Exploring GPS Systems For Your Car

It used to be that a good road map and a final destination were all that was needed to navigate a vehicle from Point A to Point B. As today's technology races ahead, more motorists are discovering just how antiquated that concept is. Thanks to aftermarket GPS systems, the rules of the road have changed.

When it is time to update and stop having to figure out how to properly fold a map at the end of a trip, you will find the options in GPS systems are rather extensive. With numerous companies each touting their own systems and price ranges that swing widely, picking the best system to use can prove a little tricky. If you have a handle on what is out there and what bells and whistles might appeal, however, the selection can be easier to navigate.

For automotive use, you will find three main types of GPS systems dominate the market. The options here are:

Handheld devices - Fully portable, handheld GPS systems are the most popular machines going. These devices can be used in cars and on foot and can range in abilities to offer simply longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates or full three-dimensional maps with spoken directions. These have become the best selling devices on the market because they are not tied down to a single vehicle and they tend to be a bit more affordable. Plus, they can be removed at the end of a trip, which eliminates the temptation for would be thieves.

Mounted GPS systems - These devices operate in a similar fashion to handhelds, but they are meant to be mounted directly into a vehicle's dashboard. They eliminate the need to mount and remount the system for each trip, but they cannot be removed to use in other vehicles when needed. They also provide a temptation to thieves as they tend to be rather visible inside a car's dash. Despite this, these devices are popular because they are made to become a part of the dash, just like an onboard radio system.

Multipurpose GPS systems - This is basically a hybrid system that can be mounted in a vehicle, or removed for use elsewhere if desired. This type of GPS is generally about the same size as a handheld and offers many of the same features.

There are a number of different features that can be found in all three types of GPS systems for automotive use. The features and brand names tend to combine to set the pricing. Some bells and whistles are simply not needed by everyone, but they do add some extra functionality to these machines. Common features found in GPS systems today include:

Color roadway maps;

Voice-guided directions that tell drivers when to turn;

Immediate, real-time traffic alerts;

Touch-screen activation;

Multifunction extras, such as MP3 players, video players;

Settings for biking, walking and driving.

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