GPS Navigation Eguipment

GPS Navigation Portable Features – Which Do You Need?

Portable GPS navigation systems have become extremely popular in recent years. As with any electronic device, in a purchase decision on which brand or model to buy, one must understand the function of games offered and decide which features he or she needs and they want to pay.

Here is a list of many features usually found on the different brands of GPS portable navigation systems:

Widescreen 4.3-inch or larger measured diagonally (vs. a standard 3.5-inch screen)

Includes Europe Cards comes with two North American as well as maps of Europe.

Parliament announces street names street names and exits, by eg "Turn right on Main Street" instead of "Turn right in 500 meters".

Voice Recognition-Operates the device GPS with voice commands rather than having to enter information by touching the screen.

Lane Assist-realistic displays road signs and junctions along your route and shows arrows that indicate the way forward.

FM Traffic Compatible-Add-on an optional FM receiver and subscription to avoid traffic jams.

FM Traffic Included-Avoid traffic congestion with and included FM traffic receiver

MSN Compatible Direct-You can add an optional receiver and subscription to MSN Direct to get traffic, weather, gas prices, stock quotes, news, and more.

MSN Direct Included-Receive MSN Direct content including traffic, weather, gas prices, stock quotes, news, and more, by the receiver.

Bluetooth ® – Connect your phone to make and receive hands-free calls

MP3 player-MP3 player integrated

Emergency locator, emergency locator that shows your coordinates, nearest address, and hospitals, police fuel stations and

Slideshow Viewer

Multi-mode Function-Provides driving, walking, cycling and ways of navigation such that the device can be used for any of these modes of travel.

Multi-point routing Sorts multiple destinations to determine an efficient route for deliveries and sales calls.

If you are a more or less "normal" driver who would only use your system Portable GPS navigation occasionally, from home or traveling, you certainly do not need all the bells and whistles mentioned above. A couple things to note for this type of driver, however. We should definitely consider buying a unit with the "speak street names" feature. You have much more certainty when you know you turn on the correct road if you are not sure of that, plus you do not need to be always looking on the odometer. Another consideration this author suggests, is to buy a unit with at least one screen 4.3-inch screen rather than the current 3.5-inch standard. You can see the screen much easier, and more importantly, the buttons to create address entries, for example, are larger. I found that the smaller buttons on the screen 3.5 inches were too small. I think I was pressing a button to see the wrong letter is shown on the screen. For example, I wanted to push the letter "u" and "v", which was next to "u", came on the screen. So obviously it must be corrected. I recommend really think these two features are worth the extra money. The speech recognition feature would be nice to have, but almost immediately puts you in very high-end systems with prices in the $ 600 and up range. Entering addresses or other destinations by the screen Touch is very easy once you get the hang of it.

If you drive long distances often, or if you are a professional driver who must choose the most effective routes to make your deliveries, obviously the more advanced features on the list might be useful for you. Certainly, you may be using your gps navigation portable system in Europe, you want to consider purchasing a unit of Europe which has maps loaded as well.

As for the maps update, which is normally required that every 3-4 years or more. The major brands usually release updates official update about once a year, and there is a cost for these new cards. Of course new neighborhoods and new roads are included, and new points of interest like gas stations or restaurants are also updated. These do not change that much from year to year, we can therefore afford to wait a bit before buying updated maps for your portable GPS navigation system.

About the Author

Walt Ballenberger is webmaster for
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