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 doesn’t 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
vehicle’s 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, you’ve 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 wouldn’t see this option
viable if you don’t 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 vehicle’s 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 can’t 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.
