GPS reviews, news, tips, tricks and deals
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. Check out our list of more current marine GPS receivers for alternatives.
The Garmin GPSMAP 376C
The 376C comes with base maps; if you want detailed maps, you’ll have to buy those separately. Garmin is currently updating the 376C with the GPSMAP 378 and 478, which have preloaded land and sea maps, and are expected to become available in late May 2006.
Here’s what others have to say about the Garmin 376C:
UPDATE: The GPSMAP 76CSx has been discontinued. For current recommendations, check out our handheld GPS buyers guide or our Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.
The Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx
UPDATE: In early 2009, it appears that Garmin stopped using the SiRFstar III chipet due to a patent dispute, substituting a MediaTek (MTK) chipset. While both are high-sensitivity chipsets, Garmin is still fine-tuning the MTK firmware. The switch to this chipset has reduced one of the advantages the 60/76 C(S)x series has enjoyed over newer Garmin models.
UPDATE 2: Here’s my 2010 take on SiRFstar III and the newer chipsets.
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GPS navigation systems for cars are becoming quite popular, and there are some basic questions that prospective buyers are asking. One is, should I buy a factory-installed GPS, or an add-on (also known as aftermarket or OEM) unit? Let’s look at the arguments for and against each approach:
Factory installed GPS
Pros
Cons
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our TomTom comparison chart.
The TomTom GO 910
To see how the TomTom GO 910 stacks up against other units, check out our TomTom comparison chart.
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our TomTom comparison chart.
I’ve been playing with a TomTom GO 300
The unit locked onto satellites promptly, even in a new location all the way across the country. It topped my trusty Garmin on this score. And it was very fast to re-route — whenever I missed or ignored a turn, a new route was calculated quickly, generally within half a block.
Yahoo Maps Beta has added satellite imagery to its site. This has been pretty well covered elsewhere today, so I’ll just provide a couple of links (Cartography and O’Reilly). Compare your favorite coordinates on Google Maps and see which you think is best.
Technorati tags: GPS
In case you’ve been seeing it in reference to GPS receivers and are wondering, AIO stands for all in one. In my last waypoints collection of shorts, I mentioned a new Pioneer GPS receiver that runs Windows CE. Now you may be wondering why you would want Windows CE on your GPS. Today, GpsPasSion fills in the details:
While they have yet to break through in the US, WinCE based AIOs are selling like hot cakes in Europe, likely because they do the job and have the added bonus of letting you install many different applications once they’ve been "customized".
They go on to discuss some other interesting hacks:
Forum member PsiDOC has posted guides on how to (legally) install GPS favorites, TomTom and OziCE on a Packard Bell GPS400 or other AIOs.
I should add that the GpsPasSion post title mentions customizing Magellan and Mio receivers too.
Technorati tags: GPS
UPDATE: The Magellan eXplorist line has been officially discontinued. For an overview of our current recommendations, check out our handheld GPS buyers guide.
The Magellan eXplorist 400
So what distinguishes the 400 from adjacent models in the series? Lower units like the eXplorist 300 don’t have SD slots like the 400 does, so you are limited to the memory onboard in lower models. The eXplorist 500
Compare prices on the Magellan eXplorist 400
Here’s what others are saying about the eXplorist 400:
at Amazon have been very positive.Here are some additional resources that may prove useful:
Compare prices on the Magellan eXplorist 400 at these merchants:
at Amazon.com.I received an email the other day from a reader (Mike) looking for an automotive GPS he could transfer geocaching info to. He asked about doing this via POIs, with a possible goal of getting all U.S. geocaches loaded. I pointed Mike towards some resources and we corresponded a bit more. He ended up buying a Garmin nuvi, and I asked him to keep me posted on his quest. I heard back from Mike today and he’s given me permission to share his experience:
The Garmin Rino 120 combines GPS navigation with two-way radio communications. It’s 8 MB of memory also allows you to transfer maps and data from Garmin products such as Topo US and Fishing Hot Spots.
Compared to the Rino 110
Garmin recently released new color models with an updated feature set — the Rino 520 and Rino 530.
There are dozens of customer reviews of the Rino 120 to read at Amazon.
Here’s what others are saying about the Rino 120:
Here are some other Rino 120 resources:
Compare prices on the Garmin Rino 120 at these merchants:
