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Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Yahoo Message Number: 15431
Hi Everyone,

We are about ready to buy either a Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700 and was wondering if any of you have good or bad comments on either unit. We are also wondering if either one of them display icons of campgrounds on the screen when you are traveling. Feedback would be appreciated. Our email is: jwfinn@...
Thanks,

Jack & Mary Lou Finnegan
West Melbourne, FL

04 33' Allure Seaside
05 GMC Canyon Crew Cab
31040

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15434
I saw a Magellan 700 at Sam's Club the other day, but couldn't figure out whether or not it would connect to the computer - and the sales guy wasn't much help. LOL So, I'd appreaciate seeing responses to Jack and Mary Lou's query on the board. Is the Magellan 700 a good unit? Or would we be better off getting the Garmin?

Thanks.

Carol

04 Inspire 51046

Quote
>

We are about ready to buy either a Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700 and > was wondering if any of you have good or bad comments on either > unit. We are also wondering if either one of them display icons of > campgrounds on the screen when you are traveling. Feedback would

be

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15441
I replied off line, but I will repaat it here since you are asking.

I have a Garmin GPS STreetpilot III that is portable, has it's own antenna, can be moved from the motorhome to the car and operates on 12volt or batteries. I think the new one works the same way, unless it is hardwired. I believe the new ones come with all the mapping software already loaded and you will need to update the memory chip or the unit when you update the maps etc. Ask them on the website and they will happily answer any questions.
The mapping for most all GPS units comes from one company - Navtech in Portland. My experience is that the maps are about 2 years behind. No matter what mapping or GPS program you use- including Microsoft Streets and Trips.

I absolutely don't know how I did without my Streetpilot before. I hated the Copilot even after several upgrades it was a waste of money. Can't speak for the newest and I don't want to try to read a laptop while I am driving. I am not familiar with Magellan.
Garmin is an excellent company to deal with and comes through with a lot of goodwill if parts or help is needed. I can't say enough about them.

If you have a real living human copilot ( as opposed to a dog) who likes using the laptop to navigate, you can use Microsoft Streets and Trips and get a less expensive GPS device that hooks up directly to the laptop and works with the software. Also Trailer Life has a new campground directory and trip guidance that works with a GPS. One consideration- all these software mapping and gps programs that have to be loaded on your computer take up ALOT of space to work, unless you can load just the region you need in a custom install.

No matter what GPS you prefer, it is smart to look over the route, because the GPS does not pick the best routes all the time for a motorhome since it does not know how wide, tall and long it is. But if you decide not to take the road it tells you to take, it will recalculate and still get you there automatically. It also does not know if there are detours, construction or accidents. but you can tell it to reroute around a detour as well.

Since Sasha(the poodle) does not navigate I really appreciate the vocal directions and mapping features of the Garmin unit. It helps to find addresses, restaurants, fuel stops, attractions, grocery and other stores and many many more places and routes you there.

Being solo, it is invaluable to me.

I hope that helps. Even though it is not the new model, it works basically the same way. Only easier now, if this is the one with the touchscreen.

I think Garmin is more expensive, but you often get what you pay for.
They have made these for a long time and for many marine and commercial applications.

Quote from: Carol

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15443
Quote from: Rosemary, Magna #5798
> > I replied off line, but I will repaat it here since you are asking.
Thanks, Rosemary. I was considering one that connects to the laptop because the speakers on the laptop will probably be louder than the speaker on the GPS unit. My Nextel phone came with a 60 day trial on TelNav GPS. It was awful...sent me off the interstate several times on roads that didn't exist when I was doing a straight shot from Junction City to Sacramento, so am again in the market for a good GPS unit. Thanks again for your input.

Carol

04 Inspirre 51046

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15444
Carol, I ahve never had a problem hearing the Garmin directions and they also have a warning tone and you can see the upcoming direction on the screen if you set it up to show you at the interval you want.

It is really slick.

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15452
I have to add one more comment. I had to come up with a way to 'batten down' this GPS unit to the dash on my 2000 Magna, which was not easy.
I had a light bulb moment and I got a piece of corner ceramic tile ( bathroom style) and put the permanent mount on it and stuck it down with marine "Hold it putty" to the dash above the monitor so it is not in the way and perfectly situated. It works like a charm and I don't think it looks bad. I used the "bean bag" mount in the car with a little bungie to keep it from moving in case of a fast stop on a short dash.

