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Feb. 21st, 2011
GPS shopping
Feb. 21st, 2011 09:14 pmJust in case anyone has opinions on either of these items that may be helpful. I've done a bit of research and opinion seeking.
First, a GPS track recorder for geotagging. Though the AMOD unit is widely used, I am not happy with it using AAA cells or that it only has a 12 to 15 hour battery life. I looked around and it seems like people who have tried both the AMOD and the QStarz prefer the QStarz recorder. It has a LiIon battery, 42 hour battery life, is crazy sensitive (can get a GPS lock indoors or on a plane). The downside is that it requires special software to get the data off of it. But OTOH it has some very cool features including a super cool KMZ Google Earth export, so I think I can live with the software limitation.
The combination of enough sensitivity and battery life that it would truly be a "turn it on and forget about it all day" solution is pushing me in that direction. There are a number of other recorders as well but these are the ones that seem the best suited for my use.
Second, a car navigation GPS. The Garmin 255 seems fine at $85, but I think I'd prefer the 4.3" screen of the 255W, which takes it to $115. But then I may as well get the 1350LMT, for $170, because it comes with lifetime map updates and a single map update would take the 255W up to that price. I don't see much reason to go beyond that, it just gives you bluetooth and FM transmitters and MP3 players, none of which I would use. The bean bag mount seems like a winner too. From the sounds of it, the traffic updates feature is best left turned off, since it is widely reported to be pretty much useless and it delivers ads to the unit.
First, a GPS track recorder for geotagging. Though the AMOD unit is widely used, I am not happy with it using AAA cells or that it only has a 12 to 15 hour battery life. I looked around and it seems like people who have tried both the AMOD and the QStarz prefer the QStarz recorder. It has a LiIon battery, 42 hour battery life, is crazy sensitive (can get a GPS lock indoors or on a plane). The downside is that it requires special software to get the data off of it. But OTOH it has some very cool features including a super cool KMZ Google Earth export, so I think I can live with the software limitation.
The combination of enough sensitivity and battery life that it would truly be a "turn it on and forget about it all day" solution is pushing me in that direction. There are a number of other recorders as well but these are the ones that seem the best suited for my use.
Second, a car navigation GPS. The Garmin 255 seems fine at $85, but I think I'd prefer the 4.3" screen of the 255W, which takes it to $115. But then I may as well get the 1350LMT, for $170, because it comes with lifetime map updates and a single map update would take the 255W up to that price. I don't see much reason to go beyond that, it just gives you bluetooth and FM transmitters and MP3 players, none of which I would use. The bean bag mount seems like a winner too. From the sounds of it, the traffic updates feature is best left turned off, since it is widely reported to be pretty much useless and it delivers ads to the unit.