GPS

[markopolo]

I don't have one....... Might get one........ Don't know much about them....... I want to learn.......

I found a link that has a file that you can download and add to a Garmin GPS. The file contains 66 Roadtrek dealers/service centers.

What's a POI?

Here's the link:

http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/t...TOPIC_ID=62851

[Jardinier]

I’m not a satellite navigation specialist but here is what I know about GPS and POIs.

GPS or Global Positioning System is a navigation system using satellites to pinpoint the location of a GPS receiver through a trilateration method. For example when you open your GPS unit, it links itself to various satellites. One satellite will say to itself: "marcopolo is somewhere around here". A second one will say: "I think he is rather here". A third one will believe that you are over there. The intersection (trilateration ) of all three measurements, the result, will be your real location with an acceptable degree of error. More at Wikipedia :
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_ System]Global Positioning System[/ url]

A POI is a Point Of Interest meaning the description and the spatial reference or coordinates (Latitude, Longitude) of the location of a specific place such as a city, campgrounds, parks, hotels, garages, gas stations, fixed radars, etc. These POIs can be uploaded on certain mobile units such as PDAs, GPS units (Garmin), software (Street and Trips,TomTom Navigator), even cell phones, etc. using features of the software itself, special software (PoiEdit : http://www.poiedit.com/) or the sync software included with the unit).

If a GPS unit can locate you, it can also show you where a POI is located since it also uses latitudes and longitude data. Your GPS unit can then create a route between your actual location and the POI you want to get to. Microsoft Street and Maps is probably the most popular navigation software available. This kind of software will trace your route on a map and follow you as you move telling you if your are off route or not. GPS units such as those of Garmin (http://www.garmin.com/automotive/pro...tml#automotive) or Magellan (http://www.magellangps.com/) also have similar features. The choice between a handheld unit and a piece of software depends on your needs (road traveling, hiking, boating).

Hope this helps you a little.

Take care

[rv-n-agin]

I use a Garmin 18 on my laptop. The gps sensor unit plugs into a usb port and has a 6 ft cord that allows the suction cup window holder to be mounted on the windshield or in my case one of the three skylight windows. The pleasant female voice guides us at turns thru the laptop speakers with adjustable advance notice. The route planner allows us an option to set for shortest trip or fastest trip. Once on a trip to northern lower Michigan the fastest way was only 6 miles longer than the shortest route, but saved an hour and ten minutes of travel time. The status option shows traveling speed in mph (also adjustable in kilometers) with remarkable accuracy and also elevation above sea level. I'm always amazed when we cross a railroad track and glance over at the screen and see the traveling cursur also crossing the track. I once brokered the sale of a cottage on a lake "up north" that I never saw before, but I typed in the address and clicked "find' and "route to it" and the voice led me right to the front door! I won't go away without it.

[julievojo]

We run a program called Co-Pilot. It runs on a laptop, has all the usual features including POI's. Campgrounds are also listed. One of the options that we like it the altimeter. It's kind of fun when you're driving through the mountains.

We normally turn off the voice. However, when Chino is asleep in the back and I'm driving alone, I'll turn it on. I have been able to drive through strange cities (including Chicago!) during rush hour with no problems. It will announce turns and exits about 2 miles in advance so you have time to change lanes if you need to. Having the voice allows me to keep my eyes on the road and keep a lookout for the exits without having to glance at the screen.

That is however, assuming that we have a destination. Most of the time we're just out driving around at will. (we refer to it as Random Roadtripping) It's nice to look at the GPS on a good sized screen because you can see where there are parks, lakes, rivers or other interesting places or roads. We make it a point to look for roads that run along a river - because we almost always find some great scenery that way. The GPS makes it easier for us to navigate whether we know where we're going, or not.

[rv-n-agin]

when Chino is asleep in the back and I'm driving alone

I see that you also installed 'bed belts' and pillow airbags back there. We do that too!

[Ron J. Moore]

I just have to tell this GPS story!!!! I bought the Garmin 2620 last in '05.
My wife loves maps and is constantly looking at them; thought this would get her away from them, ha!! The Garmin comes in we read the instructions, etc., and head out from VA to FL - piece of cake (but then 95 is straight down). We were in a State Park in Tampa and wanted to go to a Tractor Supply Store about 10 miles away. I plug in the address and off we go....all you really do is go out the gate, turn left, one light go left and it is up the road on the left - not to Ms. "G". It said we needed to go somewhere, totally opposite. When we finally got it going okay, it tells us it is "on the right" - wrong - left. Sorry to take to long - wife now back to maps - and I don't mention Ms. "G" anymore!!! Still love them though, Ron

[julievojo]

Ours has also led us on some wild goose chases on occasion. We were looking for a specific restaurant in Indianapolis one time. We were on the right road, we could see it a block ahead. However, the GPS wanted us to turn left, go 4 blocks, get on the freeway for a mile, take the next exit and then come back from the opposite direction. DUH!! Obviously, we don't always listen to it......