So many options - So many brands - How do I choose?

Like most things now, there are more options and brand choices for products then we may care for.  Shopping can become quite confusing and frustrating especially for someone who is new to the technology.  As with many items, shopping for a GPS comes down to two things – features that suit your requirements and budget.

Here are some key points to remember when shopping for GPS units:

Brands - There are many brands available and more popping into the marketplace every couple of months.  If you have been shopping, then you're familiar with common brands - Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, TomTom and Mio.  Audiovox, Sony, Cobra and others  have entered the market and it seems like more and more each day are following.  When shopping units, if you're not sure what you are looking for, stick with the more common brands.  Garmin, Magellan and TomTom offer the widest range of recreational GPS units for the beginner to the expert with feature-rich functionality.  In writing this article, I try to maintain an unbiased approach, however Garmin is currently the leader in the recreational and automotive GPS market (note: this is not my opinion, but fact written by industry white-papers and the Street).

Features - If you have heard of geocaching, then perhaps you are here looking for information on selecting a unit for this modern-day version of treasure hunt.  Most handheld units will support the requirements for the sport including longitude and latitude readout, durability, elevation and memory capability for marking and storing waypoints and found caches.  A unit for this purpose can be purchased for under $100.  From here, it only goes up.  Most handheld units now incorporate a mapping functionality which displays your location on a digital map, black & white or color is available.  Some units require you to download maps to the unit and some include a built-in map.  If this is a feature you are seeking, ask questions.  Nothing is more frustrating than getting the unit home expecting the maps to be all loaded, only to learn you have to buy an extra package of software to use that feature.  Keep in mind, that even though some units may have a base map, it is just that a BASE map - major roads only.  If you're looking for something with turn-by-turn direction features, you may have to purchase a separate mapping program or find a unit with the detail map included.

Some units are also known as MFD's or multi-function devices.  For instance, Garmin offers a product line called RINO that is a map-based GPS combined with a FRS/GMRS two-way radio in a rugged case.  This is a great option for family's and friends who are looking for an ideal way to keep track of each other, and their locations, while camping, boating or on vacation.  The Nuvi series, also Garmin products, include an MP3 player, calculator, audio book reader and currency conversion, MSN live (for traffic and weather updates) and Bluetooth capabilities.

Another feature you may have seen is WAAS.  WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System.  In layman’s terms, it is a land-based radio system composed of 25 stations and available only in the 50 states, which enhances the accuracy of GPS units to less than 3 meters.  It is important to look for a unit that has this feature when using it for Geocaching.  Typically, all mainstream units now feature this, however I have found that many off-brand imports do not – Remember – do your homework.

If selecting a unit for automotive use, an increasing demand has been seen to add more functionality to units than just simple GPS.  More units are available now with MP3 players, wireless FM transmitters, blue tooth capability to interact with a cell phone, XM Radio and weather and traffic updates to help reroute you safely to your destination.  A great feature to compliment this is one found in many OEM head units in new cars - dead reckoning.  This allows the unit to navigate based on a simple connection to the speedometer signal cable and an internal electronic compass.  If satellite signal is loss, such as in a tunnel, the GPS units can maintain their heading.  This leads me to another key point.  If you're shopping for a new car as well, you might want to forego the optional NAV offered by the dealer or manufacturer.  These are typically available as an $1500 to $2200 option however aftermarket units have proven to be more accurate and much less costly - as low as 1/4 the price for a good unit.  Also, there are units available that give you traffic, weather and even current gas prices at the nearest stations.  These features are often extremely beneficial to the frequent vacationer, business traveler or impatient driver (like me).

TTFF is another buzzword you should be educated on.  This stands for Time to First Fix.  Why is this important?   Different units have a different Hot, warm and cold time to receive an accurate signal from the satellites.  A cold start, meaning you've had it off, traveled to a new area and powered it on, should never take more than 40 seconds.  Good units can than perform a warm start within 1-3 seconds.

Software.  Common units will use NavTech or TeleAtlas software as the mapping database.  If you're looking at less mainstream unit, check the mapping database.  The two companies I mentioned invest significantly in keeping their maps up to date and with tens of thousands of new road miles added each year, it is important to keep your investment accurate.

POI - Points of interest.  You will find this feature useful if you enjoy traveling and want to maintain tabs on the nearest gas station, restaurant, ATM or other place.  Points of interest are like having a small yellow pages book wherever you travel.

If you would like more information, you may contact me at itecsinc @ aol . com

Steve R.

President

Global Positioning Technology Association