GPS Systems

GPS Buying Guide

With hundreds of GPS sat nav system available at the market, we know it is very difficult to choose one. The buyer guide section provides you pointers and tips for selecting the right satellite navigation for your needs.

The Basics – What is GPS?

GPS or the Global Positioning System combines its operation with about 24 satellites, orbiting around the earth. The satellites allow the in ground GPS receivers to calculate their current position using mathematical operations.

How Does it work?

The GPS system makes use of the Trilateration to estimate the current location by using about 3 satellites at a time. The signals got from the satellites are rechecked with the data of the maps loaded into the unit, later the location is figured out and displayed. The present GPS system is under the control of American military and accurate up to around 10 meters. 'Galileo', Europe's reaction to the American GPS system, is expected to be functioning by the end of 2010 using about 30 new satellites furnishing accuracy down to 1 meter.

What good is it to me?

On your long journey, knowing where you are, is always been useful, additionally if you are equipped with the information relating to the interesting facts of that particular place makes you even more existing, which is what exactly the GPS satellite navigation does. The primary function is to direct users on the right way of your journey to explore a new city. As roads are becoming more and more complicated and congested, taking the help of GPS can throw out the hassle out of your long planned weekend trip. The best sat navs add even more comfort by showing the nearest petrol stations, hospitals and more.

Types of sat nav – In car(fixed)

The sat nav systems comes integrated with the entertainment system of the car. They have large LCD screens and exclusive features that makes the manufacturers to keep pricing amazingly high with selling price at £1500.

Types of  sat nav – Portable

These type of sat navs are the most popular and has been dedicated for the use of in car GPS systems. They are easily transferable between vehicles and usually placed within a sucker mount. Navman, Garmin and Tomtom are the most famous manufacturers of portable sat nav systems, recording over 650000 units sellings in UK last year. Now satellite navigation comes portable with motor bikes and even handy.

Types of sat nav – PDA based

People who decline the In car sat nav systems, choose to use PDS as an alternative. PDA's are been a peculiar gadgets with many users not knowing why they carry them. Hence when firms like Co- pilot and TomTom added a GPS cable option to ipads and maps on CF flash cards, a new concept evolved.

Consider Accuracy, Reliability, Speed of calculation, mapping and navigation quality, interface and audio and power before you get one.

Over all make use of this GPS guide as a checklist to select a perfect satellite navigation device to suit your needs.