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Why Every Car Should Have a GPS |
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The Global Positioning System, or GPS as it is widely known, is a navigation system originally developed by the US military which continues its´ maintenance today. It is an integrated system of 24 satellites that orbit the earth and through the navigational process of triangulation can pinpoint a position anywhere on earth where a GPS receiver is located. During the 1980´s the government opened up the use of the GPS to the private sector. It is widely expected to become the next personal utility in the same way that cellular phones have over the past couple of decades.
There are many benefits for the automobile owner to have their vehicle equipped with a GPS navigation system including; saving time, fuel economy, safety, and tracking.
Saving Time - With the use of a GPS receiver in your car you will avoid wasting time being lost. Whether you become truly lost and loose valuable time by going way off the direct route to your destination, or whether you are merely just driving around a neighborhood looking for a specific address a GPS will direct you to your end destination via a direct route. This can save you valuable time, disagreements with fellow passengers, and keep you punctual for your appointments.
Fuel Economy - With the GPS directing you to your destination via a direct route you will end up driving fewer miles. In these times of high fuel prices, any reduction in the number of miles driven will have a positive impact on what you are spending at the pump. You will realize additional savings from needing to service your vehicle less frequently due to; fewer oil changes, fewer engine services, and tires lasting longer just to mention a few. With reduced mileage driven during a year you may even qualify to reduce your auto insurance premium.
Safety - By directing you on your route you will not become lost - therefore you should have no need to have to stop and ask for directions. Nearly everyone has had to stop and ask directions in a neighborhood they did not feel totally safe in - whether it is due to the neighborhood itself or the time of day. In this day of car jackings and random crimes this is an important benefit of owning a GPS receiver for your car.
Tracking- Some GPS are equipped with a feature that allows you to track the location of the vehicle that has the GPS in it. This has significant value if you are trying to keep track of a child that has just received their license or another family member.
While these all have significant impact for personal use, the benefits are greatly compounded when you are using the GPS in a delivery or courier vehicle. If you are in charge of a fleet of vehicles, think of the benefits and how quickly and easily you can recoup your initial investment to equip your cars and/or trucks with GPS. I for one would not consider leaving my home without GPS in my car if I am venturing further than the local supermarket.
Patrick Mackesey is writer and administrator for RouteFinderGPS.com , which has mobile gps receivers and other gps systems.
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Choosing a GPS - Where Do I Start?
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You´ve been hearing about GPS and have decided that you might be interested in buying one for yourself. The first three things you should do are understand what a GPS is and how it works, determine how you will use it, and then determine a budget. There are many choices available but once you have completed these three things you will be prepared to make an educated choice and get the best value to meet your needs.
What is GPS?
The Global Positioning System, better known simply as GPS, is a satellite based navigation system developed by the United States military and made available for civilian use in the 1980s. The overall GPS network is made up of 24 satellites that orbit the earth. Basic GPS receivers can pinpoint any location within a few feet. It is widely expected to become the next personal utility in the same way that cellular phones have over the past couple of decades.
GPS works using the navigational process of triangulation. It can determine your location by using its relative position to that of two or more of the satellites. The more satellites a GPS receiver can communicate with the more exact a position can be determined - in some cases down to inches.
How will you use your GPS?
GPS work differently and provide different output based on the need they were designed to fulfill. There are specific GPS designed for automobiles, pilots, and others for hikers and/or other outdoorsman. Some will show a map while others will just give longitude and latitude coordinates for someone charting their movement. Within each category there are several choices based on how sophisticated a system you want and how much you are prepared to spend.
If you plan to use you GPS in your car there are several choices available; a system designed specifically for cars, a laptop system or a system that integrates with your PDA. In addition a handheld system can be used but offers much less versatility than the other options. I would not recommend buying a handheld unit for use in your car but if you already have one you may find it helpful in navigating while driving.
If you are planning to use your GPS in your car on a regular basis I would recommend a unit designed just for cars. The advantages are that they have a bigger screen which is easier to see while driving, have voice commands, and will give you turn by turn directions. These advantages make for fewer distractions while driving and, in my opinion, are well worth the extra cost involved. While both laptop and PDA compatible software are available these options may require additional equipment such as external antennas to operate properly and even then you may experience some reception difficulties.
If you are looking for a GPS to use while hiking/backpacking, hunting or fishing, you have several options available. You can use a basic handheld unit, a handheld mapping unit, or a PDA based system. While relying on any of these systems if you are off the beaten path I recommend you take alternative means of navigation with you such as a map and a compass as well as back up batteries for your unit.
With the most basic handheld units you will have to plot your position as obtained from the GPS on your paper map - therefore make sure your map is marked with latitude and longitude coordinates. Systems offering a mapping feature may well be worth the extra cost to many, but remember because they offer more functionality they are slightly heavier. For the fisherman there are also systems that include depth sounders and chart plotters in addition to the basic functionality.
Depending on your requirements, systems range in cost from around $100 for the most basic handheld unit to several thousand dollars for the more sophisticated systems.
Patrick Mackesey is writer and administrator for RouteFinderGPS.com , which has mobile gps receivers and other gps systems.
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