Driving cross-country or across town has never been easier. Once rare luxury items, navigational systems that use the Global Positioning System, or GPS, are increasingly affordable. But do your homework before buying.
A GPS unit displays maps and step-by- step driving instructions, so you don’t have to fight with a foldable map. As long as you’re on roads in its map database, it always knows your exact location, so you’re never lost. If you make a wrong turn, you’ll know precisely how to correct it as long as it has the roads in its database. The companies that provide the mapping software used in GPS units send teams out on the road to keep abreast of new roads and other roadway changes.
Caught in a traffic jam? Some models will suggest an alternative route. And some models incorporate up-to-the-minute traffic data that can help you avoid slowdowns from accidents or road closures.
But traffic help sometimes means buying additional equipment or paying to subscribe to a traffic update service.
You can pay as little as $100 or more than $1,500 for a portable GPS device. You’ll find offerings from Garmin (www.garmin.com), Lowrance (www.lowrance.com), Magellan (www.magellangps.com), Navman (www.navman.com) and TomTom (www.tomtom.com).
This is one gadget you’ll want to try at a store so you don’t get stuck with a model that is difficult to operate.
Lately, GPS manufacturers have added extra features, such as the ability to play MP3, video and picture files. Don’t get snagged by the bells and whistles. Here are some features worth considering:
Portability: How you use your system should determine the model you buy. If you want a GPS unit for only one vehicle, a professionally installed model might be best. They’re more expensive, but they look nicer; you won’t have ugly wires all over your car’s dash.
If you own more than one vehicle or use rentals, a portable GPS unit can be quickly installed and removed using brackets with suction cups.
There are even units for motorcyclists.
Display: You’ll want a good color display easily visible in bright conditions. You want your eyes on the road, not concentrating on a screen. Two-and-one- half-inch to 5-inch screens make for comfortable viewing.
Maps: Maps must be loaded into the GPS unit’s memory. Some models store the information on a hard drive. You connect the unit to your computer through a USB cable and download the maps. Other units use memory cards. The maps are preloaded onto the card. Or they can be downloaded to your computer and then inserted into the unit.
Over time, maps need to be updated. Check the cost. Updates can run as much as several hundred dollars.
Directions: As the display gives a visual reference, GPS units announce when to turn. Some announce generic phrases such as “In point-two miles, turn left.” But that isn’t too helpful. You must look at the display to read the street’s name.
Units with text-to-speech technology are better. You’ll hear the more specific instructions: “In point-two miles, turn left onto 24th Street.” The audio comes through speakers built into the units.
