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Flaekingur

Nov 19, 2008, 10:17 PM

Post #1 of 14 (6844 views)

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MS Streets & Trips in México

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Has anyone been using Microsoft's Streets & Trips GPS system in Mexico? I plan on traveling to Bucerias this winter and will be using this system for navigation.
Does anyone have lists of POI co-ordinates for such things as Pemex stations and Casetas?


(This post was edited by Flaekingur on Nov 19, 2008, 10:21 PM)

johanson / Moderator


Nov 21, 2008, 5:50 AM

Post #2 of 14 (6811 views)

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Re: [Flaekingur] MS Streets & Trips in México

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Sorry no one has answered. I didn't even know that MS Streets worked in Mexico. I haven't heard a word about it on any Mexican forum.

bournemouth

Nov 21, 2008, 6:40 AM

Post #3 of 14 (6807 views)

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Re: [johanson] MS Streets & Trips in México

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The only system I have read about is a Garmin chip for Mexico. The OP would be wise to buy a Guia Rojo atlas of the carreteras of Mexico - Amazon.com carries them in the US. Sometimes the old fashioned way is the only way!

Flaekingur

Nov 21, 2008, 10:06 AM

Post #4 of 14 (6795 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] MS Streets & Trips in México

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My present 2007 version of Streets & Trips actualy has pretty good coverage of highways in Mexico and detailed street data for some major cities, such as Mexico City. The new 2009 version is supposed to have detailed street maps for most cities. The GPS works great in Canada and the US and I am looking forward to trying it in Mexico. This system, installed in my laptop, gives a moving map display, showing my exact position, along with compass direction, and speed. It offers voice prompts of where to turn and can be set to leave a trail showing the route you have followed. This feature is handy in finding a location you have been to previously and wish to return to. Attached are a couple of screen shots of one of the routes I have planned and a close up of Monterrey.
Al


(This post was edited by Flaekingur on Nov 21, 2008, 10:18 AM)
Attachments: Trip 1.JPG (117 KB)

Flaekingur

Nov 21, 2008, 10:25 AM

Post #5 of 14 (6792 views)

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Re: [Flaekingur] MS Streets & Trips in México

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Couldn't get both attachments in one message so here is the second one:
Attachments: Monterey.JPG (177 KB)

delmaracer

Dec 6, 2008, 6:11 PM

Post #6 of 14 (6744 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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I drove from San Felipe, Baja to San Migual this past May. I used a Guia Rojo atlas. The atlas was useful, but the road signs in Mexico are poor. Even the locals say the signs are pretty bad. Be prepared for some frustration when trying to follow the atlas and road signs. I am back home in San Felipe and glad to be back.

Bob


johanson / Moderator


Dec 6, 2008, 7:36 PM

Post #7 of 14 (6737 views)

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Re: [delmaracr] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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I am great at reading maps, but as many of you know, the road signs and street signs sometimes can not be found. Do you know what helps me most?
"A compass". Yep when I bought my knew 2001 Ford Explorer Sport in late 2000, I insisted upon having a compass installed. It was the smartest move I have ever made.

When you are lost, it sure helps when you know what direction you are going. That way, real soon, you find out where you are, if you have a good map with you.

delmaracer

Dec 6, 2008, 8:47 PM

Post #8 of 14 (6733 views)

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Re: [johanson] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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That is a really good idea, but I can't wait til I try the Garmin GPS/Mex to see how it is.

toucantango


Dec 21, 2008, 2:37 PM

Post #9 of 14 (6700 views)

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Re: [delmaracr] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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For what it's worth, we used a Garmin 250W with the Mexico maps from BC right to the door in Ajijic. It was flawless. But there are a couple of tricks that are helpful. We knew we did not want to drive through Guadalajara but rather use the Pereferico. To do that, we set an interim waypoint (the 250W allows 1 interim waypoint) at Guadalajara airport. The gps performed flawlessly door to door except that it did not know about a part of the cuota between Maz and Guad. By that time we were already on the cuota so we didn't care.

