The first thing to decide is how you plan on using a GPS and the second is how much you plan on spending on a GPS. Do you plan on using it in your car, for hiking and backpacking, or for hunting and/or fishing? Current GPS receivers are limited as to what they can do and are optimized a specific purpose. There are GPS specifically for flying, others for hunting and/or fishing, and others for Car Navigation. A few are just an electronic map that shows your position on the map screen. Others have no maps at all and can be just fine if you just want to know your longitude/latitude.
If you plan on using your GPS in an automobile, there are several choices: a basic or mapping handheld receiver; a dedicated automotive receiver; a GPS with a PDA; or a Laptop GPS.
Although handheld units can be used in a car there are several disadvantages-the screen can be hard to see due to its small size and some units will need to be placed forward on the dashboard where they can get a better signal. With a basic (non-mapping) unit you can tell where you are as long as you have a paper map with you to interpret that data.
A mapping unit is the more useful choice considering with driving usually involves roads. A dedicated automotive receiver is larger than a handheld in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car’s electrical system and because of this; they can only be used in a vehicle. Automotive units usually have voice instructions to allow you to navigate without taking your eyes off the road. Prices start at about $500 US.
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With all the technology available to us, there’s no excuse for getting the family lost in an unfamiliar place or stuck in hours of traffic on holidays. GPS is a great devise for in-car use and it’s just as useful when on foot plus it’s a great way to get around a foreign city too. With GPS Rental services this device became even more available and useful. Drivers can find their way through city streets; long reserve trekkers and hikers use the technology to navigate unfamiliar terrain. GPS devices are even more helpful for planning a trip, whether it’s a cross-country trek or a hopscotch tour of your routine stops.
But GPS not only gets you from point A to point B with minimum hassle, it also makes your holiday come alive; with ways to plan your itinerary, track down the best restaurants, and make your holiday more enjoyable.
Here’s a few handy GPS travel tips to help you get the most out of the holiday and avoid the travel woes.
GPS TIPS
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If keeping your gadgets small and pocketable is important, and you need a capable GPS device that also boasts some slick media functions, then the Navigon N100 from Fujitsu-Siemens deserves a look.
 The Navigon GPS Navigator is compact and strikingly elegant in design. |
Design
One of the N100’s most impressive features is its size. Measuring just 3.5 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches (L x W x H), it fits easily in the palm — quite impressive when you consider how much is loaded into its diminutive package. The bright, 2.8-inch touchscreen offered great clarity indoors, but was quickly washed out in bright sunlight. A small slot on top accepts MicroSD media, and the included 2 GB card contains complete mapping and points of interest data for the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, and Puerto Rico. More…
Navigate your way through both city streets and rural paths with the Mio 269, a sleek, easy-to-use GPS system that offers both visual and voice guidance. Housed in a flat, lightweight chassis and equipped with preinstalled maps of the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Canada on its built-in 2.5 GB hard drive, the Mio 269 makes it easy to tour unfamiliar areas whether on foot or in the car. To operate, the user merely removes the device from the box and flips the “instant-on” switch, with no installation required (all the maps and software come preloaded). Once activated, the Mio 269’s powerful Intel Xscale 300 MHz processor and MioMap CE navigation software take over, delivering on-the-spot GPS access and intuitive navigation, with millions of points of interest from which to choose.
The Mio 269’s comprehensive route planning is reliable and easy to follow, with point-by-point driving directions conveyed both verbally and visually in real time. Merely select the town, road, and number, and the device guides you professionally to your destination. Should users take a wrong turn or experience an unplanned detour, the Mio 269 automatically recalculates the route and delivers new directions. In 3D mode, the crisp color LCD conveys a safe and informative grasp of what lies ahead, including landmarks, road conditions, and points of interest (which include airports, gas stations, hospitals, restaurants, and tourist attractions). More…
Change the way you travel. Ultra sleek and ultra stylish, the Mio DigiWalker C720t is a full featured GPS navigation and digital entertainment device with a widescreen display and built in digital camera.
Designed for the discriminating road warrior, the C720t is loaded with all the features you need to make every trip a journey to remember. Goin mobile From the moment you switch on the C720t, you know you’re in for a new travel experience. The widescreen display makes it easy to see where you need to go and the unique splitscreen interface delivers an incredible amount of information at a glance. More…
 With fresh graphics and a compact touch screen, the Magellan Maestro 3140 is the ultimate travel companion. |
The Magellan Maestro 3140 is the only portable auto GPS system with a compact, 3.5-inch touch screen, and built-in AAA TourBook® travel information and member roadside assistance details. Compact, powerful, and re-engineered for easy use, this device combines advanced features and a simple design to make driving more pleasurable and less stressful. A few simple touches are all the Maestro 3140 needs to audibly guide you with turn-by-turn street name directions to virtually any destination in the United States and Canada. You can even customize your navigation method or route to get there quickly and stress-free. More…
The Mio P550 is one of the most versatile navigation devices available, providing full PDA capability, Internet access via built-in WiFi, and wireless connectivity with Bluetooth. And because the P550 is compatible with any Windows Mobile 5 software, you can use it for off road navigation. Just load the software you prefer - and go.
Since it runs on the Windows Mobile 5 operating platform, the Mio P550 can support the GPS software of your choice. This means you are not restricted as to where and when you can use GPS, nor do you need different devices depending on the activity you want to use them for, for ultimate flexibility More…
