Auto GPS

TomTom Go 930T Vs Garmin Nuvi 765T – A Comparison of GPS Systems

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:08:55 +0000

You are trying to decide which new GPS system you should purchase and the choices are daunting. Here is a comparison of the TomTom Go 930T vs the Garmin Nuvi 765T to give you some assistance. Both are higher end units and both are made by reputable companies in the GPS navigation business. This is meant only as a comparison, not a competition since both are good GPS systems and each has features that will be relevant to different sectors.

Let’s start out with the features that both the TomTom Go 930T and the Garmin Nuvi 765T have in common. They both offer 4.3″ wide screen displays that are easily viewed in most lighting conditions. Both units offer Bluetooth to pair with compatible cell phones for hands free talking. These units both offer advanced lane guidance to show you which lane you need to be in to negotiate those complicated freeway interchanges. Text to voice is a feature that is offered by both units to tell you as well as show you which street you should be turning on. You can play your MP3s on both units through the SD card expansion and they both have pre-loaded Points of Interest (POIs) to more easily guide you to restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and other important places when you are in an unfamiliar location.

Both units offer real time traffic monitoring however it is free (ad supported) on the Garmin Nuvi 765T and is an additional paid service on the TomTom Go 930T. The TomTom unit offers both 2D and 3D maps to give you a more realistic perspective of your location. The TomTom has a customizable interface while the Garmin unit has a basic interface. The TomTom Go 930T offers I-Q routing which uses past traffic history to select the fastest, most efficient route. The Garmin Nuvi 765T uses Econo routing to save you precious fuel. The TomTom GPS system offers voice recognition programming of addresses while the Garmin does not.

Hopefully this comparison has helped you with your decision making. Whichever GPS system you decide to buy, happy travels.

By: John M Joseph

Why are GPS’s so Popular?

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:55:20 +0000

It seems like the hot item for this holiday season is a GPS. These items have been quite popular for years, especially in aviation. The reason why they are so popular is because they are reliable. No matter where you are in the world the GPS will be able to pick up your location via satellite and by searching the maps it has the GPS is able to direct you step by step to your final destination. Pilots find this especially helpful when they are in the air and need to reach a specific location. If the instruments on board were to go out a Garmin Avionics GPS could save the day and allow the pilot to arrive and land with no passenger ever being the wiser. Every pilot has it or another brand of GPS to help them out regardless of whether they are flying for pleasure or work. The reason why that is the GPS has so much to offer.

First of all, a GPS is capable of locating you on a map and taking you where you need to go. It is also able to give you up to date information on the weather you may be flying or driving into, which is crucial if you are focused on safety and a fast arrival. Knowing where the bad weather is just might allow you to go around it, saving time and frustration. Another benefit of is that it can give you up to date traffic information. This is really good because if you are trying to reach your destination by a certain time and see there is a bad wreck up ahead then you can easily take an alternate route and still arrive on time. It is really amazing at how wonderful a it really is and how it manages to get you from point A to point B and alert you to weather and road conditions.

Once you are finally on the ground or out of the car the GPS can help you find restaurants, points of interest, and much more. This is really great because if you are in an area where you do not know the directions to a particular destination or if you are looking for a particular restaurant then the GPS can help you find it. A GPS makes life easy when you are on the road, whether flying or driving, and that is why the GPS equipment is so popular.

By: Caitlina Fuller

Motorrad Navigator II GPS Navigation System

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:23:21 +0000

Owners of BMW motorcycles have a new technology available to them to provide up to the minute directions and navigation throughout all of Europe. BMW’s latest GPS unit for their motorcycles is a huge step up from their previous model. This model features an upgraded memory chip, up to 2 GB from 512 MB. The model also comes with a road map covering all of Eastern Europe installed right out of the box. This is a great feature because prior to this model you would have to take the unit to your pc and download the appropriate maps onto the unit. With this model you simple have to mount the unit to your motorcycle and attach the battery cable and you are ready to take off on the road.

Riders will find the new touch screen a vast improvement over the previous model and it has been retuned for easier use with gloved hands. The unit has been rated for use in snow and in rain, and against extreme heat and cold. The units increased memory and processors allow for virtually instantaneous updates of information and position. As with the previous model it still provides the rider with elapsed time, estimated time to destination, current speed, average speed and top speed. This models positioning is extremely accurate as it pulls information from twelve different satellites when coordinating your position. Most GPS units only use the information of four satellites and this gives the BMW model a greater advantage at calculating your exact position on the globe.

