GPS SYSTEM
(excerpts from posts)

1) If anyone is interested in purchasing a GPS system for their car I can recommend the one Santa left under my tree. It is from Garmin and the name is StreetPilot c330. I have used it twice already, once just for fun when I knew where I was going to see if it really worked, and Wednesday when I had a performance at a library an hour and 1/2 away. It worked liked a charm and brought me straight to the door of the library saying, "Now arriving on your left." It even calculates the arrival time and it was within one minute.

If you miss an exit it will recalculate the directions for you. It will even tell you where food, fuel and lodging are located. This system is going to be a life saver. Santa is great!
Karen C. 12/31/05
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2) I received my GPS as a Hanukkah gift last year from the children whom I teach each Sunday. I highly recommend it to anyone -- whether or not you've a navigator in the co-pilot's seat. Mine's a Garmin too. It's an IQue3600.
Dale P. 12/31/05
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3) Who would have thought that these were so good?!! I have one in my car, came with the used car, and I love it. I use it for every gig lately and I tell you what, without it I would have never found the last private party I did. Their directions were awful but the Navigator system in the car was GREAT. I love these things. Woo Hoo!
Sean B. 12/31/05
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4) The other day I mentioned the Garmen StreetPilot C330 system Santa brought me for Christmas. Darlene wrote me offlist to ask if the system was portable so I wanted to make myself clear. Yes, it is completely portable. The system comes with an easy to mount (yes even I can do it :) suction cup mount that the system hooks into. You plug the adapter cable into your cars cigarette lighter location and off you go.

The beauty of this system is that you can take it out of the car when you return home so the system isn't waving a red flag saying, take me take me, and if you are using another vehicle you can transfer it to that one within seconds. Even someone as mechanical challenged as me had no problem learning how to use it. Now if I could just get it to tell stories Karen C. 1/1/06
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5) Another question about this system: does it come with some kind of subscription to use it or annual fee renewal? Dumb question maybe, but I've never dealth with this sort of technology.

I am definitely directionally challenged and the thought of someone actually telling me the directions sounds too good to be true. You have no idea how many times I've nearly run off the road trying to read compter printouts of my Mapquest directions.
Mel D. 1/1/06
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6) Me, too. It's hard to read directions and drive. Last night I was right where I needed to be, trying to find my friend's new house, decided I had gone too far and retraced my route a couple of miles, then headed back and when I saw the other half of the street sign, smacked my forehead --ouch!!

Of course, I once almost ran off the road because the sunset was so beautiful . . . A nav. System won't help that. I told my juniors about it when we read "A Sculptor's Funeral" and yes, they agreed that I was as odd as the sculptor. Imagine explaining the accident to the police and insurance people . . .
Mary G. 1/1/06
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7) There is no such thing as a dumb question! According to the info I have, there is no subscription or renewal fee. Here is a link to talk a look at the system and read all of the info:
StreetPilot C330
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp330/
Karen C. 1/1/06
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8) Tsagoi, my partner, bought a Garmin about a year ago. He tested and tested-and tested its limits. The voice is a woman and she's very persistent, much like HAL 2000. I call her "The Nag". If you get off route, even if that's your intention, you better be ready for her to nag you until you resume your journey. "Off route, Recalculating."

We've really enjoyed her, although she has gotten directions wrong upon occasion, so don't follow her blindly. The only cost to Tsagoi is updates on maps, etc. It's not a subscription. You can always count on her to give you her opinion.
Shelby S. 1/2/06
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9) You are correct, it did do that when I purposely left my route to stop along the way. However, I found great comfort in that, especially since many of my summer shows take me through Boston. It is always a great adventure when traveling in or around old Bean Town, with detours, one-ways, traffic jams. Sometimes it is impossible to get your car over in time to take an exit, drivers manners being what they are in Boston. Now, if I miss an exit or a turn, the "Nag" will get me back on the straight and narrow, even if it is by a circuitous route. Hmmm wouldn't it be nice to have a personal compass like that imbedded in our brains?
Karen C. 1/2/06
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10) The only bad experience I've had with my Garmin IQue3600 involves one way streets. A couple of times here in Sudbury it's tried to take me through an illegal turn or north on a south-bound road.

I didn't have a problem since I knew where I was going and, following the correct traffic flow, it (she) soon told me I was "off route--recalculating".

However, it's something to be wary of in an unfamiliar environment.
Dale P. 1/2/06
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11) Some people do seem to be born with that "personal compass." We suspect that Stephen and Moriah have inherited my sister's sense of direction (one of the advantages to taking Moriah with me on the Delta Queen cruise, as she navigated the driving to and from quite well). For the rest of us, perhaps they'll eventually have these systems down to keychain size . . . .

It does look interesting, and if I don't find myself adequately served by the Route 66, I will look to that for sure. Thanks for sharing the info.
Added: Do GPS systems work when it's cloudy? I tried to test my Route 66 yesterday, but it kept saying it couldn't locate the GPS -- could that be because it was raining, or do I have a problem of some other sort?
Mary G. 1/2/06
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12) I've had only one cloudy day when my GPS didn't work. (and I was en route from my mother's house to home, so it really didn't matter).

Last January, in a severe freezing rain storm, it worked exceptionally well in leading me to the one school that hadn't closed its doors or cancelled its literacy day program.

Except for that one day, no problem.

Now, there has been a problem with a newly extended highway that is not on the current CD and thus it keeps telling me that I'm off route (even though I'm not).
Dale P. 1/3/06
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13) My old GPS Garmin does not work when clouds are too thick. Since I live surrounded by great and small lakes this happens every so often. (I believe Michigan ranked No. 3 for fewest clear days but I think we was gypped.)
But my GPS is 4-5 years old so maybe the new ones are better.
Yvonne H. 1/4/06
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(This web page updated 1/4/06)