Hi Howard,

A few thoughts.  I don't know how the PacMate would work but definitely the 
VoiceNote with GPSNote and the Trekker would do the job from a blindness 
standpoint.  The Trekker is the cheapest solution at around $1600.


Some other considerations:

One possibility is at
http://www.advancednavigation.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_48&products_id=91
It is entirely a voice-input system, but I understand the developers haven't 
updated the software as promised.

Another possibility is to look at the voice navigation system from 
tomtom.com.  I don't think it is voice input as the above system is, but it 
does give voice instructions.

Finally, if the driver doesn't need turn-by-turn prompting, if your friend 
calls 1-800-555-TELL and says "driving Directions," if he knows the starting 
point and destination addresses, it will give turn-by-turn instructions such 
as turn left on First street, go 1.6 miles to the I-216 ramp.  Take I-216 
for twenty-four miles to Exit 43.

Hth,
Steve, K8SP


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Howard Kaufman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 6:58 PM
Subject: gps


> Not admitedly ham radio, but I hope I can get help on this one.  A
> friend of mine has a job, where he needs to drive around the state
> managing donation banks for his charity.  He hires a driver, but can
> make this project much more efficient if he acts as the navigator
> using a GPS system.  He would like to put in fourteen or more
> addresses, and have the GPS figure out the best route to get from
> home to them, and back home.
> 1.  Has anybody done something like this with packmate or trecker?
> 2.  Is their any usable standard GPS units that might do the job that
> a totally blind person can run?
> 3.  Does anybody know where else I can go to find an answer to this
> type of question?
> 4.  My friend doesn't do any real independant traveling on foot, so
> all of his GPS work will be done from with in a car.
> 5.  Is their a web resource that might yield the same results for
> free?  Hate to spend money where it is not necessary.  I hate even
> more to see money spent where it won't allow the needed task to be 
> performed.
>
>
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