MS Streets & Trips 2007 w/ GPS Locator

EQNish · 06-16-2007, 09:48 PM

SO I bought the MS streets and Trips 2007 with GPS locator, and thought I would share my experience with the rest of you!

First off this is the first GPS software I have used and I have only had limited experience with other forms of GPS devices, so please if I dont cover anything that should have been, let me know I'll dig into it and find out.

The package was 130$ at my local Bestbuy, and was one of three packages that came complete (GPS receiver and software). Since I'm very familiar with the MS company and am normally happy with their software I chose that package. The GPS receiver is a GPS-500 SiRF III by Pharos, and is quit small. It is a three piece design with USB cable, a dongle/converter and the GPS receiver, The USB cable is about 3 feet long and has a window suction cup for mounting! All in All what I expected for the combined price!

I installed the software with no problems and was up and running fairly easy, the GPS receiver was recognized automatically, and uses an USB to com bridge (so the receiver shows as COM 5). It's pretty much like other MS Streets versions and pretty intuitive as far as setting up routes, and finding destinations, it also had no problem finding the receiver.

On my first trip I was able to just punch in the address I was headed to and off I was, I had to accept the GPS driving alert warning and engage the GPS tracking manually, but after that there was a pleasant female voice telling me to turn here and there, and warning me about .2 of a mile before each turn. I notcied I was tracking on 8 satellites at all times and my speed was dead on with my car (not that I would be able to tell anything if it were not )

A few things I didn't like were that I had to manually tell streets to re-adjust my directions if I decided to go a different way (no auto adjusting) and if my system went into sleep mode I had to turn off the GPS tracker and turn it back on, also re-accepting the warning/disclaimer. I don’t see much in the way of options with this software as far as saving trips, or paths but I have only spent an hour or two on it (I’ll report back as I mess with it more)

As I learn more I'll update this, if anyone has specific questions please ask, I'll try to answer. I'll also post some pics of the Receiver as soon as I can!