Need a decent GPS

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by kilroy2963, Sep 13, 2009.

  1. kilroy2963

    kilroy2963 Light Load Member

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    It looks like I may be getting rid of the Garmin 465T. The last straw was yesterday, it was pouring rain and very overcast. The 465T for $500 couldn't find satellite reception for most of the night, which left me blind at times. This is just unforgiveable, Im calling them Monday to see what my options are. In the meantime I need some recommendations for a decent GPS, that works in all weather!!

    Laptops are not a option.
     
    FriedTater Thanks this.
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  3. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

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    I'll let you know when someone makes one.
     
  4. kilroy2963

    kilroy2963 Light Load Member

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    I give up on the 465T, it is just to unreliable!! I just purchased the Garmin 255W on a friends advice. So that plus Im getting the Rand Mcnally 2010 Motor Carriers guide. Tomorrow Im calling Garmin to demand my $$$ back, hopefully that wont be a problem.
     
  5. LSU Tiger

    LSU Tiger Banned for spamming

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    Man…I can’t figure out how you guys do it. I refuse to travel on any road unless I have preplanned it and already know beforehand that it is legal for 18-wheelers. I mean just because you use the latest GPS technology, it doesn’t relieve you of your responsibility to trip plan and ensure the roads that you travel on are legal for 18-wheelers.

    However, with standalone GPS devices, you can’t do that because of the automatic re-routing feature that automatically recalculates the route every time you deviate from your route like, for instance, anytime you go to a rest area or stop at a truck stop.

    Now I have been reading on the Internet for months where drivers were being led down a restricted route or a road with a low clearance by their so-called trucking specific GPS device and I just couldn’t understand how it was happening because I thought all drivers always trip planned their trips first beforehand. However, because of the automatic re-routing feature that can’t be turned off, it is impossible to preplan your entire trips beforehand because every time you deviate from your route for any reason, the automatic re-routing feature will automatically recalculate the entire route.

    Thus, if you use one of those devices, you have no other choice but to use the routes it recalculates, while crossing your fingers, hoping, and praying that it won’t lead you astray and it will in just a matter of time. Indeed, every time the GPS device re-calculates the route, which inevitably will be several times each day, it’s like playing Russian Roulette with your driving career.

    Anyway, Streets & Trips also has automatic re-routing, which is a great feature for 4-wheelers, but for drivers that drive 73-foot long 18-wheelers it is an accident, a fine, or worse waiting to happen. However, with Streets & Trips you can easily toggle the automatic re-routing feature on and off, and because you can easily turn the automatic re-routing feature off, you can plan your entire trip out, check it for restricted routes or low overheads, and then save it. Thus, if you go down a restricted route or run into a low overhead, it is your own fault since it means you didn’t do your job correctly.

    In any event, if I understand correctly in Streets & Trips 2010, you will now be able to preplan your entire trip out beforehand, check it for restricted routes, low clearances, and otherwise make sure it is legal for 18-wheelers, and then upload it to compatible gpx capable Garmin GPS devices via a USB cable or via the Internet if you subscribe to MSN direct, and I believe the Garmin 255W is on the list of compatible Garmin GPS devices. Not only that, but if you have the Truck Stops Plus add-on template for Streets & Trips, you will also be able to upload their entire trucking specific POI database into your compatible Garmin GPS device as well.
     
  6. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

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    He said "Laptops are not an option" in the first post. I am wondering something though. When you upload that route into the gps, does it somehow disable autorerouting? Cause if it doesn't, you're right back where you started.
     
  7. hs1125

    hs1125 Light Load Member

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    I just got the 2010 add-on for streets and trips its great! I have a Garmin street pilot and have alot of the poi in it the add-on has but now I have the most current one and I'm going to export the poi from the pc to my garmin to have the most current database.
     
  8. LSU Tiger

    LSU Tiger Banned for spamming

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    Oops... I never saw that. Anyhow, he could use Streets & Trips to do his trip planning and then upload it into his Garmin 255W. Thus, he would have the best of both worlds.

    With respect to disabling autorerouting, I believe so but don't know for sure. I also believe that you could plan your routes in Garmin's Mapsource for laptops before and then upload it into compatible Garmins, but I heard that program was very hard to use and also very limited. Thus, Streets & Trips partnered together with Garmin to develop this new solution.
     
  9. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

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    Think I'll get it and see how it works with the 465t.
     
  10. LSU Tiger

    LSU Tiger Banned for spamming

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    Go to google and enter Streets & Trips 2010 download. You can download the 2010 version 60 day free trial. It takes about 2 hours to download. It's what I have been using for about the past 10 days.

    I may experiment when I get home. My wife has my old Garmin in her vehicle.
     
  11. kilroy2963

    kilroy2963 Light Load Member

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    I'm willing to give Street and Trips a go if I can upload it to my Garmin. A laptop just will not work, putting it in the dash, or the jump seat, or bolting it to the floor is not a option.

    LSU, I dont know how much time you think I may have, but I can be called at a moments notice (a hour or even less) to cover a route I'm not familiar with. I do not always have the luxury to sit and pre-plan a route, checking every street, bridge and alley. Its great that you have a job that has the time to plan every route you do, but that isnt always the case with others in trucking. I dont know how I can make that any clearer to you.
     
    travelfraggle Thanks this.
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