GPS Units Online

GPS Wrist Watch

2009-02-18T00:56:00.005-05:00

GPS Wrist Watches, which can also be called personal trainers, have revolutionized the training practices of many professional runners.You wouldn’t think so, but many runners report feeling their sense of competition enhanced by the virtual trainer mode in the GPS wrist watch.

Many GPS watches include an altimeter, barometer and compass in addition to a GPS navigator. The GPS capability helps you hike a specific path or trail, the altimeter can show you your current elevation, vertical ascent and descent rate, and the barometer helps you predict changing weather conditions. Some models include multiple alarm capabilities.

GPS Handheld

2009-02-18T00:48:00.009-05:00

Portable GPS receivers for outdoors and those designed for cars are two completely different systems. Auto units have larger screens, come with cigarette-lighter adapters and have audible driving directions. It is what they do not have that make them unsuitable for the trail. They lack features like altimeters, electronic compasses, barometers, and resistance to being damaged by the elements.

And do not even think about purchasing one of the newer crossover GPS receivers. Although these new units combine the characteristics of car units (larger display, driving directions) and hand held GPS units (lightweight and easy-to-carry), most GPS reviewers agree that crossover GPS units aren't as good for either purpose as the better separate products. Most reviews of these crossover units recommend that your best bet is to buy separate units.

Okay, so you are convinced that a separate outdoor hand held GPS is in your near future. What should you consider when you make that purchase? How can you find the best portable GPS receiver for your outdoor activities?

Get the highest quality hand held GPS unit that your budget allows. You will not regret it. I personally recommend Garmin as best overall manufacturer of GPS units in general. But how to choose which model? First on my list of considerations is water resistance. Will you be outdoors in fog, mist, rain, or routinely hiking in places with streams, rivers, lakes, oceans? Then spend the extra money to get a model that is rated IP X-7, the highest waterproofing standard on the market. Sure, you will save money if you buy a hand held unit rated IP X-4, water resistant, but what will you do if it gets wet on a hike and you have not been paying attention to your route? You might be lost and you might be in danger.

Next consideration is battery life. Of course you will not need to have your hand held unit constantly on while hiking the trail, but when you do turn it on to check your position, you sure want that battery to have plenty of power. So buy the hand held GPS unit with as long a battery life as you can afford to buy. Most have fifteen hours life, but some are rated up to thirty two hours and a few even thirty five.

Now consider the screen. Monochromatic might save you some bucks, but a full color screen is worth the extra money and extra battery power for ease of use and clarity of map resolution.

What about maps? Most hand held global positioning units come with a set of North American base maps, but they really excel when you use them with map software. You simply load more detailed maps as you need them. Some inexpensive handheld GPS receivers don't use maps at all; they rely instead on waypoints and coordinates.

The majority of hand held GPS look like large mobile phone walkie-talkies. They have their own built-in antennae. Most offer the ability to store up to 1,000 or more waypoints and access to 12 or more satellites. A waypoint is simply a coordinate for a selected location. You can program waypoints while you're traveling, or you can preprogram waypoints before you leave home or camp. It is rather like leaving virtual breadcrumbs on your trail.

Lastly, consider the ways in which you plan to use your hand-held global positioning unit. Keep in mind that your technical needs will vary depending on whether you are looking for a unit for camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, running, boating, or bicycling. Hand held GPS receivers are being designed more and more for special uses. Take advantage of that and purchase a unit that will enhance your enjoyment of your favorite outdoor sport, whatever it may be.

With the introduction of GPS handheld units, a new sport called geocaching has been created. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure seeking game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then report your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, and a sense of community is evolving through geocaching.

The typical geocache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and “treasure,” usually toys or trinkets of little value. According to Wikipedia, there are over 800,000 geocaches registered on various websites devoted to the pastime. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

GPS Golf Rangefinder

2009-02-17T23:17:00.004-05:00

The question is, does a GPS golf rangefinder take the sport out of golf? Many golfers are enjoying the benefits that a hand held golf GPS unit can offer. It really depends on what kind of golfer you are. If you enjoy the competitive side of golf, then you are probably taking a serious look at a hand held golf GPS unit. Others focus on the sheer enjoyment of the sport and do not feel a need for a GPS golf rangefinder. What kind of golfer are you?

I personally know of a long-time golf foursome who has been enjoying trying out GPS golf rangefinder. Two of them bought identical make and model and tried them out at the same course side-by-side. Through this process it was determined that one of the units was defective and it had to be returned. That was lucky! Otherwise, one customer might never have known that hand held golf GPS units do indeed work. GPS Golf Rangefinders are considered the maverick in the new category of electronic golf training aid. What better way to hone your rangefinding skills than by practicing with a GPS golf range finder out on the range?

GPS Fish Finder

2009-02-17T22:55:00.006-05:00

Have you thought about buying a GPS Fish Finder? GPS fish finders have really changed the sport of fishing. Some people swear by them. Depends on what kind of fisherman you are. These units are not strictly GPS units, but rather miniature sonar devices. The GPS is more of a supplementary function.

