Author Topic: Navigation systems (Read 2688 times)

Wetson · « **on:** September 12, 2005, 02:49:53 pm »

Does anyone have a navigation system in their vehicle? How useful are they and how much do you use it?

mdxtasy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:56:05 pm »

I've got one in the MDX. It's nice....and when required, are extremely useful. I don't use mine all that much, I've probably used it a dozen times to find addresses in the city and when I'm visiting other cities. It's good for looking up phone numbers too (if equipped).

Drivesideways · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:57:29 pm »

Bah! Not this discussion again.

Don't have one...don't need one, don't want one, and certainly not at the present costs. I'd much rather spend the $1.5-2K making the car more fun to drive. I prefer to do my route planning in advance, BEFORE I get in the car, not on the fly. Very seldom have I had to pull over to figure out where I'm going. I still like the old-fashioned paper map. But then, I'm OLD.

mdxtasy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:58:48 pm »

Go back to bed old timer...we're talking technology here.

Drivesideways · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:00:30 pm »

Quote from: mdxtasy on September 12, 2005, 02:58:48 pm

Go back to bed old timer...we're talking technology here.

Hey...just because you NEVER sleep doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't.

mdxtasy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:01:07 pm »

Got me there.....damn.

ovr50 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:12:59 pm »

What DSW said below, exactly. Not me, never.

AVToller · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:14:23 pm »

I must be even older than you DSW, as you beat me to it. I've driven all over North America and a good chunk of the UK, and my NAV system (paper maps) has only failed me once. For a while I added an interpreter to the system (2nd wife) and it just didn't work until I realized that left meant right and right meant left. But then she was left-handed and English, and sometimes forgot which side she was supposed to drive on in Canada.

I must be older than OVR too!

traingirl · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:22:08 pm »

I've driven with a handheld GPS with voice instruction - and it is handy. Especially for road trips or if you're on your own with no navigator. The portable devices are alot cheaper and you can download much better maps for Canada than are supplied with the factory installed (i.e. the Murano). As far as I know the factory installed units are static (please correct me here, I'd love to find out that car manufacturers have recognized this issue) where as handheld units are upgradeable.

mdxtasy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:23:44 pm »

The navi's that are integrated into the car typically run off a DVD disc. Updated ones can be purchased...but aren't cheap. They are not static Traingirl.

si · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:24:13 pm »

the TL has it, and it became VERY useful my last trip to Vancouver. I was late picking up my sister from the airport and while on-the-go, the car told me how to get there. No sitting there reading/re-checking maps.

I like the system for it's other features too, like looking up restaurants or seeing what's near by.

I think i've read somewhere (in the manual?) that it uses GPS to calculate the sun's orientation to the car and can actually send more A/C to the side that's in the sun.

traingirl · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:27:13 pm »

Quote from: mdxtasy on September 12, 2005, 03:23:44 pm

The navi's that are integrated into the car typically run off a DVD disc. Updated ones can be purchased...but aren't cheap. They are not static Traingirl.

Updates for a portable GPS are free. But still glad to know you can upgrade.

wing · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:29:40 pm »

traingirl, generally the updates aren't free for a portable either, at least not large updates. Garmin units require you to buy the latest maps.

I love mine, the old timers don't know what they are missing. It's not just maps it's a service, want chinese food in some foreign city just type it in and voila your on your way. Need fuel in a hurry in the middle of an unknown area? No problemo.

I thought it might be a toy and useless as well, but once you have it, you understand.

Drivesideways · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:37:56 pm »

Lalalalalalala.....I can't hear you!

traingirl · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:43:12 pm »

Yes, Garmin requires a fee for upgrades (brain-burp on my part, I have them free at work).

However, this may be of interest to some:

The GPS TrackMaker® program begun in the middle of 1998 and now it is free for download in the Internet with resources enough for most of the users, specially to help "outdoor" actions and starting from version #11, urban mapping, with indication of streets, squares, avenues, lakes, etc. If, for example, companies that manufacture GPS devices don't supply maps of waterfalls, parks, tracks or even of your neighborhood, you can create it in GPS TrackMaker®. You also can let it in the Internet so that other people can use it. Starting from the version #11, the maps can be saved in compressed format for the Internet by the "GZ" extension, facilitating the storage in several servers of the World Web.

Hope this helps someone - let me know how it works (as I don't actually own a GPS or have one in my 1989 buick

)

ovr50 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:46:59 pm »

I usually let wife drive if we're in a place that needs serious navigation (which, even if I had it on my own vehicle, would be useless as we're usually renting in places that need maps - LOL) because she thinks the map blue lines (rivers) are roads and vice-versa.

Besides, I never eat Chinese food in "strange" cities !!!!!!!!!

wing · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:49:29 pm »

that's why I think the portable devices are better. I have the full euro map database just waiting for my free trip to europe!

Driver · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2005, 06:29:46 pm »

Thanks for the tip Traingirl. I have a 3-year old PDA with a CompactFlash GPS and I currently run Microsoft Streets. I'll give GPS TrackMaker a try and see if it's better than MS Streets

blizzard35 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 13, 2005, 07:06:58 am »

I have the Magellan Roadmate 300 and it's great. Came loaded with most of North American cities/regions, voice prompts (she has such a nice voice) and until
September 30, 2005 you recieve an updated SD card loaded with even more regions.
*Price is now $599.00, is transferable and portable.......can't beat it for the price! This unit has come in very handy since I got it at the end of July!

skypoint · « **Reply #19 on:** September 13, 2005, 07:34:10 am »

I bought a Garmi iQue 3600 in October 2003 with car moutning kit for £600 ... about CAD $1200. The value of a portable GPS kit over a built-in-to-car kit proved itself, because when I sold my car, I was able to continue using the GPS in a rental car in the UK. The I bought North America maps for $200 before moving to Canada, and was able to use the same Garmin to drive around Toronto in a rental car. Then I bought my Volvo... and was able to just put the Garmin in that.

Sure, a GPS sitting on top of the centre console doesn't looks as pretty as an integral unit. But it's so much more flexible, and CHEAPER!