An article on GPS and related topics

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How to Select a GPS Unit

By: Buster Carnelli

GPS makes navigation much easier. When you have a GPS unit and an unobstructed view of the sky, you'll never be lost again. There are a variety of GPS devices available, and buying the best one for your needs will guarantee that you get the most out of your GPS device. After all, a unit that does not meet your needs will usually sit on the shelf and not be used. This guide will help you determine the right type of GPS for you so that you will get years of usage from your GPS.

Step 1: Picking the correct type of device

To start, you need to know about the different types of GPS units available and how each can meet your specific needs. The primary types of GPS devices are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS unit you buy will vary based on your requirements, and the features you should look for will vary based on the type of unit you are buying.

Vehicle GPS systems are a great benefit if you drive for a living or make trips to lots of different places with which you are not familiar. Vehicle GPS devices may also come with features which make operating them in a car very easy: features such as automatic route finding which tell you when and where to make turns so that you can keep your eyes on the road. Some vehicle GPS units feature technology that alerts them to real-time traffic-reports and they can re-map your route based on the current traffic. If you plan on using your GPS primarily in your car, you should consider a device designed specifically for this type of usage as these systems tend to come with larger, easier-to-read, screens than handheld systems.

Handheld GPS devices tend to be the most versatile sort of GPS units available. They can be used when hiking, camping, driving, really any place you can go. However, this increased 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 breadcrumbs, route marking, visuals, etc) more difficult to use than in a device 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 primarily in your vehicle, a smaller screen may make it hard to use. If you intend on using your GPS when camping, fishing, or walking, this is probably the best sort of GPS for you.

GPS units that connect directly to a laptop or PDA commonly depend on the computer or PDA for all of the GPS functionality aside from the gathering of the data from the GPS satellites. Since a lot of the functionality is moved to the computer or PDA, the GPS device itself is usually much cheaper than a free-standing GPS device. However, if you plan on using your GPS for walking, backpacking, camping, or in a marine environment, bringing your laptop or PDA may make using your GPS device more trouble than it's worth. Because of this, GPS systems that connect to another device are most often used in vehicles and for people who navigate by foot in cities. If you are searching for the cheapest GPS device available and you already have a GPS-compatible computer or PDA, this may be the right option for you.

Step 2: Picking GPS Features

Depending on the kind of GPS unit your are getting, here are some of the features you should look at.

Accuracy -- In general, GPS devices are accurate to within 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), consider a unit with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) since this doubles the accuracy of your GPS unit. This is usually most useful in handheld units.

Address Finding -- Some GPS devices let you to enter a target street address. This is 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 often used in tandem with address finding. This feature configures the GPS to tell you precisely where to turn to get to a programmed address. This is an incredibly useful feature for vehicle systems, or systems used in vehicles, since 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 pre-installed; for example, all of Europe. If plan on getting a system 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.

Compass -- It seems counter-intuitive, but there are GPS systems that do not include a compass unless you are traveling above some minimum speed (usually faster than a hiking speed). But there are also GPS systems that come with true compass functionality even when stopped. This feature is usually most useful on handheld GPS systems.

Computer Compatibility -- If you are looking at a GPS unit that gets updated maps via a computer (which is most of them), and you are using a non-Windows computer (like a Mac or a Linux machine) be sure that the GPS unit can connect to the type of computer you have. Every GPS device 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 onto them. This is very nice for users who travel to a wide variety of places. It also makes it easier to buy 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 system with maps, you will want to make sure you have sufficient memory to hold the number of maps you will be using. As it is with computers, the same is true with GPS systems: the more memory the better. Even better is expandable/swappable memory so that you can be sure you'll never run out.

Extended Battery Life -- If you are going to be getting a handheld or PDA attached GPS device, look closely at the battery life as this may 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 degraded by the system being in a car. It can also be helpful in portable units since it allows you to keep the unit in your backpack but still be operational for things like creating trails.

Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS units include the capability to download real-time traffic information. If you reside 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 PDA/computer attached systems.

Water-Resistant/Proof -- If you are purchasing a handheld GPS unit and you plan on going fishing, backpacking, hiking, boating, or doing anything outdoors with your GPS system, think about looking for 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 can't be totally submerged. If there is a chance your GPS will be completely submerged, you should consider a waterproof GPS, not one that is water-resistant.

Article Source: http://ezine-articles-planet.com

Buster is a lover of electronics. He's been making use of GPS devices for over 10 years. You can check out his GPS rankings at gps-rankings.com.

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