Global Positioning Systems Demystified - User GPS Devices
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User GPS Devices
Finally you've acquired a vast amount of knowledge and you are ready to pick a GPS receiver unit! First, let's see few of the most popular manufacturers:
GARMIN
MAGELLAN
TOMTOM
PIONEER
NAVMAN
LOWRANCE
and so forth.
Check out the following pictures of various GPS receivers.
(Garmin nuvi™350)
(Empus RTW1000 PDA with GPS)
(Magellan Maestro™ 4040)
What are the features and specifications that you should aim for when purchasing your first GPS receiver? Because of their popularity there are hundreds of brands. Each of them do the same job as far as positioning, but still they are pretty different. Let's see why.
First, there are specific manufacturers that provide weather forecasting and traffic reports for a specific monthly fee. We won't discuss these because you are paying extra for something that is not absolutely necessary. That depends on the user and whether weather (incoming severe weather) or traffic (traffic jams on certain roads) reporting is a priority. In that case, you need to do research and pick one of those for sure. Some of the latest and greatest GPS receivers also feature options that help you avoid a traffic jam without charging a fee. But the device itself is relatively more expensive.
Second, pay attention to the receiver's start-up time. The more satellites a device can hook up to, the lower its start-up time will be and, therefore, positioning gets faster.
The third variable is to aim for is up-to-date devices. The reason for that is obvious; the latest units have the newest database (POI db) of maps (roads, buildings, bridges, etc.). An outdated device may report a road that does not exist anymore, a hotel that is closed, or a nonexistent bridge, even though the positioning and coordinates are perfect.
Fourth, don't neglect the built-in micro-controller. The SirFstarIII is the latest high-sensitive GPS micro-controller. These deliver top-notch accuracy and they have power-saving features, too. What's the micro-controller's purpose? It's the heart of the receiver; it evaluates the received packets and calculates locations and positioning.
Another factor that is nice to research is battery life. This is important if you want a GPS that's portable. Decent real-time battery life can be calculated if you drop 20-30% of the mentioned "battery life" in the brochure. That official data represents stand-by time (no load), therefore, for everyday usage, it borders around ~70-80% of the specified battery life. Some last a few hours, others more.
The following list contains some nice extra features to have: larger display (color instead of B/W), touch-screen, different luminosity of the display and/or internal light, transflective screen (bright sun creates uncomfortable glare), internal capacity (way-points, tracking, routes), memory size (space for additional maps -- you never know when you'll need them), durability (waterproof, shock-proof, etc.), lightweight, MP3 and DVD players, etc.
One piece of advice for outdoor GPS usage: keep in mind that receiver units are engineered to operate with a clear and full view of the sky to maintain ideal accuracy. If this isn't possible, the position accuracy might be compromised.
My last piece of advice regarding features is the antenna. Some of the units are designed so that they're able to operate only horizontally, others just vertically. In crucial conditions the external antenna solution might be necessary (either re-radiating antenna or just simple external antenna). Take this into consideration to fit your needs.
All in all, here are few of my personal recommendations:
- Garmin Numi™350 (awesome preloaded database, MP3 player, currency converter, calculator, anti-theft feature, etc.) .
- TOMTOM Go 910 (door-to-door navigation across Europe, USA and Canada; built-in MP3 player with 20GB of HDD space; speaks in 36+ languages, hands-free calling).
- LOWANCE iWay350 (built-in 4GB HDD space, MP3 player, FM modulator, US and Canada database, USB port).
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