Author: MJT
Considering a PDA GPS: Buying the Right GPS Receiver
The first question to ask yourself in buying the correct GPS
Receiver is what your primary purpose in owning one is. If the primary purpose is onboard navigation
on a fast moving vehicle, such as a car or an airplane, then a PDA GPS receiver
may not be the best solution for you. In
these cases what you need is a large-screen display with position indicators.
The PDA GPS, however, may be more useful as a navigation tool on a cruise, on a
walk or perhaps as a targeting aid for regional aid programs and military or
exploring personnel. It can also serve
as a backup navigation aid for any purpose.
There are many uses for handheld GPS receivers, including
the tracking of the actual receiver itself.
In fact many portable phones also double as GPS receivers, though
because of their screen size, the use of a phone as a navigational aid is
somewhat limited. Handhelds that are
both a GPS receiver, phone and have a PDA-size screen would seem to be an ideal
tool. In fact, this is a growing trend in PDA GPS.
Choosing the Right Unit
To fit within the genre, these devices must be
handheld. However, there are certain PDA
GPS receivers that include the navigational capability as part of general
capability, and there are those that are custom manufactured primarily for
positioning purposes. Many of these
custom PDA GPS receivers are also rugged in construction, and designed to
withstand traveling by backpack. Some even make the claim to be waterproof.
Within the shell, the PDA GPS receiver typically has a
standard “pocket PC” set of electronics and processors, a GPS processing system
and a precise clock. On top of the basic
computer hardware, the PDA GPS must come with a variety of software that is
designed to take the information from the GPS processor and covert it to map
coordinates. One of the major concerns
with mapping software is maintaining its accuracy. The mapping process takes the GPS position
and then locates your PDA GPS unit onto some physical location, such as a
street.
One important note to make here is that streets, locations
and roads frequently change. This is why
it is important to make sure that whatever PDA GPS you purchase, it can be
updated easily with facilities (PC hookup, memory card or RF link typically)
that you already have. There are a large
number of GPS processor chips on the market that may be put into a given PDA
GPS receiver. Each of the GPS processor
chips will have a number of channels (satellites) that it can connect to and as
a result, update speed and accuracy.
Most of these are more than accurate for everyday use and are often more
accurate than the average person needs.
In looking at all of these facilities of PDA GPS receivers,
and recalling that they may still have some novelty value to the average
consumer as well, the decision is not