GPS Buying Guide

GPS makers offer a vast selection of models and features. It can be confusing and time consuming trying to find the model with the right features at the price point you want. This simple to follow guide offers some tips to help you get the best GPS for your money! Your first task is to decide on the most appropriate type of GPS for your use.

How will you use your GPS? Models are available that are made specifically for use in cars and trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and boats. Some smart phones also support GPS. If your GPS capable smart phone doesn't already have a built in GPS receiver, you can buy one that will allow it GPS abilities. There are also GPS units available for pedestrians, hikers, campers, and even for the golf course!

GPS units for hikers, bikers, and campers are portable by nature. For cars, trucks, and boats you have the option of buying an in-dash system or a portable system. An in-dash system is meant to be mounted permanently in your vehicle. A portable system, on the other hand, can easily be moved from one place to another. In-dash systems are generally more expensive but have more generous screen space than their portable counterparts. Portable GPS units can be more feature rich and cheaper than permanently mounted GPS units. Given their greater flexibility and cheaper price, a portable GPS is well suited for most people's needs.

Next you'll need to decide what selection of maps you want for your GPS. Most GPS units will include maps for at least the continental United States and many will also have maps for Canada and Mexico. Maps are also available for other parts of the world. These maps will usually include detailed road maps that note millions of points of interest like restaurants, hotels, gas stations, ATMs, and local attractions.

All GPS units have the basic functionality of putting your location onto a map. However, modern units offers additional capabilities so you'll need to decide what extra features you'd like for your GPS. Ever arrive late to an important meeting because of traffic? Many units offer local traffic conditions that can help you avoid pileups and pick the fastest route. This feature can prove very useful and save you dozens of hours of driving time each year.

Another useful feature is multi point routing where if you have multiple places to go on a trip it will place them in geographical order so you can take the quickest overall route possible. News, local movie times, and local gas prices are also available on some models. Text-to-speech is a feature where a computer generated voice will speak the directions to you and keep you well apprised of your route. Many models offer bluetooth so you can take cell phone calls (with caller info displaying on your GPS) through your GPS. You can also find units with media capabilities like mp3 and picture display.

Once you've found the perfect GPS model for your needs it's time to find the best deal on that GPS! Have a look around in the [http://www.dealslife.com] hot deals forums. There you'll find deals and helpful information about GPS units and you can even post a great deal yourself if you find one!

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Buying Automotive GPS Devices, Once Difficult, Now Easy!

Buying automotive GPS devices used to mean essentially getting a master's degree in engineering. No longer!

For those of us who can't afford one of the new luxury cars with the impressive GPS navigation system inside, there is hope. You can upgrade your current car with a GPS unit that will help you get where you need to go, and look cool doing it.

When looking for the best automotive GPS device, you can save yourself some heartache by doing research. Don't be intimidated by the different automotive GPS devices with the myriad of features. This article is designed to help you find the right automotive GPS device at the best price.

All of the automotive GPS devices are made to get your car from one place to another without getting you lost. After that main function, however, they are often as different as night and day.

GPS units come with a feature called Points of Interest (POIs). These are destinations that are popular to a large segment of the population. GPS receivers also have simple screens that feature icons and key pads that allow users to enter their information. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be able to use an automotive GPS device.

What can be tough is examining the many different automotive GPS devices to determine which is the most cost-effective. The automotive GPS device that has the most bells and whistles isn't necessarily the one that's right for you.

The three most successful automotive GPS device manufacturers are Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan. These companies produce top-quality automotive GPS devices that are guaranteed to last a long time.

Garmin is at the top of the automotive GPS device heap. That is because Garmin has almost 50% of the total GPS market. You can find Garmin's least expensive GPS unit, the Nuvi 200, for less than $150. If you want the big daddy, Garmin also has a GPS device that sells for close to $1,000.

No. 2 on the automotive GPS device ladder is Tom Tom. Tom Tom's One Third Edition is priced around Garmin's Nuvi 200, but it comes with more features.

