GPS

[pipes]

WHAT IS THE BEST GPS TO BUY ? for my bus.

[rwc]

Really want to open big can of worms huh? Garmin makes some of the best GPS systems. Trucker model will give over head clearance and weight restrictions.  Tom-Tom is some people's favorite. I like a lap top with delorme streets. I tried MS streets and trips didn't like it, If you want a large screen laptop is probably the way to go. I have a Garmin 7200(no longer made) with 7 inch screen which works well, Also have wo handheld Garmins for Geocaching that wll work in vehicle but Very small screen not easy or safe to see when driving. Had a Street pilot but it died and garmin will no longer fix them. The Nuvi in its several models is the replacement for street pilot.  Magellan and Cobra also make trucker model GPS systems and I think with a 7 inch screen. If you have  a place for laptop where you can see it with either program will work fine. Then you have computer and GPS in one  unit.  Rod

[buswarrior]

One you can see while driving, that won't take your eyes too far off the road, so as to cause an accident when you run into stuff while squinting at it, or worse, fooling with the settings.

As for brand, this is somewhat of a Ford/Chevy/Dodge/Toyota/Honda discussion.

They will all tell you where to go.

None of them can be trusted, your brain still needs to be engaged, no different than using maps.

I run the expensive Garmin Nuvi 465T, I needed something that tucks away, as I drive some charter coach, and a laptop screen is definitely a no-no in that application. There is no space for clutter and All that stuff has to come with you into the hotel, you don't leave things in the coach to be stolen overnight. The 465 has extensive commercial settings that a busnut may or may not find entertaining. Avoiding the low overpasses that are programmed into it is a neat feature.

As my eyes get to that point, in my own coach, or in a truck, I'll go the way many of our readers here have and use a laptop for the larger screen size, mounted strategically, just below the line of sight out the windows, not blocking the view of anything out there, but not down so low or off to the side where my eyes are drawn off the road and peripheral vision is rendered useless.

Far too many GPS units are mounted irresponsibly, blocking the view or otherwise distracting the driver from the road.

Involved in an accident? Take a quick photo of the other vehicle's interior and placement of any of these devices or wiring or whatever other crap might have been going on to distract the other driver.

Your lawyer will love you.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Ralph7]

       My Garmin 1390t works OK. but one needs to check maps!  Bought a Rand Mcnally RVND 5510, pure JUNK, battery goes dead in less than 45 seconds when moved to house. POI's nearly worthless, Used in my Jeep and it warned of  a low bridge 100 yards after I was under it, so next was warning of steep down grade, well on  17 South of Flagstaff,yes as you head down the steep grade. It is all hype, biggest mistake I made.

[Jeremy]

A couple of years ago I installed a CarPC in my car which, amongst other things, runs the Sat-Nav - which consists of a £25 USB GPS receiver and free navigation software downloaded from the internet. It works brilliantly, and also has a much bigger screen than you get with any aftermarket Garmin or whatever.

For me it's a no-brainer to use the same thing in the bus where you've got none of the installation issues associated with fitting a PC and screen into a car - you could simply have a standard laptop on a shelf next to the driver if you wanted. Or if you've got an iPad or other tablet just use that - mine for instance has navigation software which works using both an in-built GPS receiver and WiFi-location technology. You could even use a high-end, big-screen smartphone in the same way - I'm sure that in a year or two we'll look back and think it very strange that people used to go out and buy devices that 'just' did navigation.

Jeremy

[opus]

I have the Garmin Nuvi 1490 I think it is.  I like it cause I can give the girl a British accent.  I just drive in circles so she will talk to me.

But really, I like it, lots of good reviews. 

[Iceni John]

Opus, can you program it to make her talk dirty?   How about "Hey, big boy, if you turn left here you'll make me really happy", or "You call that a right turn?".   Getting lost could be fun.

John

[Oonrahnjay]

      I found a 7" screen Magellan (I'm pretty sure the model number is 9210LM) with lifetime updates free at Costco for $215.  Easy to see, easy to program, seems to take me "directly there" all the time.  But I think Jeremy is right; we're going to see a new revolution in electronics in the next few years.

[chev49]

I have trouble setting my Magellin... but i'm blind i guess, and forgot all the instructions in the manual. have laptop with large screen (17 inch i think) with external antenna and that works very well, using the software. I can actually see the street names, etc easily while on road.
Only one problem with it. When the shih tzu jumped up on the laptop table by my drivers seat while i was driving, he bumped the screen -  i had to order another from amazon cause hp wanted something like 350 or so for it, so the hp lap top screens can be fragile. my car gps ones are very sturdy.

[brando4905]

I have been happy with Garmin's 465t, but now have the new truckers model which is the DEZL 560 lmt, it has RV settings as well as OTR truck. Has a larger 5" screen. If you get the "lmt" model it comes with lifetime map and traffic updates. The trucker models have a NTTS breakdown directory, which is great if you need to find a tire or shop on your route. One neat feature on these models is it will give you grade percentages and altitude info.

[MEverard]

I have a Rand McNally Trip Maker RVND 7710. I love it. It has a 7" screen, and I use it as a speedometer too. The unit warns of construction zones, sharp turns, and narrow roads. It is set up for RV's specifically, so you can input your size vehicle. It will locate Walmarts, rest areas, truckstops, restaurants, and more. The key to these working well is you have to update them often to get the latest info.

Good Luck,

Mike

[opus]

Opus, can you program it to make her talk dirty?   How about "Hey, big boy, if you turn left here you'll make me really happy", or "You call that a right turn?".   Getting lost could be fun.

John

Maybe thats the voice in there labeled "Dirty Sally"!

[fraser8]

RWC quote "I like a lap top with delorme streets"
What version do you use? I have streets and trips but time for an upgrade,
Street Atlas USA 2012 PLUS ??

[rwc]

Yeah Street Alas. I always get it mixed up with Microsoft which I really don't like. When I had it it followed the roads and showed where I was but told me that my house was 50 miles from where I live. I was sitting in the driveway at the time.
 Rod

[technomadia]

We've tried a variety of GPS units - from Street & Trips on a laptop to Garmins, etc.  Maybe using a GPS just isn't our style of travel, as none of them seem to have the 'route by serendipity' programming option.   

We've had more problems with GPS routing us in dangerous ways.

So, we prefer to be more involved with our routing.  We use the built in mapping on our iPhone & iPad. We'll let it suggest a route, but we use our noggins and intuition to pick where we go. Love being able to switch to satellite view to confirm that a road actually exists, looks passable, etc.

 - Cherie