Portable GPS Navigation

* Vehicle tracking: You can even install GPS units with the intention of tracking a vehicle

Portable GPS Navigation - What To Look For

GPS Navigation is the answer for you! There are a number of ways you could implement GPS Navigation in your life, but one of the most effective tools are portable GPS units.

Portable GPS Navigation, in my opinion, is much more versatile than any other types out there. Unlike in-dash navigation, portable navigation units allow users to detach the GPS device from their vehicles and take it with them wherever they go.

I will discuss key features that are not always featured in portable GPS devices and features that will benefit you the most. I hope that in the end, I have assisted in the decision-making process, guiding you to the best purchase of a GPS Navigation unit.

Generally speaking a large screen would give you better visibility of street names and maps, but a large screen would also prevent you from truly having a portable navigation unit.

Some examples of great 4" units include the Clarion N.I.C.E 430, L'road HL043NV, and Harman Kardon GPS-500. If you're looking for more compact 3.5" navigation units, take a look at Pioneer AVIC-S2, Jensen NVX227, and DUAL XNAV3550.

Refresh Rate / Processor Speed

When you are traveling on the road at approximately 70MPH, your navigation unit refreshes the same as it would if you were going 30MPH. This constant rate is governed by how fast your GPS navigation device could process the information.

I highly recommend that you find a navigation unit that is faster than 300 MHz (unless it's a dual-core 300 MHz like the Harman Kardon GPS-500). You will also experience closer real-time map refreshes that will be sure to guide you in the right direction at the right time.

Navigation Features

Points of Interest

Navigation units boast countless numbers of points of interests (POI), ranging from 1 million (Pioneer Avic S2) to over 3.5 million points (Clarion N.I.C.E 430).

The more POI you have on your portable navigation unit, the more likely that a local restaurant in the middle of nowhere is included in the unit's database.

Estimated Time of Arrival

Some GPS units, like the Jensen NVX227, have built-in estimated time of arrival (ETA) calculator, which bases its estimation upon your actual speed. Voice

Let's face it, a lot of those GPS navigation voices are definitely irritating. Don't worry, some units give you many more options than just male and female voices.

Expandability Options

Media Player

Some users like the idea that their navigation units could also store their media files. Though audio and video playback features tend to be poor on most units, it may be nice to be able to use your navigation unit as a slideshow display or music player. Besides, most GPS units have this feature anyway. Just remember that you're looking for GPS navigation, not an Mp3 Player.

Hard Disk

Menu data, how-to tutorials, and map files all need to be stored in your unit. Most navigation devices have built in hard disks to store all these files. 15GB-30GB of hard disk capacity is becoming standard and should be included with virtually every unit.

Flash Card

Most portable GPS units will feature SD card slots.

USB ports allow for easier updates and upgrades the manufacturer may have for your unit and will allow you to transfer files with much more efficiency than flash cards.

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