Auto GPS » Garmin Gps

Hit The Road With A Garmin GPS

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:42:51 +0000

Garmin is one of the top manufacturers of global positioning systems in the United States. They offer a host of products from GPS navigational product for cars, boats and motorcycles to aviation and boats. There goal is to enrich the lives of their customers through the products of navigational equipment.

Beginning with GPS units for vehicles, Garmin began using the power of the 24 satellites circling 12,000 feet above us back in 1989 when the company started making GPS navigational systems for people and their cars. Today they are making the same product, only better. Garmin has kept up with the times and increase their products as the times called for them. Today they offer the vehicle GPS navigational unit, as well as the GPS for boats and airplanes and hikers and bicycle enthusiasts.

Garmin makes a remarkable assortment of GPS navigational units for every kind of moving vehicle and person. Today they put GPS navigation equipment in personal assistant machines which is a small travel aide; a cell phone and your computer. With the personal assistant, you can download your destination and the personal assistant will ‘walk’ you to your destination or as you are driving, give you turn-by-turn directions to get to where you are going. The cell phone is similar in that you download your information and the voice will guide you to your destination using a map of where you are now and an arrow following you as you walk to where you would like to be. And lastly we have the computer or laptop which can be used as a GPS navigational system by itself after you have downloaded the information.

Other Garmin GPS units include those for aviation use complete with longitude and altitude and the same is programmed into the marine GPS units. Some of these units are portable and can help you get around the city or town without your car and help you find restaurants, places of interest (POI) such as parks or ATM machines; they can also help you find an address you’ve never been to before. Besides aviation use, Garmin makes GPS units for marine usage as well. Being able to see the bottom of the lake or river or ocean in clear form is something fishermen have been waiting a long time for. Now they can tell a fish from a rock and discover where all the fish hang out and with the routing feature on the GPS, keep going back to the same spot over and over again.

Garmin GPS units can be found through their website or on other websites throughout the Internet. They can also be purchased at electronic stores and large discount stores for cheaper than the official website address has them. Discounted Garmin’s would be found on the Internet, be buyer beware, sometimes people are selling ‘refurbished’ or ‘reconditioned’ Garmin GPS units and if that is not what you want, you should ask if it is a new unit or ‘re – done’ unit.

By: Charlie Lee

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

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

GPS Navigation Systems – A Quick Guide

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:58:07 +0000

If you are a technology and gadget addict, you’ve probably heard and seen and experienced the power of GPS navigation systems! Today, GPS navigation is becoming quite common and GPS devices are all the rage. These small sized systems stored a whole lot of information and can prove to be very helpful, especially if you visiting places you’ve never been to before.

More than that, GPS navigation systems make for excellent gift choices. Trust me, if your partner or friend travels the world, a GPS navigation device will be the ideal gift on their next birthday. Packed with incredible features, these devices are easy to use and fun. However, due to the numerous models and designs available, choosing a GPS system can be very confusing. So, sort through this mess with this quick guide and pick the best GPS navigation system for you.

The GPS navigation systems market is a very competitive one. You can give models with similar features from different manufacturers and at different prices. Typically, the price for these devices ranges from $150 to almost $1000, depending on the features. GPS systems come with a wide set of technology driven features that can make choosing the best one in your budget a challenge. While most manufacturers offer features like FM transmission, Bluetooth, multiple route numbers, live weather, traffic updates, losing yourself in this sea of complexity can be overwhelming, especially to a relatively less educated buyer. So let’s start by understanding these complexities one at a time.

Now, like most appliances and gadgets there are several players in this field too. However, it’s best to go with the bigger and more reputable manufacturers as you can sleep peacefully knowing that your device will be supported and serviced. The biggest players in the GPS navigation systems market are: Garmin, Tom Tom, & Magellan.

Garmin GPS navigation systems are known for their wide range, their superior quality, and excellent technology. Tom Tom is a relatively new entrant in the market and has managed to capture a sizable chunk in this space by offering competitively priced, quality products. However, it is Magellan that was the pioneer in the GPS industry!

So what about their features? Broadly speaking, all GPS devices come with a touch screen interface, voice directions, a database of ‘points of interest,’ auto-calculate the distance facility among other things. So, if this is all that you demand from the GPS device then you can pick one up for around $150 from any of the biggies.

However, if you want a more feature packed device then you’ll also have to pay more. By spending a couple of hundred dollars more you can get an integrated Bluetooth feature for hands-free voice calling, extensive maps, real-time traffic and weather conditions and a bigger points of interest database.

