Talkin' GPS's, Garmin mainly.

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Steve McKellop

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Does anyone have a Garmin nuvi with traffic? Is it helpful or just bling? Most of my work involves interstate driving so it could be of benefit if it functions well. How about a model that the destination address balloon is too big and obscures too much of the map? Some online ratings list that as a negative on some models. Someone helped themselves to my ancient outdated C340 so I have to buy a new one for the truck and am looking for personal input/opinions. I think I want to stick to Garmin and a pretty basic one at that, no bluetooth needed. I don't carry a laptop and I don't want it on my "dumb phone".Thanks.
 
i have a garmin nuvi 1340 and i like it, it gives up to date traffic delays and even marks out on the map where the traffic backup is so you can take side roads to avoid it, wouldnt trade it for anything else
 
I have a 255WT. It has what's called FM traffic and it's not that reliable. There is no fee for this traffic service. To receive the traffic data, you must have the unit attached to its charging cable, as it has the traffic receiver integrated in the cable.



If I was a professional driver, I would want something with more accurate traffic; I understand some of the newer models get their traffic data via Digital 3D Traffic. They state it provides updates as often as every 30 seconds over the HD Radio system.



You want to make sure you get free lifetime map updates, usually indicated by an L in the model name (3590LMT) - LMT indicates free lifetime maps and traffic.



Some also include speech recognition, so you can speak your destination instead of trying to punch in an address while on the move.
 
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Steve M,

If you are stuck on Garmin, then you have already made up your mind.



I have had a Megellan, a Garmin, and TomTom's. All do what they say they will do, and do it well, including traffic updates. At one time, Garmin had the best maps but over the years, all the other companies have caught up and all the maps are similar.



For my money, it's pretty hard to beat a TomTom. I have had 3 different TomTom models over the past 5 years and all are still operations and function very well. The last two I purchased came with "Free Maps for Life" which allows me to download new maps about every quarter and they also have a feature where you can upload and download map corrections that you or others have found. This might be rerouting for road closures, detours, streets that have been changed to one-way, or recently opened highways. etc.



Even the cheapest GPS units are so far advanced and easier to operate over the older models there is no need to spend a lot of money.



I sold my Magellan. I still have my old $400 Garmin and it still works, but map updates were so expensive, and it is so clunky to use. that 5 years ago I invested in my first (cheapest) TomTom and never looked back.



...Rich

 
I have the garmin with the lifetime map updates. I am hesitant to make any recomendations because this is the only one I have ever had. My complaint would be that there are times that it trys to send me through a gated community to reach a destination on the other side (outside of the gated community). My last frustration was it telling me to drive aprox 5 miles thru city streets to connect to a freeway that I could see from my location. (1/4 mile away) It was taking me in a big circle to get to a place in the oppisite direction. (to my right, it wanted me to go left) Many times it directs you the long way. I have to admit it's better than the wife's directions. I also like mph feature as I tend to speed a bit. Good luck. Dave
 
My old C340 was bought in '06 so everything I'm sure is far superior to it! I just wonder how helpful "traffic" is in avoiding delays. I know the Magellan and Tom Tom are good as well but I just have a lot of time spent with my Garmin. The 50LM is quite a value as is the 1450LMT as a factory refurb w/1 yr warranty. My 2 Verizon U640 Samsung's are factory refurbs and were quite a savings w/no issues after 2 years and I drop mine daily!I really do not want any more features than are useful to me.
 
Steve M. Traffic avoidance is very situational....Very difficult to evaluate because "Traffic Happens" without a lot of warning. If an accident occurs a mile or two ahead of you, It may be too late to change your route to avoid it. There is not much you can do and it is really not the fault of the GPS unit. The other problem is that once the traffic problem is recognized and your are following an alternate route, you may still get stuck in traffic as many other people are detouring around the traffic problem and creating heavier traffic on other roads that may not be designed for that volume of traffic?



The only way to know if one GPS is better for traffic notifications and rerouting is to have several units in operation at the same time and when you encounter a traffic situation, which unit recognizes the problem sooner and routes you around the problem? That's kind of hard to know with only one GPS in one vehicle? A better test would be to have different GPS units in different vehicles, one behind the other, and each one follows the GPS alternate route when it recognizes the problem and see who gets to the destination first?



In my opinion, Traffic monitoring in a GPS is very subjective and very difficult to evaluate the performance of the GPS because of so many varying traffic conditions.



