There is nothing like purchasing a new product only to find that it has tons of great additional options that you didn’t know existed. It can make you feel like a kid in a candy store with $100 in your pocket. But the feeling of finding out about great options before you purchase a product can be just as fun. And for many, learning of what to expect beforehand only makes them want it more. If you’ve wanted a navigation system that serves as the perfect upgrade to the paper map then you’ll be happy to know that there are a few great ones on the market. But if you want to know the options that come with any specific units then take the time to check out Uniden Trax438 GPS features. You might find that you don’t have to look any further after reading this article.

About the Device

Whether you’re looking for a mapping device to help you locate your specific coordinates, or a navigation device to help you travel from one location to another, you can find what you’re looking for just by exploring the Uniden Trax438 GPS features. But what about the device itself? What makes it so special? Many consumers and reviewers alike enjoy this unit because it has a great reputation for being accurate, reliable, versatile and durable. Its durability is especially important seeing that it is a device that can be used to navigate outdoors. But most people love it because it has accommodating features for a vast array of uses. To give you a better idea of what those features are, let’s take a closer look at what this unit has to offer.

Features

Large Touchscreen – Most navigation devices come with a standard 3.5-inch screen; however, one of the standout Uniden Trax438 GPS features is the larger 4.3-inch color TFT touchscreen. This larger size helps you to see the maps more clearly – especially when you choose to view the 2D/3D split-screen option. Additionally, being a touchscreen, you don’t have to worry about having to use a pointer to keep track up just to navigate through the system. By simply tapping the screen with your finger, you can pull up any command you desire.

Preloaded Maps – This unit also comes equipped with maps of the US, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, all preloaded onto a 2 GB flash card. Having this internal card available allows you to download even more maps to your device if wanted, which is a great way to expand the usability of the device and get more bang for your buck.

Voice Prompted Navigation – You never know how much you appreciate guidance at every turn until you have voice-prompted, turn-by-turn navigation at your disposal. This is one of the Uniden Trax438 GPS features that comes standard. It allows you to simply type in your starting location and destination then be guided through voice instruction with every street turn or highway exit. It’s definitely a perk that will keep you from getting lost – and one that once you have, you don’t want to live without.

Integrated Radar – If you are a person who gets a bit of a lead foot when driving then you’ll appreciate the integrated radar and trip computer, both of which help to keep your speeds under control. The trip computer is a great asset because it lets you monitor the speed you are traveling, what your average speed has been on your trip, and even how soon you will likely reach your destination. And if you go over the speed limit without realizing it, the integrated radar can snap you back into reality, as it alerts you of any nearby police speed check radars.

Extras – In addition to all of the great Uniden Trax438 GPS features listed above, this unit comes with even more functions you can take advantage of including a POI database, which offers access to millions of ATMs, restaurants, hotels, gas stations and tourist attractions around the country, a trip book that allows you to add more than one address to a trip, and a trail book that assists with off-road navigation.

Since there are so many Uniden Trax438 GPS features to take advantage of, why not enjoy them all? Of course, enjoying them would require going out and purchasing your own. So if you want to make sure that this is the device for you, first check with owners of the product to see how much they love their Uniden Trax438 GPS features. That way, you will be able to make a more informed decision before spending your money.

Hike the Trails

So you’re ready to go outside and you’re wondering now how the Uniden Trax438 can help you along the way. Well let’s create a scenario to get you started. Suppose you’ve driven to a location that you’ve always wanted to walk through, but were too afraid of getting lost. Assuming you’ve used the system to get to your location, you can remove it from your dashboard to begin using it as a handheld device.

The Uniden Trax438 automatically can determine your coordinates as you begin to take your travel by foot off the road and into what is normally considered to be uncharted territory. Once you begin traveling, it can keep track of where you are now and also help you map out where you’re going next, all via the Trail Book navigation program that displays its on your touchscreen display. If you want to find a lake that has always been described as “well hidden” behind the woods, the device can find that location for you. And if you want to trace your way back to where you came from, just be storing the waypoints in the system, you can make your way back to the car, reattach the device to your dashboard, plug in the next destination in the system, and make your way out of the area just as easily as you made your way in.

