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Hi, folks, been off this forum for awhile. In fact, the last time I was active I was asking about GPS and took lots of guff for being so indecisive. But now I have a BMW, and in the manual it says the dealer will come take the bike back if you don't put GPS and radar detector and XM radio and other stuff on it. Think I'm kidding? Look at ANY BMW.
Anyway, I've got some information to share, and a lot of questions.
I used to be perfectly satisfied with paper maps and looking at clouds to figure out where and what. But I finally got tired of thinking "jeez, is she looking at the map upside down?" the last time SWMBO said "left" when it HAD to be "right," and then the next thing I knew I was in dire need of weather radar, too!
So after reading zillions of posts and visiting drillions of websites I gave up and called Garmin, Lowrance, and XM today. I got to speak to THREE XM "representatives," and this is what the consensus is:
You want nexrad, you get the Aviation LT package, for $29 a month. You haggle with them about the $75 activation fee, and maybe you'll avoid it. Use the radar for your big trip to Tornado Alley Mobile Home National Park, then call 'em up and have it turned off...once a year, no charge to re-up. But if you want to use it three times in one year, several months apart, they threaten you with $75 reactivation fee for the third or more times. Haggle with a supervisor and MAYBE (probably) at least get the second fee waived. Because you've been such a good customer, and all.
The Lowrance iWay 500c (or the fancier 600 just now hitting the shelves) is the one I want, with the big screen the exact shape of Iowa, only smaller. Than Iowa. BUT: you can't plan trips with lots of turns and twists on your PC in the motel the night before; you have to do it on the machine itself. Not good. Can't see a big map. No Nexrad radar, either.
Too bad, if this is correct.
The Garmin 376c comes with the XM antenna, but no PC software, which is apparently about $150 extry. You get the radar capability. The screen is not touchy, and is much smaller than the Lowrance.
The Garmin 378c does NOT have the XM antenna, but DOES have City Navigator PC software. AND apparently if you use the software, the unit will recalculate your route, ie it isn't perfectly compatible with the software, maybe due to the lakes maps...my new friend at Garmin wasn't sure.
Zumo-shmumo. No nexrad.
So, it seems that, if I want radar and pc planning capability, I'm pitched up on the 376c shore. Bummer. I REALLY like the size of the iWay500c...less squinting.
So, am I right about all this, especially my conclusions? Am I making too much of the "plan the route on the PC" issue? [typical trip for me'n SWMBO is f'rinstance go to the Gatlinburg area for four days in a motel, do 250-350 mile day rides from the base motel, then move on for another 3-4 days in another town, and do similar day rides from there...creating LOTS of "upside down map?" moments.]
And the radar? It's never going to rain again in Texas, so I don't need it around here (and for that matter, I have weather radar on the tiny screen of my Blackberry Pearl, but I have to stop and peer at it). What's your opinion, you users of it?
Regarding XM radio or mp3 capability, I've already got those things, and have never trusted multifunction electric deals, anyway.
I prolly should have bulleted my questions....
TIA.
Anyway, I've got some information to share, and a lot of questions.
I used to be perfectly satisfied with paper maps and looking at clouds to figure out where and what. But I finally got tired of thinking "jeez, is she looking at the map upside down?" the last time SWMBO said "left" when it HAD to be "right," and then the next thing I knew I was in dire need of weather radar, too!
So after reading zillions of posts and visiting drillions of websites I gave up and called Garmin, Lowrance, and XM today. I got to speak to THREE XM "representatives," and this is what the consensus is:
You want nexrad, you get the Aviation LT package, for $29 a month. You haggle with them about the $75 activation fee, and maybe you'll avoid it. Use the radar for your big trip to Tornado Alley Mobile Home National Park, then call 'em up and have it turned off...once a year, no charge to re-up. But if you want to use it three times in one year, several months apart, they threaten you with $75 reactivation fee for the third or more times. Haggle with a supervisor and MAYBE (probably) at least get the second fee waived. Because you've been such a good customer, and all.
The Lowrance iWay 500c (or the fancier 600 just now hitting the shelves) is the one I want, with the big screen the exact shape of Iowa, only smaller. Than Iowa. BUT: you can't plan trips with lots of turns and twists on your PC in the motel the night before; you have to do it on the machine itself. Not good. Can't see a big map. No Nexrad radar, either.
Too bad, if this is correct.
The Garmin 376c comes with the XM antenna, but no PC software, which is apparently about $150 extry. You get the radar capability. The screen is not touchy, and is much smaller than the Lowrance.
The Garmin 378c does NOT have the XM antenna, but DOES have City Navigator PC software. AND apparently if you use the software, the unit will recalculate your route, ie it isn't perfectly compatible with the software, maybe due to the lakes maps...my new friend at Garmin wasn't sure.
Zumo-shmumo. No nexrad.
So, it seems that, if I want radar and pc planning capability, I'm pitched up on the 376c shore. Bummer. I REALLY like the size of the iWay500c...less squinting.
So, am I right about all this, especially my conclusions? Am I making too much of the "plan the route on the PC" issue? [typical trip for me'n SWMBO is f'rinstance go to the Gatlinburg area for four days in a motel, do 250-350 mile day rides from the base motel, then move on for another 3-4 days in another town, and do similar day rides from there...creating LOTS of "upside down map?" moments.]
And the radar? It's never going to rain again in Texas, so I don't need it around here (and for that matter, I have weather radar on the tiny screen of my Blackberry Pearl, but I have to stop and peer at it). What's your opinion, you users of it?
Regarding XM radio or mp3 capability, I've already got those things, and have never trusted multifunction electric deals, anyway.
I prolly should have bulleted my questions....
TIA.
