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BIG SCREEN
GPS - A SIMPLE (AND BETTER?)
SYSTEM USING YOUR LAPTOP
"Why spend thousands of dollars on
inflexible built-in GPS systems
when you can turn your existing
large-screen laptop PC into a GPS
navigator for only $99.95?"
- asks Caleb Mason of DeLorme
One of the first
things I learned when visiting an
FMCA Show two years ago was that
many motor coaches have built-in
GPS systems, but what to do when
it's time to head out in the tow
car? People had I spoke with had
become addicted to their GPS but
could not use it when they went
off exploring in their tow car. |
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The DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20 is a
simple solution to this as long as you
have a laptop PC already, which most
people nowadays do. You load the included
Street Atlas USA software on your laptop's
hard drive and plug the GPS into the USB
port of your laptop PC. Place the GPS on
the dash (it comes with a 5' attached
cable), and the co-pilot can create routes
for you to track against all across the
U.S. and Canada.
The DeLorme system can speak voice
directions, including the names of the
streets or ramps to turn on. It also can
accept your voice commands and reply to
common questions such as "How far to
the next turn?" It includes a mobile
map colors setting to dim the screen when
driving in glare or at night. It also
shows your next turn and the turn after
that in large easy-to-read arrows.
Sometimes it is the second turn that is
most often missed, such as when getting
off complex interchanges, so this
next-turns feature is very handy.
The included database of places of
interest is huge and includes all the Wal-Marts,
Love's, Flying Js, and other important
stops for motor coachers. More than just
these, you also have restaurants, food
chains, drug stores, churches, hospitals -
just about everything you could ever need
while on the road. And most include phone
numbers as well.
DeLorme has been making innovative
mapping products for thirty years now,
with all development done right here in
the U.S. In fact, if you're ever in the
Northeast, come visit the company in
Yarmouth, Maine…just down the road from
L.L. Bean…and see the world's largest
rotating and revolving globe in our lobby.
Our Map Store is also a great place to ask
any product questions you may have and to
get personalized technical assistance if
needed.
Caleb Mason DeLorme
See the DeLorme website.
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