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I was doing some searches for GPS units that I can use for our trip to
Costa Rica and came across this site that says that they have CR mapped out for use with a Garmin unit.
I checked with Garmin and while Garmin itself has no mapping of CR, they said that the company used their mapping tool and mapped CR.
If anyone is familiar with what they are offering and has any inout I would appreciate it.
Here is a link to the site.Thanks Phil
There was an article about this company in La Nacion and the reporters visited their offices for a demonstartion but unfortunately, for whatever reason, they were unable to get their systems to work that day… ???
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comI also tried to get information from them. They told me by Email that the whole country is set up for their system but when I asked for a specific place the Emails suddenly stopped coming. I had previously tried to talk to them on the phone but nobody answered. It’s my guess that you can rent their equipment but if it doesn’t work it’s your problem and, of course, no refinds. Yet another rip-off to steer clear of.
I talked to them today on the phone and hope that they have any of these problems worked out.
I will let you know how it works out.
PhilChariotdriver,
I fail to see the practical use of a GPS unit for a typical tourist in Costa Rica. Tom Tom, MapQuest, and other mapping applications rely on standardized addresses, a rarity in Costa Rica. It’s tough enough just to find an accurate paper road map of anything other than San Jose and the main national highways, much less most other towns, and these are only used by tourists.
Directions are based on landmarks, many of which are long gone. Tom Tom would have a fit if you fed these actual addresses into them:
From Matute Gomez’s house (an ex Venezuelan dictator who died half a century ago), 100 meters south, 50 meters west, white house on right after barking dog…
From El Higuerón, (a tree in Lourdes that fell down over a decade ago), 50 meters south, after Doña Titi’s house…
The bus station “La Coca Cola” is called that because the Coca Cola factory was there more than 30 years ago. Even now there is no sign which designates the place as “La Coca Cola”…
I can understand GPS applications for real estate valuation & assessments, utility lines placement, and other such uses, but if a tourist is using it to find their may out of a jungle, well, they already made a big mistake…
I thought for the price, if it works, it could “help” us find our destination across the country. Might keep us from getting off on some side roads that are not planned.
I plan on using it as a back up to a paper map to make sure that it is working properly.
I’m not going to totally rely on it but thought that it being combined with other information might be useful for highways, police stations, hospitals and what ever else might be needed. Let me try it out and I will report back here to let everyone know how it worked out.
PhilEdited on Apr 05, 2007 05:47
GringoTico, you say “I can understand GPS applications for real estate valuation & assessments, utility lines placement, and other such uses, but if a tourist is using it to find their may out of a jungle, well, they already made a big mistake…
Well, I asked them specifically about using it for real estate purposes, boundaries, elevation of hills, etc and they were stumped. They had no answer. So, if it is no good for addresses and no good for real estate, what is it good for? Can it direct us to the bathroom at the airport?
I don’t like to pour cold water on anyone’s idea for a new business and, if it worked I would tell everyone about it. But I’m afraid this is going to be an expensive toy that just doesn’t work in Costa Rica.
Hi,
GPS units can use standarized addresses to guide you to points of interest (you search by address), but these units can also search by the name of the place you need to go. In fact, where there are no standarized addresses is where they are needed the most.
As long as the road is mapped, you can get out of the jungle. Applications for real estate can be easily developed. The only thing that needs to be done is to mark the points of interest, in this case the location of the estates. Elevation of hills can be displayed, but not in your normal car navigator, you need another equipment for this, such as the MAP 60.
Not really. The article was with the Tico Times, and they did get to their destination. You can look at it here: http://www.rsgps.net/images/site/ticotimes.jpg
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