Help Me Shop for a GPS

delorme pn-60 comes out soon, wait for it. With the delormes you get better reception, less flashy interface, somewhat difficult software. But you also get an unlimited supply of maps for only 30 bucks a year! Not compatable with mac unless running windows in parallels. Delorme has instanst scrolling and raster upating and navigating around the screen. ABility to overlay sat images with maps with noaa etc. You can layer map on top of map if you want, or select which ones you want to view.

With the garmins you get a bigger but harder to see screen than the delormes, a touch screen, rock solid design, heavier. You also get raped when it comes to maps, you have to pay for every region, and it aint cheap. Think about that when figuring out the real cost of a garmin.

resources:

gpspassion forums
gpsreview webiste
etc

If your using it primarily for driving get a driving gps.

Thanks, Isaac.

Which brings up two more points:

1. This will primarily be a driving GPS.
2. I don't want to waste money on the cheapest thing that works poorly… but I don't want to pay extra for the latest and greatest either. Something really decent that's one or two models older might just be the ideal for my needs.

Although there are GPS receiver units that can accept voice commands, they don't do very much that way. It takes an inordinate amount of processing power to be able to interpret everybody's voice for an extensive vocabulary of words. Most of them will accept only a few words, and the rest of the user interface is in buttons.

Most of the high-end units have an extensive database of road and streets and points of interest, but they always want you to pay to subscribe to some update service.

You'll get ideas elsewhere, but you may end up with a Garmin product. They've been a market leader for a long time.
–B.G.–

OK, scratch voice recognition. Thanks.

I'm a very heavy GPS user during sales trips as well as back country trips. A device that does one very well is often the antithesis of the other purpose.

What I want in a driving GPS:
Big screen
Clear speakers
Toll Avoidance / remap around detours
Quality adjustable platform
Lane awareness or at least lane suggestions in driving (exit left in .5 miles)
Acceptable maps
A very large POI database (resturants, gas stations, banks etc)
Updates for POIs.
Acceptable sensitivity (generally high sensitity is wasted here since roads usually have view of the sky).

Thankfully, nearly any of the popular brands even most basic models do all of these things exceptionally well. I picked up an open box Tom Tom for my wife for $60 at REI and it's been fantastic. My old Magellan does most of the same features (minus voice adjustments) and I've had it for five years. I paid a lot more for mine back then, but even the base models are fairly quality.

Things you will not get by using a car gps for backcountry – even if it supports such use:
Swapable batteries
Acceptable battery life (big screen = battery hog)
Quality trail maps
Light weight
Waterproof
High sensitivity receiver that works under heavy cover

Generally it has not been my experience that map updates are critical. Usually by the time the maps are wildly out of date, I've already opted for a newer model. Map updates quickly add up and if you shop around you can sometimes find a new GPS for the cost of two years worth of updates. This is not the case in trail maps, for my handhelds, for those I want a satellite subscription and regular map updates. I've had major trip adjustments because a trail has been remapped.

A good handheld gps is an investment in your adventures. If you are the type to use them, it's best to save up and get what you think you'll need. Personally, I really dig my Oregon 400T. I've written a review on here if you are interested. As a side note, I could have bought five car GPS units for the cost easily.

Joe:

Thanks. OK, I'll focus just on driving GPS. Can you recommend a brand / model that does everything you listed — but is one or more models behind "state of the art"?

An auto-style GPS receiver typically uses a lot of 12VDC power, and that is not a big thing in the vehicle. Just don't expect to dismount and run the thing on a couple of flashlight batteries out on a trail.

Reception can get tricky in an auto-style receiver, especially if you are in one of the large city "urban canyons" downtown. The satellite signals have a hard time getting past all of the skyscraper buildings with metal and glass, so you might be "flying blind" down on street level. This is further complicated because of the placement of the GPS antenna. On some units, the antenna is built onto the case of the unit. On others, it can be remotely placed on a cable. The GPS display must be someplace where the driver's eyes can see it, but not where it will block view of the road. The best antenna position is typically far in front of that, like right underneath the windshield glass. Some windshields have a metallic coating (for de-icing), and that metal will semi-block reception of the faint satellite signals. You almost want to test your windshield first before you buy. I purchased my first GPS receiver over 15 years ago, so I have learned a couple of things the hard way.
–B.G.–

GPS receiver technology moves forward at a fast pace. There is a piece in the receiver that locks onto the incoming signal patterns, and it is called the digital correlator. Some of the newest products have a large number of these, so they are able to lock onto difficult signals in an adverse environment. That is useful when you are deep in the woods, but most of the time when you are driving you will have good view of the satellites, so it is a non-issue.

If you stick with Garmin brand, you won't be far off.
–B.G.–

I bought a Navigon a couple of years ago, and I've been very impressed with it. If it kept me from getting lost on the narrow, windy streets of Europe it must be pretty good! It seems to do everything you want, but it is STRICTLY an automotive unit. I don't think the battery would last long at all on trail, and the maps don't cover topography, anyway, just roads and POIs.

It even gives voice cues, which you seem to like, in a very attractively British-accented female voice…

It was expensive at the time, but you might find one cheaper, now.

Ben,

Look at the Garmin Nuvi series, lots of models updated over the years. I bought the latest and greatest for my son, and even has bluetooth for his phone. After you do your research on models to suit your needs, shop Amazon or eBay.

I travel a lot in my vehicle and ended up getting a GPS, Sattelite radio, AV, iPod interface, etc, built in system for my vehicle. The GPS mutes the audio when providing commands. The bluetooth sucked so I got a Parrot system and wired it into the system, and it over-rides and mutes everything including the GPS. My iPod is hidden in the center console, and the touch screen flat panel display on the dash controls the iPod. I mention all of this, to give you an idea of what can be done. Sometimes paying a little extra for additional features goes a long way. My system is a Panasonic. It works MUCH better than my previous in dash Tom Tom system. I have used portable Tom Toms and Garmins, and I like Garmins better. But like gear, it is a personal choice. YMMV.