Travel by Road

Though the Uniden Trax438 was works well for those who love to spend time outdoors, it is also perfect for the person who prefers to travel inside of a comfortable vehicle. If you love to travel by car but always seem to get turned around when you visit a new location, you can trust in the system to get you where you need to go. By just plugging in your address as a departure location and the destination as the location you want to reach, you can easily get started on your journey. The device comes with a large 4.3-inch color TFT anti-glare screen that allows you to view both 2D and 3D maps of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands with no trouble. And if you want to load even more maps onto the system, you can download them onto the internal 2 GB flash card.

Enjoy the Extras

Integrated Radar Detector – If you’re like a lot of people, you don’t like thinking about whether a police car is nearby when you’re traveling between cities and want to step on the accelerator a little bit. This is why the Uniden Trax438 is a great option for those who want to be alerted when police speed check radars are nearby. This radar detector can not only determine this, but also what speed you are traveling, what your average speed is, your total trip time, estimated time of arrival, total miles traveled, and time stopped.

Turn-by-Turn Voice Navigation – This device offers guided instruction to any location with turn-by-turn voice prompted navigation. This means, instead of having to look down to read the screen for instruction on which turn to make next, you can simply keep your eyes on the road and what for the system to tell you your next move. 

POIs – If you love to make stops along the way when traveling, especially in new cities, then you’ll love the integrated POI database, which keeps an updated listing of ATMs, restaurants, hotels, repair shops, gas stations and tourist attractions by the millions.

There are other features you can enjoy with the Uniden Trax438, whether you’re on foot or in a vehicle. Some include a trip computer, trip book, external antenna jack, stereo earphone jack, and much more. But even those to cover the entire list of features you can take advantage of with the Uniden Trax438. So if you’re interested in learning more, don’t be afraid to do more research. And if you’ve learned all you need to know, then get out there and get your own!

Here are some choices you may find that will make that almost perfect gps system, as close to perfect as it can get:

GPES EXPLORER

This software program works with Garmin gps systems.
It is a mapping system
It has plug-in function ability
It can identify a Garmin unit
It has serial plug ins
The program is written in java format

It can be downloaded at many sites including:

http://www.geocities.com/garminmaploader/
Gps3d

This is a small application
It is a mapping application that will display textured maps
It allows for 3-D viewing
You can broadcast information via the internet and through a gps device

It can be downloaded at many sites including:

gps3d-1.20.tar.bz2

Tour Point Editor

Is used for making maps which can be used for touring
These are professional looking maps
They work for both dash mountable and portable systems
The system is very easy to use

A free download of a trial of the software can be found at:

http://www.travelbygps.com/authoring.php
XAstir

This system is used for retrieving and plotting positions
It supports many formats
It is easy to use and customizable
It supports 125 map formats
It has access to a weather station
It has the ability to distinguish seven languages

It is free to download under GPL license.

To learn more about downloading and its many functions visit:

http://www.xastir.org/

Viking

This free and open source program can help the user to manage their GPS data
You can plot tracks with this
You can import tracks with this software
You can add new coordinates to your maps
You can make completely new maps
You can add waypoints
Works with most computer programs

To learn more about this program and to download it, visit:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/viking/

Clew

This is a chart plotting program
It easily connects to your computer via a USB port
It can replay logs in real time

To learn more about this program and to download it, visit:

http://www.baum.com.au/~jiri/clew/clew.tgz

GPSylon

Can help to show the user maps downloaded from the expedia server
Can help the user to track given position on maps
It is a serial device
It shows maps in many scales This is perfect in case you are missing one scale.
User can download one single map or a series of maps at a given time

To learn more about this program and to download it, visit:

http://www.tegmento.org/gpsylon/

NavSys

This is a mapping application
It is used for navigational purposes
It is also a media application that will allow the user to play audio files in the automobile
It allows the user to track history

