we have blown the dust off in a couple years.

LEN

[GordonThree]

shastagary wrote:

DW bought me a RV.760 lifetime maps and traffic

hears the catch on the gps units though "lifetime maps" it's not your lifetime or how long you can keep yours working it's how long the gps maker decides to support your model with map updates. i see lots of them sold at the thrift stores because the gps maker stopped supporting it. lifetime is lifetime of there product.

I own three Garmin with free lifetime maps, the oldest being 12 years and they all receive updates from Garmin. The older units needed a memory upgrade to handle the new larger maps.

[valhalla360]

rjxj wrote:

Cell phone is excellent until it loses signal at juuuuuuuust the wrong time.

15-20yrs ago this was a legitimate issue.
- Not many places with zero coverage anymore.
- Most of the good online mapping apps download your route so even if it loses signal, you can keep going. Only thing you lose is live traffic notifications.

[shastagary]

DW bought me a RV.760 lifetime maps and traffic

hears the catch on the gps units though "lifetime maps" it's not your lifetime or how long you can keep yours working it's how long the gps maker decides to support your model with map updates. i see lots of them sold at the thrift stores because the gps maker stopped supporting it. lifetime is lifetime of there product.

[GordonThree]

rr2254545 wrote:
Overthinking it just get a Garmin RV model and be done with it - you are not a car or truck - I owned a trucker one before the RV units came out - it sometimes routed me way out of my way

x2 on this

Overthinking it is right, trying to compare the dozens of cheapo GPS to each other. Open the wallet and spend big for a Garmin RV model. They were among the first (with consumer gps), and still among the best - worth the price IMHO

[C-172-AV8R]

DW bought me a RV.760 lifetime maps and traffic. Sometimes there are issues on directions. New barriers installed in center of highway etc. You can send a note to Garmin and they will change it on the next update which is what happened when I did that. Still need to have your head in the game for those times your spidey sense goes off.