GPS Navigation 1

You are hopelessly lost and have no idea how to get un-lost. The kids have stopped playing the quiet game, are bored with the DVDs you brought along and are suspiciously quiet. Could they be planning a "break out?" And on top of it all, the directions you got at the gas stations you've stopped at all had the hallmarks of a word puzzle from the SAT. You should have gotten a GPS navigation system.

Road maps are hard to fold and though it's nice to use online mapping services like MapQuest and Google Maps, what happens when you take a wrong turn? Often you are so lost you can't find your way back to any common reference point on your 2x2 inch mini map. What you need is the up to date visual picture with directions you get with GPS navigation.

GPS units are small and relatively inexpensive. They are generally battery operated and require very little juice, so the operating times can be quite a few hours. Should your trip be longer than that, they usually come with a charger so you can plug them right in and keep truckin'- literally. With various sizes and styles, there is a GPS built for virtually any vehicle.

GPS navigation has improved steadily over the last decade to the point where accuracy is generally within 10 meters (30 ft). This is because current GPS technology uses a series of satellite signals to figure out where you are based on triangulation. Thirty feet might sound like a lot of distance, but when you think about it, being 30 feet off from Uncle Joe's new place in Alberta is better than calling him from San Diego for directions. Are you following me?

GPS navigation software comes standard with some cell phones now. It is important to realize though, that most of these will only work when you have signal from a cell tower. So though they might be as accurate as a satellite GPS system, they will not be as versatile. In addition to the cell phone option, several manufacturer's make GPS units that plug right into your laptop via a USB port. These generally offer a lot of mapping programs you won't get with the standard handheld unit- In other words, more bells and whistles.