Gps

[murphy4trees]

I heard that a lot of the street signs are down in florida and finding your way around can be a hastle.... may not be too much of an issue for cutting trees which can be big jobs, but stumps make for a lot of small jobs and lots of road time... wondering about getting a plug in GPS device for navigation support.... any suggestions?

 

[rborist1]

:Eye:

 

[murphy4trees]

We're all about maps Rocky, but how to find your way around a neighborhood when all the street signs have blown away... So again... any suggestions about a good GPS device...
thanks,

 

[BigJohn]

Yes, I would suggest a Garmin GPS map. I've and used a bunch in flying and I know Garmin makes a hand held GPS with map for driving. They're pretty cool.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I was never big on GPS's when I was in the Army. I have never played with the civilian models, All I know is that the old ones used to take up a lot of room in a ruck sack, and the batteries weighed a ton. I have always been big on Land Navagaion using only a compas and map. I do a lot of hunting here in the back woods of the Colorado Rockies and still, I would rather carry a laminated Topo map and a compass over a GPS. Some times when you get a lot of cloud cover or a storm passing overhead the GPS can not trianglate your position. Then your $crewed.

Kenn

 

[bottlefed89]

Garmin

Hey Murphy, my name's Greg, I talked to you the other day. I have a Garmin 2610 GPS in my truck and has been one of the most useful items I've bought. It takes a little getting used to, but is very helpful. I do a lot of lawn/landscape maintenance and it really helps getting a tight/compact route. It has a speaker and tells you when/where to turn, and a remote or touch screen to enter your info. It's got a ton of other features.
Check it out Here.
Let me know if you have any specific questions, because I did quite a bit of research before I bought it, and I learned a lot about several units.
Like I said, it is great to help keep a tight route in maintenance, snow removal, or stumps in your case.
greg

 

[Koa Man]

I have a Garmin GPS V in my truck and I love it. It sure helps when trying to find a street as it tells you what the next cross street is. Even if I know about where a particular street is, it is very helpful to know what is coming up so you can put on your turn signals at the appropriate time. I plan to buy the Street Pilot 2610 next. Color display with voice prompts.

 

[rumination]

Jeez, I can't believe that thing works on Oahu, what with half the streets having three different names, and half the highways having the same name (Kamehameha)!

I personally do fine with the mapbook, but GPS can be fun...

 

[Nickrosis]

Originally posted by OutOnaLimb
I was never big on GPS's when I was in the Army. I have never played with the civilian models, All I know is that the old ones used to take up a lot of room in a ruck sack, and the batteries weighed a ton.

GPS has come a long way from what you were using...

 

[Koa Man]

Another thing I like about the GPS is when I punch in the address I want, it will give a pretty accurate ETA. I can tell my customers I should be there at approx. such and such a time. Unless there is an accident or other unexpected delay, the ETAs given by the GPS as been within 2 minutes accuracy.

I let my wife take it to Illinois. She had never been there before. After picking up the rental car, she punched in my daughter's address at Scott AFB and it took her to my daughter's doorstep from St. Louis airport without a hitch.

 

[rumination]

Koa,

Are you on Oahu?


If so, your GPS must have a twenty minute delay programmed in for H1.


I can see how those units would be especially helpful when visiting places you are totally unfamiliar with.

 

[Koa Man]

Leon,
I'm on Oahu. You will be surprised how accurate these things are.

 

[rb_in_va]

Murph,
You got a laptop? I have a friend that has a laptop and a GPS that plugs into the USB port and a $20 piece of software. It works really well for a navigation system (realtime too). I will see what kind of GPS he has. Later, Roger.

edit: He has a Navman GPS. It was about $100.

 

[NeTree]

I've not used GPS much for work, but for what Murphy's looking to use it for, it'd almost be a MUST HAVE. No street signs means you'd have to hope the map doesn't have paper-roads; and if you hit a new development, you're screwed- because you'd have to count streets.

In a pinch, even the GPS in the Nextel is better than nothing.

I have played alot with GPS on amateur radio, though. I run APRS 3.0 on the laptop, plug in the GPS, and I can follow my movements on the map and everyone else's on the frequency.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Hey these things are sounding kewl, A far cry from the old Pluggers I used to use. With all the crazy streets that stop at a park and then pick back up again half a mile away, or the loopie funky streets here in Colorad Springs I may look into gettin one.

Just Curious Nick, whats up with you posting a pic of your girl friend on you replys??

Kenn

 

[Nickrosis]

Originally posted by OutOnaLimb
Hey these things are sounding kewl, A far cry from the old Pluggers I used to use. With all the crazy streets that stop at a park and then pick back up again half a mile away, or the loopie funky streets here in Colorad Springs I may look into gettin one.

Just Curious Nick, whats up with you posting a pic of your girl friend on you replys??

Kenn

Yeah, and they've come down in price.

I don't have a girlfriend....

 

[Archie]

Well I went out and go myself a used compaq handheld unit off E-bay at half the price also picked up a compact flash GPS same style that will work on your lap top, and a copy of Microsoft Streets and Trips. this works great as I have all my outlook contact info, excel, microsoft word. The compaq is great because it uses window for its operating system so just plug into PC and info sync. right up. only down fall is its not auto routing hopfully new version will incorporate this. One nice thing I can pull customers location up on map right from their contact info. if I'm not sure where I'm going I will use push pins to so the route.

I have an excel file I made up for quotes just pug in info and it calculates a total.

hope this helps somebody

 

[Nickrosis]

Sure does. That's awesome. I know we'll see more and more of that....except the GPS will be in your cell phone, and it will already have all your customer's info in there because when someone calls you for the first time, the caller ID will pull up the phone number, their home address, and other demographics.

You can do all these things now, but it will just be more commonplace and in one place - your phone.