What GPS Navigation System?

[LoneGunman]

Hi all.
I know there're some serious GPS fans on forum - Im looking at maybe buying a GPS nav system - preferably one of the tiny units that has a battery life and can be stuck in pocket for 'on foot' use as well. Want to be doing some 'exploring' of various US cities - and a little unit like this would be a killer app to help out..Do folks have any recommendations? I've been eyeing something called a "Mio c310x Portable" - partly for its price ($200) as well as because a lot of reviews say its got a lot of the bells n whistles of the much more pricey units..
I'm US-based, so have access to all the various online/offline places.. what comments/thoughts or pointers can folks suggest?

 

[mancombseepgood]

Personally I like the pocket PC based systems... It all depends on what you use it for... street navigation only? Or do you want to navigate over rural land or sea? In that case, Garmin is pretty good... but not cheap.

However, that's my limited experience take on it.

 

[Skeptik]

I don't recommend using a GPS while walking in the city. It wasn't designed for that because the buildings and trees get in the way. There was some talk of boosting the signal, but I don't think they've done it yet.

 

[mancombseepgood]

I thought all these GPS navigation things were designed with that in mind... how else can your BM give you voice guided navigation in the city?
Having said that, it's just my thought - I've never tested it...

 

[Khyron]

Seeing as that you are in the US, just make sure that you get one with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) cabability. I think most of the well-known brands have this by now. It basically is radio transmissions from terrestrial-based stations which narrows your location down to about 3 metres accuracy. It also helps when the buildings get in the way. Also, make sure that the one you buy is using a map database that is current and gets updated frequently. The best GPS unit in the world is just an expensive paperweight if the map database supporting it is outdated.

If I had to pick one, I would suggest the Garmin Nuvi range. These are pocket-sized and worked perfectly when I visited San Francisco recently.

 

[Skeptik]

I thought all these GPS navigation things were designed with that in mind... how else can your BM give you voice guided navigation in the city?
Having said that, it's just my thought - I've never tested it...

I suppose if you walk in the middle of the street it might work. Better wear reflective clothing

Seeing as that you are in the US, just make sure that you get one with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) cabability. I think most of the well-known brands have this by now. It basically is radio transmissions from terrestrial-based stations which narrows your location down to about 3 metres accuracy. It also helps when the buildings get in the way. Also, make sure that the one you buy is using a map database that is current and gets updated frequently. The best GPS unit in the world is just an expensive paperweight if the map database supporting it is outdated.

If I had to pick one, I would suggest the Garmin Nuvi range. These are pocket-sized and worked perfectly when I visited San Francisco recently.

The Nuvi looks very nice. Many shops are flogging the old models at new prices so watch out. Prices are dropping too, going from 'ludicrous' to just 'pricy' at around R5000.

WAAS is pretty much standard now. Accuracy varies a lot, depending on time of day and location.

The newest receivers have a function that predicts your location if the signal is lost temporarily. If you're travelling at 40km/h in a Northerly direction and you go under a bridge, it works out where you will be for the 30 seconds it takes to reach open cover and the time it takes the machine to find the satellites again.. Clever....