GPS......more confused than ever

[devildice]

Ok, first off, I know that nothing beats MCRA. But I would like a GPS system as an ADDITION to the atlas. I thought I was sold on the Delorme until I did a search on here for GPS navigation systems.

After reading the various posts, there are mixed reviews about Delorme, Streets & Trips, and Co-Pilot.......I am now more confused then before I started my search.

If I wanted a GPS system for my laptop that was easy to use, talking directions, as accurate as possible, is trucker friendly that either has or is able to program POI's such as T/S, scales, restricted roads, etc.....

Which system could give me those and is the best "bang for the buck"???

[BoyNextDoor]

ok... From what i've gathered, and from past experience...

Streets $ trips is the best "all around" software... i used it in my personal car, and liked it. BUT... i like iGuidance way better... iGuidance has 3D maps, and the best routing i've seen. For a car that is. I'm using it constantly, but i bet it's no good to truckers. Has no route planning, and has no trucker stuff (low bridges etc) but i find this one to be the most up to date...

My $0.02

Cheers

[Malaki86]

I use both CoPilot Truck and Streets & Trips 2006.

Here's a small comparison between the 2:

• S & Trips will route me almost identical to CoPilot

• S & Trips will allow me to do true route 'planning' (timed stops) to get a better ETA than CoPilot

• CoPilot has much better speech directions

• CoPilot's 3-D view is great

• CoPilot has truck specific POI's: Truck stops, Cat Scales, Weigh Stations

• CoPilot can be set to 'pop up' whenever you're within a set distance of selected POI's. For example, mine is set to pop-up when I'm within 10 miles of a weigh station, rest area or truck stop

• CoPilot is $300, Streets & Trips is $100

CoPilot has it's 'quirks', but is a really nice program. Streets & Trips is a great program, but lacks the truck specific items.

My suggestion if you're getting your first GPS program: Streets & Trips 2007. Use it for awhile, and compare it's routing against your companies routing, and against the MCRA. If you like it, then get CoPilot later on.

[devildice]

My suggestion if you're getting your first GPS program: Streets & Trips 2007. Use it for awhile, and compare it's routing against your companies routing, and against the MCRA. If you like it, then get CoPilot later on.

That Co-Pilot ain't cheap either at about $400.00. Would hate to spend that kind of money only to find out it wasn't worth it.

[Toothpick]

My suggestion if you're getting your first GPS program: Streets & Trips 2007. Use it for awhile, and compare it's routing against your companies routing, and against the MCRA. If you like it, then get CoPilot later on.

That Co-Pilot ain't cheap either at about $400.00. Would hate to spend that kind of money only to find out it wasn't worth it.

You can also buy the MS Streets and Trips version without the GPS receiver for about $35.00. The route planning features and the street level mapping makes it well worth the price and makes an excellent addition to the MCRA.

As an addendum to Malaki’s post, you can also add in truck stops, weigh and inspection stations, rest areas, turnpike travel plazas, parking areas, shippers and consignees, company terminals, etc. in MS Streets and Trips. I have already added in tons of those items into my default map and it makes your job that much easier.

Furthermore, I am a satellite radio junky. Hence, I never ever use the voice feature of MS Streets and Trips. On the GPS pane I check “Rotate map to follow travel direction” and toggle on “Use Dynamic Turn View” anytime I’m within 35 miles of my next turn and let the screen guide me. If I’m further out than 35 miles from my next turn I toggle on “Keep position centered” and set the magnification level out 15 to 20 miles. This system works for me and I can see the direction of my next turns by just momentarily glancing at the map.

[devildice]

You can also buy the MS Streets and Trips version without the GPS receiver for about $35.00. The route planning features and the street level mapping makes it well worth the price and makes an excellent addition to the MCRA.

As an addendum to Malaki’s post, you can also add in truck stops, weigh and inspection stations, rest areas, turnpike travel plazas, parking areas, shippers and consignees, company terminals, etc. in MS Streets and Trips. I have already added in tons of those items into my default map and it makes your job that much easier.

Furthermore, I am a satellite radio junky. Hence, I never ever use the voice feature of MS Streets and Trips. On the GPS pane I check “Rotate map to follow travel direction” and toggle on “Use Dynamic Turn View” anytime I’m within 35 miles of my next turn and let the screen guide me. If I’m further out than 35 miles from my next turn I toggle on “Keep position centered” and set the magnification level out 15 to 20 miles. This system works for me and I can see the direction of my next turns by just momentarily glancing at the map.

So is it safe to say that Streets & Trips is user friendly? I have looked at MS website on it and is seems to be. And the S & T 2007 with GPS also seems reasonably priced.

What about the Delorme?

[Rev.Vassago]

Furthermore, I am a satellite radio junky. Hence, I never ever use the voice feature of MS Streets and Trips. On the GPS pane I check “Rotate map to follow travel direction” and toggle on “Use Dynamic Turn View” anytime I’m within 35 miles of my next turn and let the screen guide me. If I’m further out than 35 miles from my next turn I toggle on “Keep position centered” and set the magnification level out 15 to 20 miles. This system works for me and I can see the direction of my next turns by just momentarily glancing at the map.

