How to Choose the Right GPS System

Understand what you are buying and choose the gps product that fits your needs and personality

Global Positioning Systems are becoming a common as cell phones.   Remember that only a few years ago a cell phone was a luxury and only used in emergencies.  Now they are almost built into our bodies!  The same rate of conversion is happening to GPS navigation systems.

You may be considering buying a GPS system but are confused about which GPS navigation system brand is the best choice for you.  Look at the checklist below and make note of the points which apply to your situation.

DO YOU:

• usually travel in the same vehicle
• change vehicles or travel with friends frequently
• mostly travel in large urban areas with frequent congestion and street closures
• travel on long inter-urban trips quite often
• travel in mountains or remote areas frequently
• belong to a specific Travellers' Club ( eg AAA )
• frequently visit and walk about various urban areas  ( eg last minute air & hotel weekend getaways)
• have specific hobbies or sports ( golf, fine dining etc)
• do a lot of hiking, backcountry skiing, fishing
• Are you trying to keep track of where your company or family cars are, and/or wanting to keep track of someone or something else?

The next thing you need to do is figure out the best way you receive information ( And no, having your partner shaking you and grabbing the wheel doesn't count.)  Everybody uses their senses in a particular order. 

•  Do you need to see things to understand them or,
•  is listening better for you? 
• Are distances easy for you to understand ( 300 yards, 1 kilometer, etc.)or,
• can you easily spot and read street signs?

  Answering these questions will help you determine the kind of prompting from your GPS device which will work for you.  And it will save you from getting into an argument with that little electronic voice and tossing the unit out the window!

NOTE: The following information is an overview of  GPS navigation systems, but there are links below which have specialized articles for specific GPS applications.  So read and scroll and have fun!

Different companies and models specialize in different ways of presenting the information to you.  If you are a visually oriented person, then a large TFT screen in your car gps system would be your best choice.  If you are auditory, then a good quality speaker system, or one which can integrate into your car's stereo system ( the voice automaticly dims the music when giving directions) would be your choice.  If " turn right in 300 meters" means nothing to you, then perhaps one that says " turn right in two blocks" or " turn right on " Saint George Avenue" would be better.  These are all options you should be aware of so the product fits your unique abilities.  Your neighbor may love his unit, but if it doesn't fit with how you relate to the world, it may soon be used for batting practice!

It also helps to understand the fundamental technology behind Global Positioning Systems and accessories.  Just like the internet, the structure of the Global Positioning System was developed for military purposes.  A bunch of very stable satellites were put into orbit all over the earth.  They then beamed down a signal to indicate where they were positioned.  Back on earth, the  military had receiver units which would gather all these signals and use basic triangulation to calculate where exactly receiver was.

Now here are the important details. 

First of all, the signal only gives you a relative bearing ( translated into latitude and longtitude).  You still need some sort of map to tell you where exactly those figures put you.  The better the map, the more valuable the information.  eg.  One map may tell you that you are on the Niagara river in North America, and another map will tell you that you are 500 yards upriver from Niagara Falls.  I'd prefer to have the second map.  This is part of the software package you get with each different brand.

The antenna in the GPS unit also makes a difference.  Remember the military?  Well, they want to have an advantage.  They allow you to get some of the data from the satellites, but not all of it.  Armed forces personnel are sometimes surprised to find that the retail GPS systems they buy for home are a lot less accurate than the units they use on the battlefield.  The antenna structure and the decoding software in different companies and models can make quite a difference.

Some companies don't use the Global Positioning Satellites.  They use cell phone towers.  Some combine cell phone towers and satellites and even add a new technology called TMC ( Traffic Message Channel ) which is quickly being installed in most large urban areas.  This not only tells you where you are, but warns you where not to go.  And then, when there are no signals from any source available, some companies have software which " guesses" where you are based on previous data and your estimated rate of speed and direction. 

If you respect your privacy don't worry.  GPS systems are passive.  This means they only receive information.  They do not send out any signals to tell anyone where you are.  However, you can buy systems with add on features which will do that.  GPS systems which are sold to fleet companies, or outdoor enthusiasts ( or even nervous parents of teenagers) can have transponders built into them.  The transponder collects the GPS data and then sends it out to a designated receiver. 

Also you may have heard of RFID chips.  These are little electronic chips which "call out" when interrogated by a signal. I only mention this because you may have heard of them in regard to GPS devices.  They are mostly used in commercial transport.  For example:  You are having a new stove delivered and wonder where it is.  You call the store.  They call the dispatcher.  She looks on a list and hits a few buttons.  A transponder in a truck goes off and your stove's RFID gives a yelp. The transponder then checks with the GPS to figure out where you are and sends the information back to the store without the driver having to do anything.  A minute later the dispatcher lets you know that your stove is few few miles away and will be delivered in 20 minutes...give or take.

Now for the truly paranoid out there, here is something to think about.  These little RFID chips are being put in just about everything.  So it is conceivable that a company ( or government) could send out a transponder signal to check on the distribution of specific goods.  (Remember this when you think about slipping that extra bottle across the border.)

 OK  Now down to finding the GPS system that is right for YOU!

You've gone through the checklists above and have a general idea of who you are and in what kind of situations you will use the GPS.

I've separated the different categories into separate pages for your convenience.  Just click on the section ( or sections) which you feel apply to you:

Choosing a GPS to Permanently Install in One Vehicle

Tom Tom GPS- reasons to buy

NOTE: I am currently updating this list so please bookmark this page and come back for more information.

 Here are some videos  for your enjoyment.  I've tried to order some relevant content.  But I got some strange things included.  Check them out and see if I succeeded! ( Just click on the side arrows to change videos)