GPS unit info

theoldprof · Mar 14, 2005

I have been looking into a GPS unit. This is something I MUST have. My wife says I can't find my a-- hole in my underwear when I am driving. When I go to the electronic stores the clerks don't understand any product if it doesn't store or play what they consider music.

Question 1. When driving south, does the GPS arrow point up or down? In other words is it like holding your map upside down?

Question 2. Are there downloads available for future road expansion use. Three years from now there will be roads that are now corn fields. Will info on those new roads be available.

Thanks.:+ :+

raceman · Mar 14, 2005

Hey Oldone,

just kidding. I read your post after I just posted about my GPS. Do you Have a LapTop? If you do the stuff I have will be great for you. It points in the direction you are going and everything. It rotates as your trucks rotates it does it all. It is wonderful to have. If you put in the right address, you just can not get lost it will even draw a trail that you can follow to get back out. You can reverse directions that will get you out in case you can not go out the way you came in due to one way streets. Just used it in Chicago Friday. Drop me a note I may make you a deal you could not possible refuse.

Raceman
Owner Two Straight Truck.
Part time driver of one of my trucks and local TT.
15mon.OTR Expediting
1 yr local Expediting
Line Haul TT 2mon.
OTR Straight Truck Plt to Plt off and on 5 years.
Based in Cincy Ohio
Currently at Express-1

rode2rouen · Mar 14, 2005

I just got CoPilot Truck/Laptop4, and after a weekend of shakedown, I'm convinced that there is no better way to get from where you are to where you want to be!

Installation was simple and straightforward...load the two CDs...plug in the antenna...type in destination...drive.

As the package is based on PC Miler, it is truck oriented and offers great flexibility in setting up the parameters (toll avoidance,hazmat,shortest route, etc.) of the route.

I spoke with the tech support folks at ALK as my old IBM Thinkpad600 has a 300mhz processor and the system requirements for the program specify a 400mhz is needed. I was told the program would run but may be slow to catch up if I was to go off-route. I found that there is no lag time at all, and the directions were always current even in residential areas.

I purchased the CoPilot package from www.dieselboss.com because Don includes his Truckstop Guide with the purchase of the GPS package. I hate looking at the little folders that the truckstop folks give out.

Both CoPilot Truck and the Truckstop Guide get the "rode2rouen" 5 Star award for being great tools for hitting the highway!! YMMV

Rex

LDB · Mar 15, 2005

I've got CoPilot Truck also and find it very good. You can choose to have north always at the top of the screen or to have the direction of travel always up. I chose north up since that's how paper maps are and it works better for me. It's a good product with a few bugs and overall I'd probably rate it about 8.5 on a 10 scale. If you have a laptop in the truck it's the way to go in my opinion. Good luck.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

JohnO · Mar 15, 2005

How does one secure laptop while driving?
What quirks are you talking about?

Thanks
JohnO

raceman · Mar 15, 2005

Here is what you do. Get yourself some threaded 1/2 inch gas pipe a few straight pieces, a few elbows and two base plates. Cut a piece of plywood, plexi glass, plastic whtever you like and attach one base to it with four little screws. Using the lengths and elbows create the right height and angle for you in your truck eith from the floor or dash however you wish. I put mine on the floor. Attach one base to the floor with four self tapping screws then screw your gas pipe together, attach your plastic or plexi or plywood by screwing it on to the pipe and there you go. Put a lip on the front of your platform so the lapto will not slide and then use some velcro to wrap around it to hold it in place. I used some lock tight on all but one joint so I could swivel it in and out of my way. I attached mine to the floor right beside passenger seat and I can swivel it so it is just to my right about one oclock so I can see it and drive or I ca swivel it so it is in front of me and I can sit on chair in sleeper and use it or I can turn it so it is in front of passender seat so a team person could use it.

Materials: In my case

2 3 inch threaded lengths
3 threaded elbows
2 thread base plates
1 piece of plexi one inch bigger than the laptop
4 small plastic screws
4 self tapping metal screws
1 tube locktight
36 inch piece of velcro
2 3 inch pieces of velcro (attach to plexi)

It is fantastic. Cost about $12.00

Use is a piece of cake. I could drive watching my GPS on screen but I think looking out the windshield now and then keeps me from instant death. Not sure yet.

Raceman
Owner Two Straight Truck.
Part time driver of one of my trucks and local TT.
15mon.OTR Expediting
1 yr local Expediting
Line Haul TT 2mon.
OTR Straight Truck Plt to Plt off and on 5 years.
Based in Cincy Ohio
Currently at Express-1

theoldprof · Mar 15, 2005

Raceman,

Do you use any kind of padding to set your laptop on, or does the vibration hurt it?

Thanks. :+ :+

raceman · Mar 15, 2005

Let me start by saying the straight lengths need to be determined by each individual for your own truck. I screwed mine down to a raised area on the floor by the passenger seat so it works perfectly for me. You need to determine your own length requirements.

As for padding you can put some foam under it if you wish. I have just found that I do not require it. The piping joints actually provide enough flex that it does not actually bounce at all. I am sure every truck is different.

I just shared what I did if you use the idea and adjust things for your own needs you will be fine. If you have a metal dash board you could attach this from the dash. I put it on the floor so I could swivel it to work in three different areas. I hope this helps folks.

Raceman
Owner Two Straight Truck.
Part time driver of one of my trucks and local TT.
15mon.OTR Expediting
1 yr local Expediting
Line Haul TT 2mon.
OTR Straight Truck Plt to Plt off and on 5 years.
Based in Cincy Ohio
Currently at Express-1

FlameMerc · Mar 16, 2005

I have a Magellan, It works very well, Price is a bit high but I like it very much. It doesn't have truck routing but for a cargo van it would be perfect. I have had a few new roads not show up on the screen. 31 north of Niles is to new to show up. LOL. All in all it works very well address to address. It is a nice small unit that has a suction cup mount for your windshield. You can take it with you in any vehical. Just plug it into the cigar lighter and go. Hope this helps...Butch

LDB · Mar 16, 2005

>How does one secure laptop while driving?
>What quirks are you talking about?
>
>Thanks
>JohnO

I slid my passenger seat as far forward as it will go and just set it in the seat. The gap to the dashboard is too small to let it slide out of the seat. I've thought about a platform system but at best it would be a little in the way and at worst a lot in the way. This also makes it easy to move it back to the sleeper when I want it.

If the quirks question is for me, one problem is that once in a while it will say turn north when it's really south or vice versa. At times it also doesn't recognize the address I want to go to but knows the address one digit higher or lower.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

chaz · Mar 19, 2005

FlameMerc ,
I drive a cargo van and use the Magellan also.I love it.1 address didnt show up.I delivered to Diebold in Lexington,N.C and theirs didnt show up.I love it tho,havent used a map yet.

I came home and entered the address that didnt show up on my magellan into mapquest,and it was listed there though.I wonder if there is any way to update the magellan?
Chaz