Posted by JBarnes_NY on 8/22/06 9:16pm
Msg #140051

GPS - Multi stops

Anyone know if the Garmin I3 can do route planning, if not what GPS can for under $500, I do alot of stops in a day, and use MSN maps and streets and love it, I want to get a GPS that
I can put a bunch of addresses in and have it optimize my route and tell me where to go without me having to shuffle papers or look down at my lapper, please help, thanks
!!!!

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 8/22/06 9:47pm
Msg #140060

I have the Garmin 2620 that I pai $899 for 2 years ago - the price may have dropped since then. I LOVE it! You can store addresses in it and then just pull it up when you need it. It gets me when to turn and what side of the street the destination is on. Really great for the winter hours when it's dark out and you can't read street signs and house numbers!

Reply by Joy223 on 8/22/06 10:06pm
Msg #140073

I am involved in a sport called Geocaching and I use a GPS for it all the time. When I was looking into buying my GPS quite a few of my Caching buddies told me not to get a Garmin. I am not sure why. Personally I think they are just as good as the next one. So anyway I ended up buying a Lowrance I-Finder Pro. It has an option to add additional detailed maps to a memory card. Mine also came with a cigerette lighter adapter so you can save on the batteries. I got mine off Ebay for $159. Even my husband has wished he had it when he was looking for some stops he had to make in his line of work. Good luck with what you decide to get.

Reply by Tina_MA on 8/22/06 10:23pm
Msg #140086

I have a Garmin iQue 3600. I enter all my appointments for day in the PDA portion and then link their GPS address to that.

I plot my appointments on a wall map with flags. I then plan my appointments from looking at the map, and then set my appointments so that I am traveling in a logical route.

Reply by Gary_CA on 8/22/06 10:32pm
Msg #140105

Re: GPS - Multi stops I've got one too

I do Real Estate and property inspections so I have to set up routes all the time. Tap "Determine Best Order" and it does.

The Garmin IQue 3600 is great... it's a Palm compatible PDA and a GPS all in one. Under $500.

However, from time to time mine eats stops on the route and you have to put them back. Does yours do that??? Most annoying.

Reply by Tina_MA on 8/22/06 10:47pm
Msg #140124

Re: GPS - Multi stops I've got one too

>>>Tap "Determine Best Order" and it does.<<<

The Garmin iQue 3600 is great! It's my absolute favorite gadget! Plus they have the BEST customer service I've ever dealt with. HP should take lessons from Garmin.

I seem to recall reading about that feature some years ago when I first purchased mine. I've never used it though.

I'm a visual person and like having a large map on the wall. That way, as calls continue to come in, I can add more flags and re-shuffle my appointments as need be.

I'll never be able to go back to using paper maps or hand-written directions again.

Reply by JBarnes_NY on 8/23/06 9:45pm
Msg #140410

Re: GPS - Multi stops I've got one too

Gary,
I do inspections too, what I want to know is if I plot my route with MSN maps and directions can I link that to my GPS, please e-mail me if you can, thanks [e-mail address]

Reply by Leslie Przybyla on 8/23/06 6:54am
Msg #140174

I just purchased a Garmin about two weeks ago. I am so happy. It has helped me so much! I never get lost and feel more secure with finding these hard to find homes. I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and with 1.2 million people in the area, it is comforting to know that I can find easily find the home that I am looking for. Iwould never be without it ...ever! The newer addresses are not on it yet, but very few are not on the GPS. So yes, being new to SLC, it was a breath of fresh air. I guess it is called confidence. It was $700.00 but had a $150.00 rebate on line, Costco. I say...go for it.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/23/06 8:00am
Msg #140184

Lord have mercy all! Is a GPS really required? I just use a map or directions.

My places usually have directions like:

Come in on FM 46. Turn on FM 979. Go about three miles, take a right at the fireworks sign, take the dirt road for another mile, mile and a half. Hang on to all the right curves...don't ever go left...go over the tiny creek...it might be dry, but you'll see the gate. There's a large cattleguard. There's a star and a cowboy on it. A big star. Don't turn into the gate with the three little stars or you'll be in the neighbor's pasture.

Don't get lost because we don't have cell phone usage out here.

Reply by Gary_CA on 8/23/06 9:19am
Msg #140200

Is a GPS really required? No, but highly recommended...

Especially if you're doing field inspections too...

I do BPO's and with GPS I can hit several in a day. My record so far is 12 homes over 168 miles.

You can relax and know you'll get there. It saves time. It saves gas.

If I'm on my way to meet someone it gives me an ETA that's constantly updated for my current speed (i.e. traffic).

I guess you can do loan signings with a map and directions because you set up the appointment ahead of time, but there's no way I'd do inspections without it.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/23/06 9:22am
Msg #140201

Re: Is a GPS really required? No, but highly recommended...

I suppose it is all in where you are and what you are doing. I have GPS for my laptop. It's got a BIG screen.

I just don't want another gadget with a little screen vying for my attention.

Reply by Gary_CA on 8/23/06 10:08am
Msg #140210

Fair enough...

Gadget controll is important. But I hardly ever look at the little screen... it talks to me. I thought about the GPS laptop setup but figured it would be too hard to read a laptop screen in the car (bigger but not brighter) and just too cumbersome.

Hey if you're systems workin' for ya... but GPS is on my top 3 gadget list.

Reply by Tina_MA on 8/23/06 11:02am
Msg #140219

>>>My places usually have directions like:

Come in on FM 46. Turn on FM 979. Go about three miles, take a right at the fireworks sign, take the dirt road for another mile, mile and a half. Hang on to all the right curves...don't ever go left...go over the tiny creek...it might be dry, but you'll see the gate. There's a large cattleguard. There's a star and a cowboy on it. A big star. Don't turn into the gate with the three little stars or you'll be in the neighbor's pasture.

Don't get lost because we don't have cell phone usage out here.<<<


I purchased my Garmin about 3 or 4 years ago because of directions like Brenda's and worse. And there is little or no cell coverage in certain parts of the state.

I had a signing in the backwoods of Western MA (all dirt roads, no signs). The directions were something like:

1. When you see the big rock, shaped like a triangle, on the left, start looking on the right for a break in the woods, turn there.

2. Drive a few miles and look for the Y shaped tree. Twenty feet after the tree there will be another break in the woods, turn there.

3. Drive until you see a pile of rocks, then start looking for a big tree with little wooden sign on it. Turn right after that.

4. Drive until you see a telephone pole, follow the wires to a break in the woods and turn there.

The instructions continued. I wrote them all down because I wasn't sure the Garmin would be able to direct me there. Thank goodness it did. I would've never found that place, or gotten back home, without it.

In the spring and summer, it is very difficult to navigate down at the south shore. There are vines that grow over everything (ie. trees, signs, telephone poles and their wires, etc.). If I didn't have GPS, I would have to carry a machete and get out of the car to cut the vines down to read the signs.