topic Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS in Electronics

NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Diamonds22 — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 22:18:38 GMT

Need recommendations on a portable GPS that you can speak into it rather than type the address, etc. I have read reviews on most of them & none have great reviews. I don't want anything that is too complicated as some of the reviews stated the instructions were too complicated & confusing.Would appreciate to have the name & model number as it will be a Christmas present for a senior citizen.

Thanks.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

I am still oxox — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 22:22:40 GMT

I use google maps on my I phone better than any GPS I have used

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

sunshine45 — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 22:39:23 GMT

@Diamonds22

they dont have a smart phone?

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Diamonds22 — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 22:44:25 GMT

No he doesn't have a smart phone.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

glb613 — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 23:02:16 GMT

@Diamonds22 wrote:
Need recommendations on a portable GPS that you can speak into it rather than type the address, etc. I have read reviews on most of them & none have great reviews. I don't want anything that is too complicated as some of the reviews stated the instructions were too complicated & confusing.Would appreciate to have the name & model number as it will be a Christmas present for a senior citizen.

Thanks.

Check out the different models from Garmin and TomTom.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

jackthebear — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 23:13:01 GMT

Garmin, and now they make some big screen ones,

I had a Tom Tom then we got Garmin I liked Garmin better

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Mz iMac — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 00:04:56 GMT

All the medical transport vehicles in my area uses Garmin. Highly recommended & easy to use per the drivers.

I don't own a cell phone either. I plan on getting a Garmin as an xmas present to myself. IN my area, the best prices for the different Garmin models are at BJ's.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Lilysmom — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 08:34:09 GMT

Garmin make the best. Both DH and I have gps in our vehicles but I always have a portable Garmin. I do this because there are restrictions on the use of GPS in the vehicle while driving. Can’t enter an address unless the vehicle is in Park, etc. Also, Toyota was asking $200 to update the GPS.

Whatever you buy, get lifetime maps. I would also look at latest reviews because they may have new features to look for. Good luck! Love mine. LM

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

gardenman — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 09:31:48 GMT

As others have said, Google Maps is my favorite. Smart phones are so inexpensive these days ($100 for a Tracfone with a full year's service through the various home shopping channels) that they're cheaper and far more versatile than a dedicated GPS unit. I tried Waze, which some people like more than Google maps, but it tried to convince me the nearest parking to my doctor's office was over a mile away in a shopping center, so I'm sticking with Google maps.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

VaBelle35 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:02:32 GMT

My family all has Garmins. I know back in the beginning when they first came out, you had to pay to download updated maps. I don't know if that has changed. Depending on where you are using it, you may not need to update the maps if things aren't changing much where you live. Here in the DC area, they are constantly changing things. For example, in my city, they have built some railroad track overpasses, so the streets and navigation have changed.

I traveled a lot for work in recent years and I use VZ Navigator with my Verizon smart phone. I've never had a problem getting to the right place using it.

I have found that when I drive with co-workers who use Google Maps that it was not good in the places we traveled. One time, it brought us to the back door of our plant in Scottsdale. Luckily it was daylight and I had been there once before and could see where we needed to be across the parking lot.

Another time it took us through some crazy dirt road in the Berkshires.

Another time we had to stop and ask for directions because it kept taking us in circles in Elizabeth, NJ.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

glb613 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:25:36 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
As others have said, Google Maps is my favorite. Smart phones are so inexpensive these days ($100 for a Tracfone with a full year's service through the various home shopping channels) that they're cheaper and far more versatile than a dedicated GPS unit. I tried Waze, which some people like more than Google maps, but it tried to convince me the nearest parking to my doctor's office was over a mile away in a shopping center, so I'm sticking with Google maps.

A lot depends on your data plan. It could get expensive if you don't have a lot of data on your plan. If you don't have enough data on your cell phone plan to use it for a long trip, you'd be better off using a dedicated GPS.

I have both and found my phone was more accurate in certain situations and my Garmin GPS was better for other situations. So I use both. I've also used both Garmin and TomTom and think they are very similar. We used a TomTom on a trip to Ireland, it was preset for the shortest route and it took us on some of the most beautiful routes we would have never taken without it.

If I'm walking, I use my phone. If I'm in the car on a trip, I use my Garmin.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

In-x-s — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:02:38 GMT

@glb613 wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
As others have said, Google Maps is my favorite. Smart phones are so inexpensive these days ($100 for a Tracfone with a full year's service through the various home shopping channels) that they're cheaper and far more versatile than a dedicated GPS unit. I tried Waze, which some people like more than Google maps, but it tried to convince me the nearest parking to my doctor's office was over a mile away in a shopping center, so I'm sticking with Google maps.
A lot depends on your data plan. It could get expensive if you don't have a lot of data on your plan. If you don't have enough data on your cell phone plan to use it for a long trip, you'd be better off using a dedicated GPS.

