Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Beverly, MA
Posts: 125

Tips for using Magellan GPS Companion on Long Trips?

Hello,

I am going to be taking a long car trip, from my home in Boston, MA, to St. Petersburg, FL. I have a Magellan GPS companion, and I have used it with the included map software to navigate around my local area. What I'd like to do is use it to track our travel progress on the way down to FL. Does anyone have tips for tracking such a long journey? I downloaded all of the maps from Quo Vadis' online map repository, and I have them all on my laptop. I was thinking of just sending the maps needed for the current leg of my trip onto the Visor, then switching every time we crossed into new territory, but that seems a bit cumbersome. Is there any better software for long trips such as this?

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

RouteUSA loads by state, but there isn't a whole lot of detail, you'd have to use the Magellan program for speed, elapsed time, etc.

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Covington, LA
Posts: 8

Try Handmap at www.handmap.net.

The program registration is $16. The GPS add on is $10.

There is a world, country map (USA), and regional (southeast USA, etc) maps that are free to registered users that have paid the $16 for the program.

The country map just has major cities and interstate highways. The regional maps have state roads and smaller cities and towns. For street level stuff, you need the county by county maps you already have.

I've used these with my Magellan Companion on cross country flights to follow our position on the map.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Beverly, MA
Posts: 125

quote:

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Originally posted by Jaws01
I've used these with my Magellan Companion on cross country flights to follow our position on the map. [/B]

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Blog: http://prwdot.org/

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Covington, LA
Posts: 8

GPS on plane

I've used it in a Lear 35 and in a King Air C90.

I get an initial lock fastest when the plane is not yet moving and holding the GPS close to a window. Occaisionally I lose a lock when the GPS is near the center of the plane. Moving it back near a window allows it to re-aquire position.

I suspect the metal of the plane blocks the satellite signals, just as in a car. If I put the GPS on my car seat it almost always will lose a lock.

I haven't used it in a large commercial jet. I'm guessing you would have to be in a window seat and hold it close to the window. Bigger plane = more metal and lower percentage of area open to see through windows.