> Hey all, I just got back from a day in Iowa. It was great,
> spent the morning in tech sessions and picked up quite a
> bit of useful (I think) information.
Thanks for the report Chris!
> Some things that moved up on the list of "gotta get items"
> (in random order)
> -GPS
Are you planning to use the GPS stand-alone or to drive a laptop? Either
way, get one that accepts an external antenna. I'm currently using the
Delorme Tripmate GPS to drive their Street Atlas software. I love SA, but
I'm lukewarm on the Tripmate. If I was to do it over again, I'd buy the
Garmin GPSII Plus - the least expensive Garmin equipped with external
antenna and serial ports. The Garmins generally receive the best reviews
for handhelds, are easy to find accessories for and there's lots of info
on-line about them.
The Tripmate(the newer Earthmate is basically the same stuff in a smaller
package) is very slow at signal acquisition on startup, loses signal
easily(the bronze tint on the windshield of my wife's Silhouette is enough
to block the signal), gives unreliable altitude information(I know that's
not critical in a GMC, but this is a "toy" ya' know) and the accessory
external power cord(a must have as the little GPS's eat AA's at an alarming
rate) is cheaply made and unreliable.
On balance, I should add that I've had the unit over a year and it's mostly
given good service(just good enough to keep pushing the Garmin down the
"want" list) - providing a good track on the open road. It also does
pretty good in town once it's "locked" on position. It's just the
accumulated "nits" have exceeded my frustration tolerance level on several
occasions - like the time I almost became completely lost in Savannah
because the overhanging live oaks prevented the GPS from locking position.
At these times, I revert to using SA just like a paper map, but unless your
co-pilot is a good mapreader, and Sharon's getting better all the time,
it can be frustrating.
Also should say that, while the Delorme database is pretty accurate, you
will find suprising errors. Like the US route(also in Savannah) it tried to
route me over that was in reality only swampland.
My $.02 - YMMV,
Patrick
> spent the morning in tech sessions and picked up quite a
> bit of useful (I think) information.
Thanks for the report Chris!
> Some things that moved up on the list of "gotta get items"
> (in random order)
> -GPS
Are you planning to use the GPS stand-alone or to drive a laptop? Either
way, get one that accepts an external antenna. I'm currently using the
Delorme Tripmate GPS to drive their Street Atlas software. I love SA, but
I'm lukewarm on the Tripmate. If I was to do it over again, I'd buy the
Garmin GPSII Plus - the least expensive Garmin equipped with external
antenna and serial ports. The Garmins generally receive the best reviews
for handhelds, are easy to find accessories for and there's lots of info
on-line about them.
The Tripmate(the newer Earthmate is basically the same stuff in a smaller
package) is very slow at signal acquisition on startup, loses signal
easily(the bronze tint on the windshield of my wife's Silhouette is enough
to block the signal), gives unreliable altitude information(I know that's
not critical in a GMC, but this is a "toy" ya' know) and the accessory
external power cord(a must have as the little GPS's eat AA's at an alarming
rate) is cheaply made and unreliable.
On balance, I should add that I've had the unit over a year and it's mostly
given good service(just good enough to keep pushing the Garmin down the
"want" list) - providing a good track on the open road. It also does
pretty good in town once it's "locked" on position. It's just the
accumulated "nits" have exceeded my frustration tolerance level on several
occasions - like the time I almost became completely lost in Savannah
because the overhanging live oaks prevented the GPS from locking position.
At these times, I revert to using SA just like a paper map, but unless your
co-pilot is a good mapreader, and Sharon's getting better all the time,
it can be frustrating.
Also should say that, while the Delorme database is pretty accurate, you
will find suprising errors. Like the US route(also in Savannah) it tried to
route me over that was in reality only swampland.
My $.02 - YMMV,
Patrick
