MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Recently Radio Shack was part of Black Friday, but as it turns out they offered some great prices beyond that and I guess we hit another price-drop in GPS tech. If you don't have a very specific model you're looking for, this is a pretty good time to buy one.
When I was out on the salt flats as part of the Macregor crew, I noticed Mac using a GPS frequently... especially since the flats are so vast, it's the obvious way to keep track of where we were filming every day.
For some reason I always thought that GPS wasn't for me. I had a lot of misconceptions about them... and when some of my friends saw my new GPS over the weekend, their questions made me realize that MOST people are ignorant about GPS... I wasn't the only one.
Let me tell you... a GPS is about the coolest thing I own right now, and the best part? It was only $149 from Radio Shack! I got the Mio C320. This is not an endorsement of that particular GPS, but I am totally thrilled with it, especially at the price.
GPS FACTS and misconceptions:
1) Despite how it's going to sound when you read my points below... GPS is simple... simple enough for your mom... and WOW! is it ever helpful! After having one for just 3 days I know I'll never be without one again.
2) A GPS works off of the global positioning satellites. Aside from traffic info, there is nothing complex to program, no cities to select or "buy", and no information you have to provide aside from your own preference on how you want the screen to look and the sounds you want to hear from it. You buy it, stick it on your dash, and it works... FREE and DONE. It works where ever you go... anywhere in the world!
3) With the exception of optional traffic information! A GPS doesn't automatically provide traffic information unless you buy a model that specifically says it has a TMC receiver built in or as part of the package. Then to get updates on traffic conditions you must pay for this service unless you bought a high-end model that includes life-time subscription as part of the price. I've also seen "one free year" as part of some promotions.
4) Not all GPS systems are the same! They vary in several aspects of performance regardless of how pretty they are! While I really wanted a Navigon system because the screen looks like your actual driver's view, most reviews I've read say that the speed of the system is slow. That's all I needed to hear... I've read some reviews on various GPS systems where people say that the system is slow and sometimes you miss the turn it's about to tell you to take... and then that brings up the next issue...
5) Route Recalculation is a feature of all GPS systems, but this also varies some from each model and manufacturer. This comes into play if you miss an exit or turn for some reason... or if you choose to deviate from the suggested course. You want a GPS that doesn't struggle with modifying directions based on your choices to avoid a building traffic situation... or if you leave the road searching for dinner.
6) The actual signal receiving capability varies between some manufacturers! Some units are better at getting a signal then others! Check out the reviews based on what you want to spend. I read reviews on cnet.com, circuitcity.com, gpslodge.com, and where ever google took me based on model names.
7) Generally speaking... GARMIN is the safest/best brand. They are universally accepted as the defining GPS, but they are also some of the most expensive across the board. What this means is that for a given price-range, you get fewer extra features with a Garmin, but you can be sure that the unit is pretty good at being a GPS... and the interface is so simple your grandma could use it.
The reason I got the Mio, was because it's one of the fastest performing GPS units at the price... meaning when it says "turn left in 300 feet" it means it... if the thing says "turn left now" you turn left now. I was on an all-day shoot yesterday where we changed locations 4 times. On one of the changes I wasn't sure of the best way to get to the next stop, and I was following the guy in front of me... I had the GPS on the dash but I wasn't using the route feature. Long story short we got separated at a light and by the time I got to where I saw him turn down the road, I'd lost him... so in a matter of about 5 seconds I had the address up on the screen and hit "route to" and that was it... I arrived at the same time as everybody else as I took a bunch of streets that I didn't know... I was just driving and trusting the GPS.
I know people see me driving with this giant smile the entire time and wish they could be that happy driving around town... but they don't realize I'm smiling from that darn GPS! It's AMAZING how well it works! If I'd had one when I was in LA I would have had a way better visit... and probably still had more friends out there. Between avoiding traffic and getting boofed by mapquest... I probably cost us a collective 6+ hours of vacation through poor navigation.
When I was out on the salt flats as part of the Macregor crew, I noticed Mac using a GPS frequently... especially since the flats are so vast, it's the obvious way to keep track of where we were filming every day.
For some reason I always thought that GPS wasn't for me. I had a lot of misconceptions about them... and when some of my friends saw my new GPS over the weekend, their questions made me realize that MOST people are ignorant about GPS... I wasn't the only one.
Let me tell you... a GPS is about the coolest thing I own right now, and the best part? It was only $149 from Radio Shack! I got the Mio C320. This is not an endorsement of that particular GPS, but I am totally thrilled with it, especially at the price.
GPS FACTS and misconceptions:
1) Despite how it's going to sound when you read my points below... GPS is simple... simple enough for your mom... and WOW! is it ever helpful! After having one for just 3 days I know I'll never be without one again.
2) A GPS works off of the global positioning satellites. Aside from traffic info, there is nothing complex to program, no cities to select or "buy", and no information you have to provide aside from your own preference on how you want the screen to look and the sounds you want to hear from it. You buy it, stick it on your dash, and it works... FREE and DONE. It works where ever you go... anywhere in the world!
3) With the exception of optional traffic information! A GPS doesn't automatically provide traffic information unless you buy a model that specifically says it has a TMC receiver built in or as part of the package. Then to get updates on traffic conditions you must pay for this service unless you bought a high-end model that includes life-time subscription as part of the price. I've also seen "one free year" as part of some promotions.
4) Not all GPS systems are the same! They vary in several aspects of performance regardless of how pretty they are! While I really wanted a Navigon system because the screen looks like your actual driver's view, most reviews I've read say that the speed of the system is slow. That's all I needed to hear... I've read some reviews on various GPS systems where people say that the system is slow and sometimes you miss the turn it's about to tell you to take... and then that brings up the next issue...
5) Route Recalculation is a feature of all GPS systems, but this also varies some from each model and manufacturer. This comes into play if you miss an exit or turn for some reason... or if you choose to deviate from the suggested course. You want a GPS that doesn't struggle with modifying directions based on your choices to avoid a building traffic situation... or if you leave the road searching for dinner.
6) The actual signal receiving capability varies between some manufacturers! Some units are better at getting a signal then others! Check out the reviews based on what you want to spend. I read reviews on cnet.com, circuitcity.com, gpslodge.com, and where ever google took me based on model names.
7) Generally speaking... GARMIN is the safest/best brand. They are universally accepted as the defining GPS, but they are also some of the most expensive across the board. What this means is that for a given price-range, you get fewer extra features with a Garmin, but you can be sure that the unit is pretty good at being a GPS... and the interface is so simple your grandma could use it.
The reason I got the Mio, was because it's one of the fastest performing GPS units at the price... meaning when it says "turn left in 300 feet" it means it... if the thing says "turn left now" you turn left now. I was on an all-day shoot yesterday where we changed locations 4 times. On one of the changes I wasn't sure of the best way to get to the next stop, and I was following the guy in front of me... I had the GPS on the dash but I wasn't using the route feature. Long story short we got separated at a light and by the time I got to where I saw him turn down the road, I'd lost him... so in a matter of about 5 seconds I had the address up on the screen and hit "route to" and that was it... I arrived at the same time as everybody else as I took a bunch of streets that I didn't know... I was just driving and trusting the GPS.
I know people see me driving with this giant smile the entire time and wish they could be that happy driving around town... but they don't realize I'm smiling from that darn GPS! It's AMAZING how well it works! If I'd had one when I was in LA I would have had a way better visit... and probably still had more friends out there. Between avoiding traffic and getting boofed by mapquest... I probably cost us a collective 6+ hours of vacation through poor navigation.