So consider where you could mount it and how you will make it stay in place if it is a portable unit if any kind. You can probably have something custom fabricated if you are fussy.

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15453
I have used Magellen Never-Lost in Rental cars, Street Atlas with Delorme GPS and now own the Garmin 2620.

All are very good and useful systems. However, I had to use external speakers on my laptop to hear the SA directions. The interface was not user friendly on the fly (at stoplights etc).

The Magellan is good, but most reviewers who have tried both recommend the Garmin 2610 or 2610 because of their additional capabilities.

The Garmin lets you set warning tones, has a clear loud voice for directions, recalculates the off route correction amazingly fast (as does the Magellan). The automatic shift of level of detail on the Garmin as you approach your next action step is very helpful. The ability to find the local WalMart or fuel stop where ever you are is great. Set up and use is almost intuitive.

Paid about $850 for the Garmin 2620 via internet two months ago.
Others have found even cheaper prices. Get the 2610 if you want to also use it on your Motorcycle. Card vs harddrive.

Dean

95 Magna #5280

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15454
At the CES show in Las Vegas in January I saw a new GPS made by Lowrance. Those of you with marine experience will recognize the name.
I bought their iWay 500C which has a beautiful display, built-in or external antenna and it has a speaker in the lighter plug which I can hear it just fine even without having to run it through the truck speakers.
More importantly, it has a 20 GB hard drive and has all of the U.S. roads in it with room left over for MP-3's. It does have a USB connection for hooking to the computer, but I think it is strictly for downloading MP-3's and data updates. Don't think it can be used with a laptop - for that matter, don't know if you need to.
As for mounting, it came with two mounts. One is a suction device like I have never seen before to connect it to my windshield. The other was a heavy weighted base of sorts that can be bent into various shapes to sit on a dash or a tray. Even though I have it sitting on the dash, you have no problems seeing the display.

BTW - it does show campgrounds.

It wasn't particularly cheap but I bought one anyway because of the features and I love it. Check it out. Here's the URL:
http://www.lowrance.com/Automotive/Products/iWAY500C.asp
I looked at the Garmin and the Magellan but this seemed to have more features. I have a Garmin that I use in my plane but this Lowrance is better.

Gerry

(One of those dreaded lurkers who has a 5th wheel now but will upgrade soon)

At 05:30 PM 3/8/2005, you wrote:

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15457
We looked at the 2620 and then found the iQue 3600 from Garmin.
It's a Palm Pilot that also does almost everything the 2620 does for about 1/2 the price. It has the exact same navigation software as the 2620 and performs all the functions of a Palm Pilot. The beauty of the iQue is that you can use it in the coach and the toad and a rental car and a... You can download your PC address book to the iQue and look up addresses. You can add waypoints from the iQue and they'll get uploaded to your PC. You can add a 1GB SD card to the iQue and upload the whole country so you have uploaded maps. upgrading the maps every year is easier than the 2620. What does it lack? It doesn't have a remote and it doesn't try to figure out where you are when it can't find the satellite. We bought an external antenna for the iQue and only lose the satellites in tunnels (its hard to get lost in a tunnel). Our Intrigue came with the Pioneer GPS unit and our iQue beats it hands down. You can get a really good price from Amazon.com.

Bob and Gloria

'05 Intigue LE #11872

Quote from: gizjr
Hi Everyone,

We are about ready to buy either a Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700 and > was wondering if any of you have good or bad comments on either > unit. We are also wondering if either one of them display icons

of

Quote
campgrounds on the screen when you are traveling. Feedback would

be

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15459
My wife got me a 2620 in May. We have been using a SP III for years, and go all the way back to the Garmin 40 (long time Garmin user).

The 2620 comes the City Navigator build in, she got tired of me whining that I forgot to load map files.

The big problem is that City Navigator sucks for use outside large cities. The rural roads are there, but are not consistant and only show up when zoomed down to .3 mile or closer, depending upon your detail setting.

Also, rest stops only show up on the 5 mile scale, also dependant on your detail setting, and if you don't set it right, you won't see them coming. Makes no sense to me.

