| Which is the best GPS unit? | "Which GPS should I buy?" or "What's the Best GPS?
We get asked those same questions every day -it's what everyone wants to know.
 |
| Selecting a GPS unit that will be the best GPS for you can be a daunting task with so many selections out there. Usually this means weighing the features
you want with what you're willing to spend (kind of like buying a car!). The final selection is really a personal decision and sometimes you've just got to go with what looks good to you. They're
all going to do what they were designed for -- keeping you from getting lost! From my perspective, I know how extremely useful a GPS is, but there's also something about buying a shiny new toy that plays a role
in my decision. I wouldn't buy a GPS just because it's really cool to have one, but it helps. ;-) Right off the bat, let me dispel a common misconception: there are NO
subscriptions or monthly fees associated with using a GPS. After you buy a GPS, you can use it all you want and you don't have to pay another dime to use it. However, some GPS units offer such options as a Traffic receiver or MSN and Bluetooth. The traffic and MSN options do require a yearly subscription. The Bluetooth option has no fees. Bluetooth allows you to pair your Bluetooth compatible cell phone
with your GPS, enabling you to call and answer phone calls hands free thru the GPS.For a Comparison of some of our most popular GPS units, go here: Best GPS Units
Automotive GPS Units
GPS-Planet.com carries all of the most popular GPS navigational systems and GPS software at very competitive prices. First question:
Do you need a GPS? Well, if you're looking for a solution to those travels into unfamiliar cities and country roads, a car GPS is great. Fumbling for a map isn't fun, is it? Have
you had "disagreements" while trying to navigate to your final destination? It can ruin an otherwise enjoyable experience. With a car GPS guiding you turn by turn with voice prompts and visual maps, the
days of making wrong turns, getting lost and wasting time (and gas!) will finally come to an end. With GPS navigation, you and your family can enjoy traveling. Or, make a business trip less stressful.
It really does make a difference.
But a GPS receiver isn't just for vacations and business trips....it's just as useful around town. My wife enters the addresses to all her favorite hometown destinations, i.e, the girl scout leader's home, friends
across town, restaurants, parks, businesses, and the list goes on. Plus, where ever she is, it's comforting to know she can always find her way back home without stopping along side the road to look at a map.
Fortunately, most car GPS units already have detailed road maps preloaded on the unit, so you don't have to worry about it (check the unit's specifications). Compare features, including the size of the GPS screen,
whether you need Bluetooth or traffic notification features, and what the unit looks like. And don't forget to take a look at some of the Best GPS units
in our online chart. If you're a commercial truck driver or drive a big RV, you would be really smart to look at the CoPilot GPS systems we're now
offering. Specifically, the CoPilot Truck GPS and the CoPilot RV GPS.
Handheld GPS Units
Our handheld GPS units are wonderful for hiking, biking, camping, hunting, boating, geocaching, or really
any outdoor activity. The most popular brands are Garmin, Magellan, and Lowrance. By adding a mounting bracket, you can use a handheld GPS in your car too. As a matter of fact, there are brackets for mounting most GPS units on
bicycles, motorcycles and boats. Unlike GPS units made for your car, most handhelds don't have voice prompts though, although some of them will "beep" as you approach your turn.
Handheld GPS units come in two types, mapping and non-mapping. Do you need a simple "non-mapping" GPS handheld unit just for finding your way back to the truck after a day of hiking?
Or, do you need a "mapping" GPS you can use to map your trails, maybe plan your hiking paths days before your trip and download them from your PC to your GPS? A mapping GPS will have base maps,
and allow loading additional maps into the unit. A non-mapping unit won't. Will you be using your handheld in the woods with a heavy canopy of leaves overhead? Some built-in antennas work better
than others, but in deep cover, most will still have trouble seeing the satellites all the time. You might need a unit that can accept an external amplified antenna that can be attached to the top of your hat, or
your backpack. Try it in the woods first and if you need one you can always add it later.Just like the car GPS, always consider the amount of internal memory your handheld unit comes with, because it will be the limiting factor when it comes to downloading detailed maps. More memory means more
maps. Less memory just means you can't load as large of an area into your GPS. A very popular outdoor activity that requires a handheld GPS unit is Geocaching.
