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GPS Buying Guide Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or Navigation systems have revolutionized travel. They work off of 24-32 satellites that rebound signals by radio to receivers to accurately determine precise coordinates (using latitude, longitude and altitude). The satellites send perfectly timed signals that include the time that the message was sent, precise optical information (ephemeris), and the general system health and rough orbits of all GPS satellites (the almanac). GPS technology is commonly used on land, sea, and in the air—regardless of the weather or terrain. What I need to look for in a GPS system… When buying any electronic, research needs to be done. You should figure out which until will be the easiest to use, the fastest, and the most accurate on the market at the time of purchase. Because you will be buying a portable or mountable in-dash GPS unit you will need to figure out which one has the best screen size and resolution for your needs. Some GPS units play music and have a large internal memory, save routes, have the capability to redirect and recalculate while others are fairly basic. Points of Interest are fairly important to people for different reasons. Some people want golf courses or fishing spots on their GPS systems, while others just want to get from point A to point B. Bluetooth on a GPS is helpful because it allows hands-free call-answering and dialing. Check for compatibility with devices—not all wireless Bluetooth devices work with each other. Once you have made decisions on the finer points of your navigation system, you have to make sure that it will fit in the opening in your dash. If you need to you might have to mount it on your dash instead of in your dash. Standard dash openings are called DIN. Most cars will need a GPS that will fit the DIN opening. Many Japanese cars, however, have a larger than average opening (more than 4”), so those cars will not get a model that fits the DIN opening. Remember when Buying a GPS….. You might run into some words that are unfamiliar. DGPS is essentially the same as GPS, but it improves the accuracy from 6-12 meters to 3-5 meters. The “D” stands for Differential. To get the improved accuracy of the DGPS signal, a special differential beacon receiver and antenna must be used. GUI stands for Graphical User Interface. GUI is an onscreen mobile audio/video system—it can include menus and maps. Mapping Discs made by Navitech give the user maps of different parts of the U.S., along with highways, street information, and county roads. POI is just points of interest—abbreviated. This is an incredibly handy feature, especially if you are in an unfamiliar town. Going through the menu, users can determine what type of POI they are interested in, then the GPS will automatically create a list and the distance from the location—then guide you right there. What happens if you are headed somewhere and there is a traffic jam or an accident? Route Optimization is a feature that will calculate the shortest route and give you up the best path from point A to point B. Depending on the sophistication of the GPS system; you can even create itineraries—allowing for stopping points. Traffic information is included as part of a package on some GPS units, some traffic information must be acquired via subscription, and some Navigation systems don’t have traffic information at all. Lane assist is a helpful addition to any GPS. Garmin usually includes this feature on their devices. Lane Assist will help guide your choice in lanes—even using realistic graphics that simulate the road and exits for the best possible guidance. Traffic Ready means that the GPS unit will be able to—usually for a subscription fee—reroute you based on up-to-the-minute traffic information. Garmin GPS usually comes with this feature included. If you are buying a GPS unit that will not be permanently mounted in your vehicle, you may have the option to choose the Transport Mode. Transport Mode indicates what type of “vehicle” is being navigated. You can usually choose between car, boat, pedestrian, or bicycle. The Vehicle Speed Sensor or VSS Coupler amplifies the speed pulse in Ford vehicles to make it compatible with the GPS system. WAAS is the Wide Area Augmentation System. Only available in North America, WAAS is used to create a higher level of accuracy in Nav systems. It changes the accuracy of the system from 6-12 meters to 3-5 meters. It’s best application currently is on flat terrain and on water. It is a network made up of 25 ground reference stations. *If you have an older vehicle—pre 1980s—you may need to get a speed pulse generator kit. This will enable your car’s speed to register with the Nav system. The Speed sensor lead will send information to the Nav system about the mileage of your car and the MPH that you are traveling.
Marine GPS is handy for avid boaters and fishers. More often than not, the unit will come with fishing tables, charting maps, and should be water resistant or waterproof. *water resistance is something to keep in mind to look for when buying a GPS that will be used on a boat* When shopping for a boat/marine GPS be on the look out for features like:
Motorcycle GPS units are similar to marine and handheld GPS units….But, there are some considerations unique to motorcycles.
Golf GPS systems are quite similar to other portable GPS units because they are portable, small, and loaded with information pertinent to the mode of transportation. Golf GPS units have courses preloaded and updates are available if the one that you are looking for is not on the unit. Some units can come with the following features:
Handheld GPS systems are used for hiking and other adventures on foot. They come with electronic equivalents of gadgets that are great for anyone foot-bound. They are an extra security measure. If there is an emergency the GPS can guide you to your car or base camp. These units can come with:
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