GPS Units

[rockdocrich]

My work has just approved a test purchase of a GPS unit for the M515. I would like some recommendations as to which unit would be the best to purchase. The only one I have heard of is the Magellan unit. Are there others, and which one would those of you familiar with GPS units recommend?
Thanks for your advice in advance.

[jacques]

I have used the Magellan GPS for some time and is highly satisfied with it.
Before this I tried the Holux GP251, and it was a flop. For some unknown reason it may work with Your Palm, but nobody can explain, why it sometimes does set the screen flashing and makes it impossible to read from time to time. I consider myself lucky to get my money back on this.
I can give You my unreserved recommendation on the Magellan.

[djmangen]

I believe that Navman also makes a GPS unit for the Palm series. It should be compatible with the M125, M130, M500, M515, and M505.

I personally use the Magellan unit, and have had good luck with that. My primary complaint is with the directions functions inside of Streetfinder. I cannot figure out how to override the directions that are downloaded from the web when I know a better way to make the trip. (Of course, you might realistically ask why I am bothering with downloading directions and/or getting maps if I know where I'm going! Good question -- why do I waste that time?)

[Paramac]

I have now used the Magellan GPS Companion for two weeks and have had excellant and accurate results. I live in a rural area and use it for EMS purposes. The price points with rebate are unbeatable net cost is around $50 with rebate from the Palm Store.

[rhingst]

In the October 2002 Pen Computing magazine was an excellant article about GPS's for the Palm. The guy basically said that the only one that really worked was the Magellan Companion. I got on about 2 weeks ago by ordering it from KMart's web site because they had a good price and also had the mount and cigarette lighter cable. When I get my $100 rebate from Palm the GPS will end up costing me $10. It works great. I am also unhappy with the Streetfinder software that came with it. It seems to be years old. I live south of Houston and highways that have been here for years are not shown. I agree about the routing. It will route you right beside the freeway for no reason. I am also using Mapopolis which is really great. The maps are real current. All the interior roads of the chemical plant that I work in are shown. The only thing I don't like about it is you can do a route but only on the Palm and you can't save it. Overall, I am extremely happy with the Companion as a cheap way to get started with a GPS unit. It is accurate within 3 feet.

[BuStAmOvE7]

i don't know if this is the problem with only my unit, but whenever i run the Magellan GPS unit with my m515, i tend to get a fatal exception and my unit freezes up. It especially happens when I am trying to zoom in or move around on the map viewing screen.

This has proven to be very inconvenient while i'm driving since it requires a soft reset in order to get the unit to function again. Also, once while driving home from Disneyland i received a fatal exception and could not even soft reset. I have been VERY UNSATISFIED with the Magellan GPS, but hope that they will come out with better software of a fix for this fatal exception..

However, if you are not receiving fatal exception as i am, i think the gps would be pretty kickin.

Hope it helps..

[djmangen]

Originally posted by BuStAmOvE7
i don't know if this is the problem with only my unit, but whenever i run the Magellan GPS unit with my m515, i tend to get a fatal exception and my unit freezes up. It especially happens when I am trying to zoom in or move around on the map viewing screen.



Mine would, on some brief occassions, exhibit behavior similar to that. It would only happen if the SD card was in the slot. Periodically removing the SD card and running the program would solve the problem.

Now, one can argue that an inability to store maps on the card represents a real problem, and I won't argue with that point -- especially if you want to store a big map of a major metropolitan area. However, this might help you solve your problem.

[pdasteve]

I have the same problem with my Palm freezing up when opening the StreetFinder software.

I called Rand McNally, and was told that there is a problem with the StreetFinder software working on "some" palm models with expansion slots (I have a m515).

They are aware the software states it is compatabile with Memory cards, but it won't work! They are trying to fix the problem but so far no luck.

You have to remove the card and run the software from your Palm's internal memory. It works fine once you do that.

You can load maps onto the card, then move them to the internal memory when you need them.

Not what I wanted to hear, but that's the deal.