[Rhodes22-list] Don't Know Squat

[Bill Effros]

Rummy,

I opted for the built-in Toyota GPS on my new car because it came with 
many other features that I couldn't get any other way.

Prior to that I had used a Delorme computer program on a laptop to test 
the concept.  The Delorme program, maps, and GPS receiver together cost 
less than $100.

I find the Delorme far more useful for route planning, and I still go to 
it first if I have time to plot my route before entering the car when 
going to unfamiliar places.  I then program the Toyota to follow the 
route I have already selected.

I also use the Delorme for chart plotting in local waters, and would 
highly recommend this to everyone.  I have tried a number of the chart 
plotting programs, and have been completely underwhelmed by the raster 
electronic charts.   The vector charts have clear cut advantages over 
paper charts, but in local waters I would highly recommend building your 
own charts using the Delorme program and a laptop.

Of course, all of the GPS systems really use lat/long coordinates 
derived from gps signals--including the street mapping programs.  It is 
possible to change the options on the Delorme program so that it 
continually shows lat/long.  These will be just as accurate when your 
cursor is over water.

I have been building the waypoint and warning system for my local waters 
into my laptop Delorme system for several years.   This forces me to 
take navigation readings continually to update my charts, and is 
extremely useful when anything is out of place.  (Around here buoys move 
in storms--moorings drag--barges break loose...if you are using any of 
these things  as navigational aids it is useful to know that the marked 
waterway is now where you happen to know the rocks used to be.  Chances 
are the rocks are still in the same place and the markings have somehow 
moved.)

I am building in audible alarms like "Hey! Stupid! You're too close to 
that Rock!" -- I can program in my own phrases and select the loudness.

The system will track my movement, and show me my speed at every marking.

Computer mapping is one of the most difficult jobs for computers.  There 
are too many possible options, like a chess game, and the computer 
finally just guesses which route is best.  If your town changed the 
direction of a one-way street after the computer was programmed, it has 
no way of knowing.  It doesn't know which roads are under construction.  
etc.  Even if it did, it still can't sort through the routing 
possibilities as well as you can do it in your head.

This is also true for chart plotters.  They can't see shifting sandbars, 
re-dredged channel changes, shipwrecks that didn't exist when the 
plotter was programmed etc.  Some of the earlier ones would plot your 
course right over an island if it was in the way of a straight line to 
your destination.

The Toyota GPS is more flexible than the earlier Delorme.  I find it 
quite useful, especially for telling me upcoming street names before I 
get to them.  Also it constantly recalculates the route, so when I don't 
follow its directions I can turn it off for the part I know, and back on 
when I get to the part I don't already know.  The Toyota has a 6 or 8 
inch screen--something like that--I use the Delorme on a 17 to 22 inch 
screen, and I find the larger screens much more useful because I can 
more easily see far more information.

It is truly an incredible tool that you can use better the better you 
understand the basics of navigation. 

Bill Effros

R22RumRunner at aol.com wrote:
> Bill,
> Just curious, what kind of GPS do you have in your car? I just purchased  the 
> Garmin C550 Streetpilot for my truck and absolutely love it. That being  
> said, even though it is extremely accurate with directions, you can't rely on it  
> 100% of the time. I've tested it by setting a course for a place I know I'm  
> going and many times I know a quicker route than the one the GPS wants me to  
> take.
>  
> Rummy
>
>
>
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