Skip to content

Cardvdstore.com's Blog

Articles about car electronics and products review

Archive

Category: gps navigation

Now that you have somewhat made up your mind that you would like to buy a GPS device, a heavy question lands in your head. Pray, what makes a good GPS? How do I judge the qualities and capabilities of the various GPS systems available in the market? Are cheaper systems better? Should I look for more features? All these questions are bound to explode in your head.

Basically, choosing a GPS has the same fundamentals as choosing any electronic device or automobile. First, you must know what you need, what you are looking for. Do you need it to help you when you’re hiking? Or do you need it to help you weave through traffic. Or maybe, you need it for both! Given below, are a few broad aspects you need to look out for.

Screen size is an important feature for GPS devices. A larger screen provides a larger map view and more context to where you are and what’s coming up. But then again, the screen mustn’t be so big as be termed bulky. I mean hey, you don’t want to carry a theatre around on your dashboard now, do you? Ideally, something around 3.5 to 4.7 inches is best. Most GPS devices today are touch screen, so you should definitely check out the quality and sensitivity of the screen before purchasing.

Battery life is another deal maker. You want your GPS to have sufficient battery life to last relatively long journeys. Most good GPS systems today come with a car charger. 4 to 7 hours of battery life is the average. Then, you must also ensure that your GPS provider has up to date maps of your country.Very often, faulty, incorrect and incoherent maps lead to navigation disasters!

It’s always better to choose a GPS that has a load of fun features like photo storage and mp3 playback. Bluetooth functionality allows you to synch your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone for hands-free calling.

Finally, the price. The best GPS device would be one that is neither too cheap nor too expensive but one that provides you all the features that will make using the GPS device a real pleasure without at the same time forcing you to overspend. The easiest way to overcome the price angle is to make a budget and stick to it.

Magellan-RoadMate-3065-blog

Magellan recently added eight new RoadMate portable car GPS models to its 2010 lineup, including 4.3-inch (diagonal) screen 2000-series models, 4.7-inch screen 3000-series models (model 3065 shown here), and a new, 5-inch screen 5054 model. Prices range from $169 to $299. It’s a very competitive market, with Garmin and TomTom launching new models, and smartphone apps improving steadily, so Magellan aggressively added new features. These include free lifetime traffic detection and avoidance, and free lifetime map updates, depending on the model purchased (higher-end models offer more freebies). Other distinguishing features include AAA Tourbook (a Magellan exclusive), a traffic wake-up function that can be set to pre-load traffic conditions before you get in your car, automated mileage tracking for business purposes.

Boeing-IIF-GPS-Satellite

Boeing-IIF-GPS-Satellite

The 45th Space Wing of the U.S. Air Force is in charge of the global GPS satellite system, and the 45th is in the process of significantly upgrading GPS space and ground control capabilities. A key piece of the upgrade is a new generation of “IIF” GPS satellites (see photo). The first of the new IIF satellites is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral, aboard a Delta IV rocket, late this evening.

Generation IIF satellite upgrades compared to existing satellites include: two-times greater signal accuracy, stronger new signals for civil and commercial aviation, better jamming resistance for military uses, and on-board software that is more easily re-programmed remotely.

Boeing is set to create a dozen of the new IIF satellites, and the entire constellation of 26-plus GPS satellites will be upgraded in the coming years.

You’re not stuck with the nice, but bland and generic voice that speaks directions from your in-car GPS. Most stock receivers come with alternate voices built in. But in some cases, you can download and install amusing new text-to-speech voices that will impress your friends, miff your significant other (some alternative voices are downright sultry), or just provide digital companionship as you find your way through the world. Here’s how to find and install new GPS voices.

2010 update: TomTom has added the voices of famed race car drivers Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, and Juan Pablo Montoya. These racer voices, and car sounds and images are available for download free of charge from TomTom’s racer voices page.

TomTom and Garmin have partnered with a company called Navtones to offer downloadable voices in a range of styles.