It can be downloaded at many sites including:

http://nixbit.com/cat//utilities/navsys/#

EveryTrail

With this program a user can upload data to view on Google maps
The user can also upload pictures for viewing on Google maps
Find maps with tracks and coordinates
View your trips in 3-D format
Share your trips and maps with a community of users

To download your free software program visit and to join the community:

http://www.everytrail.com/

Geosetter

This is a free tool that works with windows
It is used for displaying and changing geo photos
Works well with Google Earth
Can embed the exact location into the heading of the photo

To learn more about this free download and its applications, visit:

http://freegeographytools.com/2007/geosetter-the-best-free-photo-geotagging-app

Yes, it is nice to get free anything, especially free software gps programs.  But remember some of the better programs, may cost you a little.

As you can see, gps software can make a gps system more usable.  It can provide the system means to communicate with other systems such as basic computers and even weather stations.  It can give the user the ability to download more maps or to make the maps they are currently using more customizable.

Where can one purchase gps software (if the above ones do not meet your needs0?  At any local electronic store, at any local or online store that sells gps systems and at many sites that cater to navigational needs or sporting needs.

Is your gps system missing something? Could that something be a new improved gps software program?  Investigate your choices in free and reasonably priced gps software today and see if you can find something that will fill your needs.

About Automotive GPS Systems

More and more people everyday are falling in love with automotive GPS systems. Why? Because they are so convenient! By buying one of these devices, you get to completely avoid having to buy printer paper every time you want to print off new map instructions. And by them being very user friendly, you don’t have to worry about one being too advanced for your capabilities. Think about it, they can’t make it too difficult if you have to use it while you’re in operating a vehicle.

Now let’s learn a little more about these systems.

Automotive GPS systems (also known as global positioning systems) are devices that use a set of coordinates based on latitude and longitude geography to give you the exact position you can be found on earth. It was originally a great tool for military officials to use as tracking devices, but over time, technology wizards discovered the system’s usability in everyday life – and as a result, you can find many of these systems in cars driving right alongside you.

People use these systems for a variety of reasons; one being that they want to map out directions from the location they currently are to a location they would soon like to arrive. By punching in the address locations in the device, it is able to give you a map with a line drawn to and from each location. In addition, if you get a more advanced system, you can use it for navigational purposes that give you turn-by-turn directions, and even lets you know if you’ve begun to head in the wrong direction.

This bonus is perfect for people who get lost easily – and if for those who don’t, but are taking a trip to an unfamiliar area without many public locations to ask for assistance. Even more, if you are that avid road tripper who doesn’t know where you’ll end up until you get there, you’ll benefit greatly from one of these automotive GPS systems as you won’t have to continuously ask for directions in each city you arrive in – and you’ll even be able to map locations based on their proper name, eliminating the need to have an address in tow.

How Can I Get My Hands On One?

If you find yourself intrigued by the thought of getting your hands on one of these convenient and, for the most part, affordable devices, let’s look at a few ways that you can find them available to the public.

Get It Built In to Your Car – Many automotive GPS systems are now found as an optional (and occasionally standard) feature in a new car you buy off of the lot. By having the system built into your car’s dashboard when you purchase it, of course you have little to worry about later – it is already there waiting for you. However, because the car dealership or company may have already established relationships with specific companies, you may find yourself obligated to a system that you don’t really want or need – or worse, one that is astronomically more expensive than one you could have bought on your own. Car dealers are known for hiking up the price for additional features, whereas had you done the work yourself you could have saved hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars. So keep this idea in mind if you are thinking about having one of these devices included in a package deal – make sure it is really a deal.

In-Dash Add-On Systems – Often times, you can go to an auto store after you’ve bought your car to add on the items you want. In the case of the automotive GPS systems available, you can do the same. These add on systems come with a great deal of features – as do the built in systems – including a large LCD display, AM/FM stereo, CD player, and a navigation system. You might also find climate control, Bluetooth capabilities that link you to your cell phone, and the ability to watch DVDs (while not driving). While they are not as expensive as the built-in units, they can still be a little bit pricey because of their innumerable features.

