Car GPS

Just like other GPS device, car GPS devices can also receive signals from GPS satellites and can use the information carried by these signals to determine its current location. As they are designed to be used on moving vehicles, they must be endowed with features specific to vehicle navigations systems.

The device you select should be capable enough to give you the best possible route toward a particular destination. It must also be able to recalculate your route in case you miss a particular route instruction. It must also have a text and/or voice system for giving directions. The device should also posses some of the other features such as:
• Map storage system
• Screen or display that can handle images of more than 320x240 pixels in size at a resolution and brightness suitable for driving.
• Address book for storing frequently visited addresses and points of interest
• Detachable or external antenna for better GPS visibility

Since there are many types of car GPS available in the market which are manufactured by different companies you may find difficult to choose one that serves your purpose well.

Generally speaking, there are two types of CAR GPS device

• Vehicle with built-in or fixed car GPS system
• Portable car GPS device

Purchasing a Vehicle with a Fixed Car GPS Device
Only brand new luxury vehicles provides the feature of Built-in or fixed car GPS device. For those who can easily afford one, this can be the best option because the GPS device is already integrated in the vehicle’s system. This prevents you from taking the pain and effort of installing the car GPS device on the vehicle and loading additional navigation software on the system.

Purchasing a Portable Car GPS Device
Those who don’t have car with built in GPS device can go for a portable car GPS device. Now, for this type of car GPS device, you are again given two options: a portable car GPS preloaded with maps or a unit that would require you to transfer map data from your PC to the device.

Since the car GPS device needs to have a map in either option, choosing a car GPS unit preloaded with maps would seem to be a wiser choice. But while this type of car GPS device will save you from all the hassles of loading maps to the system, it also costs higher ($1,000-$1,500) than the other option.

The greatest advantage of portable car GPS units that requires map transfers, on the other hand, is their price, which would generally sell at the $500 to $800 range. Installing the system on your car, however, may be quite difficult and laborious.