GPS Travel

Television is not the only "cool" thing using satellites these days. For anyone who likes to travel or wander, the GPS satellite navigation systems that have been on the market for a few years are handy on-the-road companions. Some automotive manufacturers offer GPS in select car models however GPS can also be purchased after market and can be operated outside of the car as well. Satellite GPS navigates through signals received from the myriad of satellites orbiting earth and is extremely accurate using the maps that are loaded into its memory.

So what does a satellite GPS device offer that a road atlas doesn't? GPS satellite systems provide directions while traveling, generally through voice instructions which allow the person to keep their eyes on the road. No more pulling off to the side of the road to study a map, struggling to read illegible print, or trying to find just the right spot with only a dome light for illumination.

Satellite GPS devices are also "smart" as many can also provide updates on weather and traffic information and then assist in mapping an alternate route when barriers exist in the pre-planned route. This flexibility and problem solving make it an invaluable tool when traveling in an unfamiliar area.

Satellite GPS devices are also great to use when hiking, camping, cross country skiing, and participating in similar outdoor activities. Their small size and light weight make them a great tool outside of the car and are often recommended by outdoor enthusiasts and organizations for safety purposes.

Most satellite GPS devices sold in the US contain maps and points of interest such as airports, hospitals, and so forth to the tune of over one million locations. However, these devices aren't limited to the boundaries of the US obviously. For those who wish to use the device when traveling outside the country, many devices have flash cards which can be used to download the appropriate maps corresponding with their destination making satellite GPS a great travel companion.

For many potential users an important consideration is ease of use. Many satellite GPS devices, such as the portable Sony Nav-U, are ready to use right out of the box. It has maps and over 1.6 million points of interest loaded into its memory. It offers a full color 3.5" touch screen display and 2-way speaker system. Cost of an average satellite GPS device is in the range of $400 to $600 dollars but given years of good service and flexibility of use it would seem an excellent investment.

In the world of navigation or route finding, it seems that satellite GPS devices will eventually put basic road maps and compasses into the same realm as typewriters and carbon paper.

Christine Peppler shares information on home entertainment and home electronics products on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info.

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For people who travel a lot a handheld GPS is a great travel accessory. Handheld units provide great versatility and convenience to its owner. Being just a little bit bigger than a cell phone, these small GPS units offer navigational information for any place on the globe. Downloadable maps will allow you to view and navigate any terrain. The beauty of a small GPS unit is that you can take it from your car and mount it in your boat then pack it in your bags to use in a rental car at your travel destination. The soft case of the handheld unit doubles as a holster to safely and conveniently carry it when hiking the back country. Finding one you can afford means finding a source for discount handheld GPS. The price of a quality handheld can range from less than $100 to as high as $1,000. However units that cost in the range of $500 usually have all the features most users will need.

GPS manufactures that commonly offer discounts on their handheld GPS receivers include Cobra, Lowrance and Bushnell. Lowrance offers the best prices for handheld GPS systems that contain monochrome coloring. Their cheapest model is only $63.99, which is the less expensive of any discount handheld GPS. We do not recommend purchasing any handheld reciever with a black and white monochrome screens. Color displays provide greater detail and contrast than the black and white gray scale displays. Lowrance may not be the best choice when it comes to colorized GPS handhelds due to their high prices which compare well with higher priced and more well-known Garmin or Magellan brands. For colorized handheld GPS, it is best to go with Cobra, (with their cheapest colorized unit costing only $922), Tomtom and Bushnell, (whose cheapest colorized unit costs only $500). Bushnell is a particularly interesting GPS brand since their handheld units not only offer GPS service but also weather tracking.

Where can you buy a quality handheld GPS system at a reduced price? Amazon.com may be a good place to start as they offer dozens of handheld GPS receivers at reduced prices. Some of their GPS systems are offered at a reduced prices equaling 40 percent or more. Additional discounts can be had by using special manufacture discounts. If this is not enough of a discount, one can also try an online auction site such as eBay and Yahoo. Since sellers on most auction sites are armatures or have low overhead costs, they can offer greatly reduced prices even on top of the line GPS units. It is not uncommon to buy handheld GPS systems at hundreds of dollars below retail price when purchasing from an online auction site.

Manufactures that market the greatest number of discount handheld GPS systems include Cobra, Lowrance and Bushnell. If you do a good job researching brands and features you can certainly find a good price on just about any handheld unit. Given all the versatility and convenience that a handheld GPS provides it is not surprising that it is the number two type of GPS receiver sold today.

James Kesel, MS is the Publisher of GPS Auto Tracker providing information on handheld GPS Units and the latest GPS Tracking and Navigation systems.

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