Navigation Units.

[canyonbc]

Navigation Units..

Any one here use them and one they would recommend over another for commerical use.

I have been looking at the Garmin NUVi 206W??

Any thoughts?

[Tim03]

If you have done any reading on these, you have probably heard that Garmin and Tom Tom are the top brands.

From my experience having owned a Garmin (a 340), have it stolen then bought a Mio 230, I'd say Garmin is top tier with Mio second tier trying to get to the next level.

My older Garmin is easier to use then my newer Mio 230, I figured out how to use most of the Garmin's features without looking at the manual, with the Mio use better hang onto that manual for reference if you want to use advanced seldom used features. The Mio is better at getting a satillite fix and holding it in less than perfect situations. The map updates for my Mio are significantly cheaper ***but that could have changed***.

The last time I checked for my Garmin, before it was stolen, it was at least $75.00.
When I checked for my Mio when I bought it the map updated cost $25.00.

One important thing I should point out. If you plan to use your GPS for travel and not just work then Tom Tom has a feature that I wish my GPS had and probably would get me to trade up to a Tom Tom if the model I wanted is priced right.

With Tom Tom you can upload to your unit user defined way points. Lets say you are going to next years Kentucky Expo and plan on staying a couple days. You want to checkout the nightlife in Louiseville, so you get on the net and go to a Tom Tom user site and upload someone elses Louiseville way points. Or you could find waypoints to locations of highway patrol hunting grounds, traffic safety camera's ect.

[canyonbc]

If you have done any reading on these, you have probably heard that Garmin and Tom Tom are the top brands.

From my experience having owned a Garmin (a 340), have it stolen then bought a Mio 230, I'd say Garmin is top tier with Mio second tier trying to get to the next level.

My older Garmin is easier to use then my newer Mio 230, I figured out how to use most of the Garmin's features without looking at the manual, with the Mio use better hang onto that manual for reference if you want to use advanced seldom used features. The Mio is better at getting a satillite fix and holding it in less than perfect situations. The map updates for my Mio are significantly cheaper ***but that could have changed***.

The last time I checked for my Garmin, before it was stolen, it was at least $75.00.
When I checked for my Mio when I bought it the map updated cost $25.00.

One important thing I should point out. If you plan to use your GPS for travel and not just work then Tom Tom has a feature that I wish my GPS had and probably would get me to trade up to a Tom Tom if the model I wanted is priced right.

With Tom Tom you can upload to your unit user defined way points. Lets say you are going to next years Kentucky Expo and plan on staying a couple days. You want to checkout the nightlife in Louiseville, so you get on the net and go to a Tom Tom user site and upload someone elses Louiseville way points. Or you could find waypoints to locations of highway patrol hunting grounds, traffic safety camera's ect.

Thanks for the response and info.

I have seen mio out there.

Ya, garmin and tom tom seem to be the top dogs in town.

I am not sure why I wrote 206 when I have been looking at the 260w. It reads the name of the street to you, seems easy to use.

When you had your garmin, how often did you have to up grade, where did you buy or do it at?

[DLAWNS]

I have the Garmin 260 and I love it. I don't know much about them, but it gets me to where I'm going every time. I got mine at Costco on sale. I don't remember the price, but it was a killer deal. Check it out.

[AI Inc]

For service work I like the Magellen best. You can enter addresses thru either zip code or previous city. That makes them faster to use then the competition. H ad a garmin in 1 truck, when it was stolen I replaced it with another Magellon.
All in the same price range.

[DUSTYCEDAR]

garmin 550 is the one i got for x-mass love it so far

[CrownLawnSvc]

I have a Garmin. It works great for estimates. It has helped me find better routes from one customer to another. I look at it as a tool. Not perfect, but helpful.

[canyonbc]

Thanks for all the input guys.

It appears right now Best Buy has the best deal in my local area, Costco is not carrying them right now.

[canyonbc]

I have a Garmin. It works great for estimates. It has helped me find better routes from one customer to another. I look at it as a tool. Not perfect, but helpful.

That is exactly it.

Its another piece of equipment and using technology to are advantage.

[ryry278]

By the way they pretty much all use the same sateliltes the difference is features and uptodate info

[canyonbc]

By the way they pretty much all use the same sateliltes the difference is features and uptodate info

Ya all of the same govt. satellite.

Where do you guys buy the up load software?
How do you put it onn your gps unit?
What are the prices for each company, do they fluxuate?

[Tim03]

Thanks for the response and info.

I have seen mio out there.

Ya, garmin and tom tom seem to be the top dogs in town.

I am not sure why I wrote 206 when I have been looking at the 260w. It reads the name of the street to you, seems easy to use.

When you had your garmin, how often did you have to up grade, where did you buy or do it at?


I wasn't forced to upgrade, in fact you could never upgrade if you didn't want to. Mine was stolen before I had a chance. If I still had it I would probably upgrade every three years. If I remember correctly you can get the upgrade directly off the net.

[DLAWNS]

I wasn't forced to upgrade, in fact you could never upgrade if you didn't want to. Mine was stolen before I had a chance. If I still had it I would probably upgrade every three years. If I remember correctly you can get the upgrade directly off the net.

I believe that is correct.

[canyonbc]

Well I would like to thank everyone for all the input.

I have been away from Lawnsite for a coupl;e days But I did purhcase a unit.

I bought it from Costco.com

Its a Garmin Nuvi 750w.

The new upgraded model is the 765w and retails at almost $ 600, Costco had the 750w at $ 299 and with a Jan. special I picked it up for $ 225 delivered to my front door.

Came into today, I am loving it.

[McGaw]

The major differences between Garmin and Tom Tom is the Tom Tom is more customizeable. Voices and such. Other than that there aren't too many differences. O, the prices are alot different

[Tim03]

Well I would like to thank everyone for all the input.

I have been away from Lawnsite for a coupl;e days But I did purhcase a unit.

I bought it from Costco.com

Its a Garmin Nuvi 750w.

The new upgraded model is the 765w and retails at almost $ 600, Costco had the 750w at $ 299 and with a Jan. special I picked it up for $ 225 delivered to my front door.

Came into today, I am loving it.

Glad to see you got a good deal on teh one you wanted!

[DLAWNS]

That's awesome, man. Sounds like you got a great deal!

[Lawn Freak]

I use a Garmin but only when I go out of town to the dealer or something like that. No need for it on my mowing route. It would get too abused:)

[kyfireman2004]

First off I have a cheap garmin....it gives directions and such.
I want one that I can down load a day of routes....say like 30 different maintenance locations before my crew takes off. Is there a tom tom or garmin out there that does that.
I know you can add favs, and use resent but that takes to long.....
I just wanna go from one to the next........