[Mountain Flyer]

Well, I DID hit a bridge while following my GPS, but can't blame it on the GPS... it had something to do with the distracted fellow sitting in the drivers' seat paying more attention to the construction in the right lane than the clearance sign overhead! ops:

I use Microsoft Street and Trips 2006 and have used it since day One on the road. I would not, and I MEAN this... leave home without it. It is THE most indispensable tool I carry with me while trucking.

I have been entertaining getting a second stand alone unit to put in the truck, more as a tax deductible Christmas present to myself than as a necessity. I was wondering what some of you who have done the in-depth research would recommend.

Maps are fine, and cross-checking with the trucker's atlas to make sure you are on a "truck-friendly" route is most definitely a good idea. But finding your way around IN TOWN is where the GPS really shines. It will take you to your drop and load points, and find you a nearby restaurant, bar, casino, library, rest area, theatre... the list goes on. Complete with their phone numbers. It is a FANTASTIC tool, and I cannot imagine being on the road without mine.

Merry Christmas, my driving friends...... 8)

[flood]

Originally Posted by merrick4

I use Delorme and I hate it with a passion. I mean it's great when it works but it takes hours to get a signal sometimes and then it loses it.

On those mountable ones, how do you put in the info? I mean with Delorme or Microsoft S&T you type in the info on the laptop and I always wondered how the other ones worked. I'm thinking you can connect it to your laptop via USB or Bluetooth and type in the info on the laptop.

I'd like to buy a mountable one but I'm done with buying things for a long time.

delorme's antenna needs a good look at the sky to work well. when we had it on the dash or windshild it would take forever to lock in. we moved it to the skylite and it has a good signal by the time the loptop is up and running.

[merrick4]

Originally Posted by flood

delorme's antenna needs a good look at the sky to work well. when we had it on the dash or windshild it would take forever to lock in. we moved it to the skylite and it has a good signal by the time the loptop is up and running.

Hey that's a good idea. I just tried it though and I'll need a longer USB cord.

By the way I just tried Google Earth for the first time (in the truck anyway) and what a tool that is. I can't believe I haven't used it before. I reached my stop and backed into the door but I was sticking out on the street so I looked at the area in Google Earth and this space across from me that has snow all over it had trucks parked in it in the Google Earth image. I didn't know what was there under the snow.

[flood]

i added a 4 port hub in the overhead so i can use my printer and a 6ft usb cord to get it down to the laptop and it work just fine

[4GIVEN]

I have an in-dash GPS/DVD unit made by Panasonic. I always check with my road atlas to confirm that it a truck friendly route and most times its right on. Its pretty quick at pulling up the routes for you and it has multiple route options to choose from depending upon what kinds of roads youd like to travel on. It has a 7 inch screen with makes it easy to see and also plays movies. And like everyone else says, I cant imagine being without mine. Heres the link to the product. http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...00000000005702 I found cheap at www.sonicelectronix.com