GPS Travel Tips
GPS Planet asked:
With all the technology available to us, there’s no excuse for getting the family lost in an unfamiliar place or stuck in hours of traffic on holidays. GPS is a great devise for in-car use and it’s just as useful when on foot plus it’s a great way to get around a foreign city too. With GPS Rental services this device became even more available and useful. Drivers can find their way through city streets; long reserve trekkers and hikers use the technology to navigate unfamiliar terrain. GPS devices are even more helpful for planning a trip, whether it’s a cross-country trek or a hopscotch tour of your routine stops.
But GPS not only gets you from point A to point B with minimum hassle, it also makes your holiday come alive; with ways to plan your itinerary, track down the best restaurants, and make your holiday more enjoyable.
Here’s a few handy GPS travel tips to help you get the most out of the holiday and avoid the travel woes.
GPS TIPS
1. If you intend to rely on your GPS unit, take time to learn it before needing it. Get the manual out, work with setting waypoints and determining position. This will save you time on the road and prevent you from loading incorrect information or deleting valuable information by mistake.
2. Ensure that you install the maps prior to travel. This will enable you to browse and test the maps prior to embarking on your trip. Make sure you are familiar with the route calculation settings of your device.
3. Power is an issue. All GPS models will need to be recharged. Make sure you have enough batteries for the trip or pack a universal adapter in your luggage. Battery life of GPS devices vary, so it is important to have a cigarette lighter charger as you do not want to run out of juice when you are on the road.
4. Avoid leaving GPS device mounted on the windshield in a hot car for long periods of time. It is also a good way to prevent the device from being stolen, since even leaving the window screen mount in view is an advertisement that a GPS device may be in the car.
5. Most car navigation systems include an extensive POI database including restaurants along the interstate. Choose the cuisine you want and your GPS will display a list of results by proximity. Filter out only those along your route and your forward seeking food radar will update faster.
6. Some GPS devices also contain useful travel advice which can be very helpful if you are unfamiliar with road rules in other countries. For example, some device menus contain guides for multiple countries and cover local road rules, public holidays, accommodation advice and more.
7. When navigating to a place, it may be easier to search for a place by name rather than address. For example if you wish to visit the British Museum in London you can find it listed under museums as a point of interest and be able to navigate there without knowing the exact address.
8. And most importantly, make sure you dust off your GPS-knowledge and get the upper hand on your pending trip before you embark. Just be smart and make good use of your GPS.
Caffeinated Content
With all the technology available to us, there’s no excuse for getting the family lost in an unfamiliar place or stuck in hours of traffic on holidays. GPS is a great devise for in-car use and it’s just as useful when on foot plus it’s a great way to get around a foreign city too. With GPS Rental services this device became even more available and useful. Drivers can find their way through city streets; long reserve trekkers and hikers use the technology to navigate unfamiliar terrain. GPS devices are even more helpful for planning a trip, whether it’s a cross-country trek or a hopscotch tour of your routine stops.
But GPS not only gets you from point A to point B with minimum hassle, it also makes your holiday come alive; with ways to plan your itinerary, track down the best restaurants, and make your holiday more enjoyable.
Here’s a few handy GPS travel tips to help you get the most out of the holiday and avoid the travel woes.
GPS TIPS
1. If you intend to rely on your GPS unit, take time to learn it before needing it. Get the manual out, work with setting waypoints and determining position. This will save you time on the road and prevent you from loading incorrect information or deleting valuable information by mistake.
2. Ensure that you install the maps prior to travel. This will enable you to browse and test the maps prior to embarking on your trip. Make sure you are familiar with the route calculation settings of your device.
3. Power is an issue. All GPS models will need to be recharged. Make sure you have enough batteries for the trip or pack a universal adapter in your luggage. Battery life of GPS devices vary, so it is important to have a cigarette lighter charger as you do not want to run out of juice when you are on the road.
4. Avoid leaving GPS device mounted on the windshield in a hot car for long periods of time. It is also a good way to prevent the device from being stolen, since even leaving the window screen mount in view is an advertisement that a GPS device may be in the car.
