GPS Systems and Reviews

Gps systems

There are many reasons for buying gps systems

Gps systems

There are many wonderful reasons for buying gps systems.  First, gps systems are generally broken down into two categories:  the kinds used for navigational purposes and the kinds used for tracking purposes.

Why would you need a gps system for navigational purposes?  The list of the reasons is many.  But here are some of the most popular reasons:

For finding directions and exact addresses when you are driving
To course your own tracks for hiking or jogging purposes
To find land when you are out at sea

People have navigational needs for work and for play.  They also find that being able to know where they are at any given minute giving them a sense of peace of mind.

When buying a gps system for navigational purposes when driving people can enjoy such functions as:

Mapping capabilities such as preloaded maps (generally of all 50 states, but may also include Canada and Puerto Rico)
Turn by turn directions
Easy to read display
Built in speakers
Big buttons
Preloaded point of interests (interests that are commonly enjoyed and found along major interstates and highways such as restaurants, motels and rest stops).

Then there are the extra luxury functions that may be included such as:

Speech to text directions (instead of just saying turn right in 400 yards, the speaker would say turn right at State Street in 400 yards)
Built in antennas
Extra lighting features for night use
Added players such as audio and video
Blue tooth capabilities

A person can also use a navigational gps system when jogging or hiking as well as other sporting activities.  When using for these reasons, a person would probably want the following functions to be included with the gps system

A fairly decent amount of downloaded maps
Ease in downloading maps (either by USB port or serial)
A decent supply of downloaded way points
Maps that is easy to read
A display unit that is easy to read and can be read in many different lights
Durability of the system itself
Waterproof ability
At least six hours of battery life between charges

Many navigational gps systems used for the outdoors also includes such features as:

Alarms
Compasses
Mp3 players

Then there are the gps systems that are used for their tracking ability.  These are also used with a receiver of some sort. 

One of the common reasons a person will buy a gps like this is to help ensure the safety of their child.  A gps tracking system is placed on a child’s cell phone or watch and then the parents are able to track the child’s every move.  This comes in handy if the child is ever to become lost or abducted.  It also gives the parents peace of mind knowing they are taking another step in helping to protect their child.

Caregivers of mentally impaired people or people with such illnesses as Alzheimer’s disease may also use a gps system to help keep the patient safe if he/she was to ever wander off and get lost.

Some pet owners are also using gps systems by placing collars with built in receiver onto their pets in case they were to ever stray too far from home.

Parents may also install a gps system in the automobile of a new teenager driver.  This gps system can save the history of such things as driving speeds, destinations, times between destinations, etc.  This can help to ensure that the new driver is driving safely at all times.

Some people also like to actually track the automobile they own.  By doing this, they will be able to pinpoint its whereabouts if it is ever stolen.  This may also give them a small discount on their car insurance.   And, of course, if they are ever to become lost while driving, they can call come and possibly retrieve directions on how to find their way.

Businesses that own fleet vehicles may also use gps systems to track their vehicles and their employee’s performance.  This can help them to achieve productivity, possibly save money and pin point their employee’s exact location if an emergency was to ever occur.

When buying a gps system for its tracking abilities, a consumer should look at the following capabilities:

Range
Ease of use
Actual functions it is able to record (for example on a child a gps system can even indicate body temperature and heart rate and on a vehicle a gps system can record driving speed, distance, estimation of time of arrival)
As you can see, there are many reasons why a person can benefit from buying a gps system?  The question is you one of these people and if so why haven’t you all ready one?

 

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Hand Held GPS

Should you buy a hand held GPS unit or a Dash Mounted GPS unit?

Hand Held GPS
Many people wonder which is the best type of GPS unit to buy, a handheld one or a dash mounted one.  Each, of course, has its own advantages and disadvantages.  Of course, one type may be more appealing to a certain consumer than it would be to another consumer. To help you make this decision in type of hand held to buy, consider these issues.

Will you primarily use the unit in your car?

Do you mostly want a new unit to help you find directions when you are driving?

Would you enjoy owning a GPS unit with extra features such as a MP3 player, blue tooth capabilities and an audio player?  Would you actually use these features?

Will you mostly use it while jogging, hiking, etc?

Would you use a GPS unit to actual chart your own courses for fitness or fun?

Do you think you will be moving it from one automobile to another one?

Do you think your needs will change or do you plan on sharing this unit with another family member?  (for fitness or navigational purposes)

Do you plan to take up a new sport such as boating?

 

Those questions can help you on your search as to the type of unit may be the best for you.  Some other things you might want to consider some of the pros and cons of each type of unit.

First, lets look at the pros on having a dash mounted GPS unit.

It is more secure.  This means it is less likely to be damaged or stolen.
Most have easy to use touch screen controls and
Generally, will also run off a cigarette lighter.
May have more mapping features.
May have voice commands even voice to speech commands
May have great FM reception that will allow you to play your mp3 tracks, your audio player and even allow you to access your cell phone via the automobile speakers.
They may have additional features such as the safety feature Where Am I which will tell you where you are by location and address, special feature which will tell you the local prices of gas, even a safety feature which may alert you of the current speed limits on some highways and interstates.
Greater overall reception.
Some of the cons of purchasing a dash mounted GPS unit are:

They are sometimes more expensive
You may have to buy these all ready factory installed or installed by professionals.
They can not be taken from place to place.
Now lets look at some of the pros and cons of purchasing a portable hand held GPS unit.

Some of the pros are:

It is portable therefore you can take it where you want.
It is less expensive than most dash mounted models.
Most are durable and waterproof.
Most of these comes in many styles, colors and sizes.
Many of these are light weight
Most are user friendly.
Great reception

Some of the cons of purchasing a portable hand held GPS unit are:

The screens are small, which means they can sometimes be harder to read or understand
They have smaller buttons.  This makes it more difficult for people with big fingers to operate.
Battery life doesn’t last long when using the extra features such as the illuminating screen
Not as much in the way of mapping capabilities
Can loose reception in wooded areas easily
Some have antennas that have to be extended to get full reception power
With all the pros can cons for each model, how do you choose?

Think about your specific needs. Go back to the questions you first asked yourself:  Where are you going to use the unit the most and why do you need it?
What features and options do you really want and need?
Think about how much money you are able to spend.  Of course, the more money you have to spend the better unit you can buy, whether it is a hand held GPS unit or a dash mounted one.  Plus, if you have extra money you can purchase additional software to add to possibly either type of unit.

Also beware of the fact that some hand held units now come with dash mounts or you can purchase these separately.  This allows you to the freedom of moving the unit around and still mount it when needed. 

The final choice of course is yours, the consumer.  The best way to come to the choice of whether a portable hand held or a dash mounted one is for you is by doing some thinking and a little researching. 

 

 

 

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