[jamemeveRhype]

What do you use and why do you like or not like it?

I currently have a Garmin Nuvi 260, and it takes forever to acquire satellites. Also It gives just plain bad directions. We were in San Angelo last weekend, and it sent us past the exit we wanted and made us u-turn to get back to where we needed to be.

My husband uses it on a daily basis for work, so I want to get him a good one with out spending more than $250 or so.

[boffincash]

What do you use and why do you like or not like it?

I currently have a Garmin Nuvi 260, and it takes forever to acquire satellites. Also It gives just plain bad directions. We were in San Angelo last weekend, and it sent us past the exit we wanted and made us u-turn to get back to where we needed to be.

My husband uses it on a daily basis for work, so I want to get him a good one with out spending more than $250 or so.

that is the one we have/use. it is fine for our needs. some of the directions issues may be related to maps? Not sure.

it takes forever to acquire satellites, like you say. and i sometimes lose the graphical representation of the road (so i am driving across a tan, expansive wasteland apparently).

but it gets me where i need to go, and was pretty cheap (i got it on sale for under 50 bucks).

[yazetaw]

I don't know whats with it. But with his job, he needs accuacy and he needs it quickly. Anyone use a tomtom or Magellan? I am going to buy one of the 3 major brands.

[MannyLopez]

I can tell you exactly where to go....real cheap too!

[Oppofeescom]

Check out this link:

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-gps/

It should point you in the right direction. (Pun intended!)

[Xfxhbcxp]

I can tell you exactly where to go....real cheap too!

No I am programming that into his GPS before I give it to him.

[Machater]

Check out this link:

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-gps/

It should point you in the right direction. (Pun intended!)

THanks, I will check that out, but i want local reviews too. I don't know if they work differently in different areas. (does that make sense?)

[bestgenpower]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 1690 that I use on my APRS system for my ham radio. Works great!!

2 weeks ago the local ham club launched a balloon with a 1690 in it for location and altitude purposes and it worked great. The balloon was launched from Abilene State Park and landed just outside of Comanche. Reached an altitude of 99,139 feet before the balloon popped and it came back to earth. So, my bet is on the NUVI 1690.

[CaseyFronczekHomie]

Jinx, I have the same issue with my Garmin Nuvi - not sure which model. I quit using it because it got me lost and then couldn't acquire sattelites to get me home because there was a cloud in the sky. I just used the GPS in my phone for awhile, but the new vehicle has GPS that is awesome.

[Tusethede]

What do you use and why do you like or not like it?

I currently have a Garmin Nuvi 260, and it takes forever to acquire satellites. Also It gives just plain bad directions. We were in San Angelo last weekend, and it sent us past the exit we wanted and made us u-turn to get back to where we needed to be.

My husband uses it on a daily basis for work, so I want to get him a good one with out spending more than $250 or so.

GPS units are only as good as the updates for it. If you don't get current maps then the units will have trouble. The maps are not just for the earth. They also have orbital map info of the satellites. GPS sats are not in geosynchronous orbit. There for they move. GPS units have to compute the correct location of the satellites in order to get correct positions on earth. Cell phone GPS units have to phone in and get updated info. That's why you can't use them without cell service.

I bet you'll get better service out the unit if you do an update on it. Check your manual for details.

[fedelwet]

NLine is quite correct. Here is the 1 hour satellite track for the GPS (U.S.A.) and GLONASS (Russian) navigation satellites for today from 1 PM to 2PM here in Midland.

This plot shows the sky with the center being the City of Midland and the edge of the circle being the horizon. The more satellites you have in the center two circles, the better the time for your positional fix (TFF) and the better your accuracy will be (DOP).

Very few consumer receivers are set to receive GLONASS signals.

As for using the GPS in a balloon, well, if you lengthen your view of the horizon, you open yourself up to more satellites and the possibility of a satellite being able to be "below" you on the horizon, which increases accuracy greatly.

Due to problems with the constellation and the FAA's real time correction WAAS satellite, there are times of the day when coverage is very poor (4 satellites). In those cases it doesn't matter how good your receiver is, the satellites just aren't there.