Portable Devices – A popular way to acquire one of these systems is to buy the more affordable, and usually compact, portable device. There are several brands that are popular among customers, including Garmin, Magellan and TomTom. Unlike the built-in or add-on units, these are simply made to attach to your dashboard and are great for those who have multiple cars but only need one unit. All of the brands out there have their own features that make them unique and desirable, but they each come in a sleek design that works well inside any style automobile.

No matter of the many automotive GPS systems you want to purchase, they all have the ability to direct you to your destination with great accuracy and reliability. Your only decision will be to determine how you will acquire one, whether it be through purchasing a new car, getting one built in later, or simply buying a portable version. After you’ve made your choice, you will join many others who benefit from the convenience and security of their automotive GPS systems guiding them through the country with ease.

How much do you know about GPS tracking systems? A little? A lot? Or nothing at all? It is not uncommon to be a little uninformed when it comes to the newer technologies available on the market – especially when there are so many out there! So in this article, I am going to give you some insight into these systems, explaining what they are, how they work, and how they can help you out in your daily life.

What Are They?

To understand about GPS tracking systems, you have to understand the concept of the global positioning system, as they are a subset of this system. A global positioning system (GPS) was originally created as a way to help the military make use of satellite feeds to obtain the position of their own and other military officials. They found these devices to be extremely beneficial as they were able to help determine a specific position with 100% accuracy and even help officials trek through difficult areas and find their way out.

Over time, these devices came available to the public, which helped the everyday person avoid getting lost in areas they were unfamiliar with. In addition, if they used a tracking unit, they would be able to keep tabs on their precious items and even the people around them with no problem at all.  

How Can They Help Me?

As you learn more about GPS tracking systems, you’ll discover just how beneficial they are to your daily life. But here are a few ways:

Pets – Many are excited to discover that they can keep track of their pets with one of these units by simply attaching one to the collar or muzzle and keeping a corresponding device on their person. If the dog runs away, you can not only determine its specific coordinates, but also tell if it is walk, running or even standing by a tree – pretty neat!

Cars – Customers found out about GPS tracking systems for their personal items a few years ago as they became popular in a variety of movies. However, they have more recently become affordable to that same viewing public. So now, if you want to keep tabs on your vehicle, instead of planting a camera near or in the car, you can plant a small tracking device in it that will inform your corresponding device, kept in your home, of your car’s whereabouts at all times. This way, if your car is stolen, or your children take the car and you want to know where they are going, you can simply keep a close watch with the device.

Potential Device Errors

Those who have studied information about GPS tracking systems know that it is possible to have errors occur with them though it doesn’t happen often. Below is a short list of errors that can occur when operating your device:

Multi-Path Error or “Bounce Off” – A bounce off error can occur when the radio signal from a device can “bounce off” of objects that stand between the satellite feed and the device. For example, if you are located in an area that is densely populated with tall buildings or trees then the signal could very well be diverted as it is trying to reach your unit. The result of the multi-path error is a lower accuracy reading.

Signal Delay Errors – If there is a strong storm, or some other form of atmospheric interference like a layer of water vapor below the troposphere that interrupts the signal and prevents it from reaching your device as usual, it can affect the accuracy of your unit.  

Quality of Your Unit – If you purchase a unit that is not considered high quality, then you risk the chance of not getting the accurate position reading you would hope to receive.

So how do you know which ones are considered high quality?

Some companies producing great devices on the market include TomTom, Magellan and Garmin. They are well known and highly respected in the industry for producing units that are extremely accurate, efficient, feature-heavy, and attractive.  

In learning about GPS tracking systems, you have to do your research so that you will find not only what will result in a high-quality unit, but also something that you can use without features you don’t really need. That is not always easy to do if you visit a store and have a salesperson in your face, so it is a good idea to do your own research first. But once you have learned all you need to know about GPS tracking systems, all you will need to do next is get yours and beginning benefiting from this great piece of technology.