GPS Systems and Reviews

Keeping Your GPS Unit on the Windshield

There are many different types of windshield mounts that you can buy for your GPS unit and each have a different degree of effectiveness. Some work better than others and some are just not worth having. Making sure you keep the unit on the windshield and not on the floor can sometimes be a never-ending battle and that is why we have gathered some tips to help you do just that. Most of these are just common sense ones, but a refresher course cannot hurt and you never know just one tip that works can save you hours of hassle with trying to get that darn windshield mount to work. Read on and discover what we have found to work best to keep your GPS unit mounted properly.

GPS unit mounts all give you some success, but usually at various degrees so this is something that you will need to take into account. I will admit some of these windshield mounts are not very good and a waste of money, but some of these tips should help you keep it mounted on the windshield and not sliding all over your floor. Cleaning the suction cup is probably one of the things we tend to forget. Dust and dirt gather on our windshield and the first place that heads is the suction cup. Cleaning that properly daily is good idea as you will get much better suction from it if you do.

Clean the windshield often is probably something we tend to overlook. Many people will just clean a certain spot and neglect the entire windshield. By cleaning it daily, you remove all dust and dirt that can blow around and get into the suction cup and also in your GPS Unit. Many people do not realize how quickly these units can collect dust and dirt and eventually it can breakdown your unit. This is why making sure your windshield is cleaned everyday is important. I know that it can be a pain to do it every day, but it the long run trusts me it will be worth it.

Mount the mount first. I see this mistake all the time and that is people mounting the GPS unit and the mount at the same time. I advise against it for a couple of different reasons. First of all you want to get a good fit and having something on the suction cup when trying to mounting it is very hard. The other thing is many people will push on the GPS unit as they try to mount it on the windshield. I’ve seen broken displays on units because people were trying to get the perfect fit or suction so go it alone and trust me you will see much better results and less chance for damage to your unit.

Many times when buying this suction cup mounts we are afraid to put a little pressure on these units and that is why they tend to fall off. I have found out though different companies mounts require different types of pressures when mounting them on the windshield. Most people will want to practice with it first before mounting the GPS unit to see which gives them the best result. By doing this you will know exactly, what type of pressure is needed? Experiment is the key here and that way you will know exactly which works best for you. One other key thing that people always tend to forget is not all windshields are created equal. Some work better than others so keep this in mind when mounting them.

Overall, the one thing about mounting these things on your windshield that you must know is make sure everything is clean. I always advise people to clean the windshield more than just one time, as it will give you greater suction than just a onetime cleaning. When cleaning the windshield use a good cleaning agent so you can get a good cleaning done. Most people will just clean it with anything and then they wonder why the mount keeps falling off and there GPS unit again has landed on the floor. If you’re not using the mount also take it off the windshield for a couple of reasons. First many times people will leave it sitting in the sun and the heat makes it lose grip and I’ve seen falling GPS units get damage and that is something you do not want. Secondly, it is an inviting target for thieves if they can see it. By removing it, you have much less of a chance for theft.

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Buying Your First GPS Unit

Well you have heard about GPS, but now you are ready to make the plunge into this newest type of technology. The biggest question you have is where do you start and which unit will work best for you. Whether you are biking, hiking, camping or just plain fishing the GPS has and can be used for all these things and much more. Most people can still remember the compass at their only form of travel, but that is just not as practical as it was many years ago. We want the quickest way and most accurate way to go somewhere or get something done thus GPS systems is our ticket to do that. Here are some tips to help make it easier for you to find the perfect unit for the use you have for it.

There are many different types of GPS tracking devices that you will run into and applications that people are using them for. One of the first things you must decide which type of GPS you need. There are four main types that you will run into and that is car navigation system, portable outdoors unit, marine system and the PDA. If you’re going to use one just to get point a to point b than you are better off with an in-dash model for your vehicle.  Now if you’re going to use it for more than one application than maybe a portable one is something that you will want to look further into. If fishing and being around the water a lot is what you will be doing than a marine model is the direction that you will want to head into. If you’re going to do all the above than probably a PDA/Hybrid model which gives a combination of all of them is probably best.

Your next step will be deciding on what extra functions you will want on your model. Most models have the same basic functions, but some models give you things that you may want for a little extra money. Many models have different add-ons and this is something that each individual must understand. One of the things that many people want and that is a touch screen. Most models do come with it, but some do not and it will cost you a few dollars more to get it. MP3 players are another function that can be added to certain models and maybe something that you will want to consider in the end. Many times this will depend on how often you use it as whether that would be a good investment. Now if you live in your car most of the time some models have a built in DVD player that you may want to consider. These are usually only available on the higher end models, but it is something you will need to look into.

One word of caution though about getting add-ons to your GPS unit. Most people get them to just feel in vogue because someone else has them. Do not do that as if you’re not going to use it than why get it in the first place. GPS systems are great and the add-ons are there for a purpose so if you do buy some of them make sure you will be using them or you’re just going to add to the price of your unit.

Comparison shop is something that you will also want to look at. Many times during the year, GPS systems are cheaper than they are at other times. Also getting last year’s models is something that you can also look at. These are usually discounted so they can get ready for next year’s models and you could find a great deal. Other places to look our auction sites, as people tend to sell their unwanted ones for a discount price. Good deals are available if you know what you are looking for. Do not go into it blind study each model and what they offer so you will know if it has the features you are looking for. Nothing is more disappointing than getting something that is not what you thought it was.

GPS is one of the most versatile and useful consumer products in the market today. It provides you with valuable information to make your life easier and most importantly helps you find your way to your destination. It has many other uses that you will find for it once you get a better understanding of how it works and what your model is able to do. If you follow the tips we outlined above you should have no problem picking out your first GPS system.

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