se7enty7

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.

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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 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.

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2004 4runner

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.

slffl

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

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

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

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

se7enty7

The deluo gps reciever looks kind of dumb... anything that's not light blue and clear? Anything that supports an external antenna?

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fondoo

i have the deluo usb receiver. how does itlook dumb? are you lookin for a low profile gps receiver like the XM radio receiver??

Terran

This one: http://www.deluo.com/Merchant2/merch...Category_Code=

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Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users?

samc

Destinator in my opinion is crap.
ROutis is cheap and looks good
Street Atlas has good detailed maps but again it's only ok
Copilot has it's own flaws to but in my opinion it's the best

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Mine needs to be updated.

fondoo

samc: maybe you can name a few of copilot flaws. i would like to hear them.

samc

well
- If I were approaching a highway which is say west and east, Copilot would tell me to take "Highway 287S" (south).?
- Sometimes copilot would think I am on one street off say I was on 15th street, it would think I am on 16th street. But this one is very rare
- Copilot doesn't always recognize every address (maybe 1 out of 10)

Again this is off my Copilot 2003 and I hope the Copilot Live 7 is better but who knows.

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Mine needs to be updated.

samc

Oh and btw, destinator is for handhelds only but if you download the SDK for it you can run it on your carputer.

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Mine needs to be updated.

muldrick

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.[/QUOTE]

I haven't installed my desktop PC yet, but what about using the Microsoft Streets and Tips software (allready installed)
All I need to buy is a reciever?

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