You’ve heard that new sport, geocaching, is fun. Or, you’re tired of getting lost on your travels. Welcome to the 21st century. Global Postioning System (GPS) has been around long enough that prices are reasonable and the technology is user-friendly. With myriad brands and models, how to choose?
If you want a GPS for both hiking and driving use, then a handheld unit would be the way to go. Some handhelds even have accessories to allow them to be installed in an automobile. But don’t rule out a PDA. More on that in a moment. For driving only, there are GPS receivers made just for vehicle use.
Handheld GPS receivers are either mapping or non–mapping. A basic, non–mapping unit can often cost less than $100 US and usually has/displays the following:
Location Compass heading Elevation above sea level Accurate time Satellite location and signal strength The ability to calculate distance traveled The ability to record your path as a set of waypoints The ability to navigate routes The ability to retrace your steps
Handheld mapping receivers do all the above plus have the ability to display maps. The maps are either pre–loaded or uploaded from your PC. Prices are reasonable for mapping units, starting at around $150 US.
Paper maps are strongly recommended whether you’re using a mapping receiver or not. Paper maps do not require batteries and probably won’t go defective. Also, a paper map gives you a “big picture” view of your situation — something lacking on the small screen of a GPS.
I mentioned earlier your considering a PDA with GPS capability. A PDA is bulkier and the battery life is usually shorter, but if you’re using a PDA anyway, then there are several ways to turn a PDA into a GPS. Some PDAs accept a GPS “sleeve.” That is a device that the PDA nestles into. Another choice is one of Garmin’s PDAs. Garmin is probably the most popular GPS maker and they have one PDA/GPS that is Palm–based and one that is Pocket PC–based.
Prices for automotive GPS start at around $250 US. These provide turn–by–turn guidance. Spend a little more than that and you get voice guidance. These are larger than handhelds in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car’s electrical system and because of this, they can only be used in a vehicle.
Many automobile manufacturers now offer built-in GPS receivers as an option. Because they are built-in, the big advantages are security and aesthetics. They are quite a bit more expensive than add-on units and often have fewer options. I’ve also heard some stories of people having a hard time getting map updates.
A PDA/GPS is a good alternative for automotive use. Its screen is about the size of an automotive unit, so seeing the display is not a problem. They can also be powered by the car, eliminating battery worries. The Garmin PDAs mentioned above both come with the hardware and software for automotive use.
If you’re hiking, a basic handheld unit (without maps) will be fine since you’ll always have paper maps with you anyway (you will, won’t you?). An advantage to a handheld mapping unit is that they usually have more advanced features than the basic units. For driving, you have the choice of a handheld, in–car dedicated, or PDA. The handheld does have limited usefulness in a car, as it does not provide turn–by–turn guidance. For a more detailed look at how to choose a GPS, click here.
By: James Chartwell
Posts Tagged ‘Gps Pda’
How to Choose a GPS
December 9th, 2009Bluetooth GPS Vs CF GPS
November 3rd, 2009
For some people there is a debate over which to choose a Bluetooth GPS receiver or a compact flash GPS receiver. I have used both so I am writing from experience. There seem to be quite a few advantages a Bluetooth GPS receiver has over a cf GPS receiver.
The main advantage would be versatility, you can use a Bluetooth GPS receiver with a Bluetooth PDA as well as a compatible Bluetooth mobile phone whereas with a cf GPS receiver you are limited to only a compatible PDA as mobile phones usually don’t have a cf slot.
Another advantage is with regards to battery life, some Bluetooth GPS receivers have exceptional battery life lasting up to 26 hours, some mobile phones also have a long life, although a PDA won’t last anywhere near that, when using a cf GPS receiver the PDA battery is usually depleted faster as the it has to also power the cf receiver since the cf receiver can’t work on its own
The third consideration is convenience, one can find some new GPS receivers that are extremely small, the Holux GPSlim 236 comes to mind, because of their size and sensitivity you can stick them in your pocket and still get a very good signal so you don’t have anything sticking out of the PDA as is the case with a cf GPS receiver.
Another thing to consider is that a lot of newer PDAs seem to be loosing the compact flash interface, a good example is the Fujitsu Siemens Loox 720, it has being rumoured that the Loox 720 replacement won’t be including a cf interface. My conclusion would be it seems that manufacturers don’t consider the cf interface that important to include in newer PDAs, kind of like being phased out so it might not be a good idea to invest in cf devices
My final argument would be that when it comes to using a GPS receiver for driving, it is easier to position a Bluetooth GPS receiver in a convenient position where it can receive a better signal than with a cf GPS receiver because since the cf GPS receiver is fixed to the PDA, you are limited by how much you can move the PDA around and still have a good view of the PDA screen.
Based on all these facts I would consider a Bluetooth GPS receiver a better choice to a cf GPS receiver.
By: Francis Ononye