I finally just loaded Metro Guide (discontinued) and am right back where I started, still forgetting to download detail maps. Need a larger CF card I guess.

The remote is cool, and the touch screen is also cool. The antenna is built in, but I use a external antenna for the MH.

Garmin is a top notch outfit, but they sort of let us down with the software built into the 2620, at least that is my opinion.

Also, they chose to use USB 1 for interface, not the newer, faster USB 2.0 ... and no infrared interface. The infrared is there for the remote, so why not use it to send over data ??? I must be missing something.

I wish I would try a Magellan unit just for fun sometime.

John

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15463
I don't know how much has been said about these, but I just bought the Garmin 2610. Garmin is wonderful (so is Magellan) and I talked to the tech a lot before purchase. The Garmin 2610 has the software on a CD the 2620 does not. SO
Quote from: Carol
Quote from: Rosemary, Magna[/quote

#5798"

Quote
>]
>

> I replied off line, but I will repaat it here since you are

asking.

Quote

Thanks, Rosemary. I was considering one that connects to the

laptop

Quote
because the speakers on the laptop will probably be louder than

the

Quote
speaker on the GPS unit. My Nextel phone came with a 60 day trial

on

Quote
TelNav GPS. It was awful...sent me off the interstate several

times

Quote
on roads that didn't exist when I was doing a straight shot from > Junction City to Sacramento, so am again in the market for a good

GPS

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15464
Quote :

"You do have to be careful because you need a serial connection for the output and many new laptops only have USB connections."

End quote.

If it's an issue, there are several workarounds for getting your Laptop to "see" a USB connection as a "serial" connection. Been there and done that. If anyone has questions PM me off line.

Michael

'01 Intrigue #11224

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15506
Quote from: Carol

> I saw a Magellan 700 at Sam's Club the other day, but couldn't figure > out whether or not it would connect to the computer - and the sales > guy wasn't much help. LOL So, I'd appreaciate seeing responses to > Jack and Mary Lou's query on the board. Is the Magellan 700 a good > unit? Or would we be better off getting the Garmin? >

Thanks.

Carol

04 Inspire 51046

>

> We are about ready to buy either a Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700 and > > was wondering if any of you have good or bad comments on either > > unit. We are also wondering if either one of them display icons of > > campgrounds on the screen when you are traveling. Feedback would > be

> apprecia. Our email is: jwfinn@b...
>

> Thanks,
>

> Jack & Mary Lou Finnegan
> West Melbourne, FL
>

> 04 33' Allure Seaside
> 05 GMC Canyon Crew Cab
> 31040
Garmin has more Points of Interests than Magellan.
Will come in handy when your looking for different stores or shops

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15507
[Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 262 At 2:50 PM +0000 3/12/05, HB wrote:

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15508
I have been using CoPilot since last summer and have been pleased with it.
I would still be using DeLorme if they had not changed the interface in 2000. I am very "directionally challenged" so I just don't drive without it.

Ree

2003 Allure 30852

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15509
Quote from: Bob Stephens
>

We looked at the 2620 and then found the iQue 3600 from Garmin.
It's a Palm Pilot that also does almost everything the 2620 does

for

Quote
about 1/2 the price. It has the exact same navigation software as > the 2620 and performs all the functions of a Palm Pilot.
Ditto Bob's remarks re: iQue 3600. Best buy ever. Use it in the Allure, move it to the toad, plan our routes on it, find eateries, stores very easily. It has an excellent "bean bag" mount that holds it steady on the dash board and a plug in power cord/speaker with a LOUD voice.

Joe & Carole

2004 Allure #31031
On our way to Moultrie

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15523
The only update I have seen for the Magellan 700 was firmware from
3.52 to 3.54 (which added some new features). It is free.

Can you tell me more about the $99 upgrade for the Magellan 700.

Herb

Allure 2002 #30690

Quote from: Dick Bradley
r />]
(referring to the Magellan 700

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15526
[Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 262 At 7:47 AM +0000 3/13/05, Herb & Melitta Strandberg wrote:

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15541
Joe,

Ditto on the iQ 3600. We love the features and have grown to turst is't routing because we use it locally to see what happens when you get "Off Route" that way when you are on the road. The only problem I have experienced is loosing signal sometimes. It likes to be close to the windshield. The new GPS 10 by Garmin is something we are looking at when we purchase a laptop later this year.
Wireless is the way to go.

