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Liquorbox
| Posted on Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 07:27 pm: |
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Anyone using the Garmin Zumo 550? Supposed to be a good MC intended GPS. I just ordered one for my Bike trips this summer & was wondering if anyone is using one, or another, they may care to comment on? |
Jackbequick
| Posted on Sunday, February 04, 2007 - 09:34 pm: |
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There was a thread earlier this year with some details on one, Rhinowerx (Jack) had just put one on an Uly and had some good info and positive reports on it. Here is a link to the thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/242634.html A search for zumo will probably surface some more discussion on it too but Jack's was the first, first hand, report from someone that actually had one I think. Jack |
Irideabuell
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 12:08 am: |
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Keith? |
Corporatemonkey
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 02:11 am: |
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FYI I am working on a diy GPS project for my bike. It should be done soon, you might want to wait to see it. It is a serious game changer. |
Rich
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 06:37 am: |
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http://razorbiker.com/zumo/index.php?sid=75db8f824 61f9349b347ae508c8ae0a2 I'm going Zumo. |
Liquorbox
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:30 am: |
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Great deal! http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-Zumo-550-Motorcycle-GPS -Navigation-System-NEW_W0QQitemZ250079918680QQihZ0 15QQcategoryZ84075QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
Liquorbox
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 10:31 am: |
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Thanks guys! Great deal here! http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-Zumo-550-Motorcycle-GPS -Navigation-System-NEW_W0QQitemZ250079918680QQihZ0 15QQcategoryZ84075QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
Jackbequick
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 01:53 pm: |
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Jamie, Give us a hint? What have you got going? I'm too thrifty for a zumo. I just picked up a refurbished StreetPilot 2610 on eBay for $234. I was the only bidder and got it for a last minute opening bid. Shortly after, the seller changed the opening bid on his 2610's from $234 to $334 which is about what every one else wants. So I caught him on a mistake but he took it like a man and delivered the goods. Jack |
Corporatemonkey
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 02:02 pm: |
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A hint huh... I will have a big write up soon. Hopefully the final parts will arrive from germany soon. Basically I will have a system that will cost a lot less than Garmins zumo, or Tomtom rider with MANY more features. If you really want to know I can PM you. I just don't want to post publicly until a part of the software is done. |
Jackbequick
| Posted on Monday, February 05, 2007 - 09:27 pm: |
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Ahhh! You're making a serious effort it sounds like. I'm just mildly addicted to GPS, I spend quite a bit of time messing with it and reading newsgroups and stuff. It sounds interesting though, if you want to share something: jacker at midmaine dot com It will go no further! I swear! Jack |
Corporatemonkey
| Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 04:12 am: |
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Jack, PM sent |
Maximum
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 10:22 am: |
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Just installed a Zumo a couple days ago. I can't say that I am an expert on it yet, but so far I love it! Besides the GPS, I'm also using the the MP3 player and the XM radio functions. My biggest challenge so far has been finding a way to convert all of my protected iTunes files to just regular MP3 files, since the Zumo cannot play the Apple files directly. I found a $15 program that worked great (http://www.soundtaxi.info/), and now my entire iTunes collection is also in MP3 format just to create playlists for the 550 (2 GB SD card holds about 500 songs).
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Davy_boy
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 11:05 am: |
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Installed a garmin street pilot c530 on my lighting and it works great ! |
Liquorbox
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 01:42 pm: |
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Maximum, what's with the large antenna looking think? I just installed my Zumo 550, but it's a completely self contained unit, no external antenna? |
Jackbequick
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 02:24 pm: |
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That is the GXM 30 XM satellite radio antenna/receiver. It is optional and the bad news (price) is here. Here are some details on the included mount and how it can be used. It is a RAM mount: http://www.garmin.com/manuals/zumo550_Installation Guide.pdf And more info on the Traffic Radios, how they are used, subscription requirements,and compatibility: http://www.garmin.com/traffic/ Jack |
Khollister
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 04:03 pm: |
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I have a Zumo and have no complaints other than not being able to invert a route on the Zumo (have to do it in MapSource & reload). |
Jackbequick
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 10:03 pm: |
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Keith, That was a truly silly mistake by the people that designed the software. No doubt about it. If I was building routes in MapSource I would start a second instance of MapSource. Then I would copy the route, paste it into the second MapSource Route tab, double click it, invert it, and give a a different name. Then I'd copy it back into the first MapSource window as a second (returning) route. Inverting routes can get complicated when it involves divided roads, like Interstates. If your waypoints are on the southbound lanes they may need to all be moved over to the northbound lanes to invert the route. MapSource will do that and generally does a good job of it. But it can occasionally not do a good job. So as you invert and recalculate the routes you have to look at the results carefully. Of course, if you're out and about and want to reverse a route that still leaves you with no quick and easy way to do it from the zumo. I guess it can be done on the zumo by reordering the all via points one at a time but that is a little slow. And the northbound in the southbound lane issue may pop up again. I don't have a zumo but was reading about them recently. Here is a forum that seems to have a lot of good info for zumo users. http://razorbiker.com/zumo/index.php Jack (Message edited by jackbequick on February 07, 2007) (Message edited by jackbequick on February 07, 2007) |
Corporatemonkey
| Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 10:56 pm: |
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Here is my favorite gps forum. http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp It is a Frog site, but they have an english section. These guys are hardcore users |
Debueller
| Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 12:52 am: |
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Been using mine since Nov. The razorbiker.com web site is an awesome source of info on the zumo. (see above post) This website also addresses Garmin's mapsource maping software also. There is a lot of banter on advrider.com related to the zumo also: http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f= 37 Also note: There is no way to disable the auto-recalcuate feature, if you stray from the selected route. This really bothers some of the more "seasoned" users. I'm a new user so I don't know any better. Hopefully there will be a firmware update soon that will allow the user the option to not recalcuate. (Message edited by debueller on February 08, 2007) |
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