5. Most car navigation systems include an extensive POI database including restaurants along the interstate. Choose the cuisine you want and your GPS will display a list of results by proximity. Filter out only those along your route and your forward seeking food radar will update faster.
6. Some GPS devices also contain useful travel advice which can be very helpful if you are unfamiliar with road rules in other countries. For example, some device menus contain guides for multiple countries and cover local road rules, public holidays, accommodation advice and more.
7. When navigating to a place, it may be easier to search for a place by name rather than address. For example if you wish to visit the British Museum in London you can find it listed under museums as a point of interest and be able to navigate there without knowing the exact address.
8. And most importantly, make sure you dust off your GPS-knowledge and get the upper hand on your pending trip before you embark. Just be smart and make good use of your GPS.
Caffeinated Content
Categories: Travel Tips Tags: Hikers, Minimum Hassle, Windshield
How to Choose a GPS
Angela Mary Carter asked:
The first thing to decide is how you plan on using a GPS and the second is how much you plan on spending on a GPS. Do you plan on using it in your car, for hiking and backpacking, or for hunting and/or fishing? Current GPS receivers are limited as to what they can do and are optimized a specific purpose. There are GPS specifically for flying, others for hunting and/or fishing, and others for Car Navigation. A few are just an electronic map that shows your position on the map screen. Others have no maps at all and can be just fine if you just want to know your longitude/latitude.
If you plan on using your GPS in an automobile, there are several choices: a basic or mapping handheld receiver; a dedicated automotive receiver; a GPS with a PDA; or a Laptop GPS.
Although handheld units can be used in a car there are several disadvantages-the screen can be hard to see due to its small size and some units will need to be placed forward on the dashboard where they can get a better signal. With a basic (non-mapping) unit you can tell where you are as long as you have a paper map with you to interpret that data.
A mapping unit is the more useful choice considering with driving usually involves roads. A dedicated automotive receiver is larger than a handheld in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car’s electrical system and because of this; they can only be used in a vehicle. Automotive units usually have voice instructions to allow you to navigate without taking your eyes off the road. Prices start at about $500 US.
A GPS with a PDA needs clear access to the sky for satellite reception. Some receivers have the antenna built in or have the capability for an external antenna. An antenna on the seat of your car may or may not work. The console is the next best place – reception may be questionable. An air vent mount is better and a windshield mount or the antenna placed all the way forward on the dashboard is better yet. The most reliable place is for an external antenna to be attached to the roof of your car.
A laptop GPS requires a CF with an external antenna, a Bluetooth GPS receiver, a mouse-type GPS receiver, or be connected via a cable to a handheld GPS unit so the receiver can be placed in a position for good reception. Of course a laptop is large, but the main advantage is a very large screen for maps. If you have a need for a laptop in your car, this may be the best choice and a mouse-type receiver is inexpensive.
If you plan on using your GPS for hiking or backpacking there are three choices, a basic handheld receiver, a mapping handheld receiver and GPS with a PDA. It is also recommended that in addition to your GPS, you should take a paper map, and magnetic compass, and extra batteries. Weight and size need to be considered when deciding which GPS to choose. A basic receiver does not have mapping abilities, however it will display your location in a format that you choose, and most likely latitude/longitude. Providing your paper maps have your chosen position format marked on them, your GPS will allow you to find your location on the map. If your maps don’t have the position format grids marked already, this is something you’ll want to do yourself. These are going to be the least expensive choices for GPS, often less than $100 US and are as accurate as more expensive units; they just don’t have as many features. The main feature they lack is mapping capability.
For hunting or fishing many handheld models include best hunting and fishing times for a given location and date. Mapping handheld receivers are often larger, heavier, and/or have shorter battery lives than basic units. Shorter battery life means carrying more extra batteries adding bulk and weight. With a mapping handheld unit you will have the benefit of having the maps displayed on your GPS. These also include other benefits such as a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, games, and a calendar and you can plan your route ahead of time on your PC and upload it to your GPS. These units display pre-loaded maps and map detail is reflected by the size and resolution of the screen. This means that mapping units are generally larger than basic units. The downside of a GPS with a PDA is that it will drain your battery quicker and it also of the top of your PDA. Mapping units are more expensive than basic units; prices start at about $150 US unless you get one with Bluetooth capabilities which are more expensive. For fishing a chart plotter/GPS or a GPS sounder are also available. The chart plotter/GPS and GPS sounders usually have a lot of features and start at about $400 US.
