GPS deals: Garmin eTrex $95.99, Magellan 315 $129.99 (both include shipping) with $20 off at dsports.com

[cmv]

dsports.com

Magellan 315 for $129.99 shipped ($149.99 - $20 off coupon)
Garmin eTrex $99.99 shipped ($119.99 - $20 off coupon)
New:
Garmin eTrex $95.99 shipped - $119.99 * .8 (20% off) = $95.99 shipped.

Note that some of the $20 off coupons have free shipping, some don't - you get to play around and figure out which ones do have free shipping.

Both units support NMEA (non-proprietary standard for outputting GPS data). I'm leaning towards the Magellan as it has some nicer features but the eTrex is waterproof (or water resistant). I think the Magellan is also no longer manufactured but that doesn't matter to me... One point I read about was that the eTrex takes a bunch of clicks to get to the current location status while the Magellan can wakeup on the location screen.

NEW: Garmin can be had for $95.99 instead of $99.99. e.dog found a 20% off coupon (instead of $20 off) that had free shipping! Nice find e.dog.

 

[fishy101]

only if I have $100 to spare...cool toys tho.

 

[cmv]

Yeah, these things are pretty damn cool. I'm just hoping someone finds a better deal.

The Magellan will be mine .

 

[southbound]

I had the Magellan 315 and returned it for it being a pain to get a good fix on the satalites.

 

[db]

Garmin is better than Magellan. This from a Magellan employee.

 

[cmv]

Ok, good to have a consensus there, hehe... Guess I'm going Garmin.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[edog]

One coupon is 20% off and free shipping making the Germin 95.99 shipped.

 

[cmv]

Good find. I almost ordered last night! I'll change the topic header too.

 

[lepper boy]

Can you hook up an external antenna to the Garmin??
lep

 

[cmv]

I don't think so . I was looking for this info too last night. I was searching eBaay for the Garmin 12xl and I came up external antennas. Would be nice for in the car (where I plan on using my GPS unit most of the time).

I'll go dig around garmin.com for a bit but I think the answer is no. I wonder how hard it would be though to hack it in. Might have problems with it being water proof then, hehe...

 

[cmv]

The Garmin.com site has Antenna: Internal and nothing else in the manual for the eTrex. I'm pretty sure you can only use internal unless you hack it up a bit.

Garmin GPS 12xl at Amazon.com going for $199.99. Unfortunately dsports.com doesn't carry it. So for twice the price you could get the ability to have an external antenna. I want one but I think I'll settle for the eTrex for now.

dsports.com does have a bunch of other goodies for Garmin GPS units (like PC<->GPS unit cables, etc) so you might want to pick up one of those too. I think I'm going to try to make my own - only hard part might be finding a proper plug for the connect to the GPS unit.

 

[barebottoms]

If you want Mapping on your GPS, Amazon Has the eMap for $179.94 before shipping, coupon and if you're in WA tax.

 

[barebottoms]

cmv: I saw the Garmin cables at Frys for about $30 to $40. If you're making your own, as I remember the connectors, they are standard.

 

[cmv]

barebottoms: cool, thanks for the info. I wish we had a Frys here in Chicago along with a Staples. I know Frys has a bad rep sometimes but hey, it still would be nice.

eMap at garmin.com

 

[pete777]

wich map sofware can i use with the etrex on my iopener

 

[pete777]

which map software can i use

 

[cmv]

pete777: are you using Windows or Linux/FreeBSD/whatever? If you're using a *nix I can point out some cool looking stuff (just search on freshmeat.net for &quot;gps&quot; and see Hugo, gps3d, etc.). For Windows catch the thread on the other GPS deal that was on here about a week or two ago. They had some pointers to free after rebate software and just plain good software at good price (like $30 bones).

Ah, here it is: SKYMAP 2000 GPS - PCMCIA V1.0 SINGLE 1-DOC $75 rebate. Lots of good info in that thread.

 

[cmv]

*nix software:

gps3d - for plotting it appears, not while driving or anything.

Hugo - use while driving to find location on a map.

freshmeat search for &quot;gps&quot;

I want to use an app like one of these plus a database (probably MySQL, can get it for Windows too) to store a history. This stuff looks like a lot of fun.

I now regret not picking up an iopener because it looks like that would be the easiest way to put a PC in the car. I might just toss my cyrix p120+ or something a little less power hungry in the trunk with a power invertor but I still would have to figure out display ...

Oh, just wanted to add, I want a PC in the car anyway, for MP3, GPS, etc... not just this, hehe.

 

[pete777]

thank you cmv
i use windows on the iopener

 

[barebottoms]

Inverter.. Yuckie.. Make this:



DC to DC Computer Power supply

The secret to getting the free chokes, is to not do both of them in the same order.

 

[cmv]

Are you using one of these barebottoms? I've read accounts that talked about these type of things bumping out at low engine RPM (very very dependent on car of course but mine is a stick that does happen to drop to low RPM on occasion). This is of course much nicer than an intervtor! I'd try one of these first as I can't remember which one had problems.

Are iOpeners still avalialbe at circuit city without the TOS?

 

[barebottoms]

I think they are $299 at CompUSA for the I-open 2000. Not sure about the TOS any more. I've built one for my on going project. I still think the I-Opener is way under Power. So I haven't tested it yet. But in theory, the DC to DC converter is a much more efficient design than an Inverter. Notice &quot;Why I hate Inverters&quot; Link at the top of the page?

As for Low RPM, that shouldn't be too much of a problem for what I want to do. I'm going to put in a small ups, so I can suspend the computer without ever shutting it down. Its going to be Linux based with the OS compressed on Flash, expanded to run in RAM.

 

[cmv]

Yeah, I know it is under powered but it ain't all that bad for what I want. MP3/GPS/whatever should be fine. My main system was a Cyrix P120+ for some time, hehe... Of course then it was 366@550, now 566@850, but it was a slow change from the P120 to the 366@550.

That sounds nice. Is there a forum for this stuff? I saw one GPS forum I think, have to search around. How are you going to do a 12v UPS? Are you going to hookup your GPS unit too? Are you going to have a HD in there too to hold music?

The original iopener looks to be selling on ebaaay/yahoo auctions for ~ 200, sometimes modded slightly. I dunno what my alternatives are.

 

[cmv]

I read his page about inverters. I agree they suck. It looks like his designs are very advanced and I'd go with one of them. Have you found the parts you need yet?

I went ahead and ordered the eTrex at $95.99. Thanks to e.dog for pointing out that price. Every little bit helps!

pete777: no problem. Let us know how it works out.

 

[randypj]

cmv--Maximum PC had an article on building a pc based mp3 player for your car....prolly 4 or 5 months ago. Expensive. I've come to the conclusion that, rather than building, I'd just go with a cheap, used, Toshiba clone laptop. One like my Dad sold on The Bay a few months ago for ~$250. I think it was a P120. More utility and no hassle. His laptop ran on 12v. I'm thinking the older ones did. By older, I mean before Cardbus, 1x cd (amazing that it ripped perfect DAE, tho), no USB, Win98 really stretched it. JMO.
--Randy