Wouldn’t it be great to have a personal assistant to guide you when you travel? What if that personal assistant could fit in your shirt pocket? That’s the concept behind the NUVI 660 GPS system from Garmin. This portable GPS unit, which is only 4.9″W x 2.9″H, may be small but it is packed with features for anyone who travels a lot or for someone who just wants to know where they are going. The NUVI 660 portable GPS unit has a preloaded navigator that can assist you in getting where you are going fast and safely.
The portable GPS unit has preloaded maps or you can upload a customized route for either car motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, truck, bus, emergency, and taxi. The GPS system has a colorful widescreen display that is easy to see and that is larger than other NUVI models. You can choose a 2D or 3D map perspective. The NUVI 660 has a touch screen that makes it easy for you to make your choices.
The NUVI 660 auto GPS unit is compatible with Bluetooth wireless technology. That means you can talk to friends and family hands free, keeping your hands on the wheel and not on your phone. You can receive traffic alerts and directions in your headset.
The NUVI 660 will alert you to construction zones, bad weather or heavy traffic. This auto GPS unit will even suggest an alternate route, saving you time on the road. The GPS unit announces streets by name, allowing you to know if you are on the right road. If you are lost, the NUVI 660 auto GPS unit will look up the address and guide you in the right direction. If you want to see new places, the GPS unit can look up attractions and points of interest. You can even call a restaurant or hotel and make a reservation by touching the screen. If you are traveling out of the country, you can purchase additional software such as a travel or language guide.
Do you want to hear the latest tunes or listen to a new audio book while traveling? The NUVI 660 GPS system has an MP3 player, audio book player and a JPEG picture viewer. A built-in FM transmitter on the auto GPS unit will allow you to hear everything through your car’s stereo.
The NUVI 660 comes with a rechargeable battery that can last from three to seven hours, depending on how many accessories you use. The unit also comes with Garmin Lock, the company’s patented anti-theft feature. Priced at around $900, Garmin’s NUVI 660 is great buy for those who love electronic gadgets or for those how want a GPS system that will keep them on the right road.
By: Catherine Tower
Posts Tagged ‘Right Direction’
Garmin Nuvi 660 Portable GPS – Review
November 15th, 2009GPS Auto Tracker – Definition of GPS Systems
October 22nd, 2009
Before the arrival of the General Positioning System (GPS) technology, having a trip was certainly the most daunting experience in our life. For instance, it was perfectly acceptable to see a situation where someone was driving his car, another one was looking at the map to find the right direction, quite funny! Nowadays, this situation is obsolete and ridiculous for GPS systems have drastically changed the way we used to deal with route finding during a trip. Indeed by just installing a GPS device in your car, you can accurately and safely get the right direction.
Usually when someone mentions GPS, he is referring to the GPS receiver even if the GPS architecture is actually more complex than this small device installed in your car. In short, GPS systems are a cohort of 27 satellites rolling around the center of the Earth. Only 24 satellites are fully functional while the remaining ones are just used for storage purposes. The military industry pioneered the technology before being used for general purpose by the public.
Each GPS satellite powered by the Sun rotates around the center of the Earth completes a distance of about 12,000 miles which is equal to 19,300 kilometers. The actual trajectories of these satellites are made so that at least four satellites are available in the space at any time. The GPS receiver is responsible of finding these available satellites, working out its distance to these satellites and finding its position. This process makes use of a mathematical model called trilateration.
The GPS signals are hindered by weather conditions. Nowadays, there are many research projects aiming at finding ways around this issue in order to increase the correctness of GPS systems. Having located the satellites, the triliteration is used to work out its distance and reduce these errors.
Briefly speaking, GPS systems are used for several purposes mainly as guiding aid. The user simply needs to input his final destination and the GPS receiver will do the rest of the job. GPS systems can also be used for tracking purposed as it is noticed in the automobile industry.
The GPS technology is also used for many other purposes. For instance, in the automobile industry, GPS systems are used to deter car thieves. Private investigators are also making use of the GPS technology in order to monitor a cheating wife. The GPS technology is also extensively used in the military industry as it was pioneered by the army. Some military usages include navigation, target tracking, missile and weapon guidance, search and rescue lost soldiers and acknowledgement and map creation. The possibility to keep track of a vehicle position every time is an appealing feature of the GPS technology. Other systems can furthermore keep track of a driver. This feature is of great help to anxious parents who are concerned about their children’s ability to safely drive.
Another use of the GPS for civilian purpose is to help prevent civilian GPS guidance from being used in an enemy’s military or improvised weaponry, the US Government controls the export of civilian receivers. A US-based manufacturer cannot generally export a GPS receiver unless the receiver contains limits restricting it from functioning when it is simultaneously at an altitude above 18 kilometers and traveling at over 515 m/s.
By: John B Mayall
