Member Status

You just never know when something interesting is going to pop up on this site. I am on the other side of the world to most of the contributors but can say that some of them have helped me and hope I have been able to help a few in return.

I pay pbase.com to store photos online. All they provide is the software and memory. This site provides those and monitoring, and poi scrutiny before uploading, and other things I think. Pretty good deal for just participating or $20, whichever you prefer.

You can use the Chit-Chat thread to post comments on anything that may interest you, but maybe not anyone else. Like the weather or Brett Favre or how long you've been married or about your dog. Or this post of mine. Good deal.

Welcome to the site. What you should be aware of is that, although Miss POI will take input from users regarding the red light camera locations, the vast majority of the information comes from the long hours she puts into researching, compiling, and verifying the data. This particular file does not primarily come from "user provided content". Also, it is the fees generated from that file that help make the rest of this site possible.

I guess th member is like so many other Americans: "Something for nothing." Thank You Mis POI and your husband for the time and server space as well as the use of your personal machines for monitoring, developing and coordinating this effort. And you do it all for $5.00 and/or participation on my part, my choice. It seems that the lack of participation is an indication that storage space,usage commitment, and download capabilities can be assigned to others.

I've paid for a premium membership at geocaching.com since August 2005.

Mike, Welcome to the site. It is nice to have you with us.
As MM said, I spend a lot of time researching each and every location that comes in from users and I also spend many hours keeping track of where other cities are in their laws and progress with adding these red light camera locations.

If you post something next week and the week after you will have access to the file on the 18th of August.

Miss POI

And with any community, it only survives and thrives with involvement. Just imagine what content would be available on the internet if everyone took your stance of "no time for the labor pains, I just want to see the baby"

I've only been a member for a short while also. This would be my third comment in a while. I just enjoy reading the good tips from all you nice folks. This site and everyone has really helped me a lot. I started out with an e-trex legend c and now up to a Nuvi 200. Really like and still have both. I may not comment much but I'm here. Miss POI & Jon keep up the good work. I'll help when I can.

Eventually you will have a question you want an answer to and this community has a wealth of knowledge on GPS usage. The site will be worth the support in cash or your participation in the community. News of new model GPS's, techniques for routes planning, and advice on what the local attractions and eateries are no matter where you are can be found here. I'm a nubie myself but I've found answers to almost all of the questions I've had to date here.

Just keep reading. Eventually you will want to comment.

Thanks, now all of my hopes and dreams have gone to $4!t.

Just Kidding, post count +1 for a quick joke...

Bill

PS: Now, I only need to keep the fact that "Karen" is the only other woman in my life from my Fiance'!
Juggling two extra women was getting tough...

When I first found this site, I had some of the same thoughts but once I actually started using my GPS for more than simple trips, I found a lot of information and helpful people here. I paid because I didn't think I'd post either but wanted the photo signal files.

I had to post because I needed help and received good help. Now that I'm working on POIs, I'll add them too. It just snowballed.

The price is worth it considering the information, help and maturity of the site users. It's also well maintained and not full of ads/banners.

here is probably the cheapest option. Buy a monthly membership for $5.00. This could save you several hundred dollars over the next three weeks... depends on how and where you drive.

During the month have enough posts to qualify for active status...

I personally recommend just skipping all the hastle and send in the $20 annually.

as others have said, the site runs on participation AND MONEY... and as you will see if you check in a few times... it is money well invested.

Welcome.....

I think its nice that you have a choice to actively participate (even if it means adding to threads without providing any real information ) and/or contributing a small amount to the site.

I recently joined another special interest board related to audiophile issues. I was looking for a set of headphones and saw that someone was selling one in the "for sale" area. Although I was able to post and respond elsewhere, I couldn't do so there.
A quick read of the forum guidelines stated that one could not post an item for sale or respond to an item for sale unless they were forum members for a minimum of three months AND had posted a minimum of fifty times.

All things considered, I agree that it is easy to become a member of the POI community. Sure I did a lot of reading before I even registered, but for most people it is only a short matter of time before they would like to add a comment or post a question.

Welcome to the POI community- you are already on your way!

Be well,
Rob - Long Beach, NY

Welcome to the site. The time saved (not to mention the possible fines avoided) due to the information and links provided here are well worth the small investment in either time or money. I too, typically don't make a habit of participating in blogs, etc. but I think you'll find this site very different from most. Once you become a regular visitor, I think you find it difficult to not participate.

Again, welcome.

A great site. You will find that over the next several months the value of your partisipation will cause you to enjoy the site even more. As for myself after 25 weeks of use, I sent in $20 as support- not get access to the few files that are for members only but to keep the site up and running.

I'm new too and have found some very good information here. I think you'll feel the same after your 3 week requirement is done.

I actually like the custom poi's that users have submitted for the restaurants, stores and such. It finds Starbucks for my gf to go to the bathroom on the road all the time when she's driving around town working. Also, it's a safe public place to meet her clients... she needs that with her line of work.

Snoopyy,

That's a good idea there.

I've already got a copy of the McDonald's file in my Rest Areas Folder. Those properties are consistently clean.

Starbucks belongs there as well.

Your gf probably wouldn't find McDonald's a good place to do business, though. Unless she's looking for a very short meeting (those seats are about one rung above a metal folding chair in the comfort department)!

Thanks.

GregPaul

I have only downloaded and used one POI file from here, the red-light camera file. And that one is almost a year old. I find the sight more valuable for the information it provides. When I need poi's for a specific area, I usually look them up and store them on my gps ahead of time.

But I can see where some would be very useful, such as campground locations, etc. For the most part, my interests aren't the same as others, but usually, when I go somewhere, I don't have many planned destinations in mind.

I like to keep my active status, but not for the downloading. I think its more that I like seeing the little windmill by my name.

I come here a couple times a week. It's a great place to find out what's new with my investment.

Almost ditto. Its nice to see new news on Garmin, but nobody seems to have the StreetPilot anymore. I can't share in the fact that anybody else has the SP7200 at all.

I've never thought twice about the $20 contribution that I make each year. This is a tremendous site, and extrememly helpful to GPS users, new and old.

Regardless of how many posts you make in a week, month or year, if you can donate $20 to the cause, you should. Miss POI and JM spend an extraordinary amount of time making this one of the best damned sites on the internet, and I for one have no qualms supporting their efforts with dollars and posts!

And no, jkaplan is not paid for his endorsement!

red-light cameras too...

I'm surprised that you can get them free just by posting every so often... I'll gladly pay my $20 next year...