Date:         Fri, 19 Nov 1999 13:38:13 GMT
Reply-To:     Pat Collins <collins.90@OSU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Pat Collins <collins.90@OSU.EDU>
Subject:      Fwd: Re: [MRCC] Fwd: Big Boy Toys
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Don't waste your money.  Here is why.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

On 11/18/99, 11:27:19 PM, "k8cc" <k8cc@mediaone.net> wrote regarding Re: 
[MRCC] Fwd: Big Boy Toys:

> I was directly involved with the development of the Street Pilot with
> Garmin.  Chrysler was considering offering this as a dealer option for 
a
> GPS-based navigation system, and I made five or six trips out to 
Olathe, KS
> to work out features.

> Chrysler ultimately passed on the system because it was relatively 
expensive
> for what you got.  The built in map covers the entire USA, but only 
the
> major highways.  To get street level detail, you have to buy 
prioprietary
> data cartridges at $100 a pop.  At the time I was involved, the state 

of MI
> took three cartridges, which turned out to be prohibitive cost wise.

> One good thing is that Garmin's GPS technology is better than 
anybodys.  The
> receiver in the StreetPilot is a 12-channel, state of the art design.  
You
> can buy a RS-232 cable for the StreetPilot, and use it with your 
laptop
> which opens up all kinds of possibilities.

> However, I'm afraid that a StreetPilot alone will not do a very good 
job on
> MQP/OQP without the expensive cartridges.

> 73,

> Dave/K8CC







> ------------------
> Sponsored by Bill Fisher, W4AN - K4AAA   w4an@contesting.com