Electronics Blog

You are hopelessly lost and have no idea how to get un-lost. The kids have stopped playing the quiet game, are bored with the DVDs you brought along and are suspiciously quiet. Could they be planning a “break out?” And on top of it all, the directions you got at the gas stations you’ve stopped at all had the hallmarks of a word puzzle from the SAT. You should have gotten a GPS navigation system.

While maps are great and have gotten people where they needed to go for centuries, let’s face it, times have changed. With great highways come great possibilities for great error, which is a cute way of saying that roads change constantly. You can check your route on your home computer before you leave, but what happens if you hit an unexpected detour? GPS offers real-time visual and audio direction and that just can’t be matched by a paper accordion or directions scribbled on a piece of scrap paper.

To be clear on this, they are not bulky black boxes with little dish receivers swinging back and forth. Most GPS navigation receivers are actually compact and rather sleek. They will run off batteries and are easily rechargeable in your car. Or you can just operate them straight off a car engine. The displays range from six inches to 10 or better depending on the unit- so really a GPS will fit in virtually any vehicle. Though it is not recommended you mount a large until on a motor cycle or riding lawnmower.

GPS navigation works using a series of satellites (generally 24-32) that are in orbit around our planet. The satellites radiate a constant signal, much like your spouse does when you miss a turn. But unlike your spouse’s signal, your GPS navigation system will pick up the signals and use them to decide where you are. This is not just on the highway either, you could be anywhere where there’s sky and your GPS will work.

Quite a few people have “GPS” built into their cell phones now. It should be noted that these only work while within signal range of a cell tower. So if you are in the middle of nowhere, the chances of you finding your way to somewhere are slim. Laptops are another option, and though they come with all kinds of extras, installing a laptop in your personal vehicle could cause a little clutter.

Your GPS will have to be updated periodically. This is done via the internet and on the manufacturer’s website. The pros to this are updated maps that will let you know if there are any detours or delays due to road construction. This will also update your GPS with new roads that might have opened since your last update. This is important because an updated GPS is least likely to malfunction or give goofy directions.

Mounting is a concern and should be really tended to. Often there is a suction cup assembly with a holster attached. The suction cup can be used to put your unit anywhere on your windshield you like. This is going to sound obvious, but don’t mount it directly in front of the driver. Some cars now come with a built-in GPS, when you have one of these there’s generally not a safety issue. Usually, the best place to mount your gps is low in the middle of your windshield, down towards the dash, but this is really up to individual taste.

Having a GPS navigation system onboard will save you a lot of time and headache. You will be able to arrive at your destination without much difficulty and avoid potential arguments over the map with your co-pilot. Your co-pilot can now remain asleep until you arrive at your destination. This is perfect because you can now change the station on the satellite radio to something YOU want to hear.

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Garmin GPS Accessories which showcases reviews of some of the top accessories for your Garmin GPS system.