GPS Systems and Reviews

Travel Safely with Car Gps Navigation Systems

Whether you’re traveling to a friend’s house in the next town, or driving across the country, it is always a good idea to have as many travel resources handy as possible, that includes maps, water, extra blankets, flashlights, and a little food. It may seem to be an excessive thing to do, but you never know what situation you could end up in – caught in a storm or broken down on the side of the road. The more safety precautions you can take the better. The good news is, in addition to the normal precautions you can take advantage of, technology has taken the liberty of creating one more – car GPS navigation systems. Let’s learn more about them.

What Are They?

You may have heard of GPS systems either from an advertisement on television or from a friend who has gone out and bought one. In recent years, they have become very popular among everyday citizens because of the many advantages that provide. Where once they were pretty much only used by military officials, now they have been tailored to be of great benefit to civilians.

For example, if you getting ready to visit a restaurant on the other side of your town and you’re now sure exactly where it could be, instead of getting on the computer and visiting Google Maps, having to look up the addresses, then printing the map and directions, your in-car system will map the information for you and give you turn-by-turn directions similar to the Internet maps. The bonus, however is that you do it from the convenience of your car and don’t have to worry about your map blowing out of the window.

One thing you should know about these systems though is that car GPS navigation systems and the standard system I just described are slightly different. A navigation system, like the standard system, work from a satellite feed to provide real-time directions to its users. However, the standard version provides you a static map, whereas the navigation version actually gives you turn-by-turn directions as you head toward the location. It can also let you know when you’ve made a wrong turn. It is more interactive – and essentially a better purchase for someone who frequently gets lost when driving.  

Car GPS navigation systems are usually a part of the standard system, yet come with additional software that allow you to take advantage of the additional features. So when you invest in one of these devices, be sure that you’re prepared to spend a little bit more for the extra features.

What Brands are the Best?

As with any technological advancement, when it becomes popular, there will be the good, the bad, and the ugly versions placed onto the market – and it will be up to you to decide which ones are truly the best for your needs, and which are selling you a lot of features you don’t need. While I’m no supreme expert on car GPS navigation systems, I have done some research to guide you in the direction of the brands that have the best names in the industry, as well as what features they have that might suit your needs.

Garmin Nuvi 660 – Garmin is perhaps the most popular brand in car GPS navigation systems. They have been in business for almost 20 years creating electronic technology geared in this direction, so it is no surprise that they are able to create a system that stands out above the rest. In particular, their Nuvi 660 is high-performance and versatile with navigation basics (pictures of roads with turn-by-turn instructions), as well as tools for a person who travels the world, and Bluetooth options. It comes very highly recommended by experts and customers alike, but the only drawback for some would be the price, which falls into the $550-$700 range. Before you hash out that type of money, be sure you need all of the features advertised – you never know, you might find one that suits your needs for a lot less.
    
HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion – This device is a part of the Hewlett Packard collection of devices ranging from printers to computers. Their Travel Companion was created as an all-in-one solution that not only works to navigate you through your streets and neighborhoods with ease, but also keeps up with your schedule, working as a PDA. Many reviewers rave about its capabilities, also noting how compact and stylish it is compared to other devices on the market today.

Magellan Maestro 4250 – This is one of the mid-level car GPS navigation systems on the market (it doesn’t have top capabilities, but it certainly gets the job done). As with the Garmin, it gives you turn-by-turn navigation, which is great. But one of the other features that people love with this device is its voice command features. In addition, it is extremely accurate and performs well overall, making it a top pick among reviewers.

TomTom GO 720 – This is another one of the recommended car GPS navigation systems available. Like the HP Travel Companion, it is sleek and stylish, which works great if you want one that matches your stylish car. In addition, it has a Map Share community tool that provides you with constant map updates in real time. Also, it has a safety option included that allows you to seek help from your car in the event you have an emergency and are without a cell phone.

Mio C520 Navigation Receiver – Another sleek and stylish model, this device has advanced navigation features and a larger screen than most. It actually has more bang for the buck, offering these additional features at around $250-$350. However, in overall capabilities, some of the competition is more reliable and smooth.

Of course, there are more car GPS navigation systems on the market than these, but the ones listed have the best overall reputation and can provide a more reliable experience. But before you run out to buy one do additional research. There may be some car GPS navigation systems that look great, and even work great, but don’t suit your specific needs. And the last thing you need is to spend a few hundred dollars on something you really can’t use.

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