The important thing to know is that you have to manage your expectations of the Mexico maps. Outside of major cities such as Guadalajara, DF, Monterey and I think a couple of others, it doesn't have a lot in the way of street labels. It does seem to know, however, most if not all the major and a good number of the minor highways in Mexico. To find the waypoint for my sisters house in Mexico, we used google earth to get a lat long (we knew she was on the Libramiento just up from the Carreterra) which we entered as our final destination. Worked great. To get to Costo in Guad our first time, we used a combination of the costco website, google earth, and guide roja map to find the lat long, then entered that as a waypoint. Got us from Ajijic right to the door without a hitch. We've now used it several times in Guad and it seems to know all the one-way streets and other details like that.

And, don't forget to make sure you save (in you favorites) the exact destination when you reach it . That way you can always get back with no hassle.

Garmin is updating the data for the Mexico maps yearly so if you are here for the long haul, you may want to replace your chip in 2009.

One last thing for those who are considering buyine a Garmin. If you are purchasing any of the current series, they all use the same GPS engine. You can pay up to $900 US for the 880 which has speech recognition, bluetooth, music player and a bunch of other add ons, but the gps engine is the same.




http://www.toucantango.ca

johanson / Moderator


Dec 21, 2008, 6:47 PM

Post #10 of 14 (6682 views)

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Re: [toucantango] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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When I first arrived lakeside in 1996, I don't think I even knew how to spell GPS, or what Garmin was. However, I did something else, which is not as good, but sure beats nothing. I got a Ford Explorer with a built in compass. With that compass and a map, I've been able to find where I was and where to go every time I have been lost.

Just out of curiosity, where are you from in BC.? Our family shares a cottage on "The Island", and of course, I pay for the Star Choice bill. I use my home town, Seattle address as the billing address and then when I head further south, Ajijic, I bring the receiver with me that I sometimes use in Seattle and am able to watch the same TV stations I have watched most of my life (Van, Vic, and Sea) be I in the US, Mex or Can.

Sorry for changing the subject, but I'm just curious where your from.

Oh, for those of you from other parts of the world, "The Island" stands for Vancouver Island, and it's very beautiful there when the sun comes out, which isn't as often as I would like

toucantango


Dec 21, 2008, 7:54 PM

Post #11 of 14 (6674 views)

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Re: [johanson] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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It's a complicated answer, Pete. I'll send you a PM.




http://www.toucantango.ca

delmaracer

Dec 22, 2008, 4:09 PM

Post #12 of 14 (6645 views)

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Re: [toucantango] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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Thank you for the the information about the GPS. It is very helpful to know what I am getting into. I did buy GPS for Dummies, but that was a 2004 publication date and has not been updated, so the book will be an excellent primer.
Bob

S & C

Dec 24, 2008, 1:06 PM

Post #13 of 14 (6606 views)

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Re: [delmaracr] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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I just posted the message below before checking the Technical board.
Can anyone help?

I recently got my 1st GPS unit, a Garmin nuvi 265. It works great in the US. But I didn't have anything on it for my drive down through Mexico this year. I would like to buy something before I drive back in May.
The Garmin Mexico software on their website didn't look like it had much to do with my trip along the gulf coast to the Yucatan. (Matamoros to Tulum, Q Roo).
It seemed to mostly cover central and western Mexico in detail but very lightly on my route

I just saw this link for Global-map and was wondering if anyone has heard of it or used it.
http://www.global-map.net/mx/index.html
(It seems to have more coverage of the area I need but I really couldn't tell from the web site).

Can anyone tell me how good MS Streets and trips covers this gulf coast route?

Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas to all.
Stan
Stan

toddmc


Dec 26, 2008, 11:36 AM

Post #14 of 14 (6574 views)

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Re: [S & C] MS Streets & Trips in M�xico

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Hello

This is what I use on my garmin
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/MexicGPSAtlasEn.htm

Todd

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Our new life in Patzcuaro: http://lifeinthecorazon.blogspot.com

 
 
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