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GPS makes all sorts of navigation easier. When you have a GPS device and an unobstructed view of the sky, you'll never be lost again. There are a large assortment of GPS devices available, and purchasing the best one for your needs will ensure that you get the most out of your GPS unit. After all, a device that does not work well for your requirements will tend stay at home and not be used. This article will help you pick out the best type of GPS for you so that you'll get years of utilization from your GPS. Step 1: Selecting the right type of unit To start, you have to understand the various types of GPS devices available and how each will meet your specific needs. The primary types of GPS devices are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS unit you get will vary dependent upon your needs, and the features you should consider will vary based on the type of device you are buying. Vehicle GPS units are a great benefit if you drive for a living or visit lots of different locations with which you are not familiar. Vehicle GPS systems usually come with features which make using them in a vehicle very easy: features such as automatic route finding which tell you when and where to make turns so that you don't need to take your eyes off the road. Some vehicle GPS devices come with technology that alerts them to real-time traffic-reports so that your route can be recalculated based on current traffic conditions. If you plan on using your GPS mainly in your vehicle, you should consider a unit designed specifically for this type of usage since these devices tend to have bigger, easier-to-read, screens than handheld systems. Handheld GPS devices tend to be the most versatile type of GPS systems available. They can be used when camping, hiking, driving, really any place you can go. But, this increased versatility usually comes at the cost of advanced features. Since the entire 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 unit that is fixed in a vehicle or that makes use of a larger screen on a PDA or computer. If you plan on using your GPS mainly for driving, a smaller screen may make it less safe to use. If you plan on using your GPS when camping, fishing, or walking, this is most likely the best sort of GPS for you. GPS systems that link up directly to a PDA or laptop often depend on the computer or PDA for all of the advanced GPS functionality except for the collection of the positioning data from the GPS satellites. Since a significant amount of the functionality is moved to the PDA or laptop, the GPS device itself is usually much cheaper than a free-standing GPS unit. However, if you intend to use your GPS for in a marine environment, camping, hiking, or backpacking, bringing your laptop or PDA may make using your GPS system more trouble than it is worth. Because of this, GPS devices that connect to other devices are more commonly used in cars and for folks who navigate by foot in cities. If you are looking for the lowest cost GPS device available and you currently have a GPS-compatible computer or PDA, this may be the best option for you. Step 2: Selecting GPS Features Based on the kind of GPS system your are buying, here are some features you should think over. Accuracy -- In general, GPS systems have an accuracy of about 50 feet. If accuracy is something you value , search for a system with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) since this doubles the accuracy of a GPS device. This feature is usually most useful in handheld units. Address Finding -- Some GPS units let you to enter a target street address. This can be very useful when driving and is a feature most often found in vehicle GPS systems or units used in vehicles. Automatic Route Finding -- This is most often used in tandem with address finding. This feature configures the GPS so that it will tell you where to turn to get to a programmed final destination. This is a very useful feature for vehicle units, or units used in vehicles, since it allows you to use the device without having to take your eyes off the road. Built-in Maps -- Many GPS units come with maps that are pre-installed; for example, all of Europe. If you are buying a unit with a built-in map, be sure you get a GPS for the right area, particularly if you are shopping on-line. In addition, make sure that the map can be upgraded. 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 lots of GPS devices that do not have a compass unless you are traveling above some minimum speed (usually faster than a walking speed). But there are also GPS devices that provide true compass functionality even when not moving. This feature tends to be most useful on handheld GPS devices. Computer Compatibility -- If you are looking for a GPS system 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 system is compatible with the type of computer you have. Every GPS system that connects to a computer will support a Windows machine. But compatibility with other operating system varies. Downloadable Maps -- Many GPS devices allow maps to be downloaded into them. This is very nice for people who travel to a wide variety of places. It also allows you to get away with getting 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 plan to use your GPS unit with maps, you will want to be certain you have sufficient 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 units: the more memory the better. Even better is swappable/expandable memory so that you can be sure you'll never run out of space. Extended Battery Life -- If you are looking for a PDA attached or handheld GPS unit, look closely at the battery life as this may be the limiting factor in your usage of the GPS. External Antennas -- Some GPS units allow an external antenna to be used. This can be useful in vehicle devices where the satellite signal may be impeded by the device being in a car. It can also be helpful in portable devices as it allows you to keep the device in your backpack but still be operating for things like breadcrumbs. Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS devices have the ability to wirelessly download real-time traffic information. If you drive in an urban area, this can be an incredibly useful feature even if you are familiar with the area you are in. This feature tends to be available in vehicle devices and in computer/PDA attached units. Water-Resistant/Proof -- If you are considering a handheld GPS system and you plan on going hiking, camping, fishing, boating, or doing anything outdoors with your GPS system, think about looking for a system that has some level of resistance to water. Also, know the difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Water-resistant indicates that the device can be exposed to small amounts of water but it typically can't be totally submerged. If there is a probability your GPS will be completely submerged, you need a waterproof GPS, not one that is water-resistant.
Article Source: http://www.articles4y.com
Francis is a lover of electronics. She's been making use of GPS devices for more than 10 years. You can read her GPS ratings at eDistiller.
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