Which GPS Should I Buy?

GPS Navigation Systems

GPS (Global Positioning System) devices rely on satellites that orbit the earth. The GPS unit takes signals from these satellites which allow it to calculate your exact position on the ground. Basic devices will give you the precise time, your longitude, latitude, altitude as well as your speed in real time. Others will allow you to play MP3s and will even interface with your PDA. You can have a GPS factory-equipped vehicle, or a portable GPS which can be mounted in your car, or hand held for hiking and deep woods adventures.

The quality of GPS systems vary widely. The best are those that automatically or instantly pick up a dropped signal such as when you drive through a tunnel for example while others may need a few minutes to recoup. All systems have antennas that must have clear access to the sky in order to be consistently accurate which means that urban and rural dwellers will need a more sophisticated model when dense vegetation, forests or buildings inhibit access to the satellite signals.

Choosing a vehicle that comes with GPS is great for travelers and commuters however this option is pricy and probably not ideal for all drivers. Onboard navigation systems not only give you directions but also traffic and weather updates so you can avoid problem areas. Vehicle manufacturers position the antenna on the dash with optimal satellite exposure, making these systems more reliable than portable models where you may have to reposition them over and over. Some of the newer options for vehicle installed GPS systems include MP3 players, audio books and voice command operation. This is especially useful for those that travel alone since some models will lock up when the vehicle is in motion to prevent the safety hazards of multitasking while driving.

Portable GPS Models

Portable models are great if you want to use them in multiple cars, on your bike, or on a hike. This is definitely more economical than having a system professionally installed in multiple cars. Here are some of the GPS units that I think are worth checking out...

The Tomtom GO 510 GPS receiver (US$399) sports a wide 4-inch touchscreen, spoken turn-by-turn directions and comes preloaded with North American and Canadian maps on an SD memory card so you don't have to upload them from an additional source. It mounts to your windshield for portability and plays nice with Bluetooth enabled cell phones and your iPod. I've tested this model in my car and found that it was easy to setup and use. A very nice mid-level GPS, at an affordable price. The Tomtom GO 910 is a little pricier but has an internal hard drive, includes maps of Europe, can play MP3s, and display photos.

The Garmin Street Pilot C330 GPS ($US350) features a 3.5-inch touchscreen interface, automatic route calculation and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions along the way. The database features an impressive six million points of interest including hotels, stores, restaurants, entertainment, gas stations, schools, ATMs, and tourist attractions. I liked the rotary volume knob on the side of the unit, which was easier to use than the touchscreen volume slider on the Tomtom. Selecting a destination seemed a little clunkier than with the Tomtom unit, and the display, while bright and crisp, looks a little cartoonish by comparison. But it does allow you to select either a 3-D navigational view or the traditional “bird’s eye” overhead view, which is a nice feature.

The Magellan Roadmate 2000 GPS is a good entry level product at around US$350. Like the others, this unit features simple touch-screen menus, turn-by-turn visual and voice guidance, and built-in maps. But the Roadmate 2000 only covers the continental 48 states in the USA, and has just 1.3 million pre-programmed points of interest. Other Magellan GPS receivers fill these gaps, but at a higher price point.

Of the two I personally tested (Tomtom and Garmin) it seemed that the Garmin had a much bigger points of interest database, which is a big help when selecting a destination, but it also seemed to have more trouble finding and keeping the satellite signal in rural areas. The Tomtom offered more voices, at least six, while the Garmin had only a male or female voice. I'm sure most people would be quite happy with either the Tomtom GO 510 or the Garmin C330 as a first GPS. Both are afforable, mount and unmount easily, and are simple to use.

Hand Held GPS Systems

These not only help you navigate while driving but also on foot so whether you are on a road trip, walking through a new city or hiking you'll be able to know exactly where you are and where you want to go. Hand held GPS systems are tiny -- about the size of your cell phone which makes them extremely practical. Most hand helds are also Bluetooth compatible giving you the option of wirelessly integrating them with your PDA or PC.

The Garmin Nuvi 360 is a touch screen pocket size GPS device, about the size of a deck of playing cards. The Nuvi also offers a travel kit of useful tools including an MP3 player, audio book player, picture viewer, world clock with time zones, currency converter and calculator. Optional Language and Travel Guides on SD memory cards can be added for additional language and content support.

The Belkin F8T051 Bluetooth GPS Receiver connects to your laptop or PDA. Its ability to maintain satellite signal is superior, out competing many other GPS models. This model indicates your speed, direction, elavation, latitude, and longitude within 10 meters, which makes it ideal for hikers. The software included covers all of the US and Canada.

When you decide on a GPS be sure to read the fine print. Make sure it allows you to update the maps and new software when it becomes available. Additionally, one particular model may look great and be priced right, but you may have to pay extra fees to upload maps, or get subscriptions for weather, traffic services or other special features. The more features your GPS has the more expensive it will be. But in some cases, paying more for a good model that includes everything in one package will save you a lot in the way of having to tweak your device by adding costly features.

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