Tips on Buying a GPS

GPS makes navigation much easier. When you have a GPS device and a clear view of the sky, you'll never end up lost again. There are a large assortment of GPS devices for sale, and purchasing the appropriate one that fits your needs will guarantee that you get the most from your GPS device. A device that does not meet your needs tends to stay at home and not be used. This article will help you pick out the right type of GPS for you so that you'll get years of usage from your GPS.

Step 1: Selecting the correct type of device

To start, you need to know about the different types of GPS units that are available and how each will meet your specific requirements. The important types of GPS units are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS unit you get will vary based on your needs, and the features you should consider will vary based on the type of device you are purchasing.

Vehicle GPS systems are a huge time save if you drive for a living or visit lots of different places with which you are not familiar. Vehicle GPS units often come with features that help make using them in a car much easier: features like automatic route finding which tell you when and where to make turns so that you do not need to take your eyes off the road. Some vehicle GPS units even come with technology that makes them aware of real-time traffic-reports so that your route can be recalculated based on traffic conditions. If you plan to use your GPS mainly in your vehicle, you should consider a system designed specifically for this kind of usage as these units usually come with bigger, easier-to-read, screens than handheld systems.

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

GPS systems that link up directly to a PDA or laptop often depend on the PDA or computer for all of the advanced GPS functionality except for the gathering of the data from the GPS satellites. Because a significant amount of the functionality is transferred to the computer or PDA, the GPS system itself is often much cheaper than a free-standing GPS device. But if you plan on using your GPS for in a marine environment, camping, hiking, or backpacking, bringing your laptop or PDA may make using your GPS unit more trouble than it is worth. As such, GPS devices that connect to another device are more commonly used in vehicles and for people who navigate by foot in cities. If you are searching for the cheapest GPS unit around and you already have a GPS-compatible computer or PDA, this may be the best choice for you.

Step 2: Picking GPS Features

Depending on the sort of GPS unit your are buying, here are some features that you should examine.

Accuracy -- In general, GPS units have an accuracy of about 50 feet. If accuracy is something you value , look for a unit with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) as this at least doubles the accuracy of your GPS system. This is usually most useful in handheld units.

Address Finding -- Some GPS units make it easy for you to enter a specific street address. This is very handy when driving and is a feature most often found in vehicle GPS systems or units used in vehicles.

Automatic Route Finding -- This is often used in conjunction with address finding. This feature configures the GPS so that it will tell you exactly where to turn to get to a programmed address. This is an incredibly useful feature for vehicle devices, or units used in vehicles, as it allows you to use the system without having to take your eyes off the road.

Built-in Maps -- Many GPS devices come with maps that are pre-installed; for example, all of the United States. If you are purchasing a unit with a pre-installed map, make sure you get a GPS for the right area, particularly if you are purchasing on-line. In addition, make sure that the map can be updated. If you plan on having your GPS for several years, you can be certain of roads changing during that time.

Compass -- Believe it or not, there are GPS devices that do not include a compass unless you are traveling above some minimum speed (often faster than a walking speed). But there are GPS systems that include true compass functionality even when you are stopped. This feature tends to be most useful in handheld GPS systems.

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

Downloadable Maps -- Many GPS systems allow maps to be downloaded into them. This is very nice for people who travel far-and-wide. It also makes it easier to get 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 make sure you have enough memory to hold the number of maps you will wanted loaded in your GPS. As it is with computers, the same is true with GPS devices: the more memory the better.

Extended Battery Life -- If you are looking for a PDA attached or handheld GPS system, pay particular attention to the battery life as this may be the limiting factor in using your GPS.

External Antennas -- Some GPS units provide for an external antenna to be attached. This can be helpful in vehicle systems where the satellite signal may be reduced by the system being in a car. It can also be useful in portable systems since it allows you to keep the unit packed but still be operating for things like breadcrumbs.

Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS systems come with the ability to download real-time traffic information. If you reside in an urban area, this is an incredibly useful feature even if you are familiar with the area you are in. This feature tends to be available in vehicle units and in computer/PDA attached units.

Water-Resistant/Proof -- If you are considering a handheld GPS device and you plan on going backpacking, boating, fishing, camping, or doing anything outdoors with your GPS device, consider getting a device that has some level of resistance to water. Also, know the difference between waterproof and water-resistant. Water-resistant indicates that the device can be exposed to small amounts of water but it typically can't be completely submerged. If there is a chance your GPS will be totally submerged, you need a waterproof GPS, not a water-resistant one.

Article Source: http://www.ezx-articles.com

Francis is a gadget freak. She's been making use of GPS receivers for well over 10 years. You can check out her GPS ratings at eDistiller.

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