GPS Navigation Eguipment

Comparison: Route 66 GPS Maps and others

Before making a comparison between Route 66 GPS maps and other maps, let’s first make sure we know these terms.

ROUTE 66 Geographic Information Systems B.V. is a privately held company headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. ROUTE 66 specializes in navigation soft- and hardware products, and has distribution partners throughout Europe and U.S.

TomTom, a Netherlands-based maker of GPS and automotive navigation systems, is a digital mapping and routing company that focuses on car navigation and has now become one of world’s leading navigation solutions providers.

Destinator is a GPS navigation system, currently own by Intrinsyc, running on Windows Embedded CE and some mobile phone operating systems. It has a standard set of features, including turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance, text-to-speech, pedestrian mode navigation, 2D and 3D views, local search of points of interest, integration with phone applications such as dialer and SMS, support of real-time traffic routing, speed cameras travel guide, and the ability to integrate with SNS and other LBS offerings.

PSMA , short for Power Sources Manufacturers Association, is a not-for-profit multinational power electronics association, incorporated in the state of California.

Sensis Corporation is a global provider of air defense, air traffic control, airline and airport operations management, and data integration and distribution. The company serves a global client base and is actively involved in industry organizations and working groups worldwide, helping to address critical issues and develop innovative, real-world solutions.

Compared with TomTom map, Route 66 map is slower in updating, and it is not as convenient to use as TomTom, e.g. Bluetooth function has to be started manually. But it is more excellent in some other aspects:

1.    Detailed street information.

One user in Australia find that Route 66 maps offer much more detailed street information than that of TomTom and Destinator. In his neighborhood, he says, those small streets like Lennon Street in Parkville and Caprice Avenue in Port Melbourne can be found on Route 66 maps, but not on the other two maps. Although Route 66 has to make further efforts in offering much more detailed information in suburban areas, it is so far users’ first choice for detailed street information.

2.    User-friendly address entry.

Users don’t have to enter the full name of a certain street. Instead, they just need to enter the first few letters of the street name, and Route 66 would automatically give them a list of street names to choose from. For example, if one wants to find “251 Salmon Street?Port Melbourne”, entering the main information “Sal 251 Melb” would just do.

3.    Effective route planning and route management.

Route 66 proves itself to be a match for TomTom in this respect.

4.    Fast route re-calculation.

Route 66 map system would get users re-calculate their route when they are no more than 10m off their original route.

5.    Convenient phone numbers offered.

When one hits on a certain POI (points-of-interest), Route 66 map would show the company’s phone number. TomTom map does not have this function.

In summary

Route 66, taking advantage of the map sources from PSMA, offers the most detailed map information; TomTom offers wonderful route planning, but the map, drawing on Sensis sources, is not detailed enough; Destinator is detailed enough but is rather poor at route planning.

When choosing a GPS system, we should pay special attention to these three points: detailed map information, route planning quality and search database. Different from other qualities such as convenience to use and multiple functions, these three points are beyond users to make any improvement. Therefore, Route 66 might be an comparatively ideal navigation software.

About the Author

Car GPS Navigation

Professioal Auto GPS Guide

GARMIN 010-C0948-00 DETAILED US TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP FOR WASHINGTON & OREGON $88.04 OFFERS DETAILED TOPO 24K COVERAGE FOR WASHINGTON & OREGON; POI WITH THEMATIC ICONS SUCH AS PARKS, CAMPGROUNDS, BOAT RAMPS & AIRPORTS; 3D TERRAIN SHADING ON COMPATIBLE UNITS; SHOWS AN ELEVATION PROFILE OF ROUTES ON COMPATIBLE UNITS; SHOWS ROUTABLE ROADS & TRAILS AS WELL AS DETAILED HYDROGRAPHIC FEATURES, INCLUDING WETLANDS; SEARCHABLE POIS; COMPATIBLE WITH ASTRO 220, ETREX LEGEND CX & HCX SERIES, E…

Map of Morocco $4.00 Map of Morocco by VITO Technology…

Garmin GPSMAP 238 Sounder Instructional Video, 2002. to the dual frequency Garmin GPSMAP 238 Sounder. “Walks you through the key features and gets you up and running in no time. Learn everything you need to know to begin using your satellite navigator from projecting waypoints to setting up routes.”…

Lowrance Global Map 12 [VHS] $24.95 …

Lowrance Global Map 2000 [VHS] $29.95 …

Scorpio rLiNK SR-i1100SE GPS/GPRS Security System SR-1100SE $488.06 Incorporates advanced theft prevention, real time GPS tracking, and SMS alerts with programs that allow riders to document and share their riding experienceAlarm functions and user features are controlled by the included remote, the free iPhone app, or from your computer or smartphone (not included)System includes a remote transceiver, main control module, RFID antenna, built-in battery backup, th…

SCORPIO ALARMS R-LINK SR-i1100 GPS ALARM $499.99 Use rLiNK to view maps of your rides and receive instant progress updates with detailed trip stats. The Rider Down accident notification keeps you covered while you are riding, while the Group Ride feature allows rLiNK users to connect with each other and share trip information during the ride. Upload maps, top speed and segment times quickly and easily to Facebook and Twitter with rLINK’s social …

The Guide – 18W x 14H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $30.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Garmin GPS Map 4000 Series: 4008, 4010, 4012 and 4208 $21.85 Garmin GPSMAP 4000 SERIES 4008, 4010, 4012, 4208, 4210, 4212Learn all the features and functions and HOW TO USE AND OPERATE your Garmin unit.DVD training makes it easy! Interactive menus allow quick and easy chapter review and allow you to go to a specific location time and time again.This step-by-step, instructional DVD walk you through the key features and functions of the Garmin unit from the b…

GARMIN STREETPILOT C550 $34.95 Garmin StreetPilot c550 Portable Auto GPSReady-to-go right out of the box with preloaded maps and plenty of options, this easy-to-use GPS will get you where you’re going. The portable StreetPilot c550 is packed full of features that make it the perfect navigator, including hands-free calling, traffic alerts and an MP3 player….