GPS Reviews

Ancient explorers never had it as easy as we do today. They had to resort to some pretty extreme measures to stay on course or keep from getting lost on their journeys and migrations. The Vikings used the sun, wind and stars to guide them on their ocean voyages. Columbus, Magellan, Lewis and Clark spent years roaming the oceans and exploring new worlds with some of the barest navigation tools at their disposal.

Whether your intent is to explore new locations or you just frequently roam through busy and intricate areas, a basic knowledge of navigation is a necessity. Luckily for us, navigational tools have come a long way since our early ancestors.

The Art of Navigation

Any avid hiker or camper exploring new areas knows that one of the most essential tools at their disposal is a compass. A map won't do you much good if you don't know where you're located or what direction you're headed. It would be a gross understatement to say that the compass has been an explorer's greatest device, a tried-and-true navigational instrument, which is why it's been around for centuries.

Fortunately for us, the compass is still around, only it's been incorporated with the latest in communication technology. For less than a couple hundred dollars, you can have a pocket-sized device that will literally tell you with a spoken voice your exact location on Earth or how to get their at any moment. As long as you have access to a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiver, your chances of ever getting lost again are next to zero.

In comparison to compasses and maps, which were used for hundreds of years, the GPS device is a relatively new invention. After being utilized by the military for years, GPS satellites were made accessible for civilian use around the eighties.

Trilateration

There are about twenty-four satellites that orbit the Earth at least twice a day. These satellites transmit signals, and using a method called trilateration, a GPS receiver locks onto these signals in order to determine its location. In order to calculate an accurate location, the GPS receiver determines this by locating at least three satellites and then calculating the distance between its location and each of those satellites.

The GPS device calculates differences between the time satellites send the signals and the time the signals are received. The device then triangulates the exact position, which allows it to determine not only your location, but how fast you're going and when you can expect to reach your destination.

Most GPS units come pre-loaded with maps that already work very well with the information from various satellite signals, but also offer downloadable maps for special uses. GPS devices offer a variety of maps to choose from, such as road maps, topographic maps, ski resort maps, restaurant maps, trail maps or marine maps.

Though GPS devices are relatively new, the market has become saturated with different types, styles and models, so finding affordable GPS on sale bargains isn't difficult. Search for GPS reviews to make sure you get the unit that suits your needs. Here are some top-of-the-line GPS devices that will give you an idea of what's available.

Garmin nuvi 880

Like most devices, the Garmin nuvi 880 comes with automated voice activation and voice recognition capability. The "Where Am I?" feature is very convenient, which makes easy to locate restaurants, gas stations, hotels or emergency facilities without taking your eyes off the road or hands off the wheel. It comes with a 4.3" screen display that allows both 3-D view and a 2-D top-down map, and has multi-destination routing capabilities that allow the use of several destination queues at once in order to find the most convenient route to take. It also comes with Bluetooth integration, MP3 player and a JPG viewer.

Magellan Maestro 4350

The Magellan Maestro allows you to compile a list of destinations, then, by tapping an entry using touchscreen technology, allows you to choose from the selection. It too offers Bluetooth integration, streaming audio from an FM transmitter, an MPS player and an American Automobile Association Tourbook Guide, including direct emergency contact.

TomTom GO 930

The TomTom device has always been known for its high-end navigation capabilities, and one of its prime features is TomTom IQ Routes, which offers the fastest route possible and a very accurate time estimation of reaching your destination by utilizing historical traffic data. Advance Lane Guidance accurately estimates which lane is the most efficient for upcoming turns, and instructions are both audible and displayed on screen. It has a "HelpMe!" touchscreen emergency menu, and also comes with Bluetooth, MP3 and FM transmitter integration.