How to Select a GPS Unit

GPS makes navigation much easier. With a GPS device and a clear view of the sky, you'll never end up lost again. There are a large assortment of GPS units for sale, and purchasing the appropriate one for your needs will ensure that you get the most from your GPS device. After all, a unit that does not work well for your requirements will usually stay at home and not be used. This guide will help you select the correct type of GPS for you so that you will get years of utilization from your GPS.

Step 1: Selecting the right type of unit

To start, you need to know about the different types of GPS units that are out there and how each can meet your requirements. The important types of GPS units are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS device you purchase will vary based on your needs, and the features you should consider will vary based on the type of unit you are getting.

Vehicle GPS devices are a great benefit if you make trips to lots of different places with which you are not familiar, or you drive for a living. Vehicle GPS systems usually come with features that make using them in a car much easier: features such as automatic route finding which tell you when and where to make turns so that you can keep your eyes on the road. Some vehicle GPS systems feature technology that makes them aware of real-time traffic conditions so that your route can be recalculated based on traffic conditions. If you plan on using your GPS primarily in your vehicle, you should look at a device designed specifically for this type of usage as these units tend to come with bigger, easier-to-read, screens than most handheld units.

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

GPS devices that plug in directly to a laptop or PDA commonly depend on the computer or PDA for all of the advanced GPS functionality aside from the collection of the data from the GPS satellites. Since a lot of the functionality is transferred to the PDA or laptop, the GPS unit itself is often much cheaper than a free-standing GPS unit. But if you plan on using your GPS for in a marine environment, camping, hiking, or backpacking, bringing your laptop or PDA may make using your GPS system more trouble than it is worth. Because of this, GPS systems that connect to other devices are most often employed in cars and for folks who navigate by foot in cities. If you are looking for the cheapest GPS system available and you currently already have a GPS-compatible computer or PDA, this may be the best choice for you.

Step 2: Picking GPS Features

Based on the type of GPS device your are buying, here are some of the features that you will want to consider.

Accuracy -- As a general rule, GPS devices are accurate to within 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 unit with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) as this at least doubles the accuracy of your GPS unit. This feature tends to be most useful in handheld units.

Address Finding -- Some GPS devices make it easy for you to enter a target street address. This can be very handy when driving and is a feature most often used in vehicle GPS systems or devices used in vehicles.

Automatic Route Finding -- This is most often used in conjunction with address finding. This feature configures the GPS so that it will tell you precisely where to turn to get to a pre-programmed address. This is a very useful feature for vehicle units, or devices used in vehicles, as it allows you to use the device without having to try and read the GPS while you are driving.

Built-in Maps -- Lots of GPS systems come with maps that are pre-installed; for example, all of North America. If plan to purchasing a system with a built-in map, make sure you get a GPS for the right area, especially if you are shopping on-line. Also, make sure that the map can be upgraded. If you plan on having your GPS for several years, you can count on roads changing during that time.

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

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

Downloadable Maps -- Most GPS devices allow maps to be downloaded onto them. This is very convenient for users who travel to a wide variety of locations. It also allows you to get away with purchasing a GPS that has 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 will want to be certain that you have enough memory to hold 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 looking for a handheld or PDA attached GPS unit, look closely at the battery life as this may be the limiting factor in using your GPS.

External Antennas -- Some GPS devices allow an external antenna to be used. This is very useful in vehicle units where the satellite signal may be reduced by the system being in a car. It can also be useful in portable units since it allows you to keep the unit packed but still be operating for things like breadcrumbs.

Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS units include the ability to wirelessly download real-time traffic information. If you reside 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 systems and in computer/PDA attached devices.

Water-Resistant/Proof -- If you are considering a handheld GPS device and you intend to go hiking, camping, fishing, boating, or doing anything outdoors with your GPS unit, consider looking for a unit that has some level of resistance to water. Also, be aware of the difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Water-resistant indicates that the device can be exposed to small amounts of water but it cannot be submerged. If there is a probability your GPS will be submerged, you should get a waterproof GPS, not a water-resistant one.

Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com

Buster is a lover of electronics. He has been playing with GPS units for more than 10 years. You can view his GPS ratings at gps-rankings.com.

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