GPS Systems and Reviews

How to Choose the Best Gps Systems

So you’ve been trying to find a new way to navigate through the world and you heard about these devices that can create accurate maps and even give you navigational instructions to and from locations right from your car. These systems definitely do exist and are called GPS (global positioning) systems. But of course, before you go out and snatch the first one that you see, you need to learn about these clever little devices to determine which one would be best for you. So in this article, we will do the work for you to help you choose the best GPS systems on the market. 

Learning About GPS Systems

If you’re still unfamiliar with these systems, let’s take a look back at the movie Enemy of the State. If you remember, there was a scene in the movie where the character played by Will Smith was being tracked by a device his enemies had placed in a bag that he grabbed. By keeping this device with him unknowingly, he allowed the chasers to keep track of his every move on a screen they were watching from another location. At the time, the device seemed very high tech and new age, but now many people take advantage of them in their own homes and cars.

Modern day systems are capable of working in a very similar way as the device in the movie. You can plant a tracking device in your vehicle that allows you to know every move your car makes if your child drives it – or if it is stolen – by watching its activity from a screen in your house, or even on the Internet from anywhere in the world. In addition, these systems can give you driving instructions via a satellite map to a new restaurant in your area, or give you voice-navigation instructions to a restaurant in a new city. However, you have to decide which are among the best GPS systems, not just from reputation on the market, but also according to what will work best for your family. So let’s help you decide what you want. 

Decide What You’re Looking For

Some of the decision-making process falls in the laps of the companies selling you their product. But I believe firmly that one way to help you determine which are the best GPS systems on the market is to decide which ones are best for you – and you make this decision by choosing the features you most need.

There are four main categories of systems out there to choose from, however most companies combine at least two or more features into one device for versatility. To clearly learn about the differences though, we’ll view them separately.

Mapping – There are tons of mapping devices that fall under the category of best GPS systems. This is because more people are usually interested in mapping features, which means companies work harder to make sure this feature is especially accurate and reliable. However, do understand that there is a difference between a device with mapping features and a mapping system. The mapping system is different because it is used to collect data for field work such as farming, timbering, and wetlands/marsh work. Instead, you may want to pursue a system with a mapping feature for directions only, because you could find you’ve bought a device with a lot of “stuff” you just don’t need.  

Surveying – Surveying devices can be similar to those for mapping in that they can be pretty complex beasts for the everyday person simply trying to accomplish a few minor tasks. Models that focus primarily on this feature are also used more so for professional surveyors in the field who are looking to collect data on property and land. While you can find these devices among the others available, for everyday navigational purposes, these would probably be too advanced for your needs.  

Tracking – These systems can come in the more professional version, but many everyday people are finding them to come in handy when they want to keep track of their children, and keep criminals away. These models can come in a variety of forms ranging from a small device put in a car to track its whereabouts at all times, to a cell phone or watch you can give to your child that can be viewed from a remote location. 

Navigating – Many people would say the best GPS systems come as standard navigating devices because they are used to help them navigate through unfamiliar territories with simple and convenient voice turn-by-turn instructions. Of course, as mentioned with the above options, you are likely to have more than one feature in one, but the main idea is to make sure you are getting the features you want – and not a lot of unusable features – for your money.

Now What Do I Choose?

Now that you’ve learned about the differences between the systems, let’s look at a few brands with great reputations for being simple to use with a lot of great features:

Garmin – If price is an issue to you, you may want to turn away from this often expensive, yet always reliable company with a reputation for selling the best GPS systems in the world. Most of their products range from $350 – $750, but you’ll always get plenty for your money, including wide screens, long battery life (if portable), extensive mapping and directory options, accurate navigation, and even MP3 and Bluetooth features.

Magellan – Another company known for selling some of the best GPS systems on the market, Magellan offers a wide variety of products for mapping directions and accurate navigational instruction.

TomTom – This company ranks fairly high as well for its features and offers standard options as well as a Map Sharing tool that gives very accurate and up-to-date information on roads around the country.

