What a good, but cheaper navaigation unit that I can simply mount to the dash? I would need to have voice controlls as well as the ability to reset itself when I dont listen the first time.

Hopefully less then a grand, but Im interested in hearing about anything close to that.

Thanks, Kevin

 

I have the Magellan RoadMate 800 and quite pleased with the size as well as the features.

Here's a good review regarding screen readability:
gpsinformation.us/joe/gpscompare/gpscarnavscreencompare.html

gpscity allows you to compare units side x side.

 

I like the little Mag Roadmate 300. It doesn't respond to voice, but it talks. Touch screen is large enough. I don't care for entering addresses on the fly, easy to put them in with your computer, but for on the road it is hard to get the syntax exactly the way they want it.
Chris

 

That Mag 300 looks like a good choice. Where do you have yuor antenna mounted? What exactly is a syntax? Are you able to hardwire this so you wont have to plug it into your lighter.

Anyone else using of of these Magellan Roadmate 300s?

 

I also have the Mag 300, its great. Mine has the attached antenna, but if you wanted a corded antenna for the roof its like 90 bucks. I am also interested in hard wiring it.

 

I have a garman Quest and love it. It is small and i can put in my pocket when i go to a new fishing hole or into a new hunting spot. I got mine off of ebay for pretty cheap

 

I like the Garmin GPS376C



GPSNOW.com has it for $800 to your door.

 

Hell ya it comes with an optional depth sounder for those pesky pavement fish around structure. J/k

that is cool how it has a weather radar though. I wish mine was campatible with that

 

Call around to the Circuit City Stores in your area and see if they have any of the Garmin IQue M5 PDA with built in GPS system. It is an amazing full featured Garmin GPS navigation witrh voice prompts, plus all the normal PDA functions. Normal retail is $740ish , BUT they are clearancing them for only $399. I got the last one with in 100 miles of my locale, but you could get lucky too.

Comes complete with auto cradle with speaker, computer dock and many other items...

Click this link for full specs.

http://www.garmin.com/products/iQueM5

 

Missed your post, sorry. The stock antenna works just fine on the dash, or even in your lap while playing with it. The external antenna is on e-bay for 20 bucks. I got one, makes it a little faster. You could hard wire it in, I've been thinking of it, but my wife likes to borrow it sometimes. Her car has navigation, but she also drives a little Tracker and she likes to have the Mag with her on her trips into strange areas. She does a lot of photography and the Mag comes in handy on backroads.

On the syntax, if you load destinations into your unit from your computer, it is a breeze. For example, I have all the Fry's electronics, and Costco stores in California preloaded. If I'm in a strange town and need one of those, no problem. I also have all friends, relatives, etc. Preloaded in my address book. That takes a little while but is well worth it.

But the other day, looking for a new street address, no luck at all. It was in the computer but not on the Magellan. I think that is because when you buy one and they give you a preloaded map, that map is older.

Syntax can be a problem. Looking for 123 Tenth Street West in Lancaster.
Could be West Tenth Street, Tenth Avenue West, 10th Street West, West 10th Street, etc.
So on the fly is sometimes a pain.
This seems to apply to all of them I've used.
Chris

 

Mag 300 is fantastic! Very easy to use - its the same system you find in Hertz rental cars. Male/female voice choices. I got mine remanufactured from eBay. Two years later - great!