GPS Units

[BTF]

In the same vein as "Which bias method is best?", "Left-wing or Right-wing?" and "Which religion is the True One?" comes this question:

Which GPS unit do you use and why do you like it? What's the worst situation it's ever put you in (hoping there's no "Deliverance"-type stories here...)?

Looking forward to your posts! Bill.

[eniam rognab]

i was a technician for dish network in san diego, east sf bay and mendocino county. i cant even start to tell you...

although, it was a tomtom and i used it in conjunction with a thomas guide but still, if you have ever driven the 80/880/680/580 maze in the east bay you know what im talkin bout.

free map updates with that unit but since i have been in school for a few years it has moved along. my inlaws have a magellan that they enjoy

[Cantplay]

I've had GPS since the beginning. Truckers used to come up and gawk. "Is that one of those elextric maps?"

I currently use a Galaxy Note II

Android+Google keeps it up to date

John

[drew]

I've had a TomTom for several years. I think it's the TomTom One, Version 3 or something like that. As far as I'm concerned, they're one of the greatest inventions of modern times. A couple of years ago, due to a big storm that screwed up all the air traffic, I ended up having to drive a rental car, instead of fly, from D.C. to midcoast Maine. If I had had to do that back in the paper maps era, my head would have exploded. I only had a single problem the whole time, approaching NYC, and it wasn't really the unit's fault; the traffic was so intense that I just couldn't quite keep up with the map display and the instructions. When you're driving in a complicated area like the Bay Bridge maze that eniam mentioned, you have to keep one eye on the traffic, one eye on the map display, and listen to the instructions.

The only downside is that, at least at the time I got mine, TomTom had the "inkjet printer" business model, i.e., practically give away the unit, then try to make all the profit by selling you very expensive map updates. I don't know whether they're still doing that or not.

[John_P_WI]

Just got back from a trip to Western WI where there is very spotty to no cell coverage in places, forget about 4g. My 5+ year old Garmin Nuvi wide screen simply kicked my Samsung S4 + google maps ass. Google maps on the S4 would take time, at least 1 minute plus to calculate and show the route, the Garmin worked every time, virtually instantly. Forget about using the phone to plot a route where there is no cell service, it is worthless.

I have had great luck with the Garmin, except for the battery going to hell quickly.

[tribi9]

Android + Google maps. Never lets me down.

[Cantplay]

You can load the journey to memory, then even if you don't have cell signal you can still use the gps.

John

[sepulchre]

My Garmin Nuvi works Great and came with free updates for life. It even got me around in downtown Chicago.