GPS units compatible in Germany?

Carrera Kid · 02-19-2006, 07:08 AM

OK, I realize that this is not, technically, a 911 technical question but I didn't know where else to post it. The people here are so quick to answer questions and so knowledgeable that I figured I'd get an answer. OK, now that I've sucked up, here's the question.

I've got a Magellan Roadmate 700 GPS unit (here in Canada). I've unlocked the European maps since I'm going to be taking a trip to Germany soon and want to use it there in a rental car. I realize you can rent a car with a GPS, but it's around $200 Can extra for a GPS equipped car for a 10 day rental, so I'll take mine. Any reason that it wouldn't work? I mean, it's supposed to be used there with the European maps, so there shouldn't be a problem as far as I can see. I just thought I'd run it by you guys. I also assume that the power plug is compatible in the car; lighters are standard all around the world as far as I know.

TIA
Rick
1987 Carrera (had it out last weekend when the roads were clean and dry...wow...snow again now)

9dreizig · 02-19-2006, 08:01 AM

As long as you've paid the money for the map info you should be good to go.. There are no compatibility issues. I will never go to Germany again without one!

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

The satellites are US made....buy the map and gud to go.....

rick-l · 02-19-2006, 08:52 AM

Germany should be on the same Globe the Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed to operate on.

LakeCleElum · 02-19-2006, 09:29 AM

I have a Garmin V......I bought the European CD and have been all over Europe with it in rental cars......As said above, I'd never go back without it. One great use I found was: If in a large city and you want to get out of town, say North. Just pick some city north of town and say "take me to this town"........The GPS will get you thru the maze of streets in the inner city and out of town in the correct direction...Cig. lighters are the same. Just get a mount for your dash that allows you to remove the unit and take in with you at night.

Wil Ferch · 02-19-2006, 09:49 AM

I must say...in a related issue...for all the "technical superiority" of many aspects of German life..... one aspect of highway signage is NOT one of them...

In the US, if I wanted to get to (say) Cleveland from Buffalo, I'd hop on the 90W Interstate. Naturally...coming back....I'd take 90E. Simple.

In Germany there are NO geographic depictions of where you're going ( East,... West). you're simply on the A57 with something written like "direction Mannheim". The other direction would be "direction Kaiserslautern".

Just dandy....you gotta have an encyclopedic knowledge of German geography. Even worse, when you get to your destination....you think" no problem... I'll just take the "other" direction back". Ha... not so fast...sometimes multiple Autobahns merge and the direction you took on the outbound leg...is the same "city" direction on the return leg.

Sucks absolutley big-time...without a nav system.... as I recently re-discovered on my 4 month, ..20,000 Km assignment there over the summer.

- Wil

Joeaksa · 02-19-2006, 10:37 AM

Have taken my Garmin SP3 around the world. It works everywhere without the extra maps. Even shows roads and such without the maps.

That said, it will not show the small stuff, nor any of the detailed stuff without the local coverage. Buy the European maps and enjoy. I could not live without GPS in the car today.

Joe A

k9handler · 02-19-2006, 10:47 AM

Just purchase the maps for it and it will be fine. I use a HP Ipaq and TomTom 4.0 with no problems at all...other than I purchased it on the economy and the ipaq is in German. =o)

KobaltBlauSC · 02-19-2006, 11:22 AM

I use my Meridian Gold with updated maps in Germany, Iraq, and the U.S. I would still recommend spending 20 euros and purchasing a comprehensive map at an ARAL or ESSO gas station. Better for orientation to know what cities are N,S,E,or W. If you go to a rural area off of the Autobahn, you will wish you knew which cities are in between where you are and your destination. I live in Germany and always have a map, blanket, and a cell phone at a minimum.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
I must say...in a related issue...for all the "technical superiority" of many aspects of German life..... one aspect of highway signage is NOT one of them...

In the US, if I wanted to get to (say) Cleveland from Buffalo, I'd hop on the 90W Interstate. Naturally...coming back....I'd take 90E. Simple.

In Germany there are NO geographic depictions of where you're going ( East,... West). you're simply on the A57 with something written like "direction Mannheim". The other direction would be "direction Kaiserslautern".

Just dandy....you gotta have an encyclopedic knowledge of German geography.

I know, you guys are all living in the 21st century, but have you ever heard of a MAP?