As for drivers or riders of non-BMW bikes, this unit can be used with any vehicle or motorcycle and will require minimal mounting and wiring. For an automobile it comes equipped with a cigarette lighter plug and can be mounted fairly easily to most vehicles. Pedestrians can also use this unit with its battery powered option. This product is available at all BMW dealerships and online at the BMW website.

By: David Stone

Motorcycle GPS Makes For Better Travels

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:20:25 +0000

If you have ever traveled on a motorcycle across country you know what the hassles can be associated with it. It can be a drag having to stop ever so often to find the correct route. Most of the time you will have to pull over on the highway and with traffic flying by it is really hard to read a map sometimes. This is why getting a GPS unit for your motorcycle is something you really should consider. It will make traveling a lot easier as you will be able to have more time to enjoy your ride instead of having to worry about which turn to make all the time. Let us look a little closer at GPS on motorcycles and how it can actually help you.

Over the years many different companies have come out with Motorcycle GPS, but none have worked very well until the Zumo550. This portable GPS unit is from Garmin and has many great features that will make traveling so much easier. It is very easy to operate and has all the features anybody who rides a motorcycle would ever need. You also get the Garmin name, which is the industry leader as far as GPS technology is concerned. Turn by turn navigation is something you will like from this unit as well as touch display and easy accessible controls make your traveling much easier than ever before. This is a very solid performer that will last you for years. Let’s look at how it will make life easier for you as you’re on the road as well.

One of the hardest things to do when you’re driving a motorcycle is to watch everything around you. With traffic and other obstacles that could be fatal you must stay very alert and this usually causes you to miss an exit and makes traveling much tougher than ever before. This is where a motorcycle GPS unit can really make things much easier. With turn-by-turn navigation you will be able to see what exit you need before you get right upon it. You will have much more time to react and in the end you will be much safer as you will not be weaving in and out of traffic because you will know exactly where you need to be.

Most of the newer motorcycle GPS units have a fuel monitor on them which means it will give you a warning when you are getting low on fuel so you will know exactly when it is time to fuel up. Now finding a gas station especially out on the road can be tough sometimes, but with GPS technology that will not be a problem either. With a touch of a button you will be able to pull up the points of interest database. This database will have a list of gas stations and exactly what exit they are on and how many miles away from you. This takes all the guesswork out and makes sure you never run out of fuel.

Motorcycle GPS will also make traveling on your motorcycle much more fun as well. No more worrying about how to get somewhere or how many more miles to go. It will all be right at your fingertips. This is why getting a GPS system for your bike could be the best investment you ever make. The hours that a unit of this type will save you is immeasurable. Most people who get one will tell you they would never leave home without it. Many people worry about hooking one of these up, but in reality it is real easy and does not take much time at all. The learning curve is real short as well so you will be on the road heading in the right direction very quickly.

If you travel a lot and want to make that experience even more fun than by all means grab a GPS unit for your motorcycle. One of the best around is the Garmin Zumo550, which has many extras that you will love. It is easy to hookup and operates so you will be on the road in no time at all. GPS technology is the wave of the future why not has it on your motorcycle as well. It will save you money in wasted trips and wrong turns that it will pay for it probably is just a few uses. I know as a rider I have made so many wrong turns, but now with GPS technology those turns will be a thing of the past for me.

By: Jeffrey Meier

Features Needed For a Deer Hunting GPS Unit

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:52 +0000

If you’re looking for a portable GPS unit for your next deer hunting trip there are several features that you need to look for. You will also need to consider your own personal needs when out in the field and choose a unit whose features work best for your situation. So be sure to thoroughly research your choices and keep the following features in mind.

1. Long Battery Life – Whether you’re spending a weekend or a week in the woods deer hunting the last thing you need to worry about running out of power. Good portable GPS units will last between 15 to 25 hours on a set of batteries. Keep this in mind when deciding how many spare batteries to take on your hunting trip.

2. Internal Memory – GPS units keep track of specific spots as waypoints. These waypoints can be a bread crumb trail that leads to a good hunting spot or a collection of goof hunting areas. The more waypoints you store the more memory you will need so be sure to get a GPS with at least 14 to 25 megabytes of internal storage.

3. Weight and Portability – When you’re out in the wilderness you don’t want anything bulky weighing you down. A good portable GPS unit weighs less then 2 pounds and fits easily in a pocket.

4. WAAS Capability – You’ll definitely want a unit that has WAAS capability because this gives it an accuracy to within 3 meters. Pin pointing your location is important out in the woods because an inaccurate GPS position is a good way to losing your way.

