2oldman
Winchester WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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pasusan wrote:Or maybe I should just go back to paper maps - have already gotten the Exit Now book in paper (very heavy!). You may want to try a real GPS on your way back down.
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CoachmenKen
Wake Forest, NC
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Joined: 08/04/2004
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pianotuna wrote:,
Make a "hood" for the screen so that it is shaded. Be directly "on axis" for viewing the screen.
Hmm, good idea for my windshield glare problem!
Ken, Dawn, & Rebecca
Our DVGRR Golden rescues, Augie and Daisy
Our Goldens, Penny & Tucker, awaiting us at Rainbow Bridge
2001 Coachmen Santara, 3602 KS, F53
2009 Ford Escape XLT
--Camping since 2004--
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pasusan
PA
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Joined: 05/13/2009
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Thanks all for the ideas. I'm definitely going to look into the hood thing. 
Trip Pics
"Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy." JB & GF
Susan & Ben ~
84 Bronco & 90 Award Classic 23 joined with a Hensley Cub
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J Walker
Oakton, Va
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Joined: 06/12/2003
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I have been using a laptop for many years for GPS in my MH. I have learned some things most of which have already been mentioned. The LCD screen gives polarized light which is exactly 90 degrees off from polarized sunglasses, and nearly all sunglasses are polarized. This makes the screen all but invisible. I use unpolarized sunglasses. A non-reflective screen is essential. I use ThinkPad laptops with non-reflective screens. An instructive exercise is to go to a computer store and see how many laptops have highly reflective screens. I lucked into using ThinkPad screens and found out how important they are when I bought a small Fujitsu laptop for my car. The reflective screen made it nearly unusable at times. I bought the hood mentioned earlier and it helps some but it seems that light comes from everywhere.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
2009 Malibu
Brake Buddy
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ShePointsIDig
Orlando, FL
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2oldman wrote:You may want to try a real GPS on your way back down.
I have a late-model luxury sedan with a "real GPS" and a truck with a laptop running MS Streets & Trips.
Personally, I'll take the laptop/S&T over the "real GPS" hands-down.
Every time.
Advantages:
1. Plan next day's trip inside.
2. Many more secondary roads.
3. Much easier to enter addresses with a "real" keyboard.
Never used a Netbook, but it may be just a poor display to use in bright ambient lighting. My previous laptop was that way.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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Many need to understand that a GPS software is different then software like Microsoft Streets and Trips.
Streets and Trips is a mapping software.
I prefer the mapping software over my wife's Garmin GPS software.
Bud
USAF Retired
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
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Techie
Pahrump, NV, USA
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Joined: 01/30/2004
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When we had our DP we used a full sized laptop (big screen) and S&T -- great combo IF you have a co-pilot. We were able to just set it on the dash by the co-pilot angled to the driver slightly so that they had a view of the screen. Would not recommend this without a co-pilot unless you had the laptop mounted to a floorstand.
Now we use an Android Smartphone (LG Revolution) and Google turn-by-turn with voice. While it doesn't have many routing options it is the best (even compared to stand-alone GPS's) way of navigating that we've come across.
I have a brief review of the turn-by turn @ Google Navigation Review and a quick review of the phone @ LG Revolution Review.
2011 Airstream Classic Limited 34'
2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax/Allison SRW
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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ShePointsIDig wrote:Personally, I'll take the laptop/S&T over the "real GPS" hands-down. Ok, but is paper better than a GPS?
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Yes, paper is better then a GPS. Why, because many paper maps shows roads that the GPS navigation system does not.
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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enblethen wrote:many paper maps shows roads that the GPS navigation system does not. Perhaps that's his reason for using paper if the laptop thing doesn't work. Or maybe it was a flip comment.
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