ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 265 guests, and 15 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 2 of 2 1 2
#66786 06/18/06 01:34 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,438
Member
A friend and I took his Acura MDX with it's built in nav system to Santa Barbara... While I just simply had it on, following along, it stubbornly insisted I was attempting to drive into the ocean when I pulled onto Stearns Wharf to park, and continually pleaded with me to make a U turn!

For the greater part, I'm with Mark (e57) on this... Thomas Guides will get you to 98% of the places you're looking for in CA. Newer developments are the only place they seem to fall short on (At least in the Orange Co editions) Nav systems are a novelty to me until they come down in price

#66787 06/18/06 02:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 466
Likes: 1
J
Member
If you use a laptop in your truck you may want to try MS Streets and Trips. The maps seem to be pretty good, but I have not spent much time with it.

You can add pushpins to locate your customers.

You can get a version with a GPS locater that plugs in to your laptop. About $125, or less on sale. The version without the GPS hardware is <$40.

#66788 06/18/06 02:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
I
Moderator
Quote
You can add pushpins to locate your customers.

Doesn't that hurt the display? [Linked Image]


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
#66789 06/18/06 02:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 94
T
tkb Offline
Member
I got the Garmin c550 last week after a frustrating excursion accross the state and accross Boston.

The c550 is a very good GPS. It tells you the street name and when to turn.
Like Capt Al said it wants to take you on the highway most of the time.
When I deviate from its planed route, it recalculates.

I think it will be a good time saver between service calls. As long as our dispacher can give us the correct address.

#66790 06/18/06 03:41 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
Member
I used to be able to get you anywhere in Boston before the Big Dig.... But if I go home I just ask my Mom, a Boston Cabbie for 20+ years, GPS does not know traffic, she does.


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
#66791 06/18/06 04:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
You know, just yesterday I had to do some work on a bus shelter. Last week, it was at the local University. Then, there are the lights I maintain at an apartment complex....

"Street addresses" are pretty useless for those sorts of jobs, so there just might be a place for GPS identifications. I wouldn't toss out themap, yet, though!

#66792 06/18/06 06:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 94
T
tkb Offline
Member
Maps are not very good in Boston without the street signs.

I thought it was a state or federal law that required street signs for the emergency 911 response system.

Maybe they are getting stolen for scrap??

#66793 06/18/06 08:48 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 92
P
Member
tkb,
In Boston, the same bureaucrats who invented the "Big Dig" decided that making the stop signs out of copper would be a good idea because it is non-magnetic and does not rust.
~Peter

#66794 06/18/06 11:05 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 599
N
Member
I just got back from a trip through Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia. When I rented the car I got the optional GPS system. It was basically a Nextel phone with GPS so I have no idea what it's worth. Anyway it worked great. One thing I really liked was when driving down a highway or road I have never been on before, in the dark and no street signs, it tells you exactly where to turn. I had it for 4 days and had no problems. Still, the $800.00+ you guys were talking about is too rich for my blood. If it were $100-200 I would jump on it.

#66795 06/19/06 02:11 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Member
In my work as a Faultsman, I used to be sent to the far-flung areas of our PoCo district.
After a while you would get used to the different areas road names and what have you.
Having said that, I had a lap-top with Line-CAD software on it, GPS built into a TUMONZ mapping system and a tracker installed in the Faults truck that told the Control room where I was at any given time.
Line-CAD used to instantly tell you where the fuses/transformer/pole was, as it had all been mapped out in 2001 and is updated every day as to changes in our Network.
As opposed to pure Navigation software, this used to tell you a route based on a straight line.
Never once did it send me on a wild goose chase.
Biggest problem here in New Zealand has been getting proper maps, TUMONZ solved all of that .
I also agree with Hal, nothing can substitute good map reading skills.
As a Rotary-Wing pilot, I'd sooner trust my own instincts, rather than anything Electronic, being up in the air. [Linked Image]

Page 2 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5