5. Tough and Water/Weather Resistant – It’s a simple fact that any piece of outdoor equipment needs to be tough and able to withstand the rigors of getting banged around. It also needs to keep working in any and all weather conditions which can be bad during hunting season.

Using a portable GPS unit during your deer hunting trips is a great way to ensure that you stay safe in the woods and can easily find your way back to camp. Keep these important features in mind if you are considering buying such a unit and you’ll be sure to get one that does exactly what you need.

By: Andrew Bicknell

Never Again Drive Abroad Without GPS

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:30:19 +0000

Do you have an upcoming trip where you will be traveling abroad? If so, then it is highly recommend that you take a GPS system with you for any driving that you will be doing over there. There are a multitude of reasons for this.

For starters, it can often be extremely difficult finding your way around in another country. You could easily get lost and end up wasting hours upon hours of your valuable time trying to find a particular destination. This is particularly true if you are planning on visiting any of the European countries, as they drive on what to us seems like the “wrong” side of the road. This can easily leave you feeling very confused and disoriented.

You may think that you will be okay by getting driving directions from some of the locals over there. However, unless you are very fluent in their native language, you really can’t rely on what the locals give you for directions. This is because it would be very easy to misinterpret what they are truly saying to you. Even just one small misunderstanding between you and one of the locals would be all that you would need to end up potentially getting really lost, and I’m sure you can just imagine how frustrating that would be if it happened.

Getting a local map of the area you are staying in might be helpful. However, it is best not to rely solely on maps. This is because they can often times be somewhat difficult to read correctly, especially when they are written in a foreign language.

The easiest way to ensure that you can find all the places you’d like to visit while traveling abroad, is to use a GPS system. By using a GPS system, you can enter the name of your desired destinations, and it will provide you with easy step-by-step driving directions. Many of these units will give you both written and verbal directions. This is great because if you are busy driving and do not want to get distracted by constantly looking down at the GPS screen for the next set of directions; you can just listen to the voice commands that are being spoken by the GPS.

GPS systems are always useful when you are driving in unfamiliar territory whether it is in your own country or a foreign one. A GPS unit will make you feel right at home, as you will be given turn-by-turn directions to your destination.

When making arrangements for your rental car in the country of your destination, be sure to inquire about GPS rentals as well. That way you won’t have to lug your personal until along. Most major car rental companies today offer the option of renting a GPS unit along with your rental car.

With a GPS unit when traveling abroad, it is like having your own personal tour guide to the must-see attractions and local hot spots. You won’t have to worry about the nightmare of becoming lost in a country where you don’t speak the language and therefore can’t ask for directions. A GPS navigation until can give you peace of mind and help you have a fantastic trip.

By: Andris Lee

GPS: The Road Less Traveled

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:33:29 +0000

The nice thing about GPS units is that you do not have to have them custom installed into your vehicle. Sometimes when you buy a new car it comes with its own navigational system. But to add that to a new car would be costly.

After delving into some of the more advanced features of GPS as you use it in your daily life. You will definitely notice the “little things” that it does beyond what you’d expected upon purchase. For instance let’s say you went on a night on the town during the weekend and slept in, waking up up later than you usually wak up.

You find yourself having less time to get to work or you will wind up being late. What happens? Well turn on your GPS and allow it give you advice on how to get to your destination in the allotted time. Even though you’ve traveled the same path to work day in and day out, a GPS unit will be flexible enough to give you a broader range of ideas to get from point A to point B, often saving you much more time in the process than normally possible.

You will definitely never stop using GPS once you’ve given it a shot.

By: Simon Wyryzowski

Garmin Nuvi 255W 4.3-Inch GPS Navigator Review

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:25:20 +0000

Design: Like any other Garmin devices, the Garmin Nuvi 255W measures 4.8 inches wide by 2.9 inches tall by 0.8 inch deep and uses a large 4.3 inch color touch screen. The screen displays images at a resolution of 480×272 pixels. The power/lock slider is located on the top edge while the left edge offers and SD card slot. The back panel houses the speaker and mini-USB charging/connecting port. Weighing in at 6.1 ounces the GPS is indeed, very portable.

Specifications: The Garmin Nuvi 255W offers text-to-speech along with audible navigation instructions and street names. With its “Where am I?” option, the GPS makes things easy with its large controls and icons. The GPS comes preloaded with City Navigator NT map data. It also comes bundled with a 12-volt power cable, a suction cup windshield mount (plus cradle), adhesive disk and a quick start manual.

