GPS Navigation Systems

If you have read about GPS navigation systems and would like to buy one, chances are that you have probably looked at a friend’s or have browsed through the internet to check out the different models available.  You may have even really wished you had one when you were recently out on the road and couldn’t find the address for a business in another city.  At that moment of frustration, you probably had to ask yourself, “Why don’t I get one?” 

The answer is simple.  Buying GPS navigation systems now are sort of like buying mobile phones when they first became affordable and popular.  You see them everywhere, you hear how convenient they are, but when you go to purchase one, there are thousands to choose from.  So, if you haven’t ever used GPS navigational systems before, how do you know what to look for?  The answer isn’t easy, but it can be narrowed down if you know the answer to some frequently asked questions about GPS navigational systems.

• Will a new and improved model or a better deal come out after I buy my GPS device?

 Maybe…but in case you didn’t know, GPS stands for Global Positioning System.  This is a group of satellites that orbit the earth and produce a signal that will tell your GPS unit where you are.  When you tell your GPS unit where you want to go, it can figure out how to get there and keep your location current so that you know where you are at all times.  This part of the technology isn’t going to change.  Just like mobile phones, the only things that are changing right now are the size of the device and the nonessential features that are being added to the devices, like cameras and media players.  The price has come down quite a bit in the past few years, but the manufacturers aren’t ready to run $99.00 specials for the higher quality models just yet.

• Will I be locked into a subscription?

No.  The signals for the GPS navigational systems are free because they are supplied by the U.S. Department of Defense.  Also, any Bluetooth wireless technology that comes with GSP devices operates in the unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band, which is also free.  This means that once you purchase your GPS unit, there isn’t anything else that you have to buy.  The only exceptions to this are if you want to subscribe to an advanced option like live FM traffic or want to purchase a GPS service for a mobile phone.

• What are nonessential options?

In order to stay competitive, companies that develop GPS units have to keep making their products look more advanced than everyone else’s.  Since the signal is free for everyone and they have no control over that, manufacturers tend to load up their GPS devices with every feature they can to make their GPS device look more appealing.  This includes adding on media players, cameras, radios, mp3 players, video games, calling options and internet capabilities.  If this sounds like some of the options you already have on your mobile phone, this will help you eliminate some of the more expensive models.

• Will I really use a GPS system?

A GPS system is one of those things that once you start using it; you really don’t know how you lived without it.  The most important thing to remember is to buy a model with a high-end GPS receiver, like the SiRFstar III, an LCD display that is at least 3.5” diagonal and a rechargeable battery that will last at least four hours outside of the car.  Major companies like Garmin, TomTom, Cobra, and Magellan have well-reviewed and easy-to-use basic units. Companies like Mio, Pharos, and Nextel offer mobile phones with GPS capabilities.

So, instead of getting frustrated the next time you are lost on the highway, look into purchasing GPS navigation systems.  They are probably the biggest stress- relievers for highway traffic on the market today.

Posted in General GPS Information