Learning which companies offer the best GPS systems in the industry takes time and effort on your part. Of course, this means you’ll need to continue your research beyond the Internet and visit stores with representatives who can show you in person what each one offers. But after doing your research, and determining what you want in a system, you’ll be sure to find one of the best GPS systems on the market that best suits your needs.

Tags: Accurate Maps, Car Systems, Cars, Chasers, Decision Making Process, Driving Instructions, Enemies, Enemy Of The State, Global Positioning Systems, Gps Global Positioning Systems, gps navigation systems, gps systems, Move Your Car, Navigation Instructions, New Age, Reputation, Satellite Map, Snatch, Voice Navigation, Will Smith

What is the Best Handheld GPS Unit?

It’s always fun to find a new device that you can tinker with like a toy. For some, this device might be a new watch, or a new stereo system, or even a new computer. But for those who like to get outside and have an adventure in a new area, their fun might be in purchasing some type of GPS device to help them navigate in the great outdoors. But of course, you can’t just go out and buy anything sitting on the shelf (or website). You have to be able to determine which ones are better than others. So in this article, we will look at which is the best handheld GPS unit according to the types available so that you can have a better idea of those that you might want to have accompany you on you next excursion.

What’s Available in the World of GPS?

Before you set out to buy the best handheld GPS unit on the market, it’s important to understand how many are really out there. Basically, there are a lot. There are some to be used for hiking, keeping track of your dog, biking, boating and more. So you will need to narrow down the reason you want to utilize one of these devices first – then begin to choose the one that has a reputation for being the best. To help you narrow down the options, I have created categories of popular use then listed the unit that had a top five ranking among reviewers. This way you can begin to determine which is the best handheld GPS unit based on your needs. 

Hiking – Magellan SportTrack

According to the experts, the Magellan SportTrack is one of the greatest options for those who love to get outdoors to hike along trails or in other remote areas. But it is not just good for hiking – you can also take advantage of features created for those who boat, bike, hunt or fish. It is revered for its high level of accuracy and offers nine large graphic navigation displays so that you can view all of the charting information regarding your travels in one place.

It is WAAS enabled and offers a quadifiler antenna that is able to pick up all 12 satellites orbiting the Earth at once (most devices on pick up 4 at a time). During your trek, you can store up to 20 of the routes you’ve taken so that you can easily go back and find where you hiked without having to guess. In addition, the device stores up to 500 waypoints, and 2,000 track points. And if you are hiking in a very remote area, the device can give you the Sun/Moon positions, and can even help calculate the fish and game in the area with incredible accuracy.

For Boating – EKP-IIIC Color

While it is hard to pinpoint the best handheld GPS unit for boating on the market, this device definitely makes the list. It is a great system for those who are on the water as professional boaters, or those who like to get out there occasionally. Its great features start with a high resolution TFT color display that is easy to view on a cloudy day or in the bright glare of the Sun. In addition, it offers WAAS compatibility, AvMap technology, and a C-MAP C-Card that lets you locate nearby areas and keeps you closely connected to other databases in the North, South and Central Americas.

Some other features of this device include internal land cartography for the Americas, a large 6.4” anti-glare screen with HIS display and 640 x 480 resolution, a simulator mode, auto zoom, and a fuel calculator. Overall, you can guarantee that this device will never let you get lost on the water.

For Fitness – Garmin Forerunner

There are several Garmin Forerunner devices on the market – seven to be exact. But what many people consider the best handheld GPS unit of the bunch is actually “wrist-held” which makes its use even more convenient. The Forerunner 101 was created for fitness purposes such as keeping track of your time, distance when running laps, cycling speeds, heart rate and more. It stores your stats from day to day so you can easily compare and improve, and even comes with a foot pod.

The best handheld GPS unit is probably impossible to find because there is so much competition. But this list will certainly help get you started. Just be sure that you have a type of device you’re interested in. That way, you’ll be able to find the best handheld GPS unit for your needs.

Tags: Accuracy, Antenna, Best Handheld Gps Unit, Excursion, Fish, Gps Device, gps navigation systems, gps systems, Graphic Navigation, Great Outdoors, Handheld Gps Unit, Magellan, Navigation Displays, New Computer, New Watch, Options, Reason, Reputation, Reviewers, Sporttrack, Stereo System, Travels