GPS?

[JoJo]

 Looking to get a GPS, and no I don't have a cell phone and don't want one. I would like to get one with Life Time Maps and talks, long lasting and reliable. I looked at some on the net but don't know what I'm looking at.
 Any Ideas?

[Kbop]

if you want a main stream brand, Garmin has several for under $150 with voice and lifetime map updates.
i hit up Best Buy and they had a few choices.

[pkveazey]

You didn't mention if you wanted a hand held or one for the car. I have a handheld one in my bugout bag and a great big one in the car. I've had a couple of others over the years I can't tell the difference between the expensive ones and the cheap ones. They all worked fine. You might just want to look on Amazon and see what they have and compare features first and then price and then the name brand. My first ones were about 4" wide and 3" high. The last one I bought was 7" wide. Yep.... Like she said, "Bigger is better".

[Americana]

There is a free option.
An out of service Android phone.
The wifi and gps will still work.  Use Google Maps with the Make maps available offline option selected. The map wants to update every 60 days using this feature, so it will need to be connected to wifi.

As a bonus this device also has 911 still enabled, it will just not have all your personal data attached to the call.

[Jackalope]

   I recommend the Garmin Etrex models, as has been previously suggested.  I have a couple of them, I can't remember the models, but they're relatively easy to use, and they're reliable.  Personally, I'd avoid using any type of cellphone, because it's a two way communications device, which can be tracked, whether it's out of service or not.  If you want to stay under the radar, stick with a GPS receiver.

[Kbop]

There is a free option.
An out of service Android phone.
The wifi and gps will still work.  Use Google Maps with the Make maps available offline option selected. The map wants to update every 60 days using this feature, so it will need to be connected to wifi.

As a bonus this device also has 911 still enabled, it will just not have all your personal data attached to the call.

an excellent idea 

[NCislander]

I use a Garmin GPSMAP 62S. There are newer variations of this unit. Super Reliable, rock solid GPS. Fits on my waist belt or on the side of a BackPack/Bag.  Highly recommended units.  No dependencies other than batteries.

[JohnyMac]

I like Jackalope's suggestion...Anything Garmin.

Funny inside baseball story.

As we entered into the Gulf War and men were being called up my marine store was being inundated by guys going east wanting a Micrologic GPS handheld unit. $2,400- would buy you one. They were the size of three brick phones and as simple to use as a Rubix cube. 

Post the Gulf war we were approached by a company that produced airplane GPS units. They were failing due to Loran navigation, so they thought they would give the boating community a try before they went belly up.

They met with us and we thought we would give them a try so we highlighted their GPS units for boats. Well do in part to the price-point, ~$500- vs. Micrologic GPS at $1,800 at that time, and the ease at using the units (s) they took off.

By 1995, we could not keep the many models on the shelf. Garmin then became the #1 seller of GPS's for boaters. We were not only selling GPS units to boaters but vehicle drivers too. So they then went and expanded their line to cars and trucks, etc.

Then TomTom came out and Garmin expanded to backpacking, mountain biking, and a bunch of other markets/users.

So there you go...If my company would not have picked them up when they were on life support, Garmin would not be here today.   

[Jackalope]

    That's an interesting story, Johny.  I might have a LORAN unit kicking around here somewhere.  I did navigate with LORAN in my aircraft, and remember well when GPS receivers were introduced to the civilian aircraft market.   GPS really changed air navigation.  I still think we should have kept the world wide LORAN system operational.  It's too easy to become dependent upon GPS, and those satellites are too vulnerable.  There's an interesting novel called "Ghost Fleet", which depicts a war with the Chinese, where they take out our satellites.  Knowing rudimentary navigation is a necessity.  There are too many folks who can't read maps.   I have a sextant here somewhere too, but I never learned how to use it: I stick with maps and a compass.

[JoJo]

 With my birthday coming up this is the one I'm asking for.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-Drive-6-LM-EX-GPS-Navigator/557645444

[sledge]

JMac I still use a Tom Tom from that era once or twice a year today.  lol.  She has a sexy voice, but is still a little bossy if I don't make the turn she wants. 

[pkveazey]

JMac I still use a Tom Tom from that era once or twice a year today.  lol.  She has a sexy voice, but is still a little bossy if I don't make the turn she wants.

Your comment just reminded me of my Tom Tom. When I know where I'm going and I want to either take the shortest way or the least congested, I'll ignore her. I constantly expect here to get pissed off and say, "If you're not going to take my advice, then what the Hell do you need me for?"

[Nemo]

Uh, pk, thats your wife, not your TomTom saying things like that.  Must be genetic because its just like mine.

Nemo

[Nemo]

With my birthday coming up this is the one I'm asking for.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-Drive-6-LM-EX-GPS-Navigator/557645444

That appears to be only road directions.  Can it also cover out in the woods away from roads?

Nemo

[JoJo]

With my birthday coming up this is the one I'm asking for.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-Drive-6-LM-EX-GPS-Navigator/557645444

That appears to be only road directions.  Can it also cover out in the woods away from roads?

Nemo

 It's not for SHTF but for over the road travel. The reason is last month we went to a wake in a city that we never  been before. I got seriously lost getting there (rush hour traffic) and I more lost trying to get home as it was night time. Asking the locals was no help, they were as dumb as a box of rocks.
 

[pkveazey]

With my birthday coming up this is the one I'm asking for.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-Drive-6-LM-EX-GPS-Navigator/557645444

That appears to be only road directions.  Can it also cover out in the woods away from roads?

Nemo

 It's not for SHTF but for over the road travel. The reason is last month we went to a wake in a city that we never  been before. I got seriously lost getting there (rush hour traffic) and I more lost trying to get home as it was night time. Asking the locals was no help, they were as dumb as a box of rocks.
 

Before I had a GPS, I stopped for gas and I asked a local cop in Buffalo, New York if he could tell me how to get to Interstate 290. He said he didn't know. Say what??? Yep, he didn't know. I found it on my own. It was 3 blocks away.

[Nemo]

40 years ago I was traveling from Ocean City Maryland north up the New Jersey Turnpike.  I asked the guy in a toll booth how far it was to some place a couple hours north. 

Honest and for true he replied-- You can't get there from here.  I was plain dumbfounded and told him I guess I have to go somewhere else first huh.  He said yes, you can get there by going somewhere else first, but not here.

That day I decided to learn to read a map in rather great detail.

I have not been back to NJ since. 

Nemo

[patriotman]

There is a free option.
An out of service Android phone.
The wifi and gps will still work.  Use Google Maps with the Make maps available offline option selected. The map wants to update every 60 days using this feature, so it will need to be connected to wifi.

As a bonus this device also has 911 still enabled, it will just not have all your personal data attached to the call.

I never thought about this! Thanks for this suggestion.

[grizz]

I've always had good luck with garmin products

Yes, avoid NJ at all costs!!

[patriotman]

I've always had good luck with garmin products

Yes, avoid NJ at all costs!!

As a current resident of NJ, AVOID NJ AT ALL COSTS.