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As I am considering getting on the road in the next couple of weeks, I've been doing my homework regarding the things I think I'll need while away....Haven't made up my mind on the cell phone yet & did talk to Verizon at great length today about plan costs....(WoW! Takes your breath away)... Even asked about so called Family Plans...hoping that would save money & I could just add a family member & we'd both save $$$....Well, that doesn't work either....I swear these phone companies get you coming & going....so haven't decided yet which phone I'm going to get as Smart Phones require the extra $30 mo. etc.,etc.,etc. Anyhow, then because my laptop crashed, was looking at cheap laptops, daughter calls & says Mom, look at the I-pad....you can use that better than a laptop & you'll enjoy it more....so looked into that but don't think that's for me either...Guess the problem is I'm trying to achieve many things with few gadgets...I need a current GPS, I need web access so I can pay my bills while on the road & check my e-mails & websites, etc., I have an old phone so I thought a new phone is in order that has BlueTooth and GPS apps....but then someone said yeah the GPS part is great till you don't have a signal.... Then what....What if that happens when I'm on a freeway & can't pull over to get it reset or ? And I'd like to do all this (gadget getting) without spending $3K....but that doesn't seem possible. So, I called Garmin re: what do they have to offer that is as close to my StreetPilot as possible....he said the Dysel 560 & then told me where I could get it the cheapest....Well, if I join Camping World, I can get it for $420 or so....On Amazon it's $450....At Garmin I think it's $550....So then I got to thinking about the Rand McNally one that's made for RVers...so checked that out....Well, you can get that one on sale at CW for $320.....So my point is........Does anyone know anything about these two GPS from their own experience? The Garmin is brand new this month...It looks pretty darn great, however, it doesn't tell you where campgrounds are, etc. like the Rand McNally... which I think is such a plus-plus especially for those of us that drive solo & don't want to stop along the road to look up where the nearest Park or RV place is.... My mind is just about shut down....Anybody got any suggestions....I'd sure appreciate some input...

Try this: http://forums.goodsamclub.com/Index.cfm ... m#25094923

It's a 14 page thread on the new GPS for RVers.

Linda

As for phones, if you don't want a long term contract, look into Cricket. I switched from Verizon and have had really good luck with it - actually had signal where Verizon didn't. I also got Cricket's aircard, which if you're not using it, just don'[t pay that month and they shut it off. When you're ready to use it again call or go into a Cricket store and for $15 they hook it back up.

..

Man, for those GPS prices, they should do most of the driving, too...

Do you know what those that you mentioned do, that the $150 ones can't??

..

My Garmin is several years old so don't know much about the new ones. I was just wondering if anyone else has trouble updating the maps on these things. I have DSL so my internet isn't the slowest but I have to leave the GPS hooked up to the computer overnight to down load maps. If it times out for any reason then I have to start over. I was having trouble with my computer a while back and I think it was caused by one of the Garmin downloads. I never know for sure that it is updated or not. Some trips it works great and other trips I could throw it out the window. When I went to Aransas Pass from Louisiana it tried to take me to the coast at every road that ended at the coast. On my trip to New Jersey it didn't make a wrong turn.

Martha

I recently updated my Garmin, via the internet, and did not have any issues, but I do have cable internet.

I have a tomtom ... love it. I'm too lazy/confused/cheap to upgrade the maps. The punishment can be built in.

A GPS is GREAT when I'm tired or have to naviage an urban area with several freeway changes. I also like the feature where it tells me at what time I'll reach my destination and where I am along the route. Cool stuff.

I only paid $129 for mine at Wal Mart.

I presently have a Garmin StreetPilot 2620....It is/was the best $$$ I have ever spent being as I am absolutely clueless when it comes to directions...I can read maps, etc., but there's nothing like a good GPS. My Garmin took me all across to Illinois (from CA)...No problems. However....there are NO map updates for it. I called Garmin several times hoping they'd somehow changed their minds & would make updates available...but no...this last time (yesterday) when I called I asked why not...The Rep says that the software built into the StreetPilot could not read the new maps that companies were making...so they quit selling the StreetPilot & went to other designs...Breaks my heart cause I love my Garmin...but I can't take a chance going so far from CA with a old map system...too many things change & this map I have on it is from 2008....Anyhow, I'm gonna go look at the 2 new ones (for RV's & Truckers) at Camping World & see if they're worth the $$$$....The advantage that the more expensive ones have (especially in this case)...is that they give you more information......I could be wrong but that seems to warrant the big $$.....

I have the Garmin Trucker GPS with the Traffic module. I like it fairly well. The traffic is only available for the larger metroplexes that have a public traffic whatever. That works pretty good most of the time. It gave me a "red" and voice that traffic was stopped ahead when I was coming thru Dallas. There was a stalled car in the left lane. So it wasn't a surpise to me.

It has warned me of narrow bridges and told me that truck traffic wasn't allowed on some of the roads that I have gotten on. The trucks weren't allowed, but RV's were allowed. The narrow bridges have been quite narrow and I did slow down to make sure I would not meet anyone. I especially like the lane assist and you will too if you get that on your new system. It will tell you if there are 5 lanes that you should be in one of the 3 left lanes to be where you can be on the correct road as the other two lanes go 'that away'.