You can now put Homer Simpson of The Simpsons in charge of your personal navigation and safety, thanks to a new deal he has inked with GPS maker TomTom. The authentic Homer’s voice will not only provide precision directions, but will comment on your driving (”You are a genius!”) and embellish with a cackle. Hear some voice samples, and buy and install Homer’s voice via TomTom’s Homer page. No telling what will happen without Marge along to be the voice of reason.

On the celebrity side, you can ride with Kim Cattrall (of Sex and the City fame), Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox pitching star; Dennis Hopper (the Easy Rider), Mr. T, Burt Reynolds, or Gary Busey.

Just-for-fun GPS voices include Candee, Count Whackula, Witch Waytogo, Bubba… you get the idea. You can listen to voice samples on Navtone’s Tomtom Web site.

Alternative voices through Navtones cost $5.95 through $12.95, with celebrities commanding the higher price. You will need software version 5.0 or higher, and check for model compatibility before you buy. Begin by paying for and downloading the voice file to your computer. Next, connect your GPS device via its included USB cable, and transfer the files, which will become selectable from your touchscreen menu.

PIGtones (politically incorrect GPS) prides itself on fun, sexy, and celebrity voices. Examples include Stewie from The Family Guy, Yoda, Bubba, and very sexy Sadera. PIGtones sell for $12.97 for TomTom or Garmin.

I’ve often been asked whether it’s possible to use your own recording as a GPS voice, and I had to answer yes, but it was a highly technical process. That has changed with Garmin’s introduction of its free Voice Studio. Simply download and install the software (PC only, so far), then record onto your computer a set of required phrases, such as “proceed to highlighted route,” and “traffic ahead.” Follow simple instructions to install the voice set into your compatible Garmin GPS. You may use your own versions of all the common GPS commands. This is a terrific addition to GPS voice options.

Some new GPS users wonder why their devices have a “favorites” destination feature. After all, if you visit a destination frequently, don’t you already know how to get there? But the favorites feature can be very useful.

For example, some frequent travelers need to visit a particular destination more than once or twice per month, but they may be approaching it from different starting points. That’s when having the destination already entered as a favorite can be very convenient. Just punch it up and go.

Favorites are also very useful when you are visiting an unfamiliar city for business or pleasure. Before you depart, enter all of your known destinations into your favorites menu. Then, when you arrive at your destination city, you don’t need to waste time looking up and entering addresses.

Finally, your favorites menu may be used to directly import to your GPS destinations you find in Google Maps. This is very convenient, and here are the details on how to accomplish this for TomTom and Garmin GPS devices.

Most car GPS devices store up to 50 favorites in their favorites menus, so if you use the feature frequently, you’ll need to do regular cleanup and maintenance of the files to keep it within capacity.

The favorites menu is accessible on most GPS devices in the first menu level. You may generally add: recent destinations, an address that is input directly, a point of interest, your current location, a point on the map, a specific latitude and longitude coordinate, or position of last stop as a favorite. Favorites menus let you create your own names for destinations, so it’s easy to keep track of them.

Some new GPS users wonder why their devices have a “favorites” destination feature. After all, if you visit a destination frequently, don’t you already know how to get there? But the favorites feature can be very useful.
For example, some frequent travelers need to visit a particular destination more than once or twice per month, but they may be approaching it from different starting points. That’s when having the destination already entered as a favorite can be very convenient. Just punch it up and go.
Favorites are also very useful when you are visiting an unfamiliar city for business or pleasure. Before you depart, enter all of your known destinations into your favorites menu. Then, when you arrive at your destination city, you don’t need to waste time looking up and entering addresses.
Finally, your favorites menu may be used to directly import to your GPS destinations you find in Google Maps. This is very convenient, and here are the details on how to accomplish this for TomTom and Garmin GPS devices.
Most car GPS devices store up to 50 favorites in their favorites menus, so if you use the feature frequently, you’ll need to do regular cleanup and maintenance of the files to keep it within capacity.
The favorites menu is accessible on most GPS devices in the first menu level. You may generally add: recent destinations, an address that is input directly, a point of interest, your current location, a point on the map, a specific latitude and longitude coordinate, or position of last stop as a favorite. Favorites menus let you create your own names for destinations, so it’s easy to keep track of them.

