Best vehicle gps units & equipment according to redditors
We found 43 Reddit comments discussing the best vehicle gps units & equipment. We ranked the 25 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 43 Reddit comments discussing the best vehicle gps units & equipment. We ranked the 25 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Pretty sure truckers have truck-specific sat navs that have height and weight limits programmed into them.
This unit for example lets you input the dimensions and weight of your vehicle and it will route you accordingly.
It's expensive but IMO it'd be worth the money to have a stress-free drive.
$300 MSRP, with e-log integration and all sorts of other fancy shit. $260 refurbished.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/589643
Or $110 used: https://www.ebay.com/itm/254340765627
$230 for a TomTom: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KX8JID8
There are also apps for smartphones and tablets that truckers can use.
I use this Garmin gps with a built in dash cam. It works great and the video quality is fantastic.
https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-DriveAssist-010-01541-01-Navigator-Refurbished/dp/B076JJXBBQ/ref=sr_1_7/131-7464126-7419510?ie=UTF8&qid=1536331408&sr=8-7&keywords=garmin+gps+with+dash+camera
Truck driver here. I use this one.
I would say to use Device Manager. So long as he gives you the password
*edit: spelling
Also, try one of these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HSODG10/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1485664030&sr=1-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&dpPl=1&dpID=311znUIzZVL&ref=plSrch
The app really has nothing to do with signal reception. All GPS will struggle downtown because of the buildings blocking the sky. Here are a few tips: when you start your route take 10 seconds to look over the route, and take a screen shot so if you lose signal, you still know where to go. Or you can buy one of these. It drastically improved my reception downtown.
You can buy a standalone GPS and a pay-as-you-go phone, sure.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K3RP5H/ref=dp_cr_wdg_tit_rfb
https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-as-you-go
I use a Garmin 770 stand-alone unit. It's specific to RVs and allows you to enter your height, weight, etc in order to route you around low clearances and small bridges--plus, no internet or cell service required.
As far as aps go, CoPilot or CoPilot Trucker are arguably the best options. They used to have a dedicated RV app, but they merged it into the auto app and lost the ability to enter vehicle restrictions, which is where the trucker version comes in, as it still allows you to do so.
How about Bluetooth GPS? I use one with my 7" Fire tablet for laptiming and it works great.
Edit: There are plenty out there (cheaper than this too) but I use this Garmin one and like it: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYAZENY/
On it. Garmin Nüvi 2689LMT 6" Bluetooth GPS w/ Lifetime Maps & Traffic - {Certified Refurbished} for $149.99 on Amazon
Buy a Garmin model that's currently listed on the Garmin site if you want a current model
When looking at model, L = lifetime. T= traffic. M = maps. Thus, 50LMT is model 50 with lifetime traffic and maps.
I'd recommend the 50LMT for your parents. It's a current model and has lifetime traffic and maps. I've had a the equivalent model LMT device from 4 years ago and still use it all the frigging time. I've even had a few passengers go and buy it after seeing it.
Garmin Drive 50 USA LMT GPS Navigator System with Lifetime Maps and Traffic, Driver Alerts, Direct Access, and Foursquare data https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A1HLA9G
You can't go wrong with a Garmin
That's the updated model of the one I bought a few years ago
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HS1PTK4
Sure is.
Its a Garmin DriveSmart 51. I love it, its a gps and a dashcam.
https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-DriveSmart-Notifications-Activation-TripAdvisor/dp/B01N0RT1BG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1520779335&sr=8-3&keywords=garmin+drivesmart+51+lmt-s
I believe this is a known hardware failure. My XZp slowly lost its GPS as well.
My solution is to keep a Garmin GLO (https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GLO-Bluetooth-Receiver-010-02184-01/dp/B07M9CZYTD) powered on in the car, paired to the phone with the "Bluetooth GPS Provider" app. Since 95% of my GPS use is for car navigation, this makes the problem manageable. If I'm on vacation or exploring and want a GPS on me, the GLO is tiny and battery powered so I'll just pop it into a pocket in those rare cases.
The GLO has a much, much stronger GPS lock than any phone I've used before so it's not something I'm entirely upset to have to be doing. When I move on to a new phone in the future, I'll still be taking the GLO along with me when on vacation/camping/etc, and using it on obscured wintry days.
>Map upgrades are cheap as well ($150).
This isn't really aimed at OP, but it's absolute bullshit we have to do this in 2019 especially when carmakers are all basically supporting CarPlay and Android Auto which give you those "updates" for free.
I don't object to having to pay for updates on a stock in-dash navigation system, but $150 a year is ridiculous to me. Considering they're competing with "free". Hell, even a cheapass ($57) dashboard navigation system gives you free map updates for life.
https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-DezlCam-LMTHD-6-Inch-Navigator/dp/B010D2URZC i hear this one is pretty cool.
i plan on getting it when i get my CDL and all that
Refurb one I got.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UCH7N88?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd
The iPhone as a hotspot will not share GPS data with the iPad. (Google "iphone gps data over hotspot")
One device to look at is the Garmin Bluetooth GPS receiver:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYAZENY/
I've used a nav before, but I honestly found it to be more distracting than helpful. That's just me. How about this one? It's not waterproof but you can stuff into a waterproof case like this. You want one that's quick and easy to use, no unnecessary gimmicks. Also, have you tried using your phone's nav?
> Why do you want a bike computer which would act as an external GPS to your phone? To save phone battery?
What I need is an external GPS. What I'd like would be a nice handlebar mounted display of my current speed. Its a nice bonus.
> But, honestly, your phone's screen probably draws more power than your phone's GPS chip
Thats actually not the drain - the drain comes from two things, the constant attempts to lock onto more satellites, and the main processor doing the hard work associating that data live. I was able to do some brief playing around with an external gps, and I was looking at 30% more out of a single charge minimum.
Edit: And I already have an external battery. Keep in mind that charging while working the processor like that causes some major heat - and I like to avoid that. If I can use the lower, 1A charge setting on my external battery instead of going to 2A just to keep the battery level reasonable, all the better.
> I'm not aware of any (but would like to be informed) which track GLONASS as well as GPS, such as my Garmin 510 does.
Not exactly puck sized, but not big either:
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Portable-GLONASS-Receiver-Vehicle/dp/B00AYAZENY
http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electronics-XGPS-160-Receiver/dp/B00E65TNYE#productDetails
Timex T5k16 comes with heart rate strap
Lezyne Mini
Polar M450
There's a few others as well
You could consider a Bluetooth receiver for the phone.
Something like the Garmin Glo should improve accuracy.
No. However, GPS+GLONASS receivers have gotten very cheap lately. They used to only be available to scientists and surveyors due to much higher costs.
Good, glad it helps.
So, obviously the benefit of the iPad vs the Garmin in your truck is the screen size. If that's what you want to move forward with you can pick up a bluetooth GPS receiver to make you current iPad FAR more accurate. Should be as accurate as your Garmin... I've used from from a company called Dual Electronics. I loved it. I see, however, that Garmin makes a unit that includes GLONASS for improved accuracy for $99 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Portable-GLONASS-Receiver-Vehicle/dp/B00AYAZENY
At least then you're basically just comparing UI and available basemaps. Check out some of the apps mentioned. I'll tell you now that I've tried a ton of these apps before I found that I really liked Gaia. And, really, I've yet to find anything, including a Garmin I used to have, that I've REALLY liked. They all have their issues...
Hope you find something you like!
Well, first of all, there has been in in-car Echo for a while. It's not by Amazon, but by Garmin. It's called the Garmin Speak. I've had one for a while now, and it works pretty well.
If the Echo Auto works in the same way, it's like this:
The Garmin also has the added benefit of having a little screen on it for navigation and messages. It's not a high-tech screen, but it's good enough to show arrows and plain text. As a navigator, it's OK, but definitely isn't as good as using Google Maps, which Amazon says the Echo Auto will do.
I, too, asked for an invite. I'm eager to try it and compare the devices to see which will win dominance in my car. Since I do a lot of driving all over the state in my job, I find it extremely helpful to have Alexa in my car. I also find it handy to have a good mobile phone service that covers me even in the middle of nowhere!
I do pretty much the same thing except my phone gps was very inaccurate so I bought this external gps receiver:
https://www.amazon.ca/Garmin-Portable-Glonass-Receiver-Vehicle/dp/B00AYAZENY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494338680&sr=8-1&keywords=garmin+glo
I just put it in my pocket and the phone connects to it via Bluetooth. It is very accurate. My phone is android but this works with I-phones as well.
Haven't built van yet, but for both my current car and truck I have a little garmin like this that has no monthly fees or anything and all it does is GPS, using free google maps.
The benefit to me is that I absolutely do not want touch-screen controls in a car for AC and things like that, it's just another thing to go wrong, and I mount it right here (sorry too lazy to go take a pic to I drew it) where it's invisible to anyone looking at the car due to tinted side windows to the darkest legal limit. I do not have to connect/disconnect my phone, I don't need a little cradle taking up my windshield, and I can glance over at it just fine. I have one mounted in the "top" glove box of my tundra as well and that one is super hidden. I did it first so I even put a cheap microswitch on the door that turns on the device when it opens.
If they ever break, who cares? Buy a new one they are dirt cheap. No fiddling with phones, nothing sitting on the dash, and concealing it I think might help against people breaking in. Even though they are only like $50, there's bound to be someone out there who thinks they are more valuable or would break the glass for $50.
Why not just get a decent Android tablet? My Nexus 7 has a great receiver in it. CoPilot Live is a great nav app. For amazing accuracy, (~3 ft.) I can use a GPS/GLO Bluetooth receiver with it.