GPS makes all sorts of navigation easier. With a GPS device and a clear view of the sky, you will never end up lost again. There are a wide variety of GPS units available, and getting the appropriate one for your needs will guarantee that you get the most from your GPS device. A device that does not meet your requirements will tend sit on the shelf and not get used. This article will help you determine the right type of GPS for you so that you'll get years of employment from your GPS.

Step 1: Selecting the correct type of device

To start, you have to know about the various types of GPS units that are available and how each will meet your specific requirements. The primary types of GPS units are: vehicle, handheld, and PDA attachments. The type of GPS unit you buy will vary based on your needs, and the features you should consider will vary based on the type of device you are buying.

Vehicle GPS units are a huge time save if you drive for a living or visit lots of different places with which you are not familiar. Vehicle GPS systems may also come with features that help make operating them in a vehicle much easier: features like automatic route finding which tell you when and where to make turns so that you can keep your eyes on the road where they belong. Some vehicle GPS systems even come with technology that alerts them to real-time traffic conditions so that your route can be recalculated based on current traffic conditions. If you plan on using your GPS primarily in your car, you should look for a unit designed specifically for this sort of usage since these units usually have larger, easier-to-read, screens than most handheld units.

Handheld GPS units are the most versatile sort of GPS units available. They can be used when camping, hiking, driving, really any place you can go. However, this increased versatility commonly results in a system that has fewer advanced features. Since the entire unit needs to be portable, screen size is often limited and this can make many features of a GPS (such as map visuals, route marking, breadcrumb trails, etc) harder to use than a device that is fixed in a vehicle or that makes use of a larger screen on a PDA or computer. If you plan on using your GPS principally in your vehicle, the small screen may make it hard to use. If you intend on using your GPS when walking, camping, or fishing, this is probably the best type of GPS for you.

GPS systems that connect directly to a laptop or PDA often depend on the PDA or computer for all of the advanced GPS functionality except for the collection of the data from the GPS satellites. Because a significant amount of the functionality is moved to the PDA or laptop, the GPS system itself is usually much cheaper than a free-standing GPS device. However, if you plan on using your GPS for walking, backpacking, camping, or in a marine environment, bringing your laptop or PDA may make using your GPS system more trouble than it is worth. As such, GPS units that connect to another device are usually used in vehicles and for people who navigate by foot in cities. If you are looking for the lowest cost GPS device available and you currently already have a GPS-compatible computer or PDA, this may be the optimal choice for you.

Step 2: Selecting GPS Features

Based on the type of GPS device your are buying, here are some features you should look at.

Accuracy -- As a general rule, GPS devices have an accuracy of about 50 feet. If accuracy is important to you (perhaps you are laying out a course for a race and you really want to make sure you get the 5K distance correct), look for a system with WAAS (wide area augmentation system) since this doubles the accuracy of a GPS system. This tends to be most useful in handheld units.

Address Finding -- Some GPS systems make it easy for you to enter a specific street address. This is very useful when driving and is a feature most often found in vehicle GPS devices or systems used in vehicles.

Automatic Route Finding -- This is most often used in tandem with address finding. This feature sets up the GPS so that it will tell you exactly where to turn to get to a pre-programmed final destination. This is a very useful feature for vehicle systems, or systems used in vehicles, since it allows you to use the unit without having to take your eyes off the road.

Built-in Maps -- Many GPS devices will come with maps that are pre-installed; for example, all of North America. If you are buying a system with a pre-installed map, make sure you get a GPS for the right area, especially if you are buying on-line. In addition, make sure that the map can be upgraded. If you plan on having your GPS for several years, you can count on roads changing during that time.

Compass -- It seems counter-intuitive, but there are lots of GPS units that do not have a compass unless you are moving above some minimum speed (usually faster than a walking speed). But there are also GPS systems that provide true compass functionality even when stopped. This feature is usually most useful on handheld GPS systems.

Computer Compatibility -- If you are considering a GPS device that connects to a computer (which is most of them), and you are using a non-Windows computer (like a Linux machine or a Mac) make sure that the GPS device is compatible with the type of computer you have. Every GPS unit that connects to a computer will support a Windows machine. But support for other operating system varies.

Downloadable Maps -- Most GPS devices allow maps to be downloaded onto them. This is very nice for people who travel to a wide variety of places. It also allows you to get away with getting a GPS that has less memory since you can easily swap out the map to fit the area you will be in.

Expandable Memory -- If you plan to use your GPS system with maps, you will want to be certain you have enough memory to support the number of maps you will wanted loaded in your GPS. As it is with computers, the same is true with GPS units: the more memory the better.

Extended Battery Life -- If you are going to be purchasing a PDA attached or handheld GPS unit, pay particular attention to the battery life as this may be the limiting factor in your usage of the GPS.

External Antennas -- Some GPS devices provide for an external antenna to be attached. This can be useful in vehicle systems where the satellite signal may be impeded by the unit being in a car. It can also be helpful in portable systems as it allows you to keep the unit packed but still be operating for things like breadcrumbs.

Traffic Alerts -- Some GPS units have the ability to wirelessly download real-time traffic information. If you live in an urban area, this can be an incredibly helpful feature even if you know the area you are in. This feature is most often available in vehicle devices and in computer/PDA attached units.

Water-Resistant/Proof -- If you are buying a handheld GPS system and you plan on going fishing, backpacking, hiking, boating, or doing anything outdoors with your GPS system, consider looking for a unit that has some level of resistance to water. Also, know the difference between water-resistant and waterproof. Water-resistant indicates that the device can be exposed to small amounts of water but it typically cannot be completely submerged. If there is a probability your GPS will be submerged, you should get a waterproof GPS, not a water-resistant one.