By John Rivers
Navigating using maps can be very frustrating especially if you are doing so while driving your car. This becomes even stressful when you are driving all alone in a strange territory. Sometimes, however, having someone with you won't help either, because more often than not, your companion would end up confusing you more than helping you navigate the road.
But traveling need not always be this difficult. It doesnt even have to be stressful. If you think it is the map that is causing you your problems, then better get away with it and throw it outside your vehicles window. Instead, go get a new car GPS receiver and use it instead of the map.
Car GPS Devices
Simply said, a car GPS device is a GPS receiver especially designed for cars and their navigation systems. Like all other types of GPS receivers, car GPS devices can also receive signals from GPS satellites and can use the information carried by these signals to determine its current location. But because they are meant to be used on moving vehicles, they must be stuffed with features specific to vehicle navigations systems.
In particular, car GPS devices must be able to give you the best possible route toward a particular destination. It must also be able to recalculate your route in case you miss a particular route instruction. It must also have a text and/or voice system for giving directions. Other basic features that all car GPS devices must have are:
* Map storage system * Screen or display that can handle images of more than 320x240 pixels in size at a resolution and brightness suitable for driving. * Address book for storing frequently visited addresses and points of interest * Detachable or external antenna for better GPS visibility
Now, there are a lot of car GPS devices of different kinds and brands available for every type and brand of car there is today. Because of this, you may find it difficult to select the particular car GPS that would perfectly fit your needs, should you want to experience the functionality of one.
In general, however, youve got two options should you want to travel with a car GPS device. The first option is to purchase a vehicle with built-in or fixed car GPS system. The other option is to purchase a portable car GPS device suitable for your car.
Buying a Vehicle with a Fixed Car GPS Device
Built-in or fixed car GPS devices can usually be found only on brand new luxury vehicles. As such, you definitely wouldnt see this option viable if you dont have the cash to purchase a luxury vehicle. But for those who can easily afford one, this can be the best option because the GPS device is already integrated in the vehicles system. This removes all the hassle of installing the car GPS device on the vehicle and loading additional navigation software on the system.
Buying a Portable Car GPS Device
For those who simply cant afford a new luxury vehicle but still wants to enjoy the functionality of a car GPS system, the viable option for him is to purchase a portable car GPS device. Now, for this type of car GPS device, you are again given two options: a portable car GPS preloaded with maps or a unit that would require you to transfer map data from your PC to the device.
Since the car GPS device needs to have a map in either option, choosing a car GPS unit preloaded with maps would seem to be a wiser choice. But while this type of car GPS device will save you from all the hassles of loading maps to the system, it also costs higher ($1,000-$1,500) than the other option.
The greatest advantage of portable car GPS units that requires map transfers, on the other hand, is their price, which would generally sell at the $500 to $800 range. Installing the system on your car, however, may be quite difficult and laborious.
About The Author
John Rivers is the owner of GPS Navigation Devices. On his website you can find information on everything related to GPS.
Short Review on bluetooth gps
Pricing, an important consideration for most people, runs the gamut in the GPS market, starting at about $200 for your basic system and topping out at more than $1500 for a full-featured model. Many low-price units have small screens, and don't include pre-loaded maps�you have to load them onto a memory card yourself. Those who can afford to splurge on a higher-end device will get bigger screens, a more powerful GPS receiver, such as the aforementioned SiRF Star III, as well as Bluetooth capabilities, and multimedia features. These pricey devices also include preloaded maps of the U.S. and surrounding areas, as well as large, searchable POI databases, the largest of which exceed 6 million listings. You could literally find every Waffle House this side of the Mississippi .
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To mark a place you can't go, like a freeway interchange, a cave, or building where satellites are blocked, start by marking a point nearby, then offset it by distance and bearing. Just another reason it's handy - and safer - to carry a compass when you venture out with GPS.
Install extra vehicle icons on Garmin nuvi...Step by step instructions available here (this was written as part of the nuvi 250W review, but it applies equally to all Garmin nuvi models).
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The type of GPS receiver you get can have a great impact on the quality of the position and tracking data you collect. A multi-channel "parallel" receiver, which can listen to many satellites at once, will be quicker and more accurate than a single-channel "multiplexing" receiver listening to one satellite at a time.
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How to save and transfer waypoints to a Nuvi...
* Start Mapsource and place your waypoint.
* When you have named this and confirmed the details of the waypoint, save it. Do this by clicking File, Save as.
* From the drop down list of file types choose a file type of .gpx. Save this file to your Desktop so you can find it easily.
* The next step is to connect your unit via USB to your PC. Click on My Computer and then double click on the E drive.
* A number of files and folders will appear. Double click on the folder gpx.
* Now locate the .gpx waypoint save file on your desktop, and drag and drop it into the gpx folder on your E drive.
* Disconnect your unit from the PC, and then switch the unit on.
* To check your waypoint is present choose, "Where to?" and then "Favorites".
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More bluetooth gps Info
Global Positioning Systems offer everything from hole overviews to Internet access "Shortgrass Technologies' Internet-based sports information system and financial ticker enables golfers to check college football scores on a Saturday afternoon or the price of stocks any weekday. Global positioning systems can track golf cars no matter where they are on the course, thus discovering bottlenecks and slower play. Golfers can order beverages and food en route to the turn, so golf clubs can offer more than a quick hot dog - a higher priced chicken sandwich, for instance...."
I always thought that GPS would go mainstream in automobiles first, and in a way I suppose it has, but maybe golfers will lead the real charge. I could have used a portable, library-centered GPS system myself to navigate the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library when I was there last fall!
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Labels: garmin gps navigation | handheld gps receiver
