Intro level GPS...starting over...

 

Looks like I need to replace my Nuvi 200W.

What is a comparable entry level unit that is NOT a Garmin?

All I need is a basic unit that gets me from point A to the address I input...nothing special.

Thanks,
Steve

 

What is the reason you don't want another Garmin? The 260W is a good deal for $100.

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-4-3-Inch-Widescreen-Portable-Na...

Entry level GPS?

GARMIN is a good company, but each GPS company puts things in their systems that other companies don't. I think you mean a GPS with fewer options in it?

The link below will show you a good price on a midlevel TOMTOM, it is the XL340. It doesn't have bluetooth, or a radio transmitter. It is refurbished, so you pay FAR less than full price.
http://www.refurbdepot.com/TOMTOM_XL_340S_1EM005202.cfm

When you get this system, all you have to do to get it running is tell it the time, and date, then go out to where you park your car, and assign that as HOME... then... finished!

When you attach it to your computer, you can get their newest map for free, with regular updates every few days also for free.

They have a $10 for a new map every quarter of a year ($40 for a whole year).

Your computer thinks the GPS is a portable hard drive, so you can change nearly everything on the GPS... map colors, voices. With little effort you can make your own voices.

I have a bit of a lead foot, so I have my TOMTOM set to make a noise when I am going above the speed limit for the road I am on. I haven't had a speeding ticket for three years!

cutomer service mainly...

fudekaso wrote:

What is the reason you don't want another Garmin?

I've had bad experiences with their customer service...once with a broken handheld, and then again when I purchased the maps for the 200W. I just want nothing else to do with Garmin or its products, just the way I feel.

thanks

Nightcrawler wrote:

GARMIN is a good company, but each GPS company puts things in their systems that other companies don't. I think you mean a GPS with fewer options in it?

The link below will show you a good price on a midlevel TOMTOM, it is the XL340. It doesn't have bluetooth, or a radio transmitter. It is refurbished, so you pay FAR less than full price.
http://www.refurbdepot.com/TOMTOM_XL_340S_1EM005202.cfm

Yes, simple unit with basic features...

I will check that link, Thanks!

I took a short trip over the

I took a short trip over the weekend. I was a passenger. The driver had a tom tom, I had my iPhone. The tom tom finally got us to where we needed to go, but my iPhone showed a more direct route. Once we got to the destination, his tom tom passed it up and we had to turn arround to go where my iPhone said to go.

Garmin too!

epc2 wrote:

I took a short trip over the weekend. I was a passenger. The driver had a tom tom, I had my iPhone. The tom tom finally got us to where we needed to go, but my iPhone showed a more direct route. Once we got to the destination, his tom tom passed it up and we had to turn arround to go where my iPhone said to go.

My Nuvi does the same thing...my Blackberry with Google maps works better, but in some places I drove through there was no cell coverage! So Google maps doesn't work either! I have one app that uses the internal Blackberry maps...have not tried them yet.

Plus, its just nice to have something hanging on the windshield!

Garmin Customer Service and Techinical Support

In the past I have also found that the Customer Service is lacking with Garmin. In addition it takes too long to get in touch with someone from Technical Support. I have often waited 30+ minutes just to talk to someone who really did not know much about the issue that I was having. On several occasions they wanted me to send them my unit for testing. This meant I would be without my unit for a couple of weeks, plus have to pay shipping and handling???!??!?!!!!

*Shrugs*

Well, since you're not inclined to listen to a fellow 200W owner on your thread in Garmin Talk when he tells you that you need to reload maps, regardless of how only a portion of the full map got on there, have at it. At the same time, send me your 200W. I guarantee I'll have it functioning perfectly in the space of four hours since there's nothing wrong with it. >:-(

--
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." --Douglas Adams

Hmmm, really?

Strephon_Alkhalikoi wrote:

Well, since you're not inclined to listen to a fellow 200W owner on your thread in Garmin Talk when he tells you that you need to reload maps, regardless of how only a portion of the full map got on there, have at it. At the same time, send me your 200W. I guarantee I'll have it functioning perfectly in the space of four hours since there's nothing wrong with it. >:-(

You don't get it...it will not navigate to ANY STATE now...not just Washington. If you actually read that thread, you would have seen I already MADE that statement. The only way it will navigate it to select a city or an address in a favorite. Not to mention some of the "options" are missing as well...I am inclined to think the device has suffered a memory issue.

I have already manually went back to PA, and all those maps have lost the details as well. They worked perfectly when I left on this trip, not so much now. I can't even navigate back to PA currently...so its not a partial east/west map loading issue.

So you are mistaken, get over yourself.

I just noted both the POIs and my favorites are missing now...the device is self-destructing, as those were there not even 12 hours ago.

@steved

Why don't you just give Garmin a call.They may be able to help even though your unit is out of warranity.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Call Garmin CS

charlesd45 wrote:

Why don't you just give Garmin a call.They may be able to help even though your unit is out of warranity.

Agreed. What have you got to lose? I've always had good CS from Garmin even though it now takes a bit longer to reach them on the phone.

--
nuvi 1690 with ecoRoute HD, SP2610 (retired), Edge 305, Forerunner 405

@SteveD

I had a BIG problem when I tried to register my new 1490T. I was on the phone a long time, but they solved the problem.

--
1490LMT 1450LMT 295w

I know how to fix that!

On the TOMTOM you can tell it the SHORTEST route (distance), or the FASTEST route (speed limit on the roads, not always the shortest).

I don't know how GPSs decide where 156 Highland Ave. is. I think they guesstimate. This is why I type in the address if I have to... but before a long trip, I usually plot the major places with GOOGLE EARTH first as part of my trip planning. I hate unexpected malfunctions, especially in a unfamiliar environment! I want the GPS to bring me to the parking lot, and that isn't always at the front door anyway!

This makes me wonder about the ability of phone based systems...

epc2 wrote:

I took a short trip over the weekend. I was a passenger. The driver had a tom tom, I had my iPhone...

For example, I've found out that a particular building I want to go to on a regular basis isn't shown on my mapset in my 1490T. The roads aren't there, so I can only get as close as a major street and the driveway into the complex of buildings.

However, I've decided that by using google maps and then just storing the LAT/LON of the driveway gets me close enough that I won't get lost the rest of the way. smile

If a phone based system doesn't have those roads either, how would it navigate to the same area? Or would a phone based system simply use the same google maps and if you pointed to that spot it becomes the destination?

Maybe this question is more closely related to the thread about "will the GPS market last forever?", but it was this thread that made me think of the question.

--
NEOhioGuy - Garmin 2639, MIO Knight Rider, TomTom (in Subaru Legacy), Nuvi 55, DriveSmart 51, Apple CarPlay maps