GPS - Essential or Just Convenient
Mar 15, 2023 12:00:03 #
Sendai5355 wrote:
I still use my Garmin when I'm going to an unfamiliar location. My son makes fun of me because I don't use Waze on my cell phone.
GPS is better.
I don't use my phone because I pay for data. A long trip could be very expensive.
Mar 15, 2023 12:02:50 #
JFCoupe
Loc: Kent, Washington
Over the weekend I was returning to Las Vegas from Death Valley. The GPS map program on my phone was extremely helpful navigating me to my hotel a few blocks off the strip.
Today, in cities, I think they are essential.
Today, in cities, I think they are essential.
Mar 15, 2023 12:25:46 #
My car is from 2019, before Massachusetts and other states changed to mileage based exit numbers. Every now and then the manufacturer offers to update my GPS for new roads and the new exit numbers for...$149. No thank you. The lady still says all the usual "prepare to exit in one mile", etc., just fine.
Mar 15, 2023 12:54:44 #
My GPS is essential when I'm flying because the route is highlighted, and the surrounding mountains are denoted. It also provide me with the data for flying the approaches to the airport.
For my car, I constantly use the GPS to provide adequate directions to where I'm going because it also provides traffic information.
For my car, I constantly use the GPS to provide adequate directions to where I'm going because it also provides traffic information.
Mar 15, 2023 13:06:52 #
Mar 15, 2023 14:27:52 #
Amielee
Loc: Eastern Washington State
I used to use Rand McNally and make strip maps, always worked but did not help find a McDonald in a strange town. Have a GPS in each car now. They do help find new places in a different town and they are easy to use. In our mountain west pay attention to the weather report when planing routes. The GPS will lead you wrong about passable routes.
Mar 15, 2023 14:27:56 #
Nigel7
Loc: Worcestershire. UK.
jerryc41 wrote:
Yes, and I'm always surprised at how quickly the GPS reacts when the speed limit changes. On one road, the limit is 35 in one direction and 45 in the other. That continues for maybe a quarter of a mile. The GPS knows which side of the road I am on, so it knows the speed limit. It also knows about animal crossing areas.
Yes the built in GPS is fantastic with live updates covering traffic conditions, accidents etc. However the car's cameras also read the road signs so it's hard to be sure what comes from the GPS and what's from the cameras.
Mar 15, 2023 14:32:54 #
NDMarks
Loc: Dublin, Ca
Since commercial GPS came out, I used mine all the time when I was driving the big-rig. Unfortunately it mis-routed me a few times because of the length and height of the unit. One time it routed me under a railroad bridge that was unsigned low clearance. I proceeded very slowly and soon realized it was too low so I stopped. Getting the traffic behind me to all back up was the hard part. Many people don't realize that GPS has been around for many years but until the Clinton years commercial GPS had accuracy of plus/minus 100 meters. The good stuff was reserved for the military version. I am still amazed at how almost all roads including some dirt roads are in the system!
Mar 15, 2023 14:40:07 #
I bought a new car in 2018 with GPS installed at the factory. It worked well until it needed updated. Found out that is an additional cost. I got what I think is the best deal, annual updates for five years for $100. The annual cost was $30 or 35, I think. I also had a Garmin unit I used for travelling to schools when I worked for a school photography company and used a comany vehicle without GPS. Bought a lifetime upgrade for it that covers all of North America. It was acting strange so bought a newer Garmin Unit with lifetime updates but it only covers the lower 49. I found that strange, it covers Hawaii but not Alaska. I find it would be difficult to drive TO Hawaii.
Mar 15, 2023 14:45:47 #
I am still a map guy. I like to have an overview of the area that GPS can't really give me. I have found some amazing out of the way places that way. I have a collection of really detailed Atlas' as well as the old reliable Rand Mcnally. I love to pour over them as I am preparing for a trip. Old fashioned: yes. But fun for me. Sort of like using MF lenses. Not the most modern tech, but enjoyable to use nonetheless. I guess I am more of a "enjoy the processes/journey" guy that way.
However, If I am trying to find a specific destination in a town, GPS is wonderful.
However, If I am trying to find a specific destination in a town, GPS is wonderful.
Mar 15, 2023 16:04:22 #
NDMarks
Loc: Dublin, Ca
Seeing the comment about it being hard to drive to Hawaii, there is an old joke: Man rescues a genie in a bottle and the genie says "I'll grant you one wish" so the man says he wants to drive to Hawaii. The genie reminds the man about how hard it would be to build the bridge and how much concrete it would take and tells the man to try something easier. The man then asks to be able to understand Women. The genie then replies "Will that bridge be one lane or two".
Mar 15, 2023 16:40:16 #
Mar 15, 2023 17:01:09 #
On my last Western Australian trip my phone and two GPS units sent our hire vehicle on a very rough road. Unfortunately hire companies no longer supply good old maps. At Mongo National Park are GPS showed us driving across a lake that had dried up 10,000 years ago.
Mar 15, 2023 17:34:57 #
Some years ago, I had a BMW 5 with build-in GPS.
One time, returning from Frankfurt on my way home, the GPS made me take next exit on the motorway I was in, then take the opposite direction of the same motorway, exit next exit, and return to the same direction I was driving before the detour.
I guess the GPS was bored?
Regards,
Miquel
One time, returning from Frankfurt on my way home, the GPS made me take next exit on the motorway I was in, then take the opposite direction of the same motorway, exit next exit, and return to the same direction I was driving before the detour.
I guess the GPS was bored?
Regards,
Miquel
Mar 15, 2023 17:42:55 #
I haven't tried it yet but my son claims that since my van has Bluetooth I can transfer info from GPS apps on my phone to the van's nav screen.
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