Good GPS software/reciever for pc

**se7enty7** · 06-14-2004, 10:46 AM

I searched, but there is way WAY too much info to sift through (spend about 25 minutes before registering reading/searching posts...) there also are no stickies that I would have expected as I'm sure you guys get asked this exact question often.

I can get the delorme setup from best buy (earthmate? with street atlas use 2003) for around $90. I've seen the software used before and imo it's not that great at all. It doesn't have an overhead/3d view, the voice prompts seemed to be wrong, and in general the routing isn't that great. It takes about 3 minutes to enter a destination waypoint as well.

I'm looking for something that is quick to allow me to enter a destination, has a decent 3d/bird's eye view and/or decent voice prompts. Also, something that is good at re-routing.

Also, what is a good gps reciever?

Thanks!

btw.. it's a p3-600, 256mb of ram. Either win2k or xp.. whichever will run the software better.

**rando** · 06-14-2004, 11:01 AM

I'm happy with the Delorme USB receiver. It supports both USB and serial connections. Serial can be done via the USB->Serial driver or with a serial add-on cable you purchase from Delorme or make yourself.

As far as good software for in-car use, I haven't come across it yet. SA2004 is bearable at best but definitely has a tendancy to get behind (both on screen and voice). Also voice recognition only seems to work for 30-60 minutes and then just completely goes bonkers. Mappoint has good maps and is best used as a component to actual in-car nav software (V.O.I.C.E.S. etc). Some say the AGPS add-on helps out though I'm skeptical.

On these forums, people seem to like Copilot and destinator. I've never used either so i cannot say much about them.

**ukchris** · 06-14-2004, 11:06 AM

Check out Routis and the Deluo GPS at www.deluo.com, it isn't as pretty as destinator but is much much cheaper and works very well in my opinion. I have Destinator, Routis and MapPoint, Destinator is probably the best on my PocketPC but I prefer Routis on the PC as Destinator's voice prompts are a little weird.

Chris.

**slffl** · 06-14-2004, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by rando

I'm happy with the Delorme USB receiver. It supports both USB and serial connections. Serial can be done via the USB->Serial driver .

So I can turn my Earthmate USB into a serial device just by using drivers and not actually having to use a serial connection? Where are these drivers?

Also, I'm not impressed with the Earthmate USB GPS. It gets absolutely no signal through my windshield, whereas, my old Garmin Venture handheld got a perfect signal sitting on my steering column.

**se7enty7** · 06-14-2004, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by ukchris

Check out Routis and the Deluo GPS at www.deluo.com, it isn't as pretty as destinator but is much much cheaper and works very well in my opinion. I have Destinator, Routis and MapPoint, Destinator is probably the best on my PocketPC but I prefer Routis on the PC as Destinator's voice prompts are a little weird.

Chris.

Destinator's website shows pics of the software and it looks awesome... but there's no way I'm dishing out $150++ on software I can't test before I buy.

**se7enty7** · 06-14-2004, 11:42 AM

also FYI, this is for laptop use only. I will not be using this with a pda at all. I have a seperate handheld (magellan map330x) I use for handheld stuff.

**ukchris** · 06-14-2004, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by se7enty7

also FYI, this is for laptop use only. I will not be using this with a pda at all. I have a seperate handheld (magellan map330x) I use for handheld stuff.

Routis is the most affordable and, for the money, you get the PC and PocketPC versions.