Top 10 Things to Look for in a GPS

If you’re in the market for the best GPS, there are some things you should consider before purchasing one. Just because you hold any GPS in your hand, it doesn’t mean that it will function the way you would like it to. Paper maps are now regarded as something prehistoric. Even popular sites like www.mapquest.com are only used more like an atlas than a road map. Everyone will eventually own a GPS just like the telephone. I will discuss the top 10 things you should look for when you’re choosing a GPS.

Brand

This is may not seem very important. However, brands usually speak a level of quality. If you go with a brand that does not sell many units, the company will most likely have little money to invest in more innovative products. They should constantly have updated maps available for you to download, whether it’s free or for a fee. You also want to make sure they company will have good technical support in case something goes wrong with your device.

Waterproof

GPS systems were originally designed for the military. Now they are mostly used by anyone that owns a car. You may think that it’s unlikely you will need a waterproof device because it’s used inside a vehicle. However, many people use the GPS as a walking navigator. If you do this, there’s always a chance of getting caught in the rain. You will appreciate this feature when that happens.

Map Updates

New roads and new areas are being added all the time. If you buy a device that does not allow for constant updates, you will be stranded in areas that are no longer there or brand new. It’s even better to choose one that has free map updates for the life of the device. That will save you a pretty penny down the road. If you travel around the world, make sure your GPS has the maps of that area to download.

Traffic Updates

Aside from showing how to get to your destination, you also want a GPS that can determine the best possible route at a given time. You can take the same route to work every day and not need a GPS. However, if you don’t have the radio on and don’t know that there’s a blockage due to an accident up ahead, you could be caught in traffic for quite some time. This is extremely important if you’re in a hurry or going to an important appointment.

Speed of Satellite Sync

One of the most annoying things that can happen to you is waiting for the GPS to sync with the Satellite and get started. On some of the older models, you have to be in a stationary position for this to work effectively. If you’re driving and starting it up at the same time, you might find that it takes a while. By that time, you are already on the road. Unless you have some sort of idea where you’re going, you may be wasting a lot of time going the wrong way.

Speed of Route Calculation

Sometimes if you’re busy talking to someone beside you or listening to music, you may miss a turn. A normal GPS will automatically recalculate the next best route. The speed of doing this is important before you miss another turn. Sometimes you may want it to recalculate a detour by choice. This again should not take longer an a few seconds.

Display

The size of the display is important for some people. Obviously, the bigger the screen is the better. A GPS can be very distracting. You don’t want to distract yourself even further by squinting to see the details. A color or 3D screen is also more fun to look at than a plain black and white screen. One other important feature about the screen that should be mandatory is the fact that it should be readable in sunlight. If you can’t read it properly on a sunny day, that could be potential dangerous and useless to say the least.

Bluetooth Capability

Driving and talking on your cell phone is very dangerous. In some areas it is completely banned. If you can help it, it’s best to wait until you have stopped to use your phone. However, if you really need to use it, the hands-free Bluetooth feature can serve this purpose.

Text-to-Speech

A lot of the older models only tell you when to turn and when you have arrived at the destination. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out where the next 300 meters are. Turning on the wrong street will be result of this. You have to look at the screen more times to confirm. The best GPS systems actually speak the street names so you don’t have to guess where you need to turn. That way you just need to listen and don’t need to look at the screen as often.

Custom Voices

All GPS systems come with a popular voice that is easy to listen to. They usually choose a female voice that is clear and soothing. However, there are people who would rather listen to a male voice. If you are picky in this area, make sure you get one that can download custom voices. Now you can even download celebrity voices for fun.

Battery

Last but certainly not least is the battery life. Your GPS should be able to last a few hours. However, for long road trips you may need to plug it into the cigarette light charger. Make sure it’s a lithium-ion battery that you can charge any time you want. Using it in the car will not be such a big deal for a long-life battery. However, if you’re walking around, it’s not always convenient to charge it.

In Summary

Getting everything listed all in one GPS may sound like a very expensive unit. However, companies are always competing for market share. They will try to provide as many features as possible. You will find that many of the above features are standard on the GPS systems available today. However, if you’re looking for the absolute best GPS that you can get, make sure it at least has the above features.