...Rich
 
I have a Garmin 255WT and it uses FM traffic (not HD traffic like the newer models). FM traffic is not very reliable; I can't speak for the HD traffic reliability. My model requires use of the power cable to receive traffic information, as the traffic receiver is integrated in the power cable.
 
Steve,

Here is a link to a good website that explains all the different types of traffic info services and how the apply to the different GPS units.



http://www.gpsreview.net/traffic/



...Rich
 
Yeah, I'm just skeptical of the reliability of a traffic program. The Garmin's that offer it have some other negatives to it so I'll probably go without. The police scanner, CB and DOT signs do a pretty good job of keeping out of accident gridlock as it is.



Thanks for the opinions!
 
Personally, I've used many different GPS brands but I have only ever owned Garmin (we are on our 2nd). I've used Magellan, I've used Tom Tom. I find Garmin to be a bit better, overall, than either. Magellan has done quirky things, and Tom Tom, a little too "user friendly" for my taste along the line of the old adage; if you make something foolproof, only a fool will want to use it.



As for traffic info, I find that feature to be one of the least useful. It is a rare occasion that one just "happens" on a traffic jam without notice, and the very infrequent times that does happen the feature is hit or miss on giving adequate warning, regardless, and worst case using a system without the feature or one with "not the best" version of said feature is about the same - your worst case is that you get stuck and a few minutes (on average) you take a side road and drive for a while off course, using your head, until it reroutes away from the road you were on. Not too difficult.



Of course, I don't live in an area were the traffic info would make a huge difference. I guess if I lived in or worked near a large city and had a commute in or around it, and there were several routes to choose from, and traffic was variable most days, then it might be a good feature IF it worked.



So, I would recommend Garmin, primarily for price versus performance.



TJR
 
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I have a GPS, a compass and a watch for the boat.



I have a map for the truck.



I have a wife to tell me where to go.



The only problem I have is folding the map back up.
 
TJR,

I agree with you for the most part about the usefulness of Traffic monitoring on a GPS as I have never seen much use for it. I have Google maps on my BlackBerry and have on occasions used the traffic feature when I ran into traffic jam. I was able to see how far the traffic was jammed up, and could make a choice to exit and take another route or just wait it out. That has only happened twice in 5 years!



However, I do not agree with you regarding the TomTom being "Too user Friendly". I think with all the driver distractions we have now, a GPS that offers the simplest of controls and the easiest to use is probably the best choice for most drivers....I think they should even be simpler, perhaps using voice commands so you don't even have to take your eyes off the road.



GPS's, Cellphones, Tablet PC's etc are all consumer products that are supposed to be "Turn-key" devices that do not require a Masters Degree in rocket science to use. That is one of the same complaint I have heard about some cellphones like the BlackBerry...They have too many settings and controls that it becomes a nightmare for many users who are not computer guru's to understand how to make the phone work the way they expect it should. Enter the iPhone and suddenly all of those settings and tweaking are gone. The iPhone is designed for technology challenged consumer as it should be and that's what has led to their popularity, even with true tech geeks.



...Rich
 
I forget the model of my Garmin--it has lifetime maps and traffic--but it does a pretty decent job. One thing I don't like about it is the touchscreen. It's not responsive enough. To type in an address takes forever, as it takes a couple seconds for each letter to register, and you have to wait to make sure it didn't miss any of your entry attempts (and those misses are frequent). If that one concern were addressed, I'd have no complaints about it.
 
Bill V brings up a valid point....The only real difference between the different brands of GPS units is the User Interface. There are only a few companies that make the maps so most mapping data is accurate at the time the map was created, and even less companies collect the traffic info so there is probably little difference in between models. That simply boils down to your preference in the User Interface, and that is very subjective.



....Rich
 
We're about on the same page LaRue. Allstate homowners say they won't pay for my GPS, Escort 8500 X50 Blue because they were "powered by the vehicle" and I haven't heard if they're covering the Radio Shack PRO-106 yet ...... not powered by the vehicle! I had a fight with them over a deer collision, finally prevailed due to a decent claims manager. That issue caused me to look at costs from other insurance companies. Nationwide offered same coverage for $400 less a year. Had Allstate Auto since 1972, Homeowners since 1979. Customer loyalty means nothing to them. Those "Good Hands" collect your premiums but they sure don't want to shell out $$$$ for legit claims! Allstate can :cheeky::kiss_it:
 
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