| The range of options and variety of brands and | | | | Moving up to the mid-level you may want to |
| models can make choosing a GPS system a little | | | | consider products like these for your car: |
| confusing. Price is an obvious consideration but so | | | | - Garmin Nuvi 250, 255, 260, 265, 270 series |
| are the built in features and available options, how | | | | - Magellan 1412 |
| and where you intend to use your GPS and what | | | | - Navigon 2000S |
| kind of directional assistance would be most | | | | And for outdoor handhelds: |
| helpful for your particular needs. When deciding | | | | - Garmin eTrex Summit HC, Vista HCx, GPSMAP |
| which GPS product is right for you, considering | | | | 76S |
| the answers to some of the following questions | | | | - Bushnell ONIX200 |
| will help you navigate through the maze of | | | | - Magellan Triton 300 |
| available products and find the right one for your | | | | - DeLorme PN-20 |
| needs. | | | | Moving up to more advanced products does not |
| - Are you looking for basic GPS navigation for | | | | mean struggling with products that are difficult to |
| you car to help get you around town or | | | | use. Features such as touch screens and spoken |
| something with a few more features that would | | | | turn by turn directions make these automobile |
| be helpful on trips? | | | | GPS products very easy to use. Advanced |
| - Are you looking for a GPS system with more | | | | products provide a greater number of features |
| versatility? Perhaps a unit that could be used in a | | | | and a higher level of functionality and versatility. |
| car and/or outdoors hiking, biking or sightseeing? | | | | Options such as XM radio, Traffic updates, or |
| - Are you looking for a feature packed system | | | | other services are included or can be added with |
| that provides spoken navigation and a variety of | | | | some of the more advanced models. Some of |
| additional information, traffic and weather, | | | | these options require the purchase of monthly |
| compatibility with Bluetooth devices XM radio and | | | | subscriptions. Examples of these products for |
| more? | | | | your vehicle would be: |
| - Are you looking for activity specific GPS | | | | - Garmin Nuvi 265WT, 275T, 500, 550, 750, 755T, |
| capabilities for use during hunting, fishing/marine | | | | 760, 765T, 775T, 780, 785T, 855 |
| use, or fitness training? | | | | 885T, 5000 |
| The following information is offered as a guide to | | | | - Garmin Zumo 550 |
| assist you in determining which product is right for | | | | - Garmin Streetpilot 7200 |
| you. It is not a review of any specific brand or | | | | - Magellan Maestro series |
| model. The brands mentioned are only used as | | | | - Navigon 2200T, 2100MAX, 7200T, 8100T |
| examples of the kind of GPS being discussed. | | | | Advanced handheld GPS models generally offer |
| Keep in mind as you consider your needs that | | | | more internal memory or the ability to add |
| many GPS systems designed for use in a car can | | | | mapping and other content using data storage |
| easily be carried in a pocket, purse or pack and | | | | cards. Mapping data can be downloaded to the |
| used to navigate on foot. And likewise, many | | | | card and the card plugged into the device. In this |
| handheld products can be mounted in a car, boat, | | | | way one device can be used to navigate city |
| ATV or on a bicycle and when installed with | | | | streets, inland lakes or coastal areas, or trails in a |
| street map software, can be used to navigate on | | | | national park depending on the mapping software |
| streets and highways. | | | | installed. These types of handhelds include: |
| GPS products with basic capabilities will be able, | | | | - Garmin Oregon and Colorado series |
| literally, to get you from point A to point B by | | | | - Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx, 60CSx, 76Cx, 76 CSx |
| utilizing one or more saved "Way points". These | | | | - Magellan Triton 1500, 2000 |
| type devices do not offer mapping capability. You | | | | - Bushnell ONIX350, ONIX400 |
| can think of way points as pebbles left behind you | | | | - DeLorme PN-40 |
| as you make your way. To return, you move | | | | There is a group of advanced products which |
| back along your route, collecting the pebbles you | | | | should be mentioned separately because they not |
| left to mark the way. Basic models function in | | | | only offer excellent automobile navigation features |
| much this way, dropping the "pebbles" for you | | | | but can be used for marine GPS navigation on the |
| and pointing the way back to them to lead you | | | | water or on a trail as well. These GPS models are |
| home. Examples for use of this type GPS might | | | | referred to as crossover or hybrid GPS units and |
| be saving the location of your parked car at a | | | | include the following examples: |
| crowded shopping mall or sports facility when you | | | | - Garmin Nuvi 500, 550 |
| arrive so you could easily find your way back | | | | - Garmin GPSMAP 276C, 478C, 620, 640 |
| when you are ready to leave. Or instead of a | | | | - Lowrance XOG |
| parked car you might save the location of your | | | | Another group of handheld GPS is designed with a |
| campsite and points of interest along a hike and | | | | specific use or feature in mind. Some specialized |
| then easily navigate back at the end of the day. | | | | handheld models provide basic GPS navigation but |
| Examples of these types of handheld GPS units | | | | are also coupled with enhanced specialized |
| would include: | | | | functionality. Others do not offer GPS navigation |
| - Bushnell's Backtracker Personal Location Finder | | | | but use GPS technology to gather data used in |
| - Garmin eTrex H | | | | activities such as fitness or sports training. |
| - Garmin Foretrex 101 and 201 | | | | Examples include: |
| - Geko 201 | | | | - Garmin Astro - Handheld GPS that can also be |
| - Garmin GPS 60, 72, and 76 | | | | used to track hunting dogs. |
| Basic automobile GPS navigation requires a bit | | | | - Garmin Rino - Handheld GPS with 2-way radio |
| more sophistication than seen in the previously | | | | capability. |
| mentioned handhelds. These products offer | | | | - Timex Ironman - GPS worn on the wrist. |
| pre-loaded maps, color screens, and greater | | | | Tracks such things as time and distance for |
| memory capacity and are the types of products | | | | running, biking, and swimming fitness training. |
| you would want to consider for use in a vehicle | | | | - Garmin Edge, Forerunner, and Foretrex - Edge is |
| or for back country hiking, hunting or fishing. | | | | a Personal Training/Biking calculator using GPS for |
| Beginning level examples of these products would | | | | fitness training. Forerunner and Foretrex are other |
| be: | | | | examples of wrist mounted GPS, Forerunner for |
| - Garmin Nuvi 200, 205, 205W | | | | fitness training and Foretrex offering basic way |
| - Magellan Roadmate 1200, 1400, | | | | point GPS navigation. |
| - Magellan Maestro 3200 series | | | | This has not been an all encompassing discussion |
| Moving up a notch consider products like the | | | | of GPS products but I hope this information will |
| following handheld units for outdoor activities : | | | | help you understand the differences between |
| - Garmin eTrex Legend, Venture HC, Vista, | | | | some of the more popular models when choosing |
| - Garmin GPSMAP 60 | | | | which is the right GPS for you. |
| - Magellan Triton 200 | | | | |