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Automotive News & Views Navigation GPS Systems
1759 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 7:24 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: dc_driver (Aug 14, 2004 5:01 pm)
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I am glad you are enjoying your Magellan, DC Driver. You said it Utilizes the same mapping system as Lexus, BMW. I believe it uses the same data. After trying to set the system for a Lexus, I have finally been able to set it for a cross-country jaunt with four destinations (waypoints). The Lexus manual is not written for American English speaking natives although it is in the English language. I have begun to unlock some of its secrets but am still a long way from mastering it. If I were to start over with a car purchase, I would ask if there are any car salesmen who had mastered such a system for a long, American trip and insist on getting them to show a demo. What might be a whole lot better than either your solution or mine is to spring for one of those pedestals to hold a laptop. The larger area displayed is a big advantage. The almost infinite angle at which it can be positioned is also. I have heard there is a wireless GPS antenna that can transmit through WiFi to a laptop. Yes, you have the $ for pedestal, $ for laptop, $ for software, and $ for gps antenna, but if you drive without any real help in navigating, it is worth it and you have a choice of any car. |
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Replying to: dc_driver (Aug 23, 2004 4:58 pm) Thanks for sharing your experience. Where did you install the Magellan in the car? How's the signal reception? Are you using any external antenna?
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It was not a Magellan, but a Lexus built-in system that I have been trying to learn. The car purchase was a necessary one and the need for a nav system was real also. I needed to have both in a short time and found this one in stock. I am happy about the car, but there is a difference between a routing program and a nav system -- even with GPS. Another problem a laptop with a routing program solves is that you can take it inside and practice all you want. If it is built-in it isn't always convenient or comfortable to try to practice it in the auto. Still another is that programs written for Windows conform to many conventions we are accustomed to and it is a lot easier for us to learn. Documentation for a Japanese-designed single-use computer is not very user friendly. Sorry my wording led you astray. |
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Just figured to give a quick note on the Garmin 2610 portable unit. One of the reasons I went for the Garmin is it's portablilty factor, and that came in handy recently. Last week I went on vacation to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Canada. Being a New Yorker, I had no idea where I was going, except for the Garmin. It took me cross island, and even cross province with very little problems. I set up my waypoints at home, so I had my hotel and some landmarks set up for when I got off the plane and into the rental. Within 5 minutes I was on my way. It did present some problems in the sense it once told me to take a road, that was really an overgrown dirt path. It also did not list all the wineries in the area, but if you have the address, it will get you there jsut the same. After this trip I definitely see the advantages of a portable nav system ovewr built in: it will go car to car; you can program at home before getting into the car; it is also approximately $1000 or more cheaper. Mark
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Replying to: bat1161 (Sep 07, 2004 12:26 pm) Has anyone else here used the Hertz Megellan Neverlost? I tried one this last week and was not impressed at all compared to my Garmin. Not only was it weaker in operation, but it locked up on me several times and the only way to get it unlocked was to restart the car. In the mean time, I was pretty much wandering around lost. It also refused to recalculate the route after the reboot, just told me to proceed to the highlighted route. Great! Now, how the heck do I get back to the highlighted route!!! I actually started putting in the route, then writing the directions down so that I could have something to refer to in case it locked up on me again. |
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I'm shopping for a built-in GPS navigation system for a 17 year old Porsche 928. So far I've looked at models from Alpine, Kenwood, and Pioneer. They all appear to work well on paper and in the store, but I'd like to hear from anyone who has real world experience with these systems. Which system would you recommend and why?
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Yeah feedback on the pioneer would be nice, I'm thinking of putting one in my Legacy or Trooper. -mike |
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Please,any feedback from those who have used this GPS system will be appreciated.I am planning on ordering one. Thanks in advance. |
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GPS technology is still evolving and improving, and OEM navigation systems sold in new cars seem to carry a hefty premium. I am about to purchase a 2005 Honda Odyssey, and am weighing the value of purchasing a model which includes the factory-installed Honda navigation system. I know that Honda sells map updates for its navigation systems (which I gather are produced by Alpine Electronics), so presumably that aspect of the navigation system can be maintained into the future. But does Honda ever provide updates to the navigation software or firmware? Also, what about the longevity of the navigation unit itself -- how long do these factory-installed units typically last? And if they break, how much do they typically cost to repair or replace? Any thoughts or experiences? Thanks.
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