Tom Tom GPS Devices

[handieman]

Does anyone know if the updated maps from Tom Tom include the South side of the villages yet?
Is anyone using a GPS that has good coverage of the South side?
Thanx for your help. You can post here or email me @ ************************
Handie

[BobKat1]

This doesn't answer your question, but raises another one. I just updated the maps on my Garmin and was wondering the same thing.

Is there an address (rec center, business etc.) that I could enter into my Garmin to see if your question is answed Garmin-wise?

[Golf-Tinker]

Tom-Tom employs maps from the same firm that does Google maps. Google covers much of the south-eastern and central portions south of 466. I have not yet ordered a new map from Tom-Tom. Waiting for more coverage, but by then I won't need it as I'll know my way around the cart paths and tunnels. Tom-tom works fine once we leave The Villages "bubble," an infrequent event.

[Golf-Tinker]

Tom-Tom employs maps from the same firm that does Google maps. Google covers much of the south-eastern and central portions south of 466. I have not yet ordered a new map from Tom-Tom. Waiting for more coverage, but by then I won't need it as I'll know my way around the cart paths and tunnels. Tom-tom works fine once we leave The Villages "bubble," an infrequent event.

[NJblue]

Tom-Tom employs maps from the same firm that does Google maps. Google covers much of the south-eastern and central portions south of 466. I have not yet ordered a new map from Tom-Tom. Waiting for more coverage, but by then I won't need it as I'll know my way around the cart paths and tunnels. Tom-tom works fine once we leave The Villages "bubble," an infrequent event.

Some things are acting very strangely with Google Maps. Several months ago I used Google Maps and it included all of the roads that I am familiar with north of 466A. Now, however, when I look at that area with Google maps it seems to have reverted to an old database from several years ago with hardly any roads between 466 and 466A included. This has less information than was given a year ago. Does anyone have an explanation?

[handieman]

This doesn't answer your question, but raises another one. I just updated the maps on my Garmin and was wondering the same thing.

Is there an address (rec center, business etc.) that I could enter into my Garmin to see if your question is answed Garmin-wise?
Try 293 Emmalee Place The Villages 32162
Handie

[BobKat1]

Try 293 Emmalee Place The Villages 32162
Handie

Thanks, that address came up (if I left now, I'd be there at 4:15 AM:)).

I downloaded the 2009 update two weeks ago.

[handieman]

Thanks, that address came up (if I left now, I'd be there at 4:15 AM:)).

I downloaded the 2009 update two weeks ago.

Thank you Bob
Handie

[Hawkwind]

Does anyone know if the updated maps from Tom Tom include the South side of the villages yet?
Is anyone using a GPS that has good coverage of the South side?
Thanx for your help. You can post here or email me @ ************************
Handie

Handie
I have a garmin Nuvi 750 (now out of production) that I updated to the latest maps back in about June. It covers a lot of the roads on the south end. It did not cover the newer side streets over in St Charles.

I would give you some examples but I am in the process of upgrading the computer from Vista to Windows 7 Pro and am doing a total rebuild of the system. I have the important stuff like e-mail and internet moved over and now will be working on the Garmin stuff. Once the Garmin Map Source is loaded and updated I can give you some street names.

Most of the GPS manufactures get their maps from NavTeq as does Map Quest. Map Quest came out with an update to their on line maps and a few months later Garmin came out with theirs. At that time the south side was covered.

Just grabbed the GPS and entered in the address and you are 834.6 miles from here (as the crow flies). You are on the latest map that I have in the Garmin.

[golfnut]

Handie, I have a 2 year old Garmin Nuvi (never updated the maps) that has your address in it, you are 12 minutes away......GN

[Barefoot]

I dropped our last GPS, a Garmin, and sadly, the screen went black. I guess they're rather delicate creatures.

I'm planning to buy Fireboy a replacement GPS for his birthday. Could anyone make a suggestion ..... I'm wondering the best model to buy, and the best place in TV to purchase one

[jblum8156]

I have a Magellan Maestro that I updated in June. It has most of TV but not Hemingway, where I live. Google did have Hemingway but, as someone noted above. Google seems to have reverted to an older map and now it doesn't know where I am. Magellan thinks my house is in the middle of 466A.

