It seems like just about everyone has a GPS these days, everyone but you! If you are interested in buying your first GPS you may find that the market is a bit intimidating. There are a lot of really great products out there and you just may not be sure of what you need or even what you want! Long gone are the days of the paper maps, now you can have your very own machine tell you how to get from point A to point B with relative ease!
Shopping for Your GPS
One of the first things you will notice when you start shopping for your GPS is the wide range in prices. Today you can find models that start right around $100 and yet there are other models that cost $700 or more! Which one is the right one for you, and how will you know it when you see it?
Which GPS is right for you really depends on what you will be using it for. If you are looking for a GPS that will help guide you on short trips or will help get you around town occasionally you probably don’t need anything in the $700 range, in fact you will generally find that the units in the $200 to $300 range are suitable for you. The point is, if you are not going to be taking long trips or using the system every day, a more expensive system won’t pay for itself.
If you work in sales or if you work with the deliveries of products you may need to get a GPS unit that is a bit more costly. The reason is that the more costly units are able to help you with intricate directions and will provide a screen that will help you get from your starting point to your destination without any hiccups.
When you start comparing the features of each of the GPS units you will soon find that you are attracted to a certain quality unit. Be sure to ask yourself if the amount of use that you will get out of the unit justifies its cost, if not you can probably scale back again and still get a really great product. When shopping, be sure that you do shop around as prices can vary from retailer to retailer and your goal should always be to get the very best product for the most affordable price.
By: Heather Jacobson
Posts Tagged ‘Paper Maps’
Buying Your First GPS
March 19th, 2010How to Choose a GPS
December 9th, 2009
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
