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Does anyone here use a GPS unit to find clients' homes? (Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, etc.) I've done a little reading on this, but I am quite inexperienced re GPS.

If so, would you buy the same unit again?


I'm thinking an ideal unit would:

be reliable

capable of storing a large number of routes and associate them with clients' names

be password-protected, in case of theft

be easy to back up the data, in case of failure


Is there anything else I should look out for?


Thanks,
-Joe

Joe,

I looked at many of the GPS units....and did NOT buy one. My Android phone already has GPS, and the GoogleMaps application in the smartphone does an outstanding turn-by-turn, with voice direction, AND GoogleEarth freakin' pictures/maps of the route. There is even a little spinning-guy that you can place on a corner and run a 360-view by flipping your fingers on the screen. Absolutely marvelous map and direction program...did not cost me a penny extra over my phone/data price. Program was already on the phone.

I've put a mount for the phone in the car, so I can use it as my GPS-Navigation fulltime. No need to buy another hard-unit just for navigation. Have not seen a need, since I opened the map-program out of curiosity shortly after getting my first Android-phone.

Alternate routes? Yes.
Avoid Highways? Yes.
Avoid tolls? Yes.
Show gas/food/shopping layers? Yes.
Re-route if you miss a turn? Yes..usually within 10 or 15 seconds it changes to get you there, even when you blow a turn. How nice is that? Very!
Save routes? Never bothered...when typing in an address I've already been to, it usually pops up as a suggestion within moments. Sweet.

Ask any smartphone/Android user for a demonstration. It's far better than I thought it would be for a 'free' application within the smartphone universe.

YMMV,
says I,

Here is a great site where you can find information about GPS soft- and hardware

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/

Personally I use Navigon for iPhone

I use a basic, inexpensive Garmin. The only thing I store in it is places I go regularly. The normal client would not be stored. I'm not a fan of using my phone for everything. I like a bit of redundancy. I've always used Garmin, but I'm sure the other brands are just as good.

I don't like in dash GPS - they require you to take your eyes off the road due to their placement, and they are expensive. I place my Garmin just off to the side of the steering wheel, sometimes screwing the mount into the dash. It's readily viewable when driving without taking eyes off the road.

Who remembers the days before cell phones and GPS? I had to buy a 6 county atlas full of maps every year. Reading a map while driving was pretty distracting. And if no one answered the front door, I'd have to drive to a pay phone to call them - only to find they were in the back yard. ha ha.

the good thing with paying GPS is the cooperative traffic management.

It gives more precise indications than the official agency.

accidents, and radar controls in almost real time.

I dont need them and use the basic free apps (Google drive , with basic traffic information) on my cell phone.

That's ALL I use, Joe! 6 years ago I was using a stand-alone Garmin that cost $500. Now I use a free app called Waze on my iPhone that works just as good.

Wow! Thank you everyone for the great info!

I probably should upgrade my old Cricket phone for something more modern. I have this morbid fear of them messing something up when they port my phone number to a new phone. If they mess up, there goes 34 years of my name being associated with that particular number. Plus with my current plan, I get unlimited phone, data, text, etc.

But, I do like some of the new phones. Web connectivity seems to be really good (so I can look things up when at a customer's home or access my info stored online), larger screens, and a more professional appearance.

There are some features I really like on the Magellan units:
Quote:
LIFETIME TRAFFIC UPDATES;
LANDMARK GUIDANCE;
TRAFFIC CAMERA ALERTS;
COMPATIBLE WITH THE MAGELLAN(R)WIRELESS BACKUP CAMERA;
BEST PARKING FEATURE;

Even though most of their units are supposed to be capable of holding several hundred addresses, I don't like that it is not password protected.

Basically, I want something that will beep at me when I come to a turn. I'm not so concerned about graphics.

You have all definitely given me a lot to consider.

Thank you everyone,
-Joe

The current issue of Consumer Reports has updated ratings on GPS devices.

I've found Rich Owings GPS Tracklog to be very helpful:

http://gpstracklog.com/

David Bauguess

I use a Garmin I got back in 2002 for a whopping $550 at that time. It still works fine on original batteries, is waterproof too, but I haven't updated the system with newer maps because the &%$#$'s charge as much for a new map as what a low cost GPS costs new nowdays. It continues to serve me well but I program address in the night before and if its a newer street, I'll google map it instead.

Yes, that's one thing nice about smartphone apps; the maps are constantly updating. Used to be the GPS apps cost $$. I used AT&T Navigator for a few years at $9.95/month, figuring I'd be spending that all at once just updating the map, so may as well pay it monthly. Then MapQuest et al starting coming out free.

The one I use now is called Waze, and is great. I like it because you can update it as you go. If there's a traffic jam, road construction, hazard on the road (or even a cop!), you can report it, which then alerts anyone else traveling the same road. The voice turn-by-turn directions work great.

Anyway, GPS has sure evolved since the days of $600 stand-alone units. I haven't asked a customer for directions for years. Plus, I'd say 75% of my appointments come in online now, so many times I never even talk to the customer before the appointment.

pianolive and DavidWB,

Thanks again for the website referrals. I'm looking them over. Though, I am considering an upgrade to my phone.

just a quick follow up...

I purchased a "Magellan RoadMate 4.3 Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps and Traffic 2136TLM
Condition: Used - Very Good" for $42.04.

Very impressive! The warnings are timely, the audio gives street names, a bell rings when it's time to make the turn.

The only negative is that it's not password protected. I did contact the company. The emailed back that they are considering pw protection on future models.