Posts Tagged ‘Road Map’

GPS Buyer’s Guide

March 19th, 2010



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

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Motorrad Navigator II GPS Navigation System

March 10th, 2010



Owners of BMW motorcycles have a new technology available to them to provide up to the minute directions and navigation throughout all of Europe. BMW’s latest GPS unit for their motorcycles is a huge step up from their previous model. This model features an upgraded memory chip, up to 2 GB from 512 MB. The model also comes with a road map covering all of Eastern Europe installed right out of the box. This is a great feature because prior to this model you would have to take the unit to your pc and download the appropriate maps onto the unit. With this model you simple have to mount the unit to your motorcycle and attach the battery cable and you are ready to take off on the road.

Riders will find the new touch screen a vast improvement over the previous model and it has been retuned for easier use with gloved hands. The unit has been rated for use in snow and in rain, and against extreme heat and cold. The units increased memory and processors allow for virtually instantaneous updates of information and position. As with the previous model it still provides the rider with elapsed time, estimated time to destination, current speed, average speed and top speed. This models positioning is extremely accurate as it pulls information from twelve different satellites when coordinating your position. Most GPS units only use the information of four satellites and this gives the BMW model a greater advantage at calculating your exact position on the globe.

As for drivers or riders of non-BMW bikes, this unit can be used with any vehicle or motorcycle and will require minimal mounting and wiring. For an automobile it comes equipped with a cigarette lighter plug and can be mounted fairly easily to most vehicles. Pedestrians can also use this unit with its battery powered option. This product is available at all BMW dealerships and online at the BMW website.

By: David Stone

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Best Car GPS Systems – Which to Buy

October 20th, 2009



Security concerns are increasing in all parts of the world relating to your family, vehicles, and other property. However, GPS car systems provide a solution to your vehicles security. Global positioning systems are used for navigation, land surveying, treks and applications in scientific procedures. These navigational systems are also located in boats, cars, trucks, mobile phones and many other surveillance applications.

You might want to know how the GPS visual interface works before you get one for your car. GPS auto tracking systems basically use satellites for information to guide you when you are in your car. Usually, your position is visible on the navigation map of the GPS screen while voice prompts will guide you as and when you require help.

Auto GPS systems can aid in tracking stolen vehicles in real time. You can have better surveillance of company trucks, cabs, and buses. The main advantage of using vehicle GPS systems is small size and ease of installation. The advanced technological car monitoring systems calculate the direction and speed your car is driving to help keep you safe and on course.

There are four types of GPS systems which can be categorized as Car navigational systems, portable outdoor GPS units, GPS hybrid and marine GPS systems. Some of the more popular ones are Magellan Maestro 4000 portable auto GPS system, Streetpilot c550 automotive GPS system and Garmin car GPS system. China automotive GPS system manufacturers are making systems at cheaper rates, which might be a good option if price is a great concern to you.

Car GPS systems are simply and handy to use when you need to know your exact position without a road map.

When you are planning to get a car GPS tracking system, choose one which has live voice instructions along with visual maps, while you are driving. Voice instructions can be extremely helpful in getting you where you need to go especially when you are driving alone.

Good GPS car systems have a vital feature of Real Time tracking with a live wireless network for you to cross check directions and also get an update on the visual information available. GPS tracking systems are used for navigation and monitoring so it is best to choose quality over cost. Cheap systems may seem attractive in the beginning but failure rates are higher. Most GPS units are user friendly without a lot of technical jargon that you might not be able to understand.

In case, you have teenage kids who also drive the car, most GPS companies provide tracking at very minimal cost as the safety of your children is a major concern. If your car didn’t come with a GPS system, I recommend getting one as soon as possible.

By: Chaz Newman

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