Finally, GPS navigation systems that calculate the distance between multiple destination points on different routes are the most expensive devices in the market. So depending on your budget and requirements, you can easily buy a GPS device for around $350-$400 and never be lost in a new city again!

By: Hayi Mansoor

Garmin GPS Systems – Your Complete Guide

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:05:29 +0000

So you have decided to buy one of the many Garmin GPS systems available. You’ve spoken to everyone you know, and now you need to start getting information together – how much do you want to spend on your Garmin GPS system? Where will you be putting your new Garmin GPS system? Which one of the Garmin systems are you going to pick?

First, you need to undertake various Garmin GPS comparisons. There are many versions available, for many types of vehicles and requirements. When comparing Garmin GPS navigation systems, it’s best to go with what is best for you, not what someone else has or what might seem the best simply because it is the most expensive. For example, you may have been recommended a Garmin GPS handheld unit by a friend who does a lot of bushwalking, but as a boating person, a handheld unit would not be as useful to you. Similarly, a Garmin portable GPS system is great for someone who is in and out of a car, as they need to take it with them to prevent theft. However a fixed Garmin global positioning system would be better for someone who has no need to be removing it from its mounting all the time (or someone, like a courier, who is in and out of their vehicle more times than they care to think about!). You definitely don’t want your Garmin GPS system to be a hindrance!

Compare Garmin global positioning system prices, and see if it might be cheaper to purchase a Garmin GPS system online. Many places sell Garmin global positioning systems online, so be sure to have a look around as it may be cheaper (even taking into account postage) to buy your Garmin GPS system from an outlet that does not have the overheads a physical shop-front might have. The issue with shopping online is, of course, not being able to ‘play’ with your new Garmin global positioning system. But a trip to the local GPS shop may fix that.

One of the Garmin GPS systems available is the Garmin 2720 GPS. This particular Garmin GPS system offers many features, including the ability to program points of interest (such as speed cameras and school zones) so you need never be caught out again. The flashy Garmin 360 GPS doubles as a personal assistant, boasting facilities such as MP3 players, a translator, and Bluetooth capabilities enabling you to make hands-free calls. Another good pick is the Garmin c530 GPS – ready to go straight from the box, this unit is a good pick for those needing an ATM or petrol station quickly – just touch and go!

Garmin GPS systems offer it all; the hardest part is picking which one you like. Read some Garmin global positioning systems reviews, which are usually unbiased and give both pros and cons for each model. With a Garmin GPS navigation system, you can’t go wrong!

By: Chaz Newman

How Accurate is GPS?

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:34:27 +0000

The answer to this question keeps changing along with advancing technology as well as United States law. The first consumer GPS receivers on the market were far less accurate than the receivers available today even though the satellites are the same. Also, before the year 2000, the military intentionally introduced inaccuracies into the civilian GPS signal for “security” reasons. They called this intentional signal error “Selective Availability”. In May of 2000, President Clinton made a decision to turn off SA and allow civilians access to increasingly accurate GPS signals. The military still has the ability to turn off or introduce errors into GPS signals at any time and with no notice but this ability is generally only used for specific reasons of national security.

The best consumer GPS technology available as of 2007 achieves an accuracy level of 15 to 30 feet under normal conditions. Garmin, currently the most popular manufacturer of GPS receivers, claims their GPS units are accurate to within 50 feet 95% of the time. Even within the Garmin GPS receiver line, accuracy specs differ because of the different chips used in the design of different receivers.

GPS Receiver Design Affects GPS Accuracy

If you are looking for the most accurate consumer GPS unit, it’s important to pay attention to the unit’s chip type. The latest technology in GPS receiver chips is the SiRFStar III from SiRF. With this chip in your receiver and WAAS enabled you can expect to reach the best GPS accuracy levels available under current conditions.

Environmental Factors Affect GPS Accuracy

Many different environmental factors can also affect the accuracy of your GPS receiver. Heavy tree cover, tall buildings, deep canyons, and any location in which your view of the sky is limited can affect how accurate your GPS is. Atmospheric conditions can also degrade the accuracy of your GPS unit.

As you can see, there is no easy answer to the question “how accurate is GPS?”. However, you now know the main factors that can affect GPS accuracy.

By: Markus Hamilton

How About Buying a Reconditioned GPS For Sale?

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:12:26 +0000

Is that a good deal, or should you stick to the new models? These are great questions, and I’m going to attempt to shed some light on them in this article.

I’ll just go ahead and let the cat out of the bag and let you know my general answer to this question. No! For what GPS receivers cost new and for the amount of money you’ll save, to me it doesn’t make sense for you to buy a reconditioned unit.

