GPS Information.net Forum >

What GPS units - if any, allow for the route to be planned on PC and then transferred to the GPS unit? I currently have the Magellan 2200T, but I like the ability to see the whole picture while planning - as in Streets and Trips or Street Atlas.
Do any units allow you to download routes?

If by "route" you mean a series of sequential waypoints that you follow in order from A to B to C etc. then most software and GPS receivers support this.

If you're thinking of "auto routing" where you have a start point and destination and the software or receiver calculates the "route" for you then the choices are limited. The driving directions can be calculated differently by the software on your PC and by the firmware on the GPS receiver.

I'm not to familiar with automotive GPS units so hopefully someone with more direct experience can comment.

Chinook,
By routing I do mean where you put in the starting point, waypoints (or vias) and ending point. Plan the route, so you can see what streets are taken and see the overview on a map, then down load it to a GPS receiver. The Magellan 2200T allows me to plot the route be putting in the starting and finish points and any POI's but it doesn't let me see the whole trip in overview. For example, a trip we made yesterday - it took us one route - but on Streets and Trips I was able to plan different route with better stops, because I could see the whole picture.
I guess I want the flexibility of a laptop map and GPS in an auto GPS unit. Is there such a creature?

I am also looking for the same thing. I'm in sales & have 12-20 stops a week, usually driving 600-800 miles a week. I am a map point-cousin of streets & trips- feen. I would love to be able to plan out on laptop & transfer to portable gps every night. Doesn't seem like that set up exists does it?? I purchased an LG which has multiple stops w/ optimization & it was a nightmare!! Maybe I should have given it more time but it was really hard to figure out the procedure & support was a joke. Not sure which gps to purchase now, love the nuvi 660 but price is a little high considering the lack of multiple destinations. For now its back to map point. Any thoughts/insights are more than welcome!!!!

I just received info on the Delorme Handheld PN-20. It looks like it might be what we are looking for.

I use the Delorme Street Atlas 2007 and just upgraded to the 2008. I ordered the PN-20 with the Topo 6. You can upload routes from Topo but not from the Street Atlas, I think.

TSP = Traveling Salesman Problem

This is a feature where you would input the locations and the GPSr would find the optimal route between them. Most units don't have this ability. The SP 27xx, 28xx, and Zumo can do it.