Geocaching involves finding hidden treasure "caches" by using coordinates and direction-finding techniques enhanced by your GPS. Typically a cache consists of a waterproof container hidden from normal view that contains
items left by previous Geocachers who have already found the treasure. Plus there's a logbook for signing after successfully finding the cache. Geocaching is a great family activity or for the sole adventurer who gets a
thrill out of the hunt for hidden treasures! There are so many choices when it comes to selecting a handheld unit I can only offer you some of my personal favorites. Just compare each units specifications to find one
that will do what you want it to. And then, which unit looks good to you. Buy that one. Also, you might want to take a look at our Best GPS chart.At the moment, my first choices would include the outstanding Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, Garmin 76CSx, Garmin Etrex Vista HCX, and Garmin Colorado 400t. These units have about as many bells
and whistles as anyone could hope for. Accurate and easy-to-read color screens, several modes and plenty of built-in memory, a basemap of the U.S., good battery life, waterproof, etc. (any Garmin handheld with an "X"
on it's name means it will accept SD memory cards for unlimited expansion) and the Rino handhelds have a built-in two-way GMRS radio! If you want detailed road maps or topographic detail, you'll need to download
it from optional software. For Garmin handhelds, the Mapsource Topo software (detailed ground elevations and topographic detail) or the Mapsource City Navigator software (detailed road maps). My next handheld GPS choices would include less expensive favorites (great for geocaching!) like the Garmin eTrex Legend and Garmin eTrex Vista. And there are certainly others that would do a fine job depending on what you want to use it for. Truck GPS Systems (for commercial truck drivers) GPS-Planet gives you some straight talk about the current selection of truck GPS units. We would rather have satisfied customers, than
just sell you something. Click on this link to see a comparison of the CoPilot and WorldNav Truck GPS solutions.
Finally
As you can see, there are many choices and depending on what you're going to do with it, what your budget is, and what looks good to you, the buying decision is a personal one. Bottom line:
more than likely you're going to be happy with whatever unit you buy! Again, you might want to take a look at our Best GPS page.Other than choosing a GPS with the features you need, the very first thing you should decide is how much you're willing to spend - it might not cost that much, but until you know your dollar limit, you really can't
make a good choice. So first decide, "I'm willing to spend up to $xx.xx" - and then start comparing features. I know it seems a little confusing at first, but don't stress over it too much.....buying a new GPS
is a lot of fun.
Think about what you really plan to do with your new GPS:
a) If you're considering a handheld unit, what will you use it for? Only for finding your way back to where you started? Primarily for hiking and backpacking? Geocaching? How rugged does it
need to be?
b) Do you primarily want a mobile GPS for the car with turn by turn voice prompts? Is it for your boat too? Make sure it's waterproof.
c) Do you need detailed road maps or topographic maps or will the sparse default base map be sufficient? (Some units come with the software, and some offer it as an option.) Most handheld GPS units only come with base
maps, whereas, most car GPS units come preloaded with detailed road maps.
c) Is a color screen important to you? Once you've used color you'll never go back to black and white. Honest.
e) Does it need to be Waterproof? Most handhelds are waterproof, but some of the car GPS units are not. Might want to get a GPS unit specifically made for marine use.
f) Is long battery Life important to you? Check the handheld's specifications.
g) External antenna capability? (for poor reception areas like deep woods, or city buildings).
h) Are you "computer challenged" and prefer doing it the easiest way (unit with preloaded maps)? Or would you be ok with using compact flash cards for loading specific geographic regions? More memory means
you can download more detailed maps into the unit. But for hiking or geocaching, it may not be necessary.
i) Do you have to keep the price under a specific amount?
Good luck, have fun, and be safe,
http://www.gps-planet.com
| |
Questions?
Contact Us
We will contact you the same business
day during business hours, or next business day if after hours.
Orders placed by 3pm eastern
are usually shipped the same business day.
|
Disclaimer:
Although the GPS units we sell are the best in the industry, no GPS
unit is 100% accurate all of the time. GPS-Planet makes no claims
as to the accuracy or functionality of any GPS unit and is not responsible
for damages or injury resulting from the use of any GPS unit.
The operator of a motorized vehicle is responsible for his/her own actions.
A GPS unit should only be used as a supplemental navigation aide. The
user assumes all responsibility for the use of our products.
|
GPS
Units: Home
Store Hours: 10 a.m. -- 5 p.m. Eastern
We only ship to U.S. destinations
GPS-Planet is a division of Global Stores
Direct LLC
Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
© 2004-2008 GPS-Planet |
|
