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Garmin GPS 18


Traveling with your laptop on business or vacation? Garmin's GPS 18 global-positioning sensor is a simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to turn your PC laptop into a personal navigator. The GPS sensor is bundled with nRoute and City Select navigation software that automatically guides you with turn-by-turn directions and voice prompts to get you safely to your destination.

Similar to Garmin's MapSource software, nRoute features an easy-to-use interface, making its operation intuitive so you can focus on driving. It offers auto-routing and voice-prompting capabilities for virtually any address.

The GPS 18 package also includes City Select North America map data with detailed maps of the United States and select cities in Canada. This data is fully unlocked, and map detail includes highways, interstates, business roads, and residential roads, with turn restrictions, speed categories, and other navigation features. Its more than 5 million points of interest include restaurants, lodging, attractions, shopping, emergency services, post offices, among others.

The GPS 18 includes a 12-parallel-channel, WAAS-enabled sensor/receiver just 2.4 inches in diameter with an integrated magnetic base. The receiver connects to your PC via a USB interface, high-speed 2.0 with USB 1.1 compatibility, and it's powered via your computer so you'll never have to change batteries.

What's in the Box
GPS 18 sensor with USB connection, integrated magnetic base, automotive windshield mount, nRoute with City Select North America map data (full unlock), owner's manual, and a quick-start guide.



Customer Reviews

Average rating:

Best GPS so far

Garmin GPS 18 Deluxe USB GPS Sensor with nRoute and City Select Navigation Software

This is by far the best GPS that I've used on a road trip. I've had portable systems in the past (eMap, marine charting systems) and previously the Delorme Earthmate.

This is by far the best. With the waterproof antenna I can mount the magnetic base on my roof and run the cable through the weatherstripping on my door. Then weather isn't an issue and I get the best reception possible.

The inclueded winshield mount does work well, but having this outside your vehicle works the best.

The software is easy to install and use and the routing system works great. Recalculation is SUPER FAST and most of the time I had a new route, or restored route, within half a block.

The WAAS system really keeps you well connected where a lot of other systems would loose reception.

Plus, since I already had a 17" notebook, the cost of this item and a computer stand for the vehicle was less than most compact all-in-one units. It is SO nice to have such a large display.

The software even adjust the color settings depending on the time of day so you can still see well at night.

This is what I'll be using from now on. Anyone looking for a GPS navigation system should really consider this sytem.


time saver

i am glad to have this when we are traveling,if for some reason you miss your turn it will reroute it self an get you where you want to go


Paid for itself on the first use

I purchased this unit to use on a trip to Nova Scotia. I own a standalone GPS unit but it does not have Canada in its database. Thanks to the weather and the airline, we arrived in Halifax at 3:00 AM in a heavy rainstorm. The airport was 30 miles from downtown and our B&B. The unit worked perfectly, acquiring the satellites within a minute or so. It took us straight to the B&B without any problem. Because it tells you exactly when to turn, you don't have to worry about reading street name signs which is difficult at night or in the rain. If you mess up and make the wrong turn, it senses it almost immediately and reroutes you accordingly.

Back home, I built a little platform for the laptop to sit over the console. That makes it as convenient as a built in unit and keeps the laptop from overheating my wife's "laptop".

I only have two complaints: It sometimes takes some weird shortcuts, especially on secondary roads and it will sometimes take a very different route to a destination than it does returning from that destination.


Garmin GPS 18 deluxe

Works as advertised. When I travel, I take my laptop anyway. Why put up with a 2" or 3" screen handheld GPS for 4 or 5 times the money. I like it!


disappointing

The Garmin GPS 18 USB that I received several weeks ago turned out to be a dud. My main complaint is that the Garmin GPS antenna cannot hold a clear signal. I have the antenna mounted on my windshield with a clear view of the sky. The unit always takes between 5 to 10 minutes in a wide open area before it can acquire a signal. It cannot lock onto a signal inside my house or on neighborhood streets. Even when the signal is acquired, it constantly loses the signal every couple of minutes or more. Whenever I am driving on the I-495 in Washington DC area, it loses signal whenever the road is not straight or if it briefly goes under a 50 or 100 ft wide bridge. It is significantly worse when driving through residential streets. It often loses it signal completely for minutes at a time on fairly open residential streets. In addition, the included routing software makes it very difficult to find addresses. One often needs a complete address to find a location. In addition, when searching for a particular street name it will often not have the desired street name available in the form that one expects it. Many roads have North, South, or East, West attached to their name so that you have to guess which one it is before you can successfully find the desired location. Given the cost of this system, the quality of the software is to be expected. However, my friends have GPS antennas that cost $30 dollars and work much better than this one.


Get the Garmin GPS 18 from Amazon.com.