Sat, 07 Mar 1998 10:29:09 +0100 - Message No. 2308
From: Richard Rosenberger

Subject: Re: It may sound crazy but...


Considering GPS III from Garmin:

>Hi guys,
>Just for kicks, I checked at the local Wal-Mart store in Wyoming today.
>(with the boating stuff)
>They have the Garmin GPS III for US$368.98, in case any of you guys are
>considering 'smuggling' and have a trip to the US planned.
>Now, if I could just fit an AT in my pocket for the trip BACK to the
>States.......
>Darrin Fink   doki7xh@coffey.com
>Y-Knot Ranch
>Douglas, Wyoming

There is an little problem with smuggling the Garmin GPS III from the US to
Europe,
I did some homework and asked some US-dealers if they can deliver the 
Garmin GPS III with european maps, thats because the US version of the GPS
III has no 
detailed maps of Europe. This information quoted below is from a US-user:

Quote
  "The unit I have has a detailed US map installed but I have also seen 
   some European features on it that are less detailed.  I have gone to the
   map display and panned to South America and Europe and seen a certain
   amount of detail but not as much as North America."
Unquote

So i had E-mailed a dealer in the US, and he replied:

Quote
  "Hi richard , 
  Garmin will not allow US dealers to sell the european version.
  I suspect it is because our marketplace is much more competitive over 
  here and they are trying to keep the euro dealers margin up.
  (i don't know for sure)
  I'm sorry I cannot help you,
  Regards,  Drew R  (the GPS Store) "
Unquote

Here in the Netherlands the GPS III costs about Hfl 1300.--  (abt US$ 650.-)
In the US the price is US$ 365.- (abt Hfl 730.-)

if you are looking for a lot of information about GPS try this newsgroups:
sci.geo.sattelite-nav  (a lot of GPS stuff)
rec.radio.swap


dipper@normans.isd.uni-stuttgart.de