Garmin GPS for truckers

[DieselBoss]

FYI - Garmin posted a firmware update today (to version 2.7)

Use their web updater application to update when you are ready.

The release notes say:

Changes made from version 2.50 to 2.70:

Corrected issue where FMI ETA message was not being sent automatically when a route is calculated
Corrected issue in FMI delete protocol where a packet receipt would only be sent upon failure
Corrected LBA log file corruption issue
Prevented power button from powering-off unit during GCD update
Corrected issues where some microSD cards are not recognized
Corrected issue in custom POI along route/road search

[Glad Hand]

Hey guys I extracted the POI data base from my Truck Stops Plus 2010 template as a gpx file. I then went to the following website, POI EDITOR, and converted the .gpx file to a.ov2 file format and then loaded the POI database into my wife's TomTom. I also created .bmp image files and copied them also into my wife's TomTom.

Thus, today I have the entire Truck Stops Plus 2010 trucking specific POI database loaded in my wife's TomTom and it works beautifully, as you can not only search for and route to trucking specific POIs, but you can also see them on the map ahead of time while traveling. It's pretty cool and it was fairly easy to do.

[sophia9rev]

thanks for the tips.. guys..very helpful

[Southron]

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=275&pID=31541

Garmin is releasing in the second quarter of 2009 a new GPS program designed specifically for truck drivers. Check out the link, looks pretty good.

PROS:
1) It notifies me 5 miles in advance of upcoming weigh stations, (although from time to time, I come upon a weigh station that the GPS doesn't know about).
2) Notifies of high winds, sharp turns, steep grades and narrowing roads ahead.
3) Most of the time it will find the address you program into it and get you within a mile of the correct address.
4) All in all, it gets me to where I need to go 80% of the time.

CONS:
1) This is the third Garmin 465T I have had in 3 months. The first one quit on me 3 days after I bought it, the second one quit working after 2 weeks. If the place you're buying this from offers an extended warranty, GET IT!
2) Sometimes it routes me down roads that are restricted to truck traffic.
3) If I miss my turn, sometimes it tends to get me back on coursen by taking the long way. Once in Pennsylvania, it wanted me to go 10 miles down the PA Turnpike and then turn around, simply because I made a wrong turn. I ignored the Garmin's suggested route and found a quick turnaround on the overpass directly ahead and was back on track in less than 5 minutes.
4) When re-routing, it seems to prefer right turns to get back on route, and up in the Northeastern US, where the roads are narrow, with lots of acute-angle, button-hook turns, that's not good.
5) From time to time, the speaking function doesn't work.
6) The volume doesn't go very high and it's difficult to hear the voice prompts.

[zrj2011]

Southron----I read your post on the Garmin and decided it was possible to get a bad unit from any of them. Decided to purchase the WorldNav 7400 based on features, price, etc. It failed out of box. Lucky I am home and can deal with it. I am waiting for tech support and will post update on that in the WorldNav 7400 thread I just started. Thanks for sharing on the Garmin. Hopefully other drivers will post on their GPS units in specific equipment threads so that we can all benefit from one another's good or bad experiences thus weeding out inferior products and manufacturers that do not stand behind their products.

[zrj2011]

Gladhand---That was an awesome accomplishment! What OS does the Garmin use? The WorldNav I just purchased uses Microsoft CE?