Caffeinated Content
The first thing to decide is how you plan on using a GPS and the second is how much you plan on spending on a GPS. Do you plan on using it in your car, for hiking and backpacking, or for hunting and/or fishing? Current GPS receivers are limited as to what they can do and are optimized a specific purpose. There are GPS specifically for flying, others for hunting and/or fishing, and others for Car Navigation. A few are just an electronic map that shows your position on the map screen. Others have no maps at all and can be just fine if you just want to know your longitude/latitude.
If you plan on using your GPS in an automobile, there are several choices: a basic or mapping handheld receiver; a dedicated automotive receiver; a GPS with a PDA; or a Laptop GPS.
Although handheld units can be used in a car there are several disadvantages-the screen can be hard to see due to its small size and some units will need to be placed forward on the dashboard where they can get a better signal. With a basic (non-mapping) unit you can tell where you are as long as you have a paper map with you to interpret that data.
A mapping unit is the more useful choice considering with driving usually involves roads. A dedicated automotive receiver is larger than a handheld in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car’s electrical system and because of this; they can only be used in a vehicle. Automotive units usually have voice instructions to allow you to navigate without taking your eyes off the road. Prices start at about $500 US.
A GPS with a PDA needs clear access to the sky for satellite reception. Some receivers have the antenna built in or have the capability for an external antenna. An antenna on the seat of your car may or may not work. The console is the next best place – reception may be questionable. An air vent mount is better and a windshield mount or the antenna placed all the way forward on the dashboard is better yet. The most reliable place is for an external antenna to be attached to the roof of your car.
A laptop GPS requires a CF with an external antenna, a Bluetooth GPS receiver, a mouse-type GPS receiver, or be connected via a cable to a handheld GPS unit so the receiver can be placed in a position for good reception. Of course a laptop is large, but the main advantage is a very large screen for maps. If you have a need for a laptop in your car, this may be the best choice and a mouse-type receiver is inexpensive.
If you plan on using your GPS for hiking or backpacking there are three choices, a basic handheld receiver, a mapping handheld receiver and GPS with a PDA. It is also recommended that in addition to your GPS, you should take a paper map, and magnetic compass, and extra batteries. Weight and size need to be considered when deciding which GPS to choose. A basic receiver does not have mapping abilities, however it will display your location in a format that you choose, and most likely latitude/longitude. Providing your paper maps have your chosen position format marked on them, your GPS will allow you to find your location on the map. If your maps don’t have the position format grids marked already, this is something you’ll want to do yourself. These are going to be the least expensive choices for GPS, often less than $100 US and are as accurate as more expensive units; they just don’t have as many features. The main feature they lack is mapping capability.
For hunting or fishing many handheld models include best hunting and fishing times for a given location and date. Mapping handheld receivers are often larger, heavier, and/or have shorter battery lives than basic units. Shorter battery life means carrying more extra batteries adding bulk and weight. With a mapping handheld unit you will have the benefit of having the maps displayed on your GPS. These also include other benefits such as a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, games, and a calendar and you can plan your route ahead of time on your PC and upload it to your GPS. These units display pre-loaded maps and map detail is reflected by the size and resolution of the screen. This means that mapping units are generally larger than basic units. The downside of a GPS with a PDA is that it will drain your battery quicker and it also of the top of your PDA. Mapping units are more expensive than basic units; prices start at about $150 US unless you get one with Bluetooth capabilities which are more expensive. For fishing a chart plotter/GPS or a GPS sounder are also available. The chart plotter/GPS and GPS sounders usually have a lot of features and start at about $400 US.
Caffeinated Content
Categories: Travel Tags: Laptop Gps, Using A Gps, Windshield