What are the Features to Look for when Making a GPS Comparison?

With the number of different GPS devices available on the market today, it becomes necessary to compare the features of one against another to ensure that you purchase the unit that has the most useful elements for your purposes at the most affordable price. This is not always easy to accomplish, but with a bit of information under your belt, you will be prepared to make the best decision in finding a unit that will meet your individual needs.

Ruggedness and Suitability for Serious Navigators

Your GPS comparison can lead you to evaluate how rugged the product is, and whether it will be ideally suited for the serious navigator. There can also be concerns about the size and layout of the buttons, allowing you to select the unit that will be easiest for you to work with. There should be enough RAM to offer you a base map that includes most, if not all cities within the United States, as well as highways, key waterways, airports and political boundaries. It is also a good idea to have access to European maps and data as well.

Some of the major players in this technology that you may want to check out while GPS comparison shopping would include Magellan, Garmin, Holux and RoyalTek, to name but a few makers of GPS handheld devices. GPS comparison will also involve researching which devices are the fastest, by looking at TTFF cold, warm and hot tests with their manufacturer stated times. Some of the makes and models that you check out in your GPS comparison endeavor could also bring you into touch with models that can be connected to a personal computer or PDA. Such GPS receivers would probably have a cable to make the connection with a computer, though for connecting to a PDA, you will need to purchase a cable separately.

Another factor that you will need to check out when you make a GPS comparison is the navigational features of each particular device. These features should include waypoints/icons, tracks, routes, trip computer, map datum and position format. You should also include in your GPS comparison the features pertaining to the electronic compass, such as resolution and accuracy. It is a good idea check the different barometric altimeter features and how well the GPS performs as well.

Other notable features to be checked in a GPS comparison includes acquisition times, autolocate and update rates. The GPS must be very accurate to be effective, and this is a feature that should be given much weight in your GPS comparison. Special emphasis should be placed on DGPS accuracy, and WAAS accuracy in terms of position and velocity. Finally, make a GPS comparison in terms of the size in physical dimensions, weight, display, temperature range, data storage and internal memory. The battery should also provide at least ten to twelve hours of operations. Having made your GPS comparison with these features in mind, you should be able to narrow down your choice to a GPS system that will suit your individual preferences and needs.

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