Auto GPS » Garmin

GPS Buyer’s Guide

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:45:39 +0000

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

The Magellan GPS Review – How Do These Devices Hold Up to the Competition?

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:55:36 +0000

When a new GPS consumer is looking for the best of the best, it’s very common to see the top brand names in the mix. You will generally see the Garmins, the TomTom’s, and the Magellan brand always on the top of the list. The different brands have their advantages, and can all generally do the same things, however each brand has different aspects which pull in the buyers.

This Magellan GPS Review isn’t really a pitch for why this brand of GPS is better than your average Garmin, but why it’s a good device you should consider if you are looking for a decently priced unit that gives you all the features you are looking for.

So what features do these navigation systems provide?

The standard Magellan devices will offer a bright LCD screen with vivid brightness which is hard to find in other brands. A bright screen that can withstand the sunlight is a very highly sought after feature. On top of that, these devices are all usually touch screen activated, which is more of a convenience factor more than any. Along with these two aspects, the mapping itself will provide pinpoint directions for any location you wish to travel to.

What separates the average GPS device from the best devices is the ability to not only give accurate directions but to also get you out of a crunch if you come into a busy congested traffic area. The Magellen brand of GPS devices is no slouch in these well desired areas.

For the price that you pay, you can always assume a good purchase was made with these outstanding devices. In my personal opinion, the Magellan series equally parallels the other top brands on the market and anyone that uses these devices will tell you the same exact thing.

By: John Clayton

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

How to Compare GPS Units For Cars

admin — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:46:54 +0000

There are several manufacturers who make GPS units for cars. Some of the bigger ones make a ton of different models with various types of features. You can buy a GPS for anywhere from $150 to $900.

For the consumer, this level of competition is great, but it does make for a confusing marketplace. Sometimes you feel like you need a masters degree in engineering to understand what you want to buy.

I’m going to try to simplify all of this for you.

Consumer Reports recently did an article listing their top GPS units for cars. They listed units made by just three companies, Garmin, Tom Tom and Magellan.

Personally, if I were in buying a GPS unit right now, I’d stick to those three companies. There’s nothing anyone else offers that’s not offered by one of them, and also they’ve sewn up almost 90% of the market. If you want your purchase to be supported a year from now, you’ll want to stick with the big boys.

As far as Consumer Reports’ recommendations…From Garmin, they recommended the nuvi 760, nuvi 660, and nuvi 350.

All three of these are great GPS units for cars. The nuvi 760 currently sells for slightly over $400 and can do everything, including saying street names, Bluetooth for hands-free calling, real-time traffic bulletins, and even multiple point routing.

The nuvi 660 sells for about $50 less, and can do all of that less the multiple point routing.

Both the nuvi 760 and the nuvi 660 are the wide screen versions (4.3-inches instead of 3.5-inches). If you want an excellent GPS unit but you’re not interested in Bluetooth, multiple point routing, or the wide screen, then you might really want to consider the nuvi 350. It’s currently selling at Amazon for just under $200.

The two models Consumer Reports mentioned from Tom Tom were the GO 920T, which is an all-inclusive GPS that sells for slightly over $400, and the Tom Tom One, 3rd Edition–probably the best entry level device currently on the market. The One, 3rd Edition sells for just under $150.

The only GPS from Magellan mentioned was the Maestro 4250. For a mid-priced GPS unit, the Maestro 4250 really can’t be beat! It sells for around $250. One thing I really like about it, besides the wide screen, is the deal that Magellan has with AAA where they offer the Tour Book right on the device. (For AAA members, of course.)

These are only a few of the top GPS units for cars. Just the ones Consumer Reports mentioned. There are others, to my mind. Like the Garmin nuvi 880, which can do everything except cook your waffles for you. (They’re working on one that can do that for next year.)

Kidding aside, before you go out and actually buy one of these, you need to find an informative website where you can look at individual models and check out their current prices. That way you’ll get the right GPS for you and your needs.

