A portable GPS should use standard mini-USB power (but which ones do)?

Where can we find a list of which GPS units use standard mini-USB power?
Does the Garmin Nuvi 350/360 use mini-USB to power & charge the batteries?

I am finally going to buy a portable GPS for utomobile & walking but I will
only buy portable electronics (camera, phone, gps, etc.) that uses standard
mini-USB to power and recharge the unit.

Why? Because that is better for the earth and for you and me. I can keep a
single USB charger in each vehicle. I can bring a single charger on
vacation. And in emergencies, I can recharge from the PC using a single
standard USB-to-miniUSB cable. In short, I'll never buy another portable
electronic unit which isn't mini-USB powered.

Having said that, I read the entire Consumer Reports article on portable
GPS navigation systems, and it doesn't say anywhere if the units use
standard mini-USB supplies to power the unit & charge the batteries.

Since the top-rated unit for Consumer Reports was the Garmin Nuvi 350/360,
may I ask you experts if the mini-USB connector is used for powering the
unit and recharging the batteries or just for data. If it's just for data,
that makes this GPS unit useless for portable applications.

What GPS units are powered and recharge their batteries using mini USB?

On Mon, 28 May 2007 21:09:07 GMT, sarah bennett


My Mio A701 does.
--
Andrew, contact via http://interpleb.googlepages.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
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Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

I thought the whole idea was for them to be powered from the vehicle they
were fitted to and were stand alone while in use.
--

Robert Peffers,
Kelty,
Fife,
Scotland, (UK).

On Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:15 +0100, Robert Peffers. wrote:


Hi there Robert,

You are correct. In my vehicle and that of my friends, we simply keep a
single 12volt mini USB plug in adapter. This powers our telephone, our
earbud, our mp3 player, and even our pocket camera. Most people nowadays
won't buy ANY portable electronics that isn't powered by this single
standard mini USB power supply.

When we go on a vacation or a trip, we take a single 120/220 volt mini-USB
charger for the same reasons. In a pinch, we don't even need the electrical
chargers because a single USB to mini USB computer cable will charge all
our devices!

This is good for the environment because there is tremendously less waste.
This is good for your pocket because electronics will cost less now that
they don't need to supply a charger with every unit.
This is good for your bags because you don't have to bring a separate
charger for your phone, earbud, camera, mp3 player, and GPS unit.
This is good for the unit because if you lose or break the power supply,
you can pick one up at the very next drugstore. That's what standards are
all about. Green.

Having said that, I can't find in Garmin Nuvi 350 and Nuvi 360 reviews
whether the mini USB port is simply a data port or if it doubles as a
charger and power connector. If not, the unit is useless. If so, I'll buy
it.

Does anyone know if the Garmin Nuvi 350 or Nuvi 360 are powered by the mini
USB port?

sarah

I was in electronics for over 50 years and I have a small motor home as my
everyday vehicle. My main hobbies all involve electronics. Still
photography, videography, (large semi-pro camcorder and two smaller ones),
video editing, computers, music and short wave radio. These all go with me
in the motor home. I also have an analogue TV, a DVD/CD player and a digital
TV tuner. Not to mention the usual mobile phone but no i-pod, (I use a
mini-disk unit instead). Now the point of all this is that all these units
need powered when I am away from home. Yet I have not one USB charger among
the whole lot. Instead I have a small settable mains voltage power supply
and a tiny case of power adapters. These work also with the 12 volt power
supply from the vehicle. Now, into the bargain, I broke my back years ago
and am often forced to use an electric mobility scooter. All the above are
able to be powered from the vehicle's 12 volt system. I do also have a small
inverter fitted under the passenger seat but need it very seldom. Oh! And I
have never had a flat battery on the equipment nor on the vehicle. I have
though, had several failed USB connectors.
--

Robert Peffers,
Kelty,
Fife,
Scotland, (UK).