Let me explain my reasoning.

Right now, on Amazon, you can get a Tom Tom 3rd Edition, brand new!, for $119.49. If you want to buy a reconditioned unit, that will cost you $109. Personally, I just don’t see saving $10 as a reason to buy a used unit–even if it’s reconditioned by Tom Tom themselves.

Well, maybe I picked the wrong example. Maybe you can save some real money on other models. Let’s see…

A new Magellan Maestro 3100 will cost you $109. Used, you’re looking at $99! Again, a $10 difference.

Even in the higher prices, there’s not but about a $20 difference between a new unit and a refurbished unit. The Garmin nuvi 660 (a great GPS device, by the way!) is currently selling for $329. Refurbished it’s $309.

$10 to $20 seems to be all the difference there is currently between new and refurbished GPS receivers.

Maybe you think differently, but to me that’s not enough of a savings for the potential hassles of buying an older, used unit.

If you’ve been looking for a reconditioned GPS for sale and found price differences that are larger than what I’m quoting you, then I suspect I know what the issue is.

Prices for GPS recievers of all kinds have dropped a lot over the past two years. What cost $400 or so dollars a year or two ago, only costs $200 or so now.

I’ve seen price comparison websites where they show you the low, low reconditioned price compared with the price for a new unit. What they’re doing, though, is using prices for the new units that are at least a year old–sometime older.

They’re doing this to get you to think you’re saving $300 to $400 by buying a reconditioned GPS. You’re not, because the new GPS’s don’t sell for those higher prices any more.

Part of the issue is dealing with unscrupulous businesses and internet marketers who are willing to skew their prices in order to deceive you. This is why (at least to my mind) it’s so important to deal with really reputable companies like Amazon.

There are others, and I’m not trying to say Amazon is the only reputable company on the Web. They do enjoy a very good and very well deserved reputation for fair dealing, and because of that I’m using them in my example.

If you’re looking at someone’s website that’s selling other companies’ products (called affiliate marketing), make sure the company that you’re actually buying from is someone with a good, customer friendly reputation like Amazon.

Just as an example, I have a number of websites that sell other companies’ stuff. But the companies I work with are only the best ones–the ones you can trust to quote you fair prices on their merchandise.

So, with prices as low as they currently are, to my mind, a reconditioned GPS for sale just doesn’t make sense. Go ahead and spend the extra $10 to $20 and get a brand spanking new unit.

By: Rick Cole

Things You Should Consider When Selecting a GPS Device

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:46:09 +0000

Most people become confused when trying to decide which GPS unit will fit their need and price range. One of the first things to decide is which brand to purchase? I recommend Garmin devices, because they are not only the most popular but generally are the most technologically advanced units on the market. For most applications Garmin offers the broadest range of available units and mapping available. Of course there can always be an exception with the many applications for GPS.

You should decide which application you will be using your GPS device for. If you will be using the GPS unit for finding directions in your car you should purchase a different unit than you would for Geocaching. If you are interested in a GPS unit primarily for boating, that will be a different GPS also.

Most GPS units are flexible in use but like airplanes, each model is more adapted to specific usage. It will be difficult, if not impossible to find a GPS unit that fits all of the different uses GPS is capable of.

Garmin manufactures and sells GPS units for airplanes, automotive use, motorcycles, boats, bicycles, runners, fishing, hunting, and the list goes on. Some of these units are very flexible and some are quite usage specific.

Garmin manufactures handheld GPS units that are very flexible in usage. Handheld units are great for carrying with you on outdoor activities. You can purchase handheld GPS units that have worldwide cities mapping included with other features. Some units come with preloaded mapping of USA inland lakes. Units are available with marine mapping preloaded and the list goes on.

Most Garmin handheld GPS units allow you to share data with other Garmin users wirelessly. Most Garmin units have the Tracback feature. Tracback shows with a line, your exact route and you can follow it back to where you began. Trackback is exclusive Garmin. Some of the Garmin units float in water and many are waterproof.

All of Garmin’s latest handheld GPS units can be connected to your PC to upload or download data. Most Garmin units are WAAS enabled giving you greater accuracy in the data you receive from GPS satellites.

Garmin manufactures handheld GPS units that are Geocaching friendly, allowing you to download and upload to and from the internet, or other users, GPX files that give the coordinates of the secret stash.

When purchasing a GPS unit you should consider all the elements I have given before deciding which GPS unit to purchase. Of course in the end you may purchase more than one unit for you different activities.

