Posted by Blueink_CA on 2/10/06 12:03pm
Msg #96080

Question on GPS systems

I recently expanded my zip code list to include a couple of rural areas. Yesterday I found myself on a dirt road, in the hills. The driveways had no name or number on the mailboxes, actually no mailboxes at all. After driving up to the wrong house and was greeted by SA eating dogs, I was directed to the "house on the hill". The driveway was steep, curvy and long. The house was finally in sight after the climb. My question, would a GPS system be helpful in these remote areas? TIA

Reply by Teddog_CO on 2/10/06 12:12pm
Msg #96082

Re: Question on GPS systems-I would like to know also

Getting tired of trying to (locate) bwrs' there are so many new areas here. You can't count on the bwrs' giving you the correct directions (had to believe) folks don't know where they live. lol

Reply by Kydocrunner on 2/10/06 12:45pm
Msg #96088

Re: Question on GPS systems-I would like to know also

I am a certified search and resuce member here in my state and during my training I purchased a GPS and started training with it. I know there are a lot of different brands on the market and each one has its own unique features, however, a GPS works off a satellite system. You program your GPS using numerical coordinates. This is great if you get lost and want the GPS to guide you, however, unless you can program the borrowers coordinates into your GPS before leaving home, it wont help you actually find the borrowers. As I said before, this is the case with the particular GPS I had. There may be better, more expensive ones out there that will allow you to pinpoint a clients location. Fair warning if you decide to buy a GPS, before opening the box, have the tylenol ready! (hehehe) My GPS was a pain to figure out. Good luck and Happy Hunting!

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 2/10/06 12:54pm
Msg #96092

Re: Question on GPS systems-I would like to know also

I LOVE my little GPS! Got it for Christmas, and so far, knock on wood, I have had no problems finding the BO's house, even in the rural areas!

Reply by kkdmiddleton on 2/10/06 12:54pm
Msg #96093

Which one did you get?

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 2/10/06 1:01pm
Msg #96100

Re: Which one did you get?

It's a Garmin Streetpilot i3. It came with a heavyduty suction cup for mounting to the windshield, and I can move it to all my vehicles, Powered either via battery or power supply to the cig lighter socket, and came with a hardbottom carry case so I don't have to leave it in the car in areas where they don't think twice about smashing the window to get something.
My husband is a tech with the FAA and works with all kinds of radars, satellite sys etc and he was even impressed with it's accuracy.

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 2/10/06 1:05pm
Msg #96103

And...

Forgot to say that set up for it was fairly simple as far as inputting maps etc...

Reply by Kydocrunner on 2/10/06 4:22pm
Msg #96165

Re: And...

I gave it to the fire department after messing with it for a while. Cant even remember the name of it now. It was a little yellow hand held that took batteries. Couldnt program anything but numbers in it. Wasn't cheap either.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 2/10/06 5:29pm
Msg #96178

Re: Question on GPS systems-I would like to know also

I have a VCON Voice activation system where you spell out the address and then say the street number of the home. It wasn't cheap by a long shot; $1400 installed but I love it!!

The only part you actually see is a small microphone to the left of the drivers seat.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/10/06 1:45pm
Msg #96115

I like my Garmin GPSMAP 60CS, which gives me

combinations of maps I can use. I mix my maps with Garmin's street and city maps with topographic maps. Mine guides me with discrete directions telling me turns etc but I can also use it for other uses. I have the car package which includes a bean-bag type support system that sits on my dash and the I have the handlebar holders for my bicycles as well as my motorcycle. The 60CS is about the size of a walkie-talkie and I have yet to find an area where it has not been able to direct me to the specific street address in town or out in the boonies. This model also includes a compass and altimeter as well as a number of displays with different information such as speed, course made good and others. Additionally it has a tide calendar, phases of the moon, and way-points you can define as well doing reciprocal routes. I love mine!

Reply by Anonymous on 2/10/06 4:47pm
Msg #96174

Re: Charles was a great help

when we were buying a GPS for my dad. His pointing me in the direction of a couple of good websites also helped. www.tomtom.com was a big help. Thanks again Charles.

Reply by Beth/MD on 2/10/06 4:49pm
Msg #96175

Re: Charles was a great help...Sorry for the anonymous!

It was me...

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/10/06 4:50pm
Msg #96176

I'm glad it worked out for you, both of you ;-) NM

Reply by Elva_oh on 2/10/06 12:55pm
Msg #96095

My husband has been researching them because I live in rural Ohio and what he has figured out is that the Garmin Streetpilot (I can't remember the model #) will locate the address put in and is accrurate to 3 meters which is only a few feet. Also it is the only true text to speech model available under a grand. It will tell you to turn left on Martin St - now for example. We are ordering it on line because it is the best price we found and a 3 year warranty that was reasonable. This weekend I will post the website and model #.

Reply by janCA on 2/10/06 1:03pm
Msg #96102

tomtom700

I have the tomtom700 and love it. It does wonders in the fog when you're trying to just find the address on the house or street. It is voice-activated and tells you each turn to make, and if you go past the turn it will either tell you to turn around or it will reconfigure the route and get you to your destination another way.

Reply by eXpedN_TX on 2/10/06 1:06pm
Msg #96104

I use the Garmin eTrex Vista

It is small, which is good in my case because I also use it on my motorcycle handlebars. I have Microsoft Street & Maps so I can get the cooridnates and then upload them in to the GPS, or if I am in my Jeep, I just plug the GPS in to my laptop and it tells me where to go...if I turn speech on.

If you don't have the coordintaes, having a GPS is still helpful because you can use it to back track, get your bearings, etc. if you get lost.

I am partial towards Garmin, but there are a lot of great GPS's out there and you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a good one.

- Melissa

Reply by BakersfCA on 2/10/06 1:16pm
Msg #96106

I use Telenav on my cell phone. It's a GPS sysytem built in to my cell phone. Really cool.

Telenav.net

It's 10 dollars a month added to my cell bill.

Reply by SignerCA on 2/10/06 1:56pm
Msg #96119

pricing...

Do you buy the system and then add a monthly fee to your cell bill?

Reply by JudyinLa on 2/10/06 3:36pm
Msg #96148

Re:GPS and pricing

between map quest and msn I don't feel the need to drop several hundred on a GPS at this time. I have found that I get directions, print them and ask the borrower to tell me something about their house to make it stand out. Why spend the money, unless you are just trying to keep up with the Jones.

Reply by Barb25 on 2/10/06 3:47pm
Msg #96152

Re: Re:GPS and pricing

I've done it both ways and I would vote for the GPS anyday. At night you don't need to stop and read. If you get off route it recalculates and gets you back on route. And if there is traffic or an accident you can get off the road and it can reroute you. It's a business expense so why not?

Reply by BakersfCA on 2/10/06 11:58pm
Msg #96207

Re: pricing...

I just bought a new cell phone and the software was already on the phone all I had to do was go to telenav.net and set it up.

Reply by Genkichan on 2/10/06 3:52pm
Msg #96155

I have the Garmin streetpilot 2720, and it is totally idiot proof! Go for it!

Reply by thnotary_NY on 2/11/06 12:11pm
Msg #96330

I too have the Garmin 2720, the second one I've had. The first one had batteries, I had to carry 6 extra batteries just in case. This one has NO batteries, comes loaded with maps already. The *re-calculating* comes back in maybe 3 secs instead of maybe 5/6 (don't quote me), screen and turn directions are way better. Paid less than 1K, on e-bay.