Arrested Development - Ex-Pats Mexico

GPS also called Navigation Devices like Tom Tom, Magellan, Garmin, Clarion, etc.

Does anyone have personal experience with any GPSystems (car dash board mounted and removable) in Mexico. Can one get/buy the updated map cards locally for those things to work properly in Mexico.
I understand that Tom Tom has preloaded maps of Mexico. Does it work properly and can you buy the updates there?

Wyknot:

I received a GARMIN for Christmas but the particular model that I received (since discontinued) had lots of problems. I went through the original and two replacement models before I demanded and received a GARMIN 785T as a replacement. Then I received the latest Mexico card for my birthday. I have been keeping extensive records/notes on our trip that started Aug. 14th in Albuquerque, NM and we will have covered between 3500 and 4000 miles when we get home next Saturday, August 29th. I plan to write a full detailed report on this product when we get back home and put it on this board.

Thanks CG. I'll wait for your report. I'm shopping for my Christmas present so there's no hurry.

I was thinking it might be good to get one with Blue Tooth as well, for hands free driving?? I'm not too interested in the music part.
The new model Garmin Nuvi1490T has a 5" screen with lifetime subscription for live traffic updates, lane assist with junction view. Expensive though..$630.00 cdn plus 12% tax.

In the local News today... a tearful mother of two, tearfully apologises for sailing thru a stop sign and hitting an oncoming vehicle Head-On... both vehicles had kids on board.....
Can you guess what she was doing?

I hate to be a negative Nellie, but the last thing the dip-shits of the world need is another toy to play with while they drive... whatever happened to the map?

Maybe an end to an era, hockables.

No more, flagging over Mexicans onthe side of the street, and asking in your, best, bad, Spanglish, for directions. Interpreting, the inscrutable, 'dos cuartos'.

No more, arguing with the designated 'navigator' in the passenger's seat, on their inevitable failure to interpret, the often inscrutable road signage, where, a road-crew, perhaps in their cups. Picked a high-way road sign from the back of the truck and with great hilarity, stuck it, in the side of the road. Or the signs that still stuck in same highway, decades later, that warn about conditions that no longer exist.

In short. The unbelieveably sublime to ridiculous, experience of driving in Mexico.

Shortest, best, fastest, trip between two points on a map. Ja!

Progress?

It ain't cheap, but this technology looks like it might cover Mexico now.

http://www.gpsconnect.ca/applications.aspx

It works over the cell phone band, so you would have to get the right Mexico sim card. It won't tell you where you are going, but it will tell you exactly where you are - gps coordinates are just very detailed longitudes and latitudes. Whether you then use paper or digital maps, or a combination, is then up to you. I think the last time we discussed this, the best option (especially for off the beaten track) is the Guia Roji maps, which you take to the copy store and blow them up one size, then take notes and write on them.

On a related subject, scientists have found that people who are lost in the woods will walk in circles unless they can see the sun or the moon.

There have been some interesting experience with the GPS unit, which I will explain in detail at a further date! LIVE TRAFFIC ain't all it is cracked up to be! It was terrible in Albuquerque, NM! The 785T has MSN Direct and is much more reliable!

Used a Garmin Nuvi while I was down there in April. I loaded the Mexico maps into it and it worked like a charm. It guided me to Tequila from Ajijic right through Guadalajara without a hitch. It gave plenty of notice as to what exits to take etc. The only place it got messed up a bit was in Joco. For some reason it didn't know all the streets there and had me turning the wrong way on some one way streets. Minor glitch, otherwise really pleased with it.

Cheers,

Bob