It will have all those cities PLUS all the autobahns on it! Germany wouldn't be one of the busiest countries in the world if they'd get everyone lost all the time!

George

Wil Ferch · 02-19-2006, 05:32 PM

Try looking at a map while driving ( without passenger/ navigator) ...at German Autobahn speeds..maybe at night, too !!!!.

Especially in the corridor of cities of Dusseldorf , Cologne , Duisburg, Essen, etc. where one city pretty much blends into another...not like the sparse road network in the south.

...and if it says " direction X city"...you don't know if it's one , two, or twelve cities "along the way" that your travelling.... you can't keep staring at a map while driving !!! The point being you're not even *sure* of your direction while "checking the map" ( because the lack of East, West, etc.... which was the point in the first place..remember ?)

- Wil

9dreizig · 02-19-2006, 05:41 PM

I know, you guys are all living in the 21st century, but have you ever heard of a MAP? It will have all those cities PLUS all the autobahns on it! Germany wouldn't be one of the busiest countries in the world if they'd get everyone lost all the time!

George

Dude, if you really believe that, then you've never driven much in the fatherland... Many times I've had my colleagues tell me that without a GPS they wouldn't even try to tell me how to get some places..

LakeCleElum · 02-19-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aigel
I know, you guys are all living in the 21st century, but have you ever heard of a MAP?
George

I can look at a map all day long and it won't tell me where I'm at!!!!!!!!

Wil Ferch · 02-19-2006, 05:52 PM

Amen...my German contacts looked at me in shock and disbelief that I would try a multiple criss-cross of Germany...12000 miles...without a Nav system. The Germans say that they ( themselves...who know the country) would never have the guts to try a journey like that without it...

Came as a big surprise to me since I had visited and travelled there in the past without issues...but never in the populated North / Northwest.

Wil

Huh · 06:29 PM

Lord only knew what people did before we had GPS....Everyone that travelled Germany from other countries must have gotten lost. It dumbfounds me how we have become so reliant on electronics. It seems people have forgotten how to get around without them. If a computer crashes lord knows work can't be done. No one can add/subtract/multiply/divide without a calculator....A map is pretty reliable even without GPS. I travel 50% of the time all over this country and I only use a map to get to my customers.

anthony · 02-19-2006, 08:39 PM

Maps still work fine but a GPS is 100X better. It is a map- just electronic. It also navigates for you if you want and it contains a database so you can easily find the nearest gas station or ATM. I recently did a 1000 mile driving trip all over New England. Never getting lost, finding a Revolutionary War monument that we would have just driven by, and then being able to find the nearest bank or Starbucks was great.

KobaltBlauSC · 02-19-2006, 10:08 PM

Just want to add one thing if you get lost in Germany what is the worst that can happen? You drive around seeing tons of beautiful sights. I go out with the Rhein Main Porsche Club on roads that get charted while I am driving them...Just go bring a map and if you get lost it will be better than you thought.

SGT B

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by KobaltBlauSC
Just want to add one thing if you get lost in Germany what is the worst that can happen? You drive around seeing tons of beautiful sights. I go out with the Rhein Main Porsche Club on roads that get charted while I am driving them...Just go bring a map and if you get lost it will be better than you thought.

SGT B

yep to that

aigel · aigel's Garage

I actively drove in Germany 8 years of my life. And three of those years driving a delivery truck as a substitute driver. This meant a new route every time. This is before GPS and I can't remember it being a problem. Seriously! The country has NOT grown significantly since. All you need is road atlas.

I am an avid outdoorsman. There I encounter folks that ask me the same, how I could be out there without GPS? While I may navigate a bit slower, I rather rely on a map and compass in the great outdoors, since they do not run out of batteries.

I like electronics and a GPS is great and very helpful, but it is by no means essential in any travel. To this point I haven't felt the need to buy one.

George

k9handler · 02-19-2006, 11:45 PM

I like the GPS for multiple reasons. Landmarks, trails, streams/rivers, railroad, petrol stations, police stations, airports, hotels, and much more at the touch of your finger! I have a good sense of direction so I can get where I am going with just a map (i.e. Bremen to Kaiserslautern via Koln) and now that I have the TomTom why do anything without it? In fact when I am on the road, it appears every other car on the road has a cradle mounted on the windscreen and a GPS unit doing it's magic.