For drivers in North America who are tired of staring at maps and pulling into gas stations to get directions the new technology of GPS may be the answer. GPS or Global Positioning Systems are an inexpensive and reliable way of finding your exact position on the globe at any given time. For the driver this can mean never having to look a road map again. This is a brief introduction to the major brands of GPS units and some information about each.
Garmin offers two different types of GPS units and many models for each type. The larger of the two the Streetpilot is meant to be mounted in your car and provides street to street directions map and much more useful information during you trip. Some of the more recent models of the Streetpilot offer voicecapabilities and will vocally give a driver directions. The Quest offer many of the same features as the Streetpilot but it comes in a smaller handheld size and is battery powered. The Quest may be a better option if you often find your self leaving the car behind and need directions on foot.
Magellan is one of the oldest consumer level GPS manufacturers and they are still one of the finest. The Roadmates line of GPS units have been around for a while and the newest models are still in competition for the highest in quality. The newest models of Roadmates provide turn by turn directions to your destination with its internal speaker. This line of GPS units are powered by the cars cigarette lighter and mounts easily to most automobiles. The Roadmate 800 provides color 3-D maps on its 3” screen.
The newest brand of GPS unit comes from Tom-Tom. The Tom-Tom Go700 provides directions on it’s 3.5” screen which gives its display in 3-D. The Go700 can give vocal directions in dozens of languages. The most interesting feature about this unit is it’s Bluetooth capability allowing it to connect to cell phones to give weather, traffic and road conditions for your trip.
By: David Stone
Posts Tagged ‘Garmin’
GPS Buyer’s Guide
March 19th, 2010Motorcycle GPS Makes For Better Travels
March 10th, 2010
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