I have both and found my phone was more accurate in certain situations and my Garmin GPS was better for other situations. So I use both. I've also used both Garmin and TomTom and think they are very similar. We used a TomTom on a trip to Ireland, it was preset for the shortest route and it took us on some of the most beautiful routes we would have never taken without it.

If I'm walking, I use my phone. If I'm in the car on a trip, I use my Garmin.

I don't know about all the GPS app, but I've used a couple on my phone and they do not use data - they use the GPS satellites. They work even with the data turned off on my phone.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

glb613 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:26:36 GMT

@In-x-s wrote:
@glb613 wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
As others have said, Google Maps is my favorite. Smart phones are so inexpensive these days ($100 for a Tracfone with a full year's service through the various home shopping channels) that they're cheaper and far more versatile than a dedicated GPS unit. I tried Waze, which some people like more than Google maps, but it tried to convince me the nearest parking to my doctor's office was over a mile away in a shopping center, so I'm sticking with Google maps.
A lot depends on your data plan. It could get expensive if you don't have a lot of data on your plan. If you don't have enough data on your cell phone plan to use it for a long trip, you'd be better off using a dedicated GPS.

I have both and found my phone was more accurate in certain situations and my Garmin GPS was better for other situations. So I use both. I've also used both Garmin and TomTom and think they are very similar. We used a TomTom on a trip to Ireland, it was preset for the shortest route and it took us on some of the most beautiful routes we would have never taken without it.

If I'm walking, I use my phone. If I'm in the car on a trip, I use my Garmin.
I don't know about all the GPS app, but I've used a couple on my phone and they do not use data - they use the GPS satellites. They work even with the data turned off on my phone.

They all use data unless you have Wifi available or download a map to use offline.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

gardenman — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:51:09 GMT

Mine uses data or WiFi to initially load the map, but then you can turn off the data and it works fine to take you where you're going.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Diamonds22 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:10:10 GMT

Do all of the GPS's now activate by your voice? My friend has an old Gamin & he has to type in all the info instead of using his voice.

Thanks everyone for your info & if you have any other info I would appreciate it. I am learning a lot from your info so every bit of info is appreciated.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Alison Wonderland — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:30:54 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
As others have said, Google Maps is my favorite. Smart phones are so inexpensive these days ($100 for a Tracfone with a full year's service through the various home shopping channels) that they're cheaper and far more versatile than a dedicated GPS unit. I tried Waze, which some people like more than Google maps, but it tried to convince me the nearest parking to my doctor's office was over a mile away in a shopping center, so I'm sticking with Google maps.

They're only more versatile if the person actually wants to use the other features. If they will, I agree, they're more versatile. But if there's no interest, then it's a waste. Getting a GPS with a larger screen for the map is a great option.

And once you pay for a GPS device, you don't incur further service fees unless it breaks. You won't have to worry about refilling your data plan when that "free" period runs out and you're in the middle of a drive and need directions.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Mz iMac — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 22:07:12 GMT

@Diamonds22 wrote:
Do all of the GPS's now activate by your voice? My friend has an old Gamin & he has to type in all the info instead of using his voice.

Yes. Gamin gives you a choice. You have to go into Gamin's settings to set up voice activation.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

OKPrincess — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 02:13:25 GMT

I bought the TSV Garmin but I haven’t used it yet. I’ve had a couple in the past and really liked them.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

In-x-s — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 02:14:05 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
Mine uses data or WiFi to initially load the map, but then you can turn off the data and it works fine to take you where you're going.

that's exactly how the apps I've used work. I do doubt that they would use voice command though without data use, but as GPS it works great.

Re: NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ON A PORTABLE GPS

Toppers3 — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 06:41:01 GMT

@Diamonds22 wrote:
Do all of the GPS's now activate by your voice? My friend has an old Gamin & he has to type in all the info instead of using his voice.

Thanks everyone for your info & if you have any other info I would appreciate it. I am learning a lot from your info so every bit of info is appreciated.

We've had some issues with our voice response when we did our last map update...

We got a notice while it was updating the maps that it would happen.

My husband mostly uses the Garmin while driving and it was a feature that he really didn't use and as long as he could type the directions in or use the search feature, he hasn't really missed the voice feature on it.

He wants to get a newer model. He doesn't use a Smart phone, either.