Advanced GPS Features Buyer's Guide

By Joe Keller

There are literally thousands of different GPS units available on the market today. Each GPS manufacturer has their own special features and advanced capabilities that they claim to put their unit above their competitor's. When shopping for a GPS unit, wading through all the different features and finding the ones that are right for you can become overwhelming. This article will highlight some of the more popular features and what they
really mean to you.

Waypoints

Most outdoor and vehicle GPS units will have a built-in database of waypoints. Waypoints are the GPS eastern and northern coordinates for a given point on a map. Most databases will include waypoints for popular restaurants, gas stations, service garages, tourist locations, hotels, and hot spots. While you will find specific way-points pre-programmed into your GPS unit when you purchase it, some GPS units will allow you to program your own waypoints, or download up-dated and interest specific waypoint databases.

Route Mapping

Route mapping allows you to create a pre-defined set of Waypoints for an area you plan to visit. Once the waypoints are programmed into the GPS unit, the unit will guide you in the best way possible from one waypoint to another. This can be especially useful for long trips that have predefined stopping locations, allowing you to plan your trip before leaving, without ever needing to re-program your GPS along the way. Some GPS units will automatically create waypoints for you as you travel, useful if you get side-tracked and need to find your way back.

Altimeters

Some outdoor handheld units will have altimeters that will indicate the altitude or feet above sea-level. This feature is especially useful for hikers and campers that are in mountainous terrain, and may need to refer to topographical area maps.

Antennae configuration

Some GPS units have external antennas that can be adjusted to get better reception. Other GPS units will have optional plug-in antennas that are useful when mounting the GPS in a hard-to-reach location, such as inside a car or tucked away in a boat, allowing you to route the antenna to a more open area.

Another antenna option is a built-in antenna, which will protect the antenna from being broken or damaged. This option is often seen in hand-held and fitness style GPS units.

Connectivity

With cables and software carried by most GPS vendors, you can connect most GPS units to computers or other GPS units to download databases, backup of waypoints and information, sharing of data from one GPS to another, and much more.

Size

GPS units come in all different shapes and sizes. Be sure to choose a size unit that is specific to your needs. If you plan on hiking or any type of outdoor activity, you may want to consider a smaller, lighter, portable unit. However, size and weight may not be a consideration if you are planning on mounting your unit to the inside of your vehicle. Battery life is often relational to the weight of the GPS units. Heavier batteries will have a longer batter life than lighter models.

Hopefully this guide will help you better understand the many different options that are available when you are shopping for your GPS unit. There are many different options to consider, so make sure to ask plenty of questions and spend your time enjoying the GPS buying experience.

Check out Car GPS Store at Avanigroup.com.

About the author:
Joe operates www.gpsgearonline.com and is an avid GPS enthusiast.