Progressive innovation has been the hallmark of increased GPS use. They now feature brighter, higher-resolution screen displays, highly accurate maps, more points of interest, and convenient turn-by-turn directional guidance. They can provide real-time traffic information and can be linked to a cell phone to allow hands-free use.

More elaborate models can be tapped to control other systems, such as air-conditioning, heating, and stereo systems. Other GPS devices can playback movies on DVD while your vehicle is parked, remotely unlock car doors and activate the horn and lights, and provide you with news and e-mail.

Many companies produce GPS receivers, but three makers corner the lion’s share of this rapidly expanding market: Garmin, TomTom and Magellan. Other notable manufacturers include Navigon, Lowrance, and Mio. The majority of users favor Garmin, but TomTom and Magellan have their own core of rabid supporters.

Garmin – Since 1989, Garmin has provided GPS receivers for a wide range of users, from soldiers in the U.S. military to the automotive market to aircraft systems. The automotive market accounts for one-third of the company’s consumer products sales. The company provides original-equipment GPS systems to Chrysler vehicles, BMW, Harley Davidson and Honda Motorcycles; detachable units are also available, for use in cars or when going hiking or biking.

Garmin also produces GPS navigation systems for the recreational market. In addition to surface navigation capabilities, its marine products provide information on wind speeds, weather forecasts, tides, and charts of the coastlines in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Garmin GPS systems for aviation include panel-mounted units (for the retrofit market and older aircraft) and portable units used in general aviation aircraft.

TomTom – The Netherlands-based company, TomTom NV, started in 1999 as a supplier of mobile phone software applications. In 2001, it began partnering with PALM, Microsoft and HP to produce the TomTom Navigator system for PDAs and smartphones. The TomTom GO family of GPS navigation systems was launched in 2004 for cars, later followed by its variant TomTom ONE. The TomTom RIDER line was developed for motorcycles and scooters and TomTom PLUS was designed to provide traditional navigation capabilities in combination with a host of web-based subscription services.

Magellan – Magellan (formerly Thales Navigation) is an industry leader in navigation and positioning systems for consumers, surveying, GIS, and the OEM markets. Its product line includes the award-winning RoadMate portable car GPS series, the eXplorist handheld GPS for hikers and outdoors types, the Hertz NeverLost car GPS, and the best-selling ProMark surveying GPS. Its consumer products also include marine GPS devices for boaters and address navigation add-ons to car GPS. Professional products serve surveying needs in land and marine applications, mobile mapping, and original-equipment units for various industries, including aviation.

GPS systems help us navigate the highways with turn-by-turn directions. But how do you set it up? Just follow a few simple steps.

Step 1

Touch the button on the main screen that reads “Where To” or “Find Address.”

Step 2

Select a category, such as a restaurant or food. Your GPS will present a selection of restaurants closest to where you are. Touch one of the destinations and your GPS will tell you how to get there.

Step 3

Find a specific address. Touch “Where To” from the main screen, which brings you to a screen with letters and numbers. Type in the address, city and state and then touch “Done.” Verify the information is correct.

Step 4

Each GPS brand and model is different, but the directions are similar.

Step 5

Learn how to use your specific model. Garmin, Tom Tom and Magellan are just a few of the brands you can choose from. You can find them at electronics stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City or from retail stores such as Wal-mart, Target or Kmart.

 

Have you ever settled behind the wheel of your car wondering whether you really know how to get to your destination? Fear no more. GPS (Global Positioning System) car navigation systems can show and even tell you how to get to any destination. These products use the GPS, which relies on a host of satellites to determine where you are.

Step1

Decide how often you intend to use the system. Inexpensive systems simply plug in to your car’s cigarette lighter and are small enough to store in your glove compartment, but they’re not as user-friendly.

Step 2

Consider the layout of your car. Some systems come with a monitor that displays a map. The monitor is commonly installed on the dashboard or on a pedestal extending from the dashboard. In some cars, such an installation may block air vents or make it somewhat uncomfortable for a passenger to enter or exit the vehicle or sit in the passenger seat.

