Car GPS Guide For Consumers

With GPS there is no need to read a map Taking a walk on the pavement in the night, you will definitely take a glimpse of a device positioned in front of a vehicle, seemingly illuminating the way for the motorist. This device is known as Global Position System (GPS) usually placed on the vehicle’s dashboard which guides the motorist to his location.

This electronic device has uncomplicated our lives by exemplifying a way to drive on the road without asking for directions or taking the hassle to read Google Map printouts.

There is no service fee for using any GPS; but a fee may be levied if live traffic information is needed. Basic navigation capabilities make use of the U.S. military’s Global Positioning System which has been paid for by taxpayers.

As to who would benefit from these devices? It is actually more than you can imagine. Those who might benefit from these devices include those who are pioneers in a city and do not know the way around or those who are poor with directions. Also, the GPS would help you to find a specific road or a particular location such as the nearest Indian restaurant.

The most popular type of GPS is the personal (or portable) navigation device, or PND. These portable units can switch from your car to your spouse's, and on to a rental car with ease. In many cases they are of much better quality than those built-in systems costing several times as much and moreover are typically easier (and cheaper) to upgrade once the maps are obsolete.

Cellphone GPS, such as VZ Navigator from Verizon, is a newer option, and can be a good solution for those who do not frequently use it. You'll need a cell phone with a GPS receiver, since most phones use cell tower triangulation to determine your position. Accuracy is not as keen as with dedicated PNDs, and the smaller screens coupled with weak speakers on most cell phones goes to show that it is not a good choice for anything other than occasional use.
With the issues addressed, let's look at the range of personal navigation devices available on the market today.

Basic GPS Navigation Models

Prices of GPS devies have been dropping over the years. Now you can get a standalone GPS for your car for less than $200. Especially for models that have been in the market for a year or 2, you can get excellent buys like the Garmin nuvi 780 , TomTom ONE 130S and Magellan Roadmate 1212. Such basic models usually have a 3.5" or even a 4.3" touchscreen and give verbal guidance ("turn right in 500 feet"). Most of these units will show a map, the name of the next street to turn onto, distance to the turn, and your expected time of arrival on a visual screen.

One key feature that will vary among entry level models is the number of points of interest (POIs) along the way. These are attractions, retailers, and service locations that are pre-programmed into each unit. POIs range from Wal-Marts and McDonalds restaurants to the fanciest spas and resorts. It's much easier to find the nearest Starbucks this way than to look up an address and key it in. Some units have more POIs than others. I recommend buying a unit with at least 4.5 million POIs.

Additional files for POIs may be downloaded. Garmin keeps a list of POI providers, as do TomTom, Magellan, and independent sources such as POI Factory.

Text-to-speech Functionality and Wider Screens

Going beyond basic navigation, there are a couple of key features on mid-range units to look for. One is a wide-screen. Bumping up to a 4.3" touch screen gives more room for both maps and data, and makes input easier. Another feature to look for is text-to-speech. With this feature you'll hear "turn right on Oak Street" rather than "turn right in 200 feet." Both upgrades are useful and worth the extra cost.

Units that combine these features include the Garmin nuvi 260W, the TomTom ONE XL-S, and the Magellan Maestro 4250. These GPS receivers generally run from $200 to $350.

GPS Features Explained

It's easy to be taken for a ride by features that don't live up to their promises - or their cost. Let's take a closer look at certain features of the some GPS and decide if it is worth the additional costs.

Traffic: The Holy Grail for commuters, ‘live’ traffic has so far failed to live up to its promise. The idea is that your GPS can give you an indication of delays, accidents, the severity of backups, etc., and allow you to reroute around them. In reality though, you see many reports of incidents which are no longer a problem. And the quality of the service varies from one metropolitan region to the next. Having said that, expect to see significant improvements over the next two to three years. The three main traffic providers in the U.S. are Traffic Message Channel (TMC/FM), MSN Direct and XM NavTraffic. In order to access their services, you'll need a compatible unit and a traffic receiver that plugs into your GPS. Expect an annual service fee of around $60 per year.

Bluetooth: Pair your phone with your GPS and dial from the touch screen. Search for that fancy restaurant in your database of six million POIs and press a button to call for a reservation. Unfortunately, this is another great idea dealt a severe blow by reality as there are some drawbacks. While the audio quality is good on the driver's end, it can sound like an abysmal echo chamber for the person on the other end of the line.
Multi-media: Many units come with MP3 players and picture viewers. Some TomToms can even control your iPod. Personally, I would prefer to see the artist name and song title on the screen of my GPS, but many music lovers would rather stick to their beloved iPods.

FM Transmitter: By sending those MP3s, phone calls and navigation directions over to your car stereo and you'll be able to hear them from every speaker. A couple of cautions: Many cars have the FM antenna located on the rear windshield though, a long way for this FCC-mandated weak signal to reach. And the FM airways can be quite crowded. You're better off running a line out from the GPS receiver's headphone jack to your car stereo if it has an auxiliary input.

Voice Commands : A few high-end units are beginning to offer voice commands. TomTom's system is reputed to be better than Magellan's. Garmin's first voice recognition models would be available by the end of the second quarter of 2008.

Multi-destination Routing : This feature can be found on most high-end models and a few lower level units. It allows you to plan multi-destination trips in advance, which is a convenience for some travelers. Look for it if you take lots of multi-leg road trips; for the rest of us it's not a necessity.

Emergency Screens: These handy screens give your current location and offer buttons that show the location of the nearest hospital, police station, gas stations, etc.

High-end Models: There are many choices in this end of the market place, but two currently available and highly rated models to take a look at are the TomTom GO 740 and the Garmin nuvi 1370T.

Before Buying A Car GPS

Prices of GPS are plummeting and now would be a good time to purchase one. The current trend has high-end features migrating down to entry-level units, so shoppers would be able to get more value for their money as compared to the past. One tip before buying a GPS is that you would definitely want to read reviews of consumers who had experienced using the actual device before. These reviews can be commonly found at Amazon GPS Store, CNet and many other stores online.