Before You Buy A GPS Unit For Navigating Off-Road

If you plan to use your GPS receiver primarily in your vehicle, then built-in road maps are a prerequisite. As a bonus, most units allow you to download additional GPS maps. However, GPS units vary widely in the degree of detail provided in their on-screen maps. If you would like to view the surrounding terrain of a particular landmark area, then a GPS receiver with advanced mapping capabilities is better than the standard base model.

For quicker and more accurate calculations, look for a GPS unit with a 12 channel parallel receiver system. The more channels the receiver has, the more satellites it will be able to pick up, resulting in faster and more reliable calculations. Dash-mounted GPS units tend to receive stronger signals from satellites for quicker and more accurate readings, however, the standard antenna that comes with the unit rarely provides adequate reception in all instances.

Unless you plan to use your GPS receiver in your vehicle, consider batteries and optional power. GPS units require 2 to 4 AA batteries, and they last anywhere from 15-24 hours. Some of the best features (altimeter, compass, illuminated screens, backlit keypads, mapping features) tend to decrease battery life. Use of the battery-save mode (if available) will save on the life of your batteries. If you will use your GPS while driving, you'll want a unit that can operate off a cigarette lighter.

If you are rough with your gear, consider a rugged GPS unit that has durable casing and can sustain bumps & drops without compromising its functionality. Many models are shockproof and waterproof, in differing degrees. If you ever plan to use your GPS receiver while boating, then you may want to get one that actually floats. And remember, in cold weather, your GPS system will continue to provide accurate data, however, the LCD display screens tend to display the information quite slowly.

To get the most out of your GPS receiver, the more space your unit has to store waypoints and information about specific locations, the better. For maximum storage of waypoints and maps, at least 8 megs of memory is recommended. Like usual, more is better; 16 megs or 32 megs would be ideal. And, if you want your GPS system to grow with you over time, then you'll want to get one that has expandable capabilities allowing you to upgrade the unit to keep up with the latest in technology.

There are pros and cons to each type of GPS unit. Here are some important differences between handheld and dash-mounted GPS receivers to consider.

These are the top-rated handheld GPS receivers for use in tracking GPS coordinates on- and off-road. Garmin GPS systems have always been popular choices in the field of GPS tracking, especially when it comes to handheld GPS units.

These are the top-rated dash-mounted GPS receivers for use in tracking GPS coordinates on- and off-road. Both Magellan and Garmin GPS systems have been leaders in the field of GPS tracking for years, especially when it comes to dash-mounted GPS units.