Paul,

01' Intrigue, #11309

Quote from: Joe Pehoushek
>

[quote author=Bob Stephens"

>

> We looked at the 2620 and then found the iQue 3600 from Garmin.
> It's a Palm Pilot that also does almost everything the 2620 does > for

> about 1/2 the price. It has the exact same navigation software

as

Quote
the 2620 and performs all the functions of a Palm Pilot.

Ditto Bob's remarks re: iQue 3600. Best buy ever. Use it in the > Allure, move it to the toad, plan our routes on it, find eateries, > stores very easily. It has an excellent "bean bag" mount that

holds

Quote
it steady on the dash board and a plug in power cord/speaker with

a

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15542
We connect an external antenna to the GPS and put the antenna up near the windshield. Since the antenna is magnetic you can put it on your toad when navigating in big cities with tall buildings or in the woods with tall trees. The only lost signal with the external antenna is in tunnels.
Bob

'05 Intrigue LE #11872

Quote from: pcummings4
Joe,

Ditto on the iQ 3600. We love the features and have grown to

turst

Quote
is't routing because we use it locally to see what happens when

you

Quote
get "Off Route" that way when you are on the road. The only > problem I have experienced is loosing signal sometimes. It likes

to

Quote
be close to the windshield. The new GPS 10 by Garmin is something > we are looking at when we purchase a laptop later this year.
Wireless is the way to go.

Paul,

01' Intrigue, #11309

[quote author=Joe Pehoushek"

>
>

[quote author=Bob Stephens"
>]
> >

> > We looked at the 2620 and then found the iQue 3600 from

Garmin.

Quote
> It's a Palm Pilot that also does almost everything the 2620

does

Quote
for

> > about 1/2 the price. It has the exact same navigation

software

Quote
as

> > the 2620 and performs all the functions of a Palm Pilot.
>

> Ditto Bob's remarks re: iQue 3600. Best buy ever. Use it in the > > Allure, move it to the toad, plan our routes on it, find

eateries,

Quote
stores very easily. It has an excellent "bean bag" mount that > holds

> it steady on the dash board and a plug in power cord/speaker

with

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15572
Bob,

Thanks for the suggestion. I had looked at that plug in antenna too. Are you using Garmin's antenna?

Paul

01' Intrigue, #11309

Quote from: Bob Stephens
>

We connect an external antenna to the GPS and put the antenna up > near the windshield. Since the antenna is magnetic you can put it > on your toad when navigating in big cities with tall buildings or

in

Quote
the woods with tall trees. The only lost signal with the external > antenna is in tunnels.

Bob

'05 Intrigue LE #11872

[quote author=pcummings4"

>

> Joe,
>

> Ditto on the iQ 3600. We love the features and have grown to > turst

> is't routing because we use it locally to see what happens when > you

> get "Off Route" that way when you are on the road. The only > > problem I have experienced is loosing signal sometimes. It

likes

Quote
to

> be close to the windshield. The new GPS 10 by Garmin is

something

Quote
we are looking at when we purchase a laptop later this year.
> Wireless is the way to go.
>

> Paul,

> 01' Intrigue, #11309
>
>
>

[quote author=Joe Pehoushek"
>]
> >
> >

[quote author=Bob Stephens"
> >]
> > >

> > > We looked at the 2620 and then found the iQue 3600 from > Garmin.

> > > It's a Palm Pilot that also does almost everything the 2620 > does
> > for

> > > about 1/2 the price. It has the exact same navigation > software
> as

> > > the 2620 and performs all the functions of a Palm Pilot.
> >

> > Ditto Bob's remarks re: iQue 3600. Best buy ever. Use it in

the

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15573
I'm not using Garmin's antenna, I'm using a Gilsson antenna I bought from www.gpsgeek.com. It's only $20 (rumors of a price increase are rampant) and it works great. The folks on the iQue forum at
www.pdastreet.com recommended it. You can get the cable in 3, 9, or 16 foot lengths.
Bob

'05 Intrigue LE #11872

Quote from: pcummings4
Bob,

Thanks for the suggestion. I had looked at that plug in antenna > too. Are you using Garmin's antenna? >