By: Rick Cole

Get Up to Par With a Golf GPS System

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:51:20 +0000

Getting on the green for a good game of golf with your buddies can be one of the more entertaining aspects of any weekend. But what if after years of playing your game just doesn’t seem to improve the way you have hoped it would? There are different ways to improve how you play on the green, from the tee off to accurately navigating around the course. One way you can improve is to hire a coach to get you to understand where to hit the ball so that it will avoid water and sand traps and get you closer to the hole. But if you can’t afford a full-time coach, there is another way that you can get assistance. By getting your hands on a golf GPS system, you’ll surprisingly improve your game at a price you can afford.

How One Can Help You

I bet you’re wondering why the golf GPS would be suggested as a replacement for a life coach. Well, technically I’m not suggesting that you get one as a replacement; after all, there is really no replacement for a living, breathing person standing there to answer your questions. However, the global positioning units on the market today have taken into account many of your questions and issues while on the course so that you can get the utmost assistance while playing.

Some ways that these systems have been known to help golfers includes helping them judge how far their tee is from the hole – even if it is yards away. Also, many of the devices can help you determine how and where you will need to hit the ball to avoid water and sand hazzards. They can give you information on how hard you need to hit the ball to accomplish your goal. And can even store information on previous games so that you can compare your stats and find ways to improve your game.

Which Ones Can Help Me

Now that we know how some golf GPS devices can help you improve you game, let’s look at some on the market that you can take advantage of today.

Garmin GolfLogix System – Two major companies came together to create a system that will help make your day on the course more exciting than ever. This particular device is perfect for the beginner or expert because of its ability to give you just the distances you need with simple viewing screens and no unnecessary advertising to get in your way. Some great benefits you can enjoy from this unit include being able to view the front, center and back of the green, information on where the bunkers and water hazards are located, and information on lay-ups. Also, you can take advantage of its ability to auto advance to each target on the course so that you don’t have to manually do the work when trying to manage your clubs. And it comes with a backlight screen so that you can still view your information easily, even if you play at night.

SkyGolf SkyCaddie SG2.5 System – If you are looking to advance your capabilities as a player then you will want to get your hands on the SkyGolf SkyCaddie SG2.5 Golf GPS System. It was created as a device that would be easy to carry around while golfing and would offer a number of features that would make your game better than it was before. One of these features include being able to measure the full depth and shape of the green from angle of approach whether you are on or off the fairway. And don’t be intimidated by a rainy day – this unit is water resistant letting you get on the course no matter the weather.

Sonocaddie Caddie Range Finder Pro System N030 – This golf GPS unit is advertised as the most advanced personal system on the market today. It is palm-sized and easy to carry while keeping you informed about the precise distance you are from any target on the course. It lets you know about hazards, and trees, and even ticks down the yardage as you walk in real time. But what people love most is that it keeps information on thousands of courses so that you simply visit their website, enter a city and state, and download course information to your device to get experience on many greens around the country.

A golf GPS system is a great way to improve your game. So what are you waiting for? Don’t let your buddies have an advantage over you. Get a golf GPS system and enhance your score today!

By: Jeffrey Meier

What is the Best Portable GPS System?

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:10:28 +0000

For some, GPS systems are not limited to the car dashboard or even on the steering console of the boat. But rather carried with them wherever they go! GPS manufacturers have taken notice of how popular their systems are with avid outdoors men and nature enthusiasts and have focused on developing many rugged, durable and water-resistant handheld portable GPS tools.

When it comes to which brand makes the best portable GPS system, the jury is still out. However, one of the most popular portable GPS systems is made by Magellan. Though they are not the most familiar name in GPS technology, Magellan has held their own in the industry for some time. For those who love the outdoors and have a larger then average budget, portable GPS systems don’t get much better then the Triton 2000.

The Triton 2000 includes seemingly endless functions. Some of the most important being a wide variety of built in maps, an easy-to-read compass function, voice recorder and handy flashlight. Due to the fact that the Triton 2000 was designed for the outdoorsmen, it is designed to be quite a bit more durable then other GPS systems, and is completely waterproof as opposed to water resistant.

For those who like to take their adventures and discoveries one step further, the Triton also offers the ability to upload topographical maps, marine cartography and even National Geographic TOPO!