By: LaZinnia Manley

Portable Global Positioning Systems GPS System Reviews

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:18:28 +0000

If you are someone who travels a lot because of business or who just enjoys traveling to discover or visit new places that you have not been to before? Then a GPS device is definitely your ultimate travel companion and guide. The US Department of Defense developed this technology and they can be used by anyone, anywhere, and are often used for navigation and are the world’s only fully functional global navigation satellite system (GNSS). They use a constellation of about 24 to 32 middle sized orbit satellites to transmit exact radio waves, allowing GPS receivers to find their existing location, time, and speed. Below is a review of some portable GPS devices available for the discerning traveler and where to find them.

1. The Garmin-nuvi 225w GPS

A leader in mobile GPS systems, this device comes with a 4.3 inch color screen that clearly displays routes and is also capable of giving blow by blow directions by voice prompt. This world class device comes with detailed information on all major roads and will even give you a verbal warning should you be in violation of the local speed limit. It also comes with secure digital (SD) card slot that allows you to expand the capabilities. It comes with a rechargeable battery along with a car charger.

2. Magellan Maestro 4350 In Car GPS Unit

The Magellan Maestro 4350 In Car GPS Unit is an all in one GPS unit that encompasses everything that you could desire in a GPS device. With over six million points of interest, turn by turn voice directions, 4.3 inch color screen, emergency numbers, an MP3 player and speed limit warning, it will always keep you going in the right direction, safe, and entertained no matter where you are.
3. Garmin Nuvi 360

The Garmin nuvi 360 is the ideal GPS device for the pocket constrained buyer. This fully color GPS device is capable of mapping out any destination, and also integrates hands free Bluetooth.

Using voice prompts it informs the driver the name and traffic condition of the street on which they are driving, when and where to turn and also comes with an SD card slot.

4. TomTom-GO 720 Portable GPS

This is a mid level GPS device that leaves nothing to the imagination. This device has a 4.3 inch color screen, as well as two gigabyte on board memory as well as an SD card slot, text to voice prompt, iPod docking, traffic and weather updates, speed limit indicators and indicators to show school zones. This is an all encompassing device that comes in a convenient package.

5. The Uniden GPS 352-In Car GPS

This is yet another top of the range GPS device that brings with it a 3.5 inch full color touch screen with mile by mile instructions. With over two million points of interest, built in maps and accurate GPS coordinates this device is the ideal for anyone on a trip to previously uncharted lands.

By: Levi Quinn

Tips For Buying a Garmin GPS Unit

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:52:18 +0000

A few tips on buying a Garmin GPS unit can be quite helpful. Because Garmin is the industry leader in the United States, and they have such a large number of products to choose from, it’s sometimes difficult to find the right model for your needs and budget.

Hopefully, I can make this all a little easier for you.

The first thing to know about Garmin is that they sell almost half of the GPS units sold in the United States. They do this by offering quality products at a wide variety of price points.

The nuvi is their newer line of GPS devices. You can get a Garmin nuvi for anywhere from $150 to almost $900. That depth of product is great, but it does make selection a little hard sometimes.

In this article, I’m going to concentrate of their newer nuvi line, instead of their older StreetPilot line. The StreetPilots are great devices, it’s just that they’re being pushed aside by the sleeker, more feature-packed nuvis.

Okay, let’s divide the marketplace into three areas, low, medium, and high.

The nuvi 200 is Garmin’s entry level device. And, if you’re just interested in getting from point A to point B, the nuvi 200 might easily be the right one for you.

It’s got maps of the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. It will show you where you are on an electronic map and tell you where to turn to get to your destination. It can also double as a digital photo viewer.

At slightly less than $150, you can’t really go wrong with a nuvi 200.

If you want more features, you can spring for the nuvi 350. It does everything the nuvi 200 does and also adds maps of Canada. It can also actually tell you the street names of the streets you’re turning on. In addition to being a digital photo viewer, it can also be used as a mp3 player. At less than $200, I can’t think of a better GPS device at that price point.

If you really want to pack on the features, consider the nuvi 660. It can do everything the 350 can do. Also, it has real-time traffic capability, a bigger screen, Bluetooth, and you can hear it through your car’s stereo system. You can pick up a nuvi 660 for less than $350.

All that leaves as far as your main features is multiple point routing. That means you can enter more than one destination into the device, and it will show you the best route to get to all the destinations on one trip. For some, that’s a really good feature. If you’re interested in this feature, the nuvi 760 is the one for you.

Or, if you want what is truly the most advanced, feature-laden Garmin GPS unit on the market, then spring for the nuvi 880. For a cool $900, you can have it all!

By: Rick Cole