Paul

01' Intrigue, #11309

[quote author=Bob Stephens"

>

> We connect an external antenna to the GPS and put the antenna up > > near the windshield. Since the antenna is magnetic you can put

it

Quote
on your toad when navigating in big cities with tall buildings

or

Quote
in

> the woods with tall trees. The only lost signal with the

external

Quote
antenna is in tunnels.
>
> Bob

> '05 Intrigue LE #11872
>
>
>
>
>

[quote author=pcummings4"
>]
> >

> > Joe,
> >

> > Ditto on the iQ 3600. We love the features and have grown to > > turst

> > is't routing because we use it locally to see what happens

when

Quote
you

> > get "Off Route" that way when you are on the road. The only > > > problem I have experienced is loosing signal sometimes. It > likes
> to

> > be close to the windshield. The new GPS 10 by Garmin is > something

> > we are looking at when we purchase a laptop later this year.
> > Wireless is the way to go.
> >

> > Paul,

> > 01' Intrigue, #11309
> >
> >
> >

[quote author=Joe Pehoushek"
> >]
> > >
> > >

[quote author=Bob Stephens"
> > >]
> > > >

> > > > We looked at the 2620 and then found the iQue 3600 from > > Garmin.

> > > > It's a Palm Pilot that also does almost everything the

2620

Quote
does
> > > for

> > > > about 1/2 the price. It has the exact same navigation > > software
> > as

> > > > the 2620 and performs all the functions of a Palm Pilot.
> > >

> > > Ditto Bob's remarks re: iQue 3600. Best buy ever. Use it in > the

> > > Allure, move it to the toad, plan our routes on it, find > > eateries,

> > > stores very easily. It has an excellent "bean bag" mount

that

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15575
Bob,

Many thanks for the tip. Garmin wants $79. Have you looked at Garmin's GPS 10, its wireless and connects with Bluetooth to laptops? We want to purchase a laptop for a larger display and let my better half navigate.
We are getting ready for Perry, Ga trip this week. and looking forward to shopping those FMCA vendors.
Paul

01' Intrigue, #11309

Re: Don't Ignore the Garmin iQue 3600

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15579
No we haven't looked at GPS 10. We currently have three GPS's; an eTrex for hiking, fishing, etc; the iQue for around town, etc; and the Pioneer unit that came in the coach. I probably wouldn't have ordered the Pioneer but it seems to work ok from campground to campground. I check its routes against the iQue and make sure it doesn't route us on city streets. We've used the eTrex with our laptop and with a Palm Pilot and they all have their pluses and minuses.
Bob

'05 Intrigue LE #11872

Quote from: pcummings6

Bob,

Many thanks for the tip. Garmin wants $79. Have you looked at

Garmin's

Quote
GPS 10, its wireless and connects with Bluetooth to laptops? We

want to

Quote
purchase a laptop for a larger display and let my better half

navigate.

Quote
>

We are getting ready for Perry, Ga trip this week. and looking

forward to

Quote
shopping those FMCA vendors.

Paul

01' Intrigue, #11309

Re: Opions GPS Systems - Garmin 2620 or Magellan 700

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 15827
GPS Update

Thanks to all who replied to our message below. We looked at them all and here's what I found.

Garmin 2620

Very nice but small. Has a hard drive so you don't have to have compact flash cards or CD's. Has to be plugged into AC or DC to work.
No battery.

Garmin 2610

Very nice but small. No hard drive so you have to buy a bunch of memory. Can operate on a batteries ( good choice and truly portable )

Cobra

Nice but to new in the game to buy one

Magellan 700

Vey nice and has a hard drive. Not quite as user friendly as the rest.

Lowrance Iway 500C

The one we purchased

Nice big screen and very user friendly. Has hard drive so no need for extra memory. Also has MP3 player capability but won't use it.
Disadvantage is the mount is kinda clumbsy and the AC power supply is large. We are very happy with the unit. Thanks to all that responeded to our message below.

By the way they all use the Navteq mapping software and most show campgrounds.

Jack & Mary Lou Finnegan
West Melbourne, FL
04 33' Allure Seaside
05 Canyon Crew cab toad
CC# 31040

Quote from: gizjr