Streets & Trips with GPS

mboyett · January 6, 2006, 1:09am

There’s been an almost continuous thread re: GPS on the old board for about 6-9 months. Here’s a post I made a couple months ago: *

I decided I couldn’t live without a GPS/Mapping system as few weeks ago. I already had a Magellan GPS so I elected to purchase Microsoft Streets & Trips s/w. I loaded the s/w on my laptop and was easily able to connect and use the GPS. A few days later I had my 1st chance to use the system as I had an inspection about 50 miles away in an unknown area of a well known town on the interstate. I played with the GPS/laptop on the way down to the town and then starting seriously relying on it as I got farther into the town. I followed the Streets & Trips directions and, lo & behold, before long I found myself hopelessly off-track and at the back end of a cemetery. Hey, I just followed the directions. The display was pretty awesome as it was on my laptop and plenty big enough to see easily. Anyway, after backtracking out of the cemetery and stopping to ask for directions I finally found the home I was to inspect. So, the point being, take the directions given with some level of suspicion until you are very confident in whichever system you choose.

mzwerin · January 6, 2006, 3:48am

If you’re still unsure if you want to buy MS Streets or not, consider this idea. Try looking around online for a copy of the 2005 version w/ out the GPS device… then find the MS-compatable GPS device separately.
Between rebates & sale prices, it can cost much less if you’re patient.

I have 2005 on my tabletPC & on the laptop & I love it! Had it running often on a round-trip up to Montreal in December & it was a real blast. Have done this drive many, many times before but Streets found a few very creative alternative routes that turned out to be really good.

rmoore · January 6, 2006, 7:03am

My biggest disappointment so far with the DeLorme Street Atlas (2006) software is the age of the maps. Streets and subdivisions for new homes I did almost three years ago are still missing (although they show up very nicely on Yahoo/Navteq maps). I found a forum for SA and it appears to be a common gripe!

Before I spring for the MS streets and trips software only ($39.95 les $10 rebate) can anyone tell me how up to date their maps are?

dwright2 · January 6, 2006, 8:37pm

i have that as well but could not get it to function properl
dwright

dwright2 · January 6, 2006, 8:44pm

i have GPS with Delorme not thrilled with it but still trying to learn.

gluck · January 8, 2006, 3:31pm

I use Streets and Trips with GPS every time I travel to Florida. No I-95 or I81 for me. I think we have been on every back road between here and Fla. and S+T has never let us down. “Look honey! According to the GPS we will be crossing a river rrriiiggght …NOW!”:shock:

phinsperger · January 8, 2006, 3:58pm

Concensus seems to be that Street & Trips or Garmin are good and Delorme is not.:mad:

Richard that’s a great idea. I might even try to export the locations from my reporting software and import them in to Streets & trips to do just that.

jschwartz1 · January 8, 2006, 4:03pm

Hi to all:

The receiver for both programs is identical, however, to use the delorme receiver with ms trips you will need to go through some configuration steps that may take up to one hour to complete on the microsoft web site. It may be necessary to call India to have them walk you through the steps.

MS trips offers FREE updates on the software to reflect construction zone changes or map updates.

So it comes down to software, the receiver is the same.

gbeaumont · January 8, 2006, 4:23pm

Hi Richard I have found it to be very accurate and the 2006 edition is way ahead of the 2004 which I used before.

Regards

Gerry

jbromwell · January 11, 2006, 11:37am

I use my nextel Blackberry 7520 with telenav. I can enter an address through the computer or call it in on my phone. Itr is nice to be able to be able to change or add addresses while I am on the road and lets me do more than one thing with the phone. Plus I am a gadget freak.

bkelly1 · January 11, 2006, 1:19pm

I bought MS streets and trips, very impressed so far!

jhugenroth · January 23, 2006, 6:18am

I guess I’m old school! I actually know where I’m going!!
All I use is mapquest and a Thomas Guide!!! Made out of paper!!!

phinsperger · January 23, 2006, 11:15am

Paper huh? … How quaint;-)

bkelly1 · January 23, 2006, 1:59pm

I used Streets and Trips in Nashville the other day . There were times it said off route , and 5 seconds later it would say back on route. On the freeway it was sometimes a few yards late on turns. Which was critical at 70mph, in lunch hour traffic. All in all though, I am impressed for such a minimal investment.

jhugenroth · January 24, 2006, 12:37am

As long as you’re not EATING lunch!

gbeaumont · January 24, 2006, 2:55am

I still have a couple of rolls of that stuff at strategic locations in the house :mrgreen:

Regards

Gerry

dedwards · January 24, 2006, 5:08am

Gerry,
Good for writing a “running” letter home when you are sitting there with nothing else to do. eh.:mrgreen:

phinsperger · January 24, 2006, 12:13pm

The only thing that seems to be missing (or maybe I haven’t found out how to do it) is save my settings. I don’t mean saving a map or route. When it starts up I would like to automaticaly start GPS tracking with a rotating map, certian panes turned off etc. I seem to have to go through this routine every time. Any one know if there is another way? I am using 2006.

rmoore · January 24, 2006, 4:55pm

Paul…

There may be other ways but I think you’ll find this works.

Set it up the way that you want it and then do a “save as”…maybe “mystartingmap”.
Then find that file in My Documents or wherever it’s being stored and create a shortcut to the file for your desktop. Then, rather than clicking on the program, click on the file and S&T should open up with those settings.

phinsperger · January 24, 2006, 5:19pm

Thanks Richard