Cobra GPS 1000 DLX 1.8-Inch Portable GPS Navigation Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just recently purchased the Cobra GPS1000DLX and am extremely disappointed.

Pros: Hardware - The unit is compact (about the size of an average PDA)

Cons: Software (Both on the Unit and included software)
Hardware - Serial (RS232) interface

All I can say about the software on the unit is that it's functional.Other then that it will take awhile to get used to and is not very user friendly.

As for the included Rand McNally Street Finder software, it is obvious that this software was written around 1999 and has had no updates. Cobra/Rand are really trying to squeeze there pennies out of it as long as they can.Just trying to install the software on a computer with XP can be a challenge I've found.

*Warning* Windows XP SP2 will sometimes wipe out a file that this software requires to install. Let me save you some time, it's not listed as a known problem on there website, you have to call Rand McNally for the solution. (That's all Cobra will tell you to do)

*Recommendation - Bring some coffee and donuts with you before trying to install. Once the CD is inserted and the install program started, it took an average of 5 minutes before the pre-install program was done and the actual install program started.

Once the software is installed, it looks more at home on a Windows 98 machine and functions just as it looks. After creating a map and trying to download it the GPS unit it told me it needed the "Data" CD. (*Note - This seems more like something that should be part of the initial install) Let's just say that it also took me a little while to figure out that it wanted it in the first CD drive on my system, not the drive I used to install it. After getting the Disc in the right drive it started coping the files it needed (There was enough time for another coffee break).Once the transfer between the software the GPS unit began, I noticed the progress bar was barely moving (Yet another coffee break) so I used that time to reflect on the benefits of USB vs Serial and why Serial is OUTDATED for consumer products.

Once completed with that task I created a Route between two points. The software traced my route completely inaccurately (Lets just say my starting point was approx 15+ meters from the actual route, not just one point but the whole route)

This is good unit for a teenager or young camper or as a gift. Other then that, I recommend getting one of the other GPS units out there.

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Product Description:
12 Parallel Channels with A.S.A.P.(TM) II Technology.Includes continental U.S. state boundaries, continental U.S. highways, Canadian provincial boundaries, European country boundaries and hundreds of worldwide cities.Waterproof Case.Compass, Altimeter, Clock.4 MB Built-In Memory.Backlit Key Pad.WAAS Enabled.Additional Features of the GPS 1000 DLX.Receiver - 18 parallel channel GPS continuously tracks and uses up to 18 satellites to compute and update user's position giving the quickest acquisition time of any handheld recreational GPS receiver available. Waypoints - Store up to 500 waypoints with names and symbols. Routes - Create up to 50 routes with up to 50 points (waypoints, points of interest, cities, addresses,intersections and/or exits). Track Log - Automatically tracks your travel with up to 2,000 log points. Tracks - Save up to 10 tracks from the track log with the ability to navigate the track path in both forward and reverse. Worldwide Cities/Map Details - Already programmed with coordinates for hundreds of worldwide cities, continental U.S. state boundaries and U.S. highways, Canadian provincial boundaries and European country boundaries. PC Interface - With Rand McNally(R) StreetFinder(R) for Cobra and interface cable, user can exchange data and street level maps with powerful computer mapping programs and download points of interest to use in navigation or as map references. Map Datum - Choose from up to 100 map datums to compare with a paper map or other navigational reference. Position Format - Choose from 18 position formats used to display the location coordinates. Selectable Data Fields - Lets the user display up to 10 fields about their position or navigation chosen from: Accuracy, Average Speed, Bearing, Compass, Date, Distance to Next Point, Distance to Destination, Elevation, ETA to Next Point, ETA to Destination, Location, Maximum Speed, Moving Average Speed, Moving Time, Odometer, Power, Speed, Stop Time, Total Time, Trip Od

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Garmin Etrex Legend GPS Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)You can see other positive reviews of the etrex Legend here, so I won't rehash them. The short story is that the Legend is a pretty decent GPS unit that works pretty well.
The base map included in the Legend only shows major highways and major streets. This is similar to the maps you get from a car rental agency. It's perfectly fine for doing rough navigation from city to city. At first, I tried using Rand McNally's StreetFinder and TripMaker Deluxe on my laptop with the Legend. The setup worked, but having to deal with the serial cable and using a laptop in the car was not very practical.
After I've had my Legend a while, I had a chance to borrow and use a Vista. The owner of the Vista upgraded it with detailed street-detail maps from Garmin's MapSource "Metroguide USA" CD .... The detailed street map is a really nice feature -- especially because you can look up addresses. Having such a detailed map in a small portable device is a delight! I decided to get the Metroguide for myself.
From my usage comparison, I found two things missing in the Legend compared to the top-end etrex Vista.
First, the Legend has only 8 MB of expansion memory instead of the 24 MB in the Vista. This turns out to be a big issue for me, as I would like to have a complete metro guide of the greater Los Angeles area. With 8 MB, I could only fit 6 of the 18 MetroGuide map sets that I would have liked. This means, I am missing coverage of a large section stretching roughly from Compton to Long Beach to Lynwood to Cerritos to Irvine that I would have wanted. In contrast, the Vista held all of greater Los Angeles area, plus some San Francisco, San Diego, and Las Vegas.
Second, the Vista has sensors for barometric altitude and magnetic compass heading. The Legend estimates altitude via GPS, and calculated heading based on your travel speed vector. If you are a trail-hiker, these sensors improve your navigation.
Used as-is from the factory (i.e., only the American basemaps), the Legend is perfectly fine, and I was quite happy with it.
I could live without the Vista's sensors;
But, having hit the 8 MB memory limit (trying to load Los Angeles), I would definitely go with the Vista now.
The Metroguide maps sizes of other cities may or may not be an issue for you. Go to the Garmin website and use their MapSourec Map Viewer and count the number of "yellow squares" you'll need to cover you area of interest. Each square roughly represents between 500K to 1.5 MB of data (with the smaller, "dense" squares being toward the 1 MB to 1.5MB size). You'll find that most of the big cities will have enough squares to easily exceed the 8 MB of the Legend.

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Product Description:
With an eTrex series GPS is by your side, you can take on world without looking back. The eTrex is a basic GPS with a built-in electronic compass and barometric altimeter. These smart little handhelds are tough, waterproof and feature simple, one-hand operation. For your next adventure on land or sea, pack light. Go with eTrex.
Features:

Waypoints/icons - 1000 with name and graphic symbol
Tracks - Automatic track log with 10 saved tracks to let you retrace your path in both directions
Trip Computer: Current speed, average speed, time of sunrise/sunset, resetable maximum speed, trip timer and trip distance
Map datums: More than 100
Position format: Lat/Lon, UTMUPS, Maidenhead, MGRS, Loran TDs (Venture, Legend and Vista only) and other grids
Acquisition times: Warm - Approximately 15 seconds; Cold - Approximately 45 seconds; AutoLocate - Approximately 5 minutes
Update rate: 1/second, continuous
GPS accuracy: Position: <15 meters, 95% typical, Velocity: 0.05 meter/sec steady state>/li>
Interfaces: RS232 with NMEA 0183, RTCM 104 DGPS data format and proprietary Garmin
Antenna: Built-in patch
Power Source: 2 "AA" batteries (not included).

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