Features & Performance: The Garmin Nuvi 255W offers large “Where to?” and “View map” options with smaller icons along the bottom edge for volume, tools, and a stop or detour route if you’ve already chosen the destination. With the ability to store favorites and various other custom points of interest the GPS is easy to use and understand. The GPS even has a speed limit icon to serve as a reminder for drivers whoa re approaching or about to exceed the speed limit. The “Where am I?” function was particularly useful as it shows your current coordinates/elevation and the nearest intersection making it easy to get assistance.

Start-up time was noticeably quicker than its predecessor, with a much faster satellite-lock time. The GPS works quickly with routing and re-routing while on the move (it was much faster than many of its competitors). All in all, the Garmin Nuvi 255W is a fast, simple and easy-to-use GPS, making it ideal for the less technically inclined. With an intuitive interface and a big, bright 4.3 inch touch-screen the GPS is a great performer for those who don’t need an extensive feature set.

By: Tim Pecunia

Marine GPS Maintains Boater Safety

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:22:36 +0000

It’s never a good feeling when you are lost on your boat in an unfamiliar lake, yet on occasion even experienced boaters have had that unnerving feeling of losing their navigational way. However, if your boat is equipped with a Marine GPS unit, your chances of returning safely to shore increases exponentially.

It does not matter whether you use a standalone Marine GPS unit, or a handheld unit or have a GPS capable personal data (PDA) finding your bearings can be made much easier. Additionally, God forbid there is an emergency, you can use your marine GPS unit to give rescuers an exact location which would make you safe return to shore pretty much guaranteed and you will also get a quicker response.

When utilizing a handheld Marine GPS unit, it is best to first check the location when you are on the shore and market that down in your unit, in the event you get lost while you are out on the water. You can get to your destination in a quicker, safer, simpler manner by knowing where you are and where you need to go. Particularly if you are in water that you are not familiar with or a quick storm makes visibility nearly impossible. A Marine GPS unit can help you find yourself into a safe harbor in the event that you travel too far away from shore and loose any of your directional bearings that you were hoping you had if you maintained a line of sight.

Marking and Recalling Locations of Successful Fishing Spots

When on the water and your fishing and you come upon a suitable location that gives great results, you cannot put a ‘X’ on the water, but by utilizing a Marine GPS, you can do the next best thing. You can go back to the precise spot the next time you are looking for a place to catch fish, by marking the location that is revealed by the unit. There will be no judging location by a reference point on the shore and there will be no guessing involved because your Marine GPS unit has the data within it marked.

When boaters sometimes wander away from the territory that they are familiar with they need to send for help. Whether there was a malfunction on their boat or they lost their bearings on the lake and they have a need to guide the rescue craft to their location it becomes more crucial as time goes by. A Marine GPS unit on board can make your imminent rescue easier and faster if you can provide them with the exact location to give to a rescue craft.

In a more severe accident on the water, such as your boat sinking, then a quick rescue is in order. By utilizing a Marine GPS, particularly if equipped with a GPS locator, you can assist rescuers to find you near your last reported location. Having a starting point for a rescue operation can be a life-saving and critical piece of knowledge.

By: Korbin Newlyn

GPS Deals a Green Hand to the Environment

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:51:06 +0000

Did you know that getting a GPS device is another way to go green and help the environment? If you already have a GPS, pat yourself on the back, because your car is less cluttered with the wasted trees of printed directions. As you know, most online map services serve up lots of printed ads along with the directions, so what often times should be one page of printed directions usually ends up as two or three.

Apply some simple math, and the environmental waste quickly compounds based on the above factor of ad-intensive print outs, and the number of steps it takes to get from your starting point to the destination. With the high cost of petroleum these days, taking the shortest route is a common practice, and one that reduces or completely limits the amount of highways included in your directions. This means lots of backroads, and turn after turn. Each left, right, or “follow” is an additional printed line of output. You’re saving gas, but 50 miles of shortest-distance directions might take more than five pages to print.

Sure, there are ways to get around printing long sets of directions. A common way is to print multiple pages on one sheet, but that really isn’t the safest practice. Squinting to read your printed directions while on a dimly-lit back road is a recipe for disaster.

The simple fact is that GPS is extremely affordable. Much like the paperless offices of today, we are now entering the world of a paperless car. With less paper and printing, we are helping the environment by not using a medium that is too often crumpled up and thrown away. Even the best and most often used directions end up getting coffee spilled on them, but a GPS device, well-positioned on your dashboard won’t have that problem. If it ever does, just wipe it off. To help save the environment one less sheet of paper at a time, check out some Great GPS Devices. Whether you are looking to buy your first GPS, or thinking about upgrading, it is worth your time.

By: Jeremy Lakota