Tips on Selecting a GPS

GPS makes all sorts of navigation easier. When you have a GPS unit and an unobstructed view of the sky, you will never be lost again. There are a assortment of GPS units available, and buying the right one for your needs will help ensure that you get the most from your GPS unit. After all, a unit that does not meet your needs will usually stay at home and not get used. This guide will help you select the correct type of GPS for you so that you'll get years of usage from your GPS.

Step 1: Selecting the right type of unit

Before you purchase a GPS, you need to know about the various types of GPS units out there and how each can meet your requirements. The primary types of GPS units are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS unit you get will vary dependent upon your requirements, and the features you should consider will vary based on the type of device you are getting.

Vehicle GPS systems are a lifesaver if you make trips to lots of different places with which you are not familiar, or you drive for a living. Vehicle GPS systems often come with features that help make operating them in a vehicle very easy: features such as automatic route finding tell you where and when to make turns so that you do not need to take your eyes off the road. Some vehicle GPS devices feature technology that alerts them to real-time traffic conditions so that your route can be recalculated based on current traffic conditions. If you plan on using your GPS chiefly in your vehicle, you should think about a system designed specifically for this sort of usage since these systems tend to come with larger, easier-to-read, screens than most handheld units.

Handheld GPS systems are the most versatile sort of GPS devices for sale. They can be used when hiking, camping, driving, really any place you can go. But, this versatility commonly comes at the cost of advanced features. Since the device needs to be portable, screen size is often limited and this can make many features of a GPS (such as map visuals, route marking, breadcrumb trails, etc) harder to use than in a unit that is fixed in a vehicle or that makes use of a larger screen on a PDA or computer. If you intend on using your GPS mainly for driving, a smaller screen may make it hard to use. If you plan on using your GPS when fishing, walking, or camping, this is most likely the best sort of GPS for you.

GPS systems that connect directly to a PDA or laptop often depend on the computer or PDA for all of the advanced GPS functionality aside from the collection of the data from the GPS satellites. Since a significant amount of the functionality is transferred to the PDA or laptop, the GPS unit itself is often much cheaper than a free-standing GPS unit. But if you intend to use your GPS for in a marine environment, camping, walking, or backpacking, bringing your PDA or laptop may make using your GPS unit more trouble than it's worth. Because of this, GPS units that connect to other devices are usually employed in cars and for folks who navigate by foot in cities. If you are looking for the lowest cost GPS system available and you currently have a GPS-compatible PDA or computer, this may be the optimal choice for you.

Step 2: Selecting GPS Features

Depending on the sort of GPS unit your are looking for, here are some of the features that you will want to think over.

Accuracy -- As a general rule, GPS devices are accurate to within 50 feet. If accuracy is important to you (perhaps you are laying out a course for a race and you really want to make sure you get the 5K distance correct), look for a device with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) since this doubles the accuracy of your GPS system. This feature is usually most useful in handheld units.

Address Finding -- Some GPS devices make it easy for you to enter a target street address. This can be very useful when driving and is a feature most often used in vehicle GPS devices or units used in vehicles.

Automatic Route Finding -- This is most often used in tandem with address finding. This feature sets up the GPS to tell you precisely where to turn to get to a pre-programmed final destination. This is an incredibly useful feature for vehicle devices, or systems used in vehicles, as it allows you to use the unit without having to try and read the GPS while you are driving.

Built-in Maps -- Many GPS devices come with maps that are built-in; for example, all of North America. If plan on buying a device with a built-in map, be sure you get a GPS for your area, particularly if you are buying on-line. In addition, make sure that the map can be upgraded.

Compass -- Believe it or not, there are GPS devices that do not include a compass except for when you are traveling above some minimum speed (often faster than a hiking speed). But there are also GPS systems that come with true compass functionality even when not moving. This feature is usually most useful in handheld GPS systems.

Computer Compatibility -- If you are looking for a GPS device that gets updated maps via a computer (which is most of them), and you are using a non-Windows computer (like a Linux machine or a Mac) make sure that the GPS system is compatible with the type of computer you have. Every GPS device that connects to a computer will support a Windows computer. But support for other operating system varies.

Downloadable Maps -- Many GPS units allow maps to be downloaded into them. This is very nice for people who travel far-and-wide. It also makes it easier to purchase a GPS that has less memory since you can easily swap out the map to fit the area you will be in.

Expandable Memory -- If you are using your GPS unit with maps, you'll want to be certain you have enough memory to support the number of maps you will be using. As it is with computers, the same is true with GPS units: the more memory the better.

Extended Battery Life -- If you are looking for a handheld or PDA attached GPS unit, look closely at the battery life as this can often be the limiting factor in your usage of the GPS.

External Antennas -- Some GPS systems provide for an external antenna to be attached. This is very helpful in vehicle systems where the satellite signal may be degraded by the unit being in a car. It can also be useful in portable devices as it allows you to keep the device in your backpack but still be operational for things like breadcrumbs.

Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS systems include the capability to wirelessly download real-time traffic information. If you drive in an urban area, this is an incredibly useful feature even if you know the area you are in. This feature tends to be available in vehicle systems and in computer/PDA attached devices.

Water-Resistant/Proof -- If you are buying a handheld GPS system and you plan on going hiking, camping, fishing, boating, or doing anything outside with your GPS device, consider looking for a system that has some level of resistance to water. Also, be aware of the difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Water-resistant indicates that the unit can be exposed to small amounts of water but it can't be submerged. If there is a probability your GPS will be totally submerged, you need a waterproof GPS, not a water-resistant one.

Article Directory: http://www.article-tree.com

Francis is a gadget freak. She has been playing with GPS receivers for well over 10 years. You can see her GPS ratings at eDistiller.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated