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GPS makes navigation much easier. With a GPS device and an unobstructed view of the sky, you'll never be lost again. There are a wide variety of GPS units for sale, and buying the appropriate one for your needs will help ensure that you get the most from your GPS device. After all, a device that does not meet your requirements tends to stay at home and not be used. This guide will help you ascertain the right type of GPS for your needs so that you will get years of employment from your GPS. Step 1: Selecting the correct type of unit Before you buy a GPS, you have to know about the various types of GPS units available and how each can meet your specific needs. The important types of GPS devices are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS unit you select will vary based on your needs, and the features you should look for will vary based on the type of unit you are getting. Vehicle GPS units are a great benefit 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 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 feature technology that makes them aware of real-time traffic conditions and they can re-map your route based on the current traffic. If you plan to use your GPS mainly in your car, you should look for a device designed specifically for this kind of usage as these devices usually have bigger, easier-to-read, screens than most handheld devices. Handheld GPS devices tend to be the most versatile sort of GPS devices available. They can be used when hiking, camping, driving, really any place you can go. However, this increased versatility often results in a device that has fewer advanced features. Since the device needs to be portable, the 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 computer or PDA. If you plan on using your GPS mainly for driving, the small screen may make it harder to use. If you intend on using your GPS when fishing, walking, or camping, this is most likely the best sort of GPS for you. GPS systems that link up directly to a laptop or PDA often depend on the PDA or computer for all of the advanced GPS functionality aside from the collection of the positioning data from the GPS satellites. Because a lot of the functionality is moved to the computer or PDA, the GPS system itself is often much cheaper than a stand-alone GPS system. But if you plan on using your GPS for walking, backpacking, camping, or in a marine environment, taking your PDA or laptop 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 vehicles and for people who navigate by foot in cities. If you are looking for the lowest cost GPS unit available and you currently have a GPS-compatible PDA or computer, this may be the optimal choice for you. Step 2: Picking GPS Features Based on the type of GPS system your are looking for, here are some of the features that you should think over. Accuracy -- In general, GPS units have an accuracy of about 50 feet. If accuracy is something you value (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 unit with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) as this at least doubles the accuracy of a GPS unit. This feature tends to be most useful in handheld units. Address Finding -- Some GPS devices let you to enter a specific street address. This can be very handy when driving and is a feature most often found in vehicle GPS units or units used in vehicles. Automatic Route Finding -- This is most often used in conjunction with address finding. This feature configures the GPS so that it will tell you precisely where to turn to get to a pre-programmed final destination. This is a very useful feature for vehicle systems, or systems used in vehicles, as it allows you to use the device without having to try and read the GPS while you are driving. Built-in Maps -- Lots of GPS units come with maps that are built-in; for example, all of the United States. If plan on buying a unit with a pre-installed map, make sure you get a GPS for your area, particularly if you are shopping on-line. In addition, make sure that the map can be updated. Compass -- It seems counter-intuitive, but there are lots of GPS devices that do not have a compass except for when you are traveling above some minimum speed (usually faster than a hiking speed). But there are GPS systems that include true compass functionality even when stopped. This feature is usually most useful in handheld GPS devices. Computer Compatibility -- If you are looking for 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 system is compatible with the type of computer you have. Every GPS device that connects to a computer will support a Windows computer. But compatibility with other operating system varies. Downloadable Maps -- Many GPS systems allow maps to be downloaded onto them. This is very nice for users who travel far-and-wide. It also allows you to get away with purchasing a GPS with 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'll want to make sure that you have sufficient memory to support 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. Even better is expandable/swappable memory so that you can be sure you'll never run out of space. Extended Battery Life -- If you are going to be buying a PDA attached or handheld GPS unit, pay close attention to the battery life as this can often be the limiting factor in using your GPS. External Antennas -- Some GPS units allow an external antenna to be used. 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 helpful in portable systems since it allows you to keep the unit in your backpack but still be operating for things like breadcrumbs. Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS units come with the capability to wirelessly download real-time traffic information. If you live in an urban area, this can be an incredibly useful feature even if you know 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 buying a handheld GPS unit and you plan on going backpacking, boating, fishing, camping, or doing anything outside with your GPS unit, consider getting a device that has some level of resistance to water. Also, know the difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Water-resistant indicates that the system can be exposed to small amounts of water but it cannot be completely submerged. If there is a chance your GPS will be submerged, you need a waterproof GPS, not a water-resistant one.
Article Source: http://www.articlegush.com
Francis is a lover of electronics. She's been using GPS receivers for upwards of 10 years. You can read her GPS rankings at eDistiller.
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