Magellan was the forefather of the automotive GPS device industry. Magellan's Maestro series gained popularity because units cost between $150-$350. Magellan also has a great partnership with auto club, AAA. Magellan features AAA's Tour Book in many of its automotive GPS devices. AAA members can access a variety of travel features through this Tour Book feature.

Don't let trying to choose the right automotive GPS device stress you out. By doing some online research and comparing prices from different retailers, you can find the best unit for your car.

To learn more about how to choose the best automotive GPS devices, check out my website.

Rick Cole is a true GPS enthusiast! Take a look at his website to find out more information about the best GPS systems!

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What to Know When Buying a GPS

Why are GPS units showing up everywhere? You might find one in your rental car, on your wristwatch or even built into your wireless phone. Anti-theft systems use one, heavy construction equipment might use one and having one on your boat now seems to be a requirement. Anytime we want to know our exact location on the face of the Earth, the GPS becomes indispensable. Like many other technologies, feature rich GPS units are now affordable for the average person. So how do you know which one to purchase? Let's look at few things to consider prior to buying your next GPS unit, but first, what is a GPS unit?

A GPS (Global Positioning System) unit has the primary function of calculating its own location on land or water by using satellite signals. Once the GPS unit knows its own location, it can help the user determine direction and distance to other known locations. For instance, a GPS on a boat can tell the captain how far it is to the shoreline or how far it is to a favorite fishing spot. For the outdoor sportsman a GPS can help with finding your campsite, your vehicle or your next geocache. Popular outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, trail running, backpacking, rock climbing, canyoneering and canoeing are all made more enjoyable and safer when you take along your GPS.

When buying a GPS system the first thing to consider is how you intend to use it. If you plan on using it while on foot, you'll want a GPS that is lightweight, compact, weather resistant and that is equipped with features important to foot travel. WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) is one such feature. WAAS greatly increases the accuracy of your GPS, in most cases to within 10 feet. Accuracy within a few meters is important for the outdoor enthusiast but not nearly as important for navigating through town in your rental car. Next, be sure your GPS has at least 12 channels of reception too. Since your GPS will only work when it receives signals from satellites orbiting the Earth, less than 12 receiving channels will not get the job done in wooded areas or in steep terrain. If you plan on using your GPS to navigate while driving in your car, its weight is not nearly as important as its ability to display street maps. The GPS mounted to the dash of your truck probably doesn't need to be weatherproof, but the one on your boat better be.

Here are the features and products I recommend. For the outdoor athlete or sportsman, be sure your GPS has these features: topographical mapping, back tracking, a computer interface, weatherproofing, 12 receiver channels and WAAS. I recommend portable GPS units in the Garmin eTrex Series and the Magellan Meridian Series. For driving applications, be sure your GPS has these features: street mapping, large display, a computer interface and external antenna compatibility. I recommend automotive GPS units in the Garmin StreetPilot Series and the Magellan RoadMate Series. For boating and other marine applications, be sure your GPS has these features: marine mapping, color screen, active sonar, back tracking, a computer interface and weatherproofing. I recommend marine GPS Units in the Garmin GPSMAP Series.

Prices for GPS units vary a great deal and in general, you get what you pay for. While some units cost around $100 and offer relatively few features, others may cost as much as $1000 or even more and are loaded with dozens of features. Here is a good rule of thumb for determining how much money to spend on your next GPS. You should expect to pay between $200 and $300 to get a decent GPS Unit. I own a Garmin eTrex Vista. I believe it is the best GPS available for under $300.

If you don't have a GPS or yours is more than five years old, now's the time to get one. Adding a new GPS to your inventory of backcountry toys will take your outdoor adventures to a new level of enjoyment. Use this information and you'll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the ?Best Gear Out There? and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to ?Get It Right The First Time? with timely educational information. Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir"; (800) 316-9055.

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