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PostPosted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:14 pm 
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(I apologize in advance for how long/detailed this will be...)
I'm looking for some advice on which new GPS I should get. I've been using a TomTom GO 920 for the past few years but last month my car was broken into and it was stolen -- since then I've been using a Garmin nüvi 3490LMT which I bought from Best Buy to use for the time being with the intention of returning it at the end of the 30 day trial period. I'm a landscape/nature photographer and shoot for a calendar company as well as for my own photography business so my primary use for a GPS is finding my way to and from scenic spots or routes where I take my photos; these usually tend to be rural out-of-the-way areas where most road atlases are of little help.

I had many problems with the TT GO 920 and was already in the market for a new GPS before it was stolen but I'm not satisfied with the Garmin 3490LMT I'm currently using either. While the Garmin is certainly much faster and flashier, I've found it to have plenty of problems of its own and it lacks several important features that the TT GO 920 had. So, ideally I'd like a new GPS that's faster and more up-to-date than my old TomTom but still has the features I require and I'm hoping to get some help on here finding a new model like that. (cont.)


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:17 pm 
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Here's what I'm looking for in a new GPS...I kind of doubt I'll find one model that has all of these, so I've ordered them from most important to least important.

  1. Displays multiple pieces of information on the bottom of the navigation screen like the TT GO 920 does; this is one of the biggest issues I have with the Garmin. It has most of the info I require but will only show one piece at a time, whereas the TomTom had them all listed at once. This is the info I’d like to have displayed –
    1. How many total miles to the destination
    2. How many miles to the next turn
    3. Arrival time (i.e. 8:36PM)
    4. Time to destination (i.e. 2 hours, 36 minutes)
    5. Current speed and the current speed limit
    6. The direction you’re traveling (compass with arrow and/or degrees, i.e. NW 322°)
    7. The name of the road you’re currently on
    8. How many miles until the next destination on an itinerary list
    9. Current elevation
    Both the Garmin and my old TomTom have A, B, C, D and E. Only the TomTom has F and G (Garmin lists the direction you’re traveling but only gives as much info as “S” rather than degrees or a compass). Only the Garmin has H and I. I’d like a model that has all of these, and more importantly, lists them all simultaneously on the navigation screen.
  2. Has the ability to make an itinerary (multiple destinations) – my TomTom had “Itinerary Planning” and the Garmin has “Trip Planner” but I found the TT's to be easier to use and more customizable.
  3. Has the ability to easily take an itinerary/route from Google Maps (with various destinations and custom roads and routes) and import it to the GPS so that the itinerary planned out with Google Maps shows up as an itinerary for the GPS and the GPS will navigate to those destinations using the exact same instructions as on Google Maps. Since my work requires visiting a lot of specific out-of-the-way routes and locations I typically map out a detailed route on Google Maps beforehand and then painstakingly try to manually copy that route onto the GPS by hand. I’d like to be able to just transfer the route from Google Maps and have the GPS follow it; so far I’ve found no way of doing this with either my old TomTom or the new Garmin. I spent hours with my old TomTom trying to get it to work right and have now spent many more hours trying to get it to work with the new Garmin using various programs and websites but no success.
  4. Has a remote control like the TT GO 920
  5. Has voice commands similar to the Garmin (speaking out loud “Navigate to 108 Bee Hill Road, Williamstown, Massachusetts” will make the GPS follow that instruction etc)
  6. Allows you to store favorites/custom POIs like the TomTom (and also allows backup of these favorites/custom POIs)
  7. Has map graphics similar to the Garmin, i.e. visibly elevated terrain, lakes, streams etc
  8. Has a way to display both the “3D” type graphics and still have north always pointing up (The Garmin seems to only offer “north up” with the aerial 2D view)
  9. Has a feature similar to the TomTom’s “Travel Via…” where you can tell the GPS to travel to your destination by way of a specific address or point on the map (haven’t found this feature on the Garmin)
  10. Has a map browser similar to the one found on the TT GO 920; Garmin allows you to browse the map but appears to be missing two key features that my old TT offered:
    1. Displays icons for all your custom POIs/favorites on the map
    2. Lets you search city names or places and then zooms/scrolls to that area (without having to navigate to that place)
  11. Voice reads aloud names of the street (“Turn left onto Edgecomb Avenue” etc)
  12. Has free lifetime map updates (Had to pay something like $70 extra per year with the TT)
  13. Has free lifetime traffic updates
  14. Tells you the name of the town you’re currently in and the road you’re currently on when you speak a voice command or press a button (similar to Garmin’s “Where Am I?” feature)
  15. Has something similar to Garmin’s “Trip Computer” that displays a trip odometer along with Moving Time, Max Speed, Average Speed etc
  16. Allows you to operate the device from software on your computer like TomTom HOME does with its “Operate my GO” feature
  17. Offers a weather feature; both the current conditions of an area as well as a forecast of the upcoming days
  18. Includes maps for both the US and Canada (important) and ideally (but less important) also Mexico and Europe
  19. Has a split screen navigation view: one half shows one zoom level and the other half shows another, i.e. one shows the overall map of your route (displaying entire states, etc) while the other shows a closer zoomed in view of your current location
  20. Has a bright, glass screen similar to the Garmin 3490LMT that doesn’t have awful glare problems like the TT GO 920 – also has as large a screen as possible (preferably 5+ inches)

Like I said, I'm doubtful I’ll find all these features in a single model, but as many as possible would be nice. If absolutely necessary I might just buy two different GPS models -- each with their own different features -- and have them navigate simultaneously in order to provide me with the maximum amount of desired features (I'd really rather stick to just one device, though). Again, sorry about how lengthy this post is -- my '99 Honda CR-V has 460,000 miles on it (so far) so my needs are probably more extensive than most. Any recommendations, advice or other help would be much appreciated!


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:32 am 
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Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:19 am
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Have you also had a look at Magellan RoadMate 5175T-LM

According to CNET review it has some good features >>

"The RoadMate 5175T-LM is built in the same slate configuration that we're used to seeing in GPS devices these days. At the core of the design is a 5-inch resistive touch screen with a WVGA resolution. Along the top edge of the device is the power button--the sole physical control to be found--and along the bottom edge is the Mini-USB port where the unit charges and connects to a PC for software and map updates. There's also a microSD card slot on the bottom edge for expanding the unit's memory for storage of more maps for multiple regions."

I am using it from last six months and it gave me no trouble in routing and directions.


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