GPS Units Could Be the Ticket to Fewer Wrong Turns
April 3, 2007. It's late at night, and you just want to get to your luxury vacation rental. But, somewhere many miles ago, you made a wrong turn. And the road you're on now doesn't seem to be on the map.
Sound familiar?
A reader submission to a Washington Post contest exemplified the values and pitfalls of Global Positioning System (GPS) automobile navigation units. The readers used their GPS unit on an 11-day road trip through Oregon. For the most part, they said, navigating was "almost always" easier. At one point, however, the unit "went quiet" on a "lonely stretch of U.S. Forest Service road, just after we'd wandered half-lost."
When choosing GPS systems, consumers should understand how these devices work and which features may be helpful.
GPS units use signals from satellites to pinpoint their locations on earth. The locations are fairly precise, but national security rules require them to be a few meters off. That minor imperfection is not important on roads. If the unit does not have a clear view of the sky, however, due to trees or buildings, it may not receive a signal. Choose a unit with powerful reception to avoid "quiet" spots.
The units will either come with map software, or the company will sell the software. Please note that you must buy the same company's map software – it's a nice little monopoly they've worked out. Remember, too, that maps can occasionally be outdated or incorrect, as anyone who's ever used Internet mapping websites may have discovered.
When purchasing a GPS unit for a vehicle, choose a "road" unit with a wide base that rests on the dashboard rather than a tiny, handheld "hiking" unit. The road units will have larger, color screens that are easier to view.
Most vehicle navigation systems now have touchscreens and will speak the directions. Touchscreens make it easier to scroll through the computer features, while talking units keeping drivers from constantly glancing at the monitor. Springing for these features will significantly reduce the distraction factor.
