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How to Select a GPS Unit

GPS makes navigation much easier. When you have a GPS device and a clear view of the sky, you will never end up lost again. There are a variety of GPS units for sale, and purchasing the appropriate one that fits your needs will help guarantee that you get the most out of your GPS unit. After all, a unit that does not work well for your needs tends to stay at home and not be used. This article will help you select the correct type of GPS for you so that you will get years of usage from your GPS.

Step 1: Picking the right type of device

Before you get a GPS, you have to understand the different types of GPS units available and how each can meet your requirements. The primary types of GPS devices are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS device you purchase will vary based on your requirements, and the features you should look for will vary based on the type of device you are buying.

Vehicle GPS units are a huge time save if you visit lots of different areas with which you are not familiar, or you drive for a living. Vehicle GPS units often come with features which make operating them in a vehicle very easy: features like automatic route finding which tell you when and where to make turns so that you don't need to take your eyes off the road. Some vehicle GPS devices even come with technology that alerts them to real-time traffic conditions so that your route can be recalculated based on traffic conditions. If you plan on using your GPS mainly in your vehicle, you should think about a unit designed specifically for this type of usage since these devices tend to come with bigger, easier-to-read, screens than most handheld devices.

Handheld GPS devices are the most versatile sort of GPS systems for sale. They can be used when driving, camping, hiking, really any place you can go. But, this increased versatility commonly comes at the cost of advanced features. Since the entire system needs to be portable, screen size is commonly limited and this can make many features of a GPS (such as map visuals, route marking, breadcrumb trails, etc) more difficult to use than in a device that is fixed in a vehicle or that makes use of a larger screen on a computer or PDA. If you intend on using your GPS principally in your car, a smaller screen may make it harder to use. If you plan on using your GPS when walking, camping, or fishing, this is most likely the best kind of GPS for you.

GPS devices that link up directly to a laptop or PDA usually rely on the computer or PDA for all of the advanced GPS functionality aside from the gathering of the positioning data from the GPS satellites. Because a lot of the functionality is transferred to the computer or PDA, the GPS system itself is often much cheaper than a free-standing GPS device. However, if you plan on using your GPS for in a marine environment, camping, hiking, or backpacking, carrying around your PDA or laptop may make using your GPS unit more trouble than it's worth. As such, GPS devices that connect to another device are most often used in cars and for folks who navigate by foot in cities. If you are looking for the lowest cost GPS system available and you currently already have a GPS-compatible PDA or computer, this may be the optimal choice for you.

Step 2: Selecting GPS Features

Depending on the sort of GPS device your are buying, here are some features you should consider.

Accuracy -- In general, GPS devices have an accuracy of about 50 feet. If accuracy is important to you (perhaps you are laying out a course for a race and you really want to make sure you get the 5K distance correct), search for a device with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) since this doubles the accuracy of a GPS system. This is usually most useful in handheld units.

Address Finding -- Some GPS systems allow you to enter a specific street address. This can be very useful when driving and is a feature most often found in vehicle GPS systems or systems used in vehicles.

Automatic Route Finding -- This is most often used in conjunction with address finding. This feature configures the GPS to tell you exactly where to turn to get to a pre-programmed final destination. This is a very useful feature for vehicle systems, or units used in vehicles, as it allows you to use the device without having to take your eyes off the road.

Built-in Maps -- Lots of GPS units will come with maps that are pre-installed; for example, all of Europe. If you are getting a unit with a pre-installed map, be sure you get a GPS for your area, especially if you are buying on-line. In addition, make sure that the map can be upgraded.

Compass -- It seems counter-intuitive, but there are lots of GPS units that do not include a compass except for when you are moving above some minimum speed (usually faster than a hiking speed). But there are also GPS devices that come with true compass functionality even when you are stopped. This feature tends to be most useful in handheld GPS units.

Computer Compatibility -- If you are looking for a GPS system that gets updated maps via a computer (which is most of them), and you are using a non-Windows computer (like a Linux machine or a Mac) make sure that the GPS system is compatible with the type of computer you have. Every GPS system that connects to a computer will support a Windows computer. But support for other operating system varies.

Downloadable Maps -- Many GPS systems allow maps to be downloaded into them. This is very nice for users who travel to a wide variety of places. It also allows you to get away with getting a GPS with less memory since you can easily swap out the map to fit the area you will be in.

Expandable Memory -- If you are using your GPS device with maps, you'll want to make sure that you have sufficient memory to support the number of maps you will be using. As it is with computers, the same is true with GPS systems: the more memory the better.

Extended Battery Life -- If you are going to be buying a handheld or PDA attached GPS unit, look closely at the battery life as this may be the limiting factor in your usage of the GPS.

External Antennas -- Some GPS systems allow an external antenna to be attached. This is very useful in vehicle devices where the satellite signal may be reduced by the unit being in a car. It can also be helpful in portable systems as it allows you to keep the device in your backpack but still be operational for things like breadcrumbs.

Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS devices include the capability to wirelessly download real-time traffic information. If you live in an urban area, this is an incredibly useful feature even if you know the area you are in. This feature is most often available in vehicle devices and in computer/PDA attached systems.

Water-Resistant/Proof -- If you are purchasing a handheld GPS device and you intend to go fishing, backpacking, hiking, boating, or doing anything outside with your GPS device, consider getting a system that has some level of resistance to water. Also, know the difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Water-resistant means that the device can be exposed to small amounts of water but it typically can't be totally submerged. If there is a chance your GPS will be submerged, you should get a waterproof GPS, not one that is water-resistant.

Article Source: http://remotecontrolarticles.com

Francis is a lover of electronic devices. She has been playing with GPS receivers for more than 10 years. You can check out her GPS reviews at eDistiller.

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