However, it is also important to mention that the Triton 2000 is by no means inexpensive. Most retailers will mark this handy tool at around $499.99, making it one of the most expensive portable GPS available. When compared to other GPS suppliers such as Garmin or TomTom, the Magellan Triton 2000 may seem steep for the functions offered.

But it is important to remember, when purchasing a portable GPS to take while camping, hiking or rock-climbing it is vital to purchase a product that is as rough as the terrain! There is little point in buying a less expensive system, just to purchase a second when it breaks or becomes damaged by water!

By: N. L. MacDonald

GPS Handheld Devices – The Benefits of GPS Handheld Units

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:24:43 +0000

GPS handheld devices offer a variety of features that you’ll find helpful. Functions include the ability to give directions, track where you’ve been, to give the present location, and the distance to the next destination.

These handheld units are ideal for those not familiar with a neighborhood, or unsure of street names, and landmarks. Locating a destination on your travels is often difficult if you don’t speak the language of those around you. A GPS system can assist in finding a destination that much easier than locating someone that’s able or willing to give directions.

GPS handheld devices can also operate in conjunction with a fully functional PDA unit, such as the 535v Traveler GPS manufactured by Dell. If on the move and in need of data or the latest schedule, names of people that you’ll be meeting, use the personal digital assistant. You can surf the internet and access email on-the-go using these machines.

Manufactures such as Dell, Garmin, Navman, Asus, Pharos offer a great selection of mobile devices for those that are always on the go. Having a GPS receiver will help in reducing the number of missed meetings due to relying on poor directions or no directions at all. Handheld products combine a variety of different features into one compact machine. As technology advances, so will the dependence of traveling with these products.

It’s important to take care and maintain these machines in order that they remain fully functional. Each manufacturer offers a maintenance and repair service, in addition to customer support to guide you in solving problems or issues along the way.

Those that travel often depend on these GPS handheld devices for a variety of reasons. It’s necessary to be kept informed as changes in a schedule happen, kept up to date on where heading, and to easy communicate with the office as and when information is needed.

By: Carlton Leigh

Tips on Buying the Best Auto GPS Units, Part II

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:49:02 +0000

In Part I of this series, we discussed how much you can spend on auto GPS units, and how much you want to spend. In this part, we’re going to discuss the manufacturers and what features you need to be on the look out for.

Buy the end of this article, you should know enough about auto GPS units to enter the marketplace with knowledge and confidence.

What manufacturer’s product should I buy?

Since I just mentioned the top manufacturers in the United States, let me just say a few words about each of them.

Garmin has the broadest and deepest product line. I like their nuvi line quite a lot! They’re sleek and really have a lot of features for such a small package.

Tom Tom has been fast catching up in the United States due to very aggressive pricing. If you want a more fully featured model than the One, 3rd Edition, then how about the GO 920T, which was listed by Consumer Reports recently as one of the best GPS’s to buy. Right now, it will cost you a little over $400.

Magellan is sort of the granddaddy of the field. They were one of the first companies to enter the auto GPS market. I like their Maestro line the best for about the same reasons I like Garmin’s nuvi line.

Also, Magellan has a great deal with AAA, where they have the Tour Book pre-programmed right in their device. I’m a AAA lover. So, for me that’s a great selling feature.

Sure, there are other manufacturers of these devices other than Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan, but since these three control almost 90% of the U. S. market, I can’t see any reason to buy anything else.

Now that we’ve talked about who makes auto GPS units, let’s talk about what features you should be considering.

What do I want my new GPS to do–besides tell me how to get places?

In addition to showing you where you are and telling how to get to places, all GPS units also have touch screens, a database of pre-programmed destinations (called Points of Interest, or POI’s), and pre-loaded maps, usually of at least the lower 48 United States.

Other features you might want are:

More maps Actually saying street names (instead of just “Turn Here!”) Real-time weather and traffic alerts right on your device Bluetooth, so you can make hands-free phone calls while driving Multiple point routing, so you can enter more than one destination in for the same trip Bigger screen (4.3-inches instead of 3.5-inches–measured along the diagonal)

You can get the extra maps, saying the street names, and the real-time weather and traffic alerts (with subscription) for only about $200! The Garmin nuvi 350 can do this just fine.

