Originally Posted by
Dahon.Steve
I think equally important is learn how to use it. Learn how to load the maps to your GPS and create safe routes by avoid highways and using subdivisions first. Don't allow the GPS to make a route for you because it always chooses a highway first before choosing a street. It will choose a restricted highways without any regard to your situation. Here are some tips.
1. Make routes on Computer not GPS -- The GPS has a slow microprocessor which is painfully slow in making routes. The best and most efficient solution is to make routes on your computer and download it to your GPS.
2. Buy the 15 minute charger from Energizer -- A GPS will use a lot of batteries. However, there are now chargers that will recharge batteries in 15 minutes. I can't stress how useful this is and it will pay for itself in a short while.
1. My Pocket PC running TomTom 6 can route me from Long Beach, CA to San Francisco, CA, a 464 mile trip, with a bike-specific route in about 55 seconds. Custom routes are easy to make by defining roads one wishes to travel through or specific waypoints to pass through. Easy as pie.
2. My PPC runs on custom lithium batteries, $6 each on ebay for extended life versions. It can also charge from any 5v source, 5v 500 mA if it's turned off and charging, or 5v ~1500-2000 mA if it's running and charging. Easily charged from AA batteries if you know what you're doing. I hope to get something going with a dynamo wheel hub + my GPS this summer.
Agreed on the rechargeables if your GPS uses AA/AAA batts.