This is my 4th Garmin. I like the really large screens and this one is not the largest, but next one down on size. It allows you to configure your rig and you can make as many configurations as you want, I have my rig with the toad as my primary 'truck' vehicle and then it does have car mode, too.

I am waiting to see what the Rand McNally GPS looks like. Probably won't be getting it, but I'd like to see how it operates compared to Garmin, Tom-Tom and Magellan.

Good luck on your search and let us know what you end up with.

I've had GPS units since they were first available to the public. It must be the nerd in me. My original unit is still being used by a 4H leader in Robertson Co. here in Tennessee. I did like the bigger screen on it. My husband and I used it when we spent a month in Wyoming and he loved that it told us where the gas stations and hotels were. I moved up to a Garmin Explorist in 2003 which I still use for geocaching. It's great for hiking situations and in a pinch I can pull it out to find my way to a major highway or interstate. It has very long battery life which is a plus for hikers/geocachers. Last year I bought a Garmin Nuvi which can display geocaches but is a dashmount unit for the car. I call it Bossy Flossie because the female British voice has that tone of authority that reminds me of the British teacher I worked with in Thailand. If I'm going somewhere along a route I know I like to change the voice to some unknown language to hear how it sounds (turn left sounds like "ching chong" to me in Mandarin Chinese). I also have a boating unit that my brother didn't like so I thought it would be fun to play with on the kayak. So, I plan to use the Nuvi on the dash of Seeker for now, but I am watching to see what you ladies think of the new Rand unit. I've always used Garmin units and found them reliable and easy to update. Those are 2 key issues for me. So let me know how you like them.

Well...the first thing I want to say is....We are so very lucky to have so many knowledgeable gals on this forum, who are so willing to share infor.,time, energy, caring....you know...all that stuff...Anyhow, this AM Sharon called me & we spoke for a good hour about this GPS and Phone thing I'm into right now for my Colorado trip. Well, I got the phone...it's a Droid & Sharon & family all say great things about it....For me though.... I don't know. Took 2 hrs in the Verizon store to get waited on & buy the stuff I needed (per Sharon ... bless her), then they couldn't get my e-mail & password downloaded onto the phone...and after a good 45 min. or more, I told them I'll try to fix that part when I get home... When I eventually got home, it took another hour between Verizon, Yahoo and AT&T (for the sbcglobal.net part)...but eventually I got the phone to accept & download my email ID & Password....The thing I really am questioning myself about is that you cannot use a stylus on this phone...everything has to be done with your hot little finger...that's all the phone recognizes...I guess it's the heat in your hand....Was wondering what happens in the winter time if your hands are cold...
Anyhow, I've got 14 days to decide or bring it back....BTW Sharon, I got the extras you advised too....So after the fiasco with the phone I went to the closest Camping World 30 mi + away & checked out the GPS's.....And while there picked up my Trailer Life camping book & my new Atlas...as my stuff is pretty old (from 2006). They didn't have these devices hooked up so there's no way you can test them out to see how they work...so staring at them, etc., is useless, you can do that by looking at a picture on the internet. Anyhow, I kept hearing the advice Sharon gave me & decided that rather than spend $350 to $450 more $$$, I'll just use my old StreetPilot & the GPS on my new Smartphone (if I can figure out how that works ) & save the $$$$$.
However, now I have to go to Costco & buy a computer....Gotta have a laptop on the road...
Have to set up Coach-Net but will do that Mon. or Tues. But I have called the guy who is putting on the RV Rally & even though it's full...after I told him who I was, he said...Charlotte, you just come right on to Colorado & I'll definitely find a place for you......Gosh! After all the downers I've been having lately, it was so darn nice to have someone treat me as if I was a real person & not just a free no cost Banker....and of Course, Sharon also makes me feel like I'm okay ....Anyhow....I'm on my way..... Gonna leave either Tues. or Wed. Going from San Jose, CA to Creede, CO....If anyone has any suggestions on where to stop...I'm listening....

Wow, you had some day Sound as if you are almost ready to roll. Sounds as if you made some good choices. The preparations (and the $$$ spending can wear you out ) but the ride and adventure is worth it. Will be waiting for the trip updates as you hit the road. Have fun!

I did receive the rand McNally RVND5510 and actually used it once in my jeep. I haven't had the chance to use it in my rv yet because the rv is in the shop. That said, it is a very nice gps. Big screen lots and lots of setting options. I can set it to use in my jeep or set it up for use with my rv while towing or while not towing. It shows points of interest and camping facilities all along your route. Also shows gas stations and diesel, etc. So far I love it, but like I said, I haven't used it in the rv yet. I'm hoping to be on the road next week to NC and then on to Houston and will give a complete report at that time.

My reason for wanting it is that I have a big rig and my greatest fear has been that the garmin I had would take me somewhere that I couldn't/shouldn't be in my rv.

One feature that it has that I am going to have to disable is a speed warning. If you go any more than 4 mph over the posted speed limit it will nag you to death! Sometimes that might be a good thing but when I used it I wanted to get home before gd did and it drove me bonkers!

Hope that helps.