One of the neat features of the Delorme Street Atlas 2006 is that it automatically zooms in when you are coming up on a turn, and then automatically zooms back out.

But, unless the system is specifically geared for trucks, none of the "Big Box" GPS systems are really trucker friendly. A quick cross reference to your atlas will fix that.

I really like the Delorme system for its quick re-routing if you miss a turn. Within 50 feet of missing a turn, it will automatically re-route you until you get to where you want to go.

All the GPS systems sold at Big Box stores are using the same exact mapping data - the difference comes with how the program utilizes that mapping data.

[devildice]

One of the neat features of the Delorme Street Atlas 2006 is that it automatically zooms in when you are coming up on a turn, and then automatically zooms back out.

But, unless the system is specifically geared for trucks, none of the "Big Box" GPS systems are really trucker friendly. A quick cross reference to your atlas will fix that.

I really like the Delorme system for its quick re-routing if you miss a turn. Within 50 feet of missing a turn, it will automatically re-route you until you get to where you want to go.

All the GPS systems sold at Big Box stores are using the same exact mapping data - the difference comes with how the program utilizes that mapping data.

Can you program POI's in it and is it user friendly? My O/O friends says it is easy to use but I can not remember if he said you can program POI's.

[Rev.Vassago]

Can you program POI's in it and is it user friendly? My O/O friends says it is easy to use but I can not remember if he said you can program POI's.

You sure can. I've added truck stops that aren't listed in the POI's (many of them are), and you can add in scales, etc. as well. You can also exclude certain roads from routing if you choose.

[Rawlco]

Well I haven't had my Delorme Street Atlas 2007 long enough to figure it out completely but you can fill in anything that you want. There is another thread today about downloading points of interest and that works - BUT they aren't very accurate in my opinion. No program is a replacement for reading signs.

You can right click any spot on the map and either
1) Set as Start
2) Set as Finish
3) Insert as Stop - you can edit your stop preferences as to how long and weather you will fuel or not.
4) Insert as Via - this means that you will force the program to route you through that point.
5) Create address book entry. Name stuff in your address book something logical and simple so that you will find it easily. That way you can easily when planning a route type in "Start: Home" and "Finish: Petro Scranton" and your route will calculate automatically. Otherwise you may pick from a list of anything called "Petro"

With Delorme you can tell it how many miles you want to drive and how large your fuel tanks are and it will show a symbol for recommended end of day stop and fuel stops.

I do recommend buying "the next exit" and/or a truckstop guide in addition. That will make it easier to find parking near where the software claims your end of day will be.

In some locations the programmed in points of interest are very good and complete. Other locations it can't find much. I recommend searching by ZIP code if possible.

One last note: If you know where you are going then it will probably take longer to use Delorme than Yahoo Maps or something. My wife needs to calculate time and miles locally for her business and she calls the Delorme system "slow and complicated"

[Walking Eagle]

For S&T you can go to http://ultimateroute.com/ and Coby has an add on that will show you all kinds of stuff, T/S Scales, Rest areas, Pull off's ect just in the demo version. You can ad or delete to suit yourself. The full version is so full it's awsome.

[devildice]

For S&T you can go to http://ultimateroute.com/ and Coby has an add on that will show you all kinds of stuff, T/S Scales, Rest areas, Pull off's ect just in the demo version. You can ad or delete to suit yourself. The full version is so full it's awsome.

I went to the site and read over it. Looks like a great plug-in for S&T. But unless I missed it, I did not see anywhere to download, order nothing....just info on it. Nor did I see anything about the full version you are mentioning??????????????

[Walking Eagle]

http://ultimateroute.com/demo.htm

[yoopr]

how ya doin Eagle-Haven't seen you in awhile

[Walking Eagle]

Pretty good Yoop. Took some time off from truck and 'puter Managed to unscrew my motor, Cat said it was my fault :?: something about over reving and over tourque but found a friendly Cat House in Jax. that rebuilt it back to the 700+ it was so back out here again. How ya been ? Found a pretty steady run taking me home to Ak.

[Walking Eagle]

For some strange reason most Cat dealers say that Marine stuff should only go on boats, and NEVER put a Cummins turbo on them.

[devildice]

thanks Walking Eagle.......I might just have to give it a shot.

Still would like to hear some feedback on Delorme and CoPilot

[Malaki86]

I replied with a response about CoPilot in this thread. Also, CoPilot has been discussed many, many, many times. Do a search for CoPilot as the search word and see what comes up.

[devildice]

I did do a search and as I stated in my original post there are so many mixed reviews (some old posts) that it just confuses me on which system would offer the performance for the money.

I appreciate your reply and still would like to hear from others that are currently using it.

[Walking Eagle]

I've tried them all over the years, including some tat aren't around anymore, and found S&T is about the most user friendly but just like any of them you have to compair it with your trucker atlas. Real easy to route around stuff that is obviosly not trucker friendly. JUst set it to "Freeways 100% prefered". I use two versions, one when pulling my big lowboy, places to park it, T/S I can get it in etc. and one regular and they are easy to cross over info to keep them up to date.