[BobKat1]

I dropped our last GPS, a Garmin, and sadly, the screen went black. I guess they're rather delicate creatures.

I'm planning to buy Fireboy a replacement GPS for his birthday. Could anyone make a suggestion ..... I'm wondering the best model to buy, and the best place in TV to purchase one

Amazon.com has a lot of good information on their site for choosing a brand/model. They list the features and price of each brand, by model. I found their prices (many with free shipping) to be lower than most of the retail stores. Their customer service is good too.

Can't really recommend one brand over another as all of the major names (Garmin, Tom Tom and Magellan) are good.

[Hawkwind]

I dropped our last GPS, a Garmin, and sadly, the screen went black. I guess they're rather delicate creatures.

I'm planning to buy Fireboy a replacement GPS for his birthday. Could anyone make a suggestion ..... I'm wondering the best model to buy, and the best place in TV to purchase one

Bearfoot
Here is a link to a site for information regarding a GPS. http://gpsinformation.net/ Now this site has more information that one can read and can be overwhelming. The first question you need to ask yourself is what are you going to use the device for. Hiking, walking, navigation in the car, or out of country travel. A hiking GPS can be used for travel but not easily and the same is true for a navigation type unit for walking.

As for what manufacturer to chose that is like asking which is better Ford or Chevy. I chose Garmin for my first hand held unit and have stuck with them. Personal choice here and friends have had just as good luck with the other brands. For sure I would stick with one of the major players such as Magellan, TomTom or Garmin. You will also want to check on the companies map upgrade policy after the first year or first upgrade. You will want to be able to upgrade two years from now and not have to pay an arm and a leg for it.

There so many features that you can get in the current models it is overwhelming. The models change and become out dated in a few years. My current navigational unit was just released when I bought it in December of 2007 and it has already been discontinued. I am still able to update the maps so it is still usable.

As far as where to purchase on I would look at the advertisers on the web site that I listed above. You can find sources there that are a lot cheaper than someone like Best Buy.

Good luck

[punkpup]

As far as where to purchase on I would look at the advertisers on the web site that I listed above. You can find sources there that are a lot cheaper than someone like Best Buy.

Good luck

Although I agree with you about price shopping on the web I have several colleagues from work who purchased extended warranties with their GPS units at Best Buy and they are really glad they did! One unit was dropped and the screen died as a result; no problem, Best Buy replaced it with a new unit. Another unit wouldn't power up, again Best Buy replaced it with a new unit. Another time the charger port broke and again they replaced the unit. My friend Donna has had her GPS replaced 3 times by Best Buy. (We use our GPS devices everyday, all day for work.)

I personally use VZNavigator which is a Verizon application loaded onto my wireless phone. It costs me $9.99 a month but I don't have to worry about map or program updates.... they are included.

[Number 6]

The 2009 Magellan update covers most of the streets south of 466.

[Barefoot]

Although I agree with you about price shopping on the web I have several colleagues from work who purchased extended warranties with their GPS units at Best Buy and they are really glad they did! One unit was dropped and the screen died as a result; no problem, Best Buy replaced it with a new unit. Another unit wouldn't power up, again Best Buy replaced it with a new unit. Another time the charger port broke and again they replaced the unit. My friend Donna has had her GPS replaced 3 times by Best Buy. (We use our GPS devices everyday, all day for work.)

Good information Punkpup. When we dropped our GPS and the screen went black, we were out of luck. The unit was two months old. So I think I will go with Best Buy and their extended warranty since I tend to have dropsies.

Thanks to Hawkwind and Bobkat for providing sites which I'm sure will help with my "gps education".

[Tweety Bird]

We have been using Garmin GPS units exclusively. Through our Garmin user account we constantly send map corrections to Garmin. Many of the map updates that have been made came courtesy of Village Kart Aide.

The original maps were loaded with errors. The corrections we have sent in have been made. The ones that drove us crazy were the misspelled street names. The maps that showed a street as a through street but was actually a dead end. I mean no outlet since there is only one dead end street in The Villages have not been updated yet.

Also not all the golf courses have been updated as of the latest update, even though we send them in. That would really be helpful for the Village newbies.

If you are considering purchasing a GPS unit I have used them all and the Garmin is the easiest to use.

WONDERFUL! We will be moving to TV in January and will be buying a GPS device. I've read many posts here and it's very helpful.