If you want Bluetooth, then you can get this and the wider screen for around $400. The multiple point routing will cost you another $50 to $100.

There are certainly more features, but these are the main ones. There’s a lot of competition under $400 in the auto GPS marketplace. Above $400, it’s mainly all Garmin. So, if you’re willing to spend more, you really need to look at their nuvi 700’s and their 800’s.

Hopefully, this will help you wrap your mind around the market for auto GPS units a little better!

At first buying a GPS seems a little confusing and overwhelming. It’s not really. There are just a few things you haven’t thought about.

Use this article as a guide to help you better understand the marketplace.

What you need now is an informative website where you can browse and check current prices.

By: Rick Cole

GPS Auto Navigation Systems

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:12:28 +0000

Over the past couple of years, the cost of installing a GPS auto navigation system has fallen considerably. As an inevitable result of this, more and more people are taking advantage of it in order to make it easier to find out where they are going, plan their journeys, and keep track of where they are.

Satellite navigation dates back a lot longer than many people realize. The principles behind SatNav were first tested back in 1967, but it took nearly 30 years before the NavStar GPS System first began operation as a military application in the mid 1990s. Civilian use of GPS navigation was made available soon after the military launch, but the initial costs of using the system were very high, and required ongoing subscriptions to be paid. The first people who took advantage of GPS were pilots, and surveyors, who needed to be able to measure distances with pinpoint accuracy. In the early days , an affordable GPS auto navigation system was out of reach for the average car owner.

Over time, the costs of GPS auto navigation system has fallen considerably, and there are increasing numbers of applications for them and the data that they provide in our daily lives. Manufacturers such as Garmin and TomTom have combined GPS signals Data with existing map information and complex mathematical algorithms to create systems that can be used for navigation on the roads and highways.

These GPS auto navigation systems can be installed into any car in a matter of minutes, and then be used to plan journeys, and keep track of where you are to stop you getting lost on the roads. By being combined with other data, such as traffic news feeds, GPS auto navigation systems can warn drivers about road congestion, and provide alternative routes in real time to ensure that no-one who has such a GPS needs get stuck in a queue again.

There are a number of different styles of GPS auto navigation systems available to suit the needs of the individual, from basic models through to expensive and highly accurate systems able to manage large amounts of data and provide information to the users in order to give feedback about where they have been.

The simplest kind of auto navigation GPS system is a removable gadget that stores the map data internally, and uses a satellite signal to pinpoint the position of the unit. By combining the map data and the satellite signal, routes can be planned, and the user can find their way, while seeing a graphical representation of their route on a small screen. These GPS auto navigation systems can be either removable, or fixed into the car. Many new models actually integrate the GPS into the dashboard, while non fixed systems can either be mounted on the dash, or attached to the windshield using a suction cup.

As well as dedicated auto GPS devices, it is also possible to buy a large number of other gadgets with GPS as a built in feature. Some GPS PDAs can have a GPS module plugged in to them, and used in cars, and an increasing number of cell phones have GPS as a standard feature. On the whole, although these devices have GPS built in, it is not of the same standard as a dedicated system, and wile it may help you know where you are, it will not provide such accurate data or be able to plan routes on the go as well as one of the custom systems from Garmin or Magellan.

At the top end of the list of auto navigation GPS systems, there are a number of fantastic options available. Many of the high end GPS auto navigation systems include a range of features to make getting around as simple and convenient as possible.

Aside from the standard information about maps and positions, these GPS systems can also provide information about local amenities such as gas stations, motels, and even speed control cameras in certain countries. More expensive GPS auto navigation systems come with the ability to upload additional map systems so they can be used in different countries, and through the use of local radio services, provide comprehensive traffic information to the driver wherever in the world he is.

Whether you want a simple auto navigation GPS system to help you avoid the traffic problems in your home town, or are a cross country driver who needs the long distance planning flexibility for getting from a-to-b as efficiently as possible, there is a GPS system available that will suit your needs.

By: Jason Miller