Question:
Don't like getting lost. Plan on purchasing
a GPS Navigation system. Only thing that looks long term expensive is the battery usage, uses up 4 batteries in 24 hours or less?? Hope they sell a cigarette outlet plug in?
Garmin GPS V beeps the driver at every turn and shows what highway your on all the time. Screen is black and white...about 450 bucks.
Garmin Street Pilot III has a color screen, computer voice directions, shows the highway your on...about 740 bucks.
Anyone try one of these doodads?
Give me miles, miles and more miles.

Answer:
but the screen is kinda small. Do you use a laptop on the road? You can get GPS antennas for them with mapping software. Screen on a laptop is much bigger.
The only Garmin I've ever used is the 295. It is aviation not ground use. Dropped signal all the damn time.

Answer:
The only Garmin I've ever used is the 295. It is aviation not ground use. Dropped signal all the damn time.
Quit flying thru tunnels.
The two you mentioned will work good for ground running.
New Trucknet feeling.
"I can feel the love"

Answer:
flying through tunnels
A good friend of mine had one too. It is at the bottom of a lake somewhere in Central Florida. Now she's got the panel mounted Garmin stack and loves it.

Answer:
Have a friend who has the Garmin V, it can handle about 20 Satellites which keeps it from dropping out. He said it works great and uses it most of the time. Likes the feature of always knowing what Highway he is on.
Go getum.

Answer:
If you want a great way to navigate without using an atlas or map try buying a cheap laptop on ebay, mine cost $299.00 and then buy the EarthMate GPS made by Delorim. I bought mine at Office depot for $99. I had driving directions on my laptop at all times and it shows exactly where you are on your laptop screen at all times. You can type in shippers or receivers address and it shows the actual street and a route for you. Just gotta make sure the route can handle a big truck.

Answer:
Sounds great but where is the Antenna to the
Satellites?
Slow down and Take it easy.

Answer:
Went to the DeLorme web site and checked out the
Earthmate GPS, looks great, with color display,
no outlet required for power, soon to go wireless with bluetooth technology, must have a newer computer with USB ports, uses 12 channels or 12 sastellites just like the Garmin GPS V.
The main advantage over the Garmin is the very large screen of the Laptop compaged to 2"x4" approx. and no need for individual power to the Earthmate GPS.
It will be difficult to get lost now!
Do it in the Snow, packed Snow, Glazed over Snow, Deep
Snow, Crusty Snow, Ice, Black Ice and frosty roads for the same pay as Drivers in warm Climates..

Answer:
Checked out the DeLorme website and it was unclear if the Earthmate GPS beeps,or gives voice commands, or only responds when the user asks it when should I turn??
Looks like real quality gear. Have to get one.
Give me miles, miles and more miles.

Answer:
The Delorme GPS and laptop system does have voice commands but the big truck is too loud for my laptops small speaker. The only drawback using this while driving at night is the bright laptop screen screws up your night vision so Its almost usless to use at night unless you pull over to get your bearings. Just in case people are wondering, the antenna for the GPS sits on your dash. I use the laptop plugged right into my inverter as I drive. This sytem is well worth the small investment, especially when you get crappy directions or you get lost.

Answer:
Thanks "Getalife" sounds great, suppose I could get a Laptop with an adjustable brightness to dim down the screen at night, would also need large or powerful speakers.
What size inverter will power the Laptop?
Best Weather Info from the government:
Click on the county...
www.nws.noaa.gov
Let your dispatcher know who is the real boss!
[This message was edited by swede on February 06, 2003 at 14:52.]
[This message was edited by swede on February 06, 2003 at 14:53.]

Answer:
looking at routing programing also.
Which Delorme software do you use, Getalife? Is it truck specific? I've looked into Promiles (wayyyyyyyy too expensive) and the Rand McNally software too.

Answer:
I bought a program called Street Atlas made by delorme made especially for a GPS. I paid $39 for It at office depot. The entire system including laptop cost me about $450 and Its well worth it If you drive OTR. I dont know how many times it has saved my *** when I couldnt find a shipper or reciever in some city that I had never been too. I would NOT drive OTR without it ever again. Was the best investment I have ever made for trucking. I bought a small inverter that plugs into the truck cig lighter so I could use it while driving. The GPS is battey operated but I bought a cable thru delorme allwing me to piggy back into the laptop for power.

Answer:
Getalife,
My long-lost DeLorme soul mate!!
If I didn't have my 13" laptop mounted next to the stick, running every mile I run (solo), I'm not sure I'd want to drive anymore.
It's an amazing stress reducer, since it allows you to plan and monitor every single mile.
You always know exactly how far away you are from each turn or stop.
Then you've got a map to glance at that shows exactly where your truck is -- within a few feet -- and your exact mph, altitude and compass direction.
You have to be very disciplined not to add or change things while you're driving. When the truck's rolling, it's strictly something I glance over at.
But when the truck's stopped, I reach over and can plan a relatively complex two-lane route acros several states in about 10 minutes. If I'm not familiar with the road, I check it with the trucking atlas.
I rarely get lost, and if I do, I just look over and can see all the roads around me and how I might get back on track.
On congested surface streets, you spend less time searching for street signs -- and more time watching traffic -- since you can glance over and see how far down the street your next turn is.
When you get directions, you can draw your route on the map and make sure your directions are accurate. Seeing the streets in map format help you visualize what you'll encounter, instead of flying blind looking for street signs -- and missing some.
I can't say enough good about this program -- although it takes consderable time to refine your routine and tune it's automatic route selection to your preference. Getting it to follow what it considers an unconventional route, takes some practice.
But it allows you to actually innovate a whole new way to drive -- and it's a sweet way to truck, by golly.
Probably a lot safer too.
Before you buy a handheld unit, check this out -- "DeLorme 2003 Street Atlas", with a gps unit to tuck-up inside your cab's headliner.
http://www.delorme.com/streetatlas2003/default.asp
Consider mounting your laptop near your dash.
also: As I understand it - distracted driving laws outlawing laptops and televisions (etc) allow the driver to glance at "data screens" that provide mapping or dirctions. It's very important you only look at the screen while driving -- hands off the keyboard, or course.
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