Step 3

Select a system that features multiple ways of getting to your destination. This can include by address, by intersection, by a personal address book or via a location selected directly from the map.

Step 4

Look for a system that gives you vocal as well as graphical directions. The systems that use a map and monitor include arrows that show you the direction of a turn and also indicate where your car is on the map in relation to the destination. Other systems use the head unit or radio to display the name of the street on which you are to make a turn or on which you are traveling. Both of these systems also give you verbal directions as you approach a turn.

Step 5

Select a system that includes point of interest data. Most GPS systems include locations of airports and other transportation services, ATMs and banks, restaurants, hotels and a host of other sites.

Step 6

Choose a system that offers updates of the point-of-interest data.

Step 7

Consider installation time if you are working on a tight budget. Systems that rely on maps displayed on monitors are more complicated and take longer to install than other types of systems.

Step 8

Once all specifications have been identified for your GPS system, price different units out. Most retailers will have demo units in-store that you can see, touch, and experience. You can always check online retailers for a better price. Don’t forget about eBay.

Modern for GPS is not very strange, although GPS system for military purpose is a start, but soon built in consumer got great development. For the GPS navigation, there are many people still just heard, no practice before. GPS automobile application system is the limit of the future seems to bring dreams and technological progress is no end to it. GPS systems for every piece of land on the earth’s surface has provided a brand-new, instantaneous known address – this is formulated to position and distance of the new international standards.

GPS have multiple functions

1 navigation

Users in the on-board GPS navigation system on any tagging after two, navigation system will be automatically according to the current position of the optimal design for owners. In addition, it also modify functions, if the user for accidentally miss crossing, without on-board GPS navigation system recommend the best routes, vehicle from the best line trajectory 200 meters above, car GPS navigation system according to the new position of vehicles, the design of a return for users, or to users routes from sexual position to design a best finish line.

2 to voice prompt functions

If encounter vehicles, vehicle junction ahead or turn the GPS phonetic system to prompt the user audio etc. This car can avoid detours. It can provide a full speech clew without observation, drivers that interface can achieve the whole vehicle navigation, making more safe and comfortable

3 to increase interest points

Because most of our cities are in construction stage, whenever possible, new buildings, electronic map update also becomes the multitudinous consumer concern. Therefore meets some electronic map no target, as long as you are interested in or necessary, will be increased to the point of new routes or map. These new interest, and map of any point, can form into electronic map access etc. Function.

4 positioning

GPS satellite signal by receiving, can accurately determine the location, location error is less than 10 meters. If the machine, it can carry map on the map the location with a sign corresponding marker. At the same time, the GPS can also replace traditional compass direction, display, instead of traditional altimeter, display information such as altitude.

5. Speed

Through the GPS satellite signal to receive computation, can work out specific speed, driving the odometers accurate than average.

6 shows track

If you go to an unfamiliar place, to lead the way, when someone back? Don’t worry, with a track record of GPS function, can record the user you vehicle route through the accuracy, less than 10 meters, can even show the difference between two lanes. Come back, users can start it return functions, let it took you come along the route home smooth.

Whether driving or not, we have found a city map updates for one year longer keep the pace of development of urban construction, urban redevelopment, the old road build a new, residential and buildings have erected, it is an overpass after another, and then coupled with continuous expansion of city size, people travel more and more need for the car while the car often can not find the road is a frequent occurrence, running the wrong path, more expensive and charge the oil did not say a good mood the day gave destroyed, thus have a real-time updates of the “map” becomes particularly important. Car navigation systems market came into being. GPS, English stands for GlobalPositionSystem, translated into a global positioning system. Car GPS navigation systems, by definition, that is, road positioning and lead the way for. Its function is to our journey between origin and destination, route planning a scientific and rational and in accordance with the road and make real-time reminder.

In China, along with the domestic auto market as a result of the hot high-tech-car GPS with the veil of Mongolia generated enormous profits, and for a GPS navigator on the market the brand growing. At the same time, there are a large number do not have the production and development of qualified businesses involved, which led to a number of brands on the market, the quality varies, giving consumers purchase brought great inconvenience.How to correctly buy a car GPS?

We recommend to you 6 “election.”

First, select chip

As a navigation products, we are most concerned about is its absolute income Star capabilities, which is the signal reception. Currently on the market sold the majority of car GPS will be used SiRFStarIII third-generation chips, such chips advantage is in a block and the case of adverse weather conditions may be to capture and track the signal, caused tall buildings to reduce signal interference. In addition, the chip is good or bad is also directly related to the calculation of faster and more accurate when the path is good or bad. Go to the same destination, the chip may appear different in different routes, but what we need is the best route.

Second, select the brand

Buy big brand products not only their own quality assurance, but also can enjoy a certain number of years of free upgrades. International brands include any of us are familiar with Garmin I swim series, the mio Mio series, as well as such as NAVMAN, and Leadtek brands from Europe and Taiwan. The list goes on a variety of domestic brands is the brand.Select the brand is actually the election, after-sales, for GPS navigation products, the follow-up services, problems are more important because the map is updated in real time. Different vendors, access to map data from different sources, free updates are a variety ways. Good understanding of the time of purchase can be avoided after use that do not avoid trouble.

Third, the election map

Electronic navigation maps are GPS navigation systems which work in another important component, electronic navigation map correct or not directly determine whether owners faster and more easily reach their destination. In the current market, whether locally produced or are you simply import products Car GPS built-in map is nothing but only a few national map of the resources, the quality is uneven, and often can not update map information, to the user inconvenience.In general, the regular brand of GPS navigation systems will provide one year of free updates, or press the number of terms, to support 2 times about a free update service. After this update the map and the need to pay a fee, in general, a map of GPS map supplier in the semi-annual updates to maintain the level, there are some companies updated every three months of data, updated the cost of the hundred or so. Upgrades are mainly downloaded through the network, but also relatively simple.

Fourth, the election rate of

The rate mentioned here, including close-sing speed, turn rate and speed of response. As should always pay attention to safety when driving and road vehicles in high speed, so fast and can enhance the accuracy of vehicle navigation, but also can save the user’s operating time, time-saving even more worry.

Fifth, select batteries

Although the GPS product will be supplied primarily vehicle power supply, If that happens, then there is no need to worry about half-way “fail.” But if your cigarette lighter interface out of a problem, or need to draw a line on the other products, then the built-in lithium battery comes in handy. The battery has a capacity of more than a long life, namely, navigation systems, after disconnecting the charger to continue to use long, but also assess whether or not a good navigator is a standard. Life reflects the machine’s energy efficiency, but also reflects the overall performance of the machine. Consumers the best choice when buying GPS built-in 1000mAh lithium battery capacity above the navigation device, usually able to provide 7 to 8 hours of standby time.

Sixth, the election appearance

Including the beautiful, antenna, screen, sound, and accessories. Car GPS antennas are usually built-in, goes without saying. The stand is equipped with suction cups to pay attention to whether the sucker is smooth and the size is large enough to prevent the sucker off when the car bumps; also need to pay attention to adjust the angle brackets are convenient, as well as the length of the power cord is appropriate to avoid the line is too short of reach Cigarette Lighter Power Supply embarrassment.

Large touch-sensitive screen is very critical, the screen is too small so that drivers can not concentrate; insensitivity can lead people to think that the time delay and affect driving mood. Car GPS is used to listen to the navigation device, the sound is relatively more important than some of the screen. Volume to the old can be large, clear, can not have broken sound. Otherwise, if the window used, you may not know what is heard.

Comprehensive analysis, choose a practical car GPS essentially covers more than a few areas. Of course, in-vehicle GPS also focus on multi-media, personalized development, such as tailor-made specifically for women, thin-style car GPS; such as the collection of mp3, mp4, picture browsing, e-books and other functions, and some add the FM or the FM transmitter function of Bluetooth, most recently the market has also emerged in a number of on-board camera with GPS. These are the basis of consumer preferences, as well as their positioning on price request flexible options.