Community Forums

Gary RVRoamer · 03-21-2011, 07:55 AM

I had a built-in Magellan in my '04. Magellan abandoned that model by early 2006 - no updates and no new maps. I replaced it with a Garmin designed to be built in (GVN53) and using the same 7" external display. It has been ok and Garmin still supports it, but now I can buy new standalone GPS for little more than the price of a map upgrade for the Garmin. I'll probably put a new standalone in this summer rather than upgrade the expensive one again.

My built-in shares the dash display with the rear camera and Triptek engine monitor. Changing to a standalone lets me have two different things displayed at once.

doc · 03-21-2011, 10:07 AM

We have one a factory installed in the coach and seldon turn in on. I use a Garmin Nuvi almost daily and it is much easier to use and frankly I trust it more than the highdollar BMWs I deliver with built in units. - it is much easier to setup. Figure on a few grand for any built in unit and a few hundred on the stand alones.

taboky · 03-21-2011, 02:36 PM

Personally I hated our built-ins. I have a Garmin Zumo for my bike and use it. The real nice thing with the Zumo is that I can create my route on a computer and put it into the GPS. That way I can get to where I want using my routes, not what the GPS thinks I should do. I will never have a GPS that I can not upload routes to.

Just my .02

Craig_R · 03-21-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kjlunda

We have a smart phone. It has google maps/GPS. Updated all the time.

Not to mention the fact that it's darned accurate and the audio is very easy to understand. Oh, and other than my regular monthly cell phone charge, it's free.

tcopeland · 03-21-2011, 03:21 PM

hate the cord

Cat320 · 03-21-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcopeland

hate the cord

Charge it up and run it off the internal battery.

Romeo · 03-21-2011, 04:41 PM

I have a Magellan stand alone, a Netbook with a 10" screen, and a laptop with a 14" screen. The stand alone Magellan sits on a stand to my left (driver's left) and the netbook sits on the dash directly in from of me and below line-of-sight, and the laptop sits on the dash in front of my wife/navigator.

The netbook normally runs my SilverLeaf engine monitor, but can display MS Streets and Trips with the GPS antenna attached (and SilverLeaf at the same time, if so desired). That would be a 10" GPS display. However, I am satisfied with my small Magellan display and having the 14" laptop monitor display Streets and Trips with the GPS antenna attached, for my wife to watch.

A $200 netbook running MS Streets and Trips with a GPS antenna is great, and can be used as a second laptop when parked (and the wife is tying up the real laptop).

As others have said, it's nice to be able to remove the Magellan and put it in the towed when in an unfamiliar local.

P.S. I found my netbook on Craigslist for $200, but my friend has bought two for $125 and $150.

TQ60 · 03-21-2011, 05:02 PM

I would go with stand alone, but double check before you buy.

We purchased a Garmin 1540 LMT, exact same thing as a 1450 but more expensive...?

The LMT is lifetime maps and the traffic radio included.

Ours is large, you can get a loader that allows you to create your own points of interest files and it works well.

hoppers4 · 03-21-2011, 06:31 PM

Standalone is MUCH cheaper, can be updated easily, and can be moved to other vehicles. The hardest part is trying to figure out which model to get. I have a Garmin 1490 with lifetime (whatever that is) map updates.

Perry White · 03-21-2011, 06:55 PM

If it's a Pioneer they are obsolete in two years. Can't get updates for mine anymore and was new in '07.

legryz · 03-21-2011, 07:07 PM

I've been using Delorme Street Atlas on laptop for many years now. I think the best way to go is some sort of mapping software Street
& Trip, Delorme or others and a laptop. I like this setup because it's more versatile, voom in & out, split screen, go to different area's on the map can do a lot more than the built-in units or the small all in one units.
My wife's Milan has a built-in which is nice to have and it gets us to where we're going and more but it just doesn't do what the Delorme can do.
Just ordered the 2011 SA today $40, pretty good price for mapping software.

RV'nOldTimer · 03-21-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legryz

I've been using Delorme Street Atlas on laptop for many years now. I think the best way to go is some sort of mapping software Street
& Trip, Delorme or others and a laptop. I like this setup because it's more versatile, voom in & out, split screen, go to different area's on the map can do a lot more than the built-in units or the small all in one units.
My wife's Milan has a built-in which is nice to have and it gets us to where we're going and more but it just doesn't do what the Delorme can do.
Just ordered the 2011 SA today $40, pretty good price for mapping software.

Agreed on the versatility of the Delorme software. Need to purchase a USB Delorme GPS receiver (or any other standard GPS with a USB cable output) and the software but both (Delorme package deal) cost approximately $100 and the updating of the software, as you say, is $40. I update every two years. If topographical features are needed (wanted?) Delorme Topo can be installed and used. Altogether, a very versatile setup which can be programed to a route that I want, not one dictated by the machine.

The down side is that room for the laptop is needed and that usually means it won't fit the toad. Some users don't like Delorme's interface because its not like Windows.

JT