For most individuals LCD finders are ample, and so save your money and pass up all those fish finders with CRT displays. CRT displays require a lot of power and the cost of these fish finders really makes them more of a luxury than a need. LCD finders will locate fish just like the CRT but without all of the unneeded features. Any quality brand name LCD finders should work fine for most fishing needs, and you should be able to read the finder in direct sunlight. Most people can get away with a mid to high range frequency fish finders. These finders show the bottom in greater detail and only in a limited amount of floor.

GPS Dog Collar

2009-02-17T22:37:00.002-05:00

One of the most useful GPS applications to come along in a while is the GPS dog collar. Not so very long ago it was a joke to talk about using GPS to find a lost dog. But no longer, as the price and usability of a GPS dog collar has improved recently. With a dog collar that is GPS-enabled, every dog owner can rest assured that even if the electronic fence breaks down, the dog can be found. And found quickly.

You simply keep the GPS dog collar on your dog and keep the receiver unit in your pocket, and you will be able to track down your dog. Cat owners are hopeful that a small enough unit will become available for a GPS cat collar to appear on the market soon, but right now the GPS dog collar is too heavy to be used on a cat. When the units are smaller, then we can start calling these GPS pet collars.

Don't Get Left Out of the GPS Revolution!

2009-02-17T00:02:00.001-05:00

In the world of GPS systems, it seems there is no such thing as too small or too fast. GPS units are changing so quickly these days, each unit getting smaller and faster. It seems consumers demand increasingly smaller and faster global positioning units.

Everybody hates a traffic jam, and I suspect this is one of the major reasons GPS for the car are so popular now. Being able to get rerouted around a wreck on the highway is such a nice benefit of GPS units. But the excuse that you are late for a meeting because you got lost will no longer work. Oh well, at least we don't have to waste gas driving around looking for a station. Gas station locations are embedded right into the GPS data.

Day-long work seminars out of town have got to be one of managements pet peeves. A GPS unit can take some of the stress out of those situations. You can use your GPS to find the coffee shop you prefer, or the restaurant you want, and stay self sufficient. It is great to not be late for any part of the day and not have to ask everyone for directions. You can almost feel like a local as you travel around an unfamiliar destination.

Hiking and camping just got a whole lot safer with the latest generation of affordable hand held GPS units. Every outdoor enthusiast should have a hand held GPS. Always find your way back to base camp and thereby keep safe. Join the fun and take up geocaching, too! More and more hikers and campers are able to carry these GPS handheld units as they are getting more affordable and more feature-rich with each new version.

Like other electronic gadgets, GPS systems have been decreasing in size and price, and are becoming more flexible and versatile. Combo units are gaining in popularity now. If you have a new idea for a GPS application, more than likely the plans have already been drawn up and the product might be in the development stage. The growth of GPS systems seems like it will never slow down.

Probably the most popular type of combination consumer navigation device is the mobile phone-gps combination. No wonder the iPod 3G is selling so well, with its phone-internet-gps trio. Just what we had all been waiting for. What is next?

The entire sport of fishing has changed due to the invention of the GPS Fish Finder. Fish finders are increasing in popularity. These units use sonar signals to locate fish under or next to a boat. And of course you can get the GPS coordinates of your location to remember that great new spot for next time.

The sport of golf has not been left untouched by the GPS revolution. Many golfers are using hand held golf global positioning units for range finding and these units are getting improved annually. Many seasoned golfers say that a good GPS Golf Rangefinder can take strokes off your score.

The GPS Revolution is here! What are you waiting for?

Find Out Where the Fish Are Hiding

2009-02-12T23:40:00.001-05:00

GPS Fish Finders are actually miniature sonar devices with supplementary GPS included. The sonar in these small units is the same sonar that the US Navy developed and perfected about 75 years ago. Sonar is useful whether you are looking for submarines or searching the Great Lakes for schools of fish. Sonar can do it all.

And today's electronic fish finders seem to do it all as well. These devices merely hook up to the side of your boat, be it a small fishing craft or a huge seagoing vessel.

There are 5 functions to evaluate when choosing a GPS fish finder: transducer, display resolution, display size, power, and depth. You want to choose the unit that is best for the type of fishing you plan to do. It is important to get the right kind of GPS fish finder. No need to waste money by purchasing a unit that does more than you will ever need.

For most people LCD finders are good enough, so save your money and pass up all those fish finders with CRT displays. These displays require more power and the cost of these fish finders really makes them more of a luxury. LCD finders will locate fish just as well as the CRT kind, but without all of the expensive and energy-using bells and whistles.

Any quality brand LCD finder should work fine for most fishing needs. One thing to realize is that you should be able to read the finder in direct sunlight, so check into that before you buy. Most people are satisfied with a mid to high range frequency fish finder. These finders show the bottom in greater detail than a low range version.

The top brands in fish finders are Bottom Line, Eagle, Furuno, Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, Raytheon, and Magellan GPS. The best selling fish finders are made by Hummibird. The Hummingbird company has been in business for over 30 years and every year that company gets the top reviews when it comes to customer feedback.

So try out a fish finder and discover why anglers of today swear by them. Then you, too, will know where the fish are hiding.