Inexpensive GPS

[dchew]

A week ago I bought a Garmin StreetPilot I3 GPS for the car. All I can say is that it works great and I don't know how I ever got along without it. I no longer have to print out maps to houses before I leave in the morning.

The thing is the size of a baseball. The screen is about 1.25" x 1.25" which may be too small for some of us. But, I find that it's okay for me since I just follow the voice commands.

Inputting addresses is a bit different since you use a thumbwheel to input the information. Initially, I thought it would take forever to do this, but once I got the hang of it, I can punch in the address in about a minute or two.

If you got an extra $275 to $300, I'd recommend that you invest in one.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dchew

A week ago I bought a Garmin StreetPilot I3 GPS for the car. ...

If you got an extra $275 to $300, I'd recommend that you invest in one.

A really nice atlas type city map costs about $30.00. I can buy new maps every 2 years for the next 20 years for the price of a small screen GPS which might work for 5 years (I'm guessing about their lifespan of course).

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

I'm with Dwight, I would be (and often am) lost without my GPS, I use Microsift streets and trips running on an older laptop in the car, I don't think I would get along with those real small screens that the Garmins and Tom Toms have.

The Streets and trips costs around $100 including the GPS reciever.

Regards

Gerry

[Paul W. Abernathy]

I have both the MS Streets as Gerry has as well as I just purchased the Cobra NavOne 4500 for the work truck....and it is AWESOME..but pricy...$ 750.00 bucks from HSN.

I love not having to worry about addresses...lol...just PUNCH and GO !

[Bruce M. Graham, III]

Same as Gerry it works great and as a lot of function as well.

[Brian E. Kelly]

As maps were fine for Magellan, they are fine for me. Also Phoenix is laid out on a grid so most things are easy to find. And I am cheap.

[dchew]

The purpose of me getting the GPS was to minimize the amount of preparation time I set aside for an inspection. If I can save 15 minutes in the morning not having to print out maps, then that's 15 minutes I can shave off of the overhead time I spend on an inspection.

Right now, I average about 15 to 30 minutes of prep time, 30 minutes travel time, 2.5 to 3 hours of onsite time, and another 2 hours of report writing. That works out to 5 hours/inspection. For my standard $400 fee, I average about $70/hour after deducting for expenses (insurance, gas, etc.). I need to get that hourly rate up into the $80's.

One of the best ways to be competitive is to keep your overhead cost under control.

Now, if I can convince the wife that the FLIR thermal scanner would reduce my field time to a bare minimum, I be so happy!

[wforsyth]

I wish people would ask me when they are looking for things. I can get this system for $675.00 your cost, shipping included.

Skynav 3000 Mobile Global Positioning System. 5.2" Full Color Display. North America Street Level Detail Maps on board. Gyroscop for Uninterupped Navigation. Infrared Port for Simple Address Data Transfer
Weight: 5 lbs.

[jrivera]

Garmin gets a thumbs up, the atlas is also good as a back up, but if your traveling thru different counties or states the atlas(s) can be cumbersome.

Plus they don't sound as friendly !!!!!!

Mic

[David A. Andersen]

If you use an on site computer, use it for GPS. $100 will set you up. If you come across a traffic jam, bail out at the next turn. The program will get you back on track. It knows more short cuts between inspections that I do. Will save you gas money to pay for itself.

[bkelly1]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

I wish people would ask me when they are looking for things. I can get this system for $675.00 your cost, shipping included.

Skynav 3000 Mobile Global Positioning System. 5.2" Full Color Display. North America Street Level Detail Maps on board. Gyroscop for Uninterupped Navigation. Infrared Port for Simple Address Data Transfer
Weight: 5 lbs.

Is it the same as this one? http://www.google.com/url?q=http://w...ct=result&cd=1

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

I wish people would ask me when they are looking for things. I can get this system for $675.00 your cost, shipping included.

Skynav 3000 Mobile Global Positioning System. 5.2" Full Color Display. North America Street Level Detail Maps on board. Gyroscop for Uninterupped Navigation. Infrared Port for Simple Address Data Transfer
Weight: 5 lbs.

Wendy,

I can get the NavOne 4000 for $ 650.00...the NavOne 4500 for $ 725.00 which has the external traffic logic antenna....the reason I went with HSN was because it was FLEX PAY...broken down into 4 easy equal payments....

I get alot of electronics from Petra...I believe that is the name...good prices...the NavOne 3000 is a few years old..the NavOne 4500 is the newest model

[rbunzel]

I have a Garmin Street Pilot III and a quick search on Google shows a newer model for $279. I don't leave home without it and love the voice navigation. The only time it has a problem is with new developments and then I just drop back to a major cross street. I can't use the excuse I got lost going to appointments anymore!!!

//Rick

[wforsyth]

I can sell it to you for that price. Just knocks down my profit. But no big deal. I've been advised that I should make a profit on things even when selling to people I know, but I have a hard time marking it up very much.

Selling it at that price I would make about $35.00 on the sale.

[rwand1]

Wait before you buy. The prices are starting to come down.

As a comparison, I was going to order GPS in my new car (Nissan X-trial) the price was $2500. Then I thought again. So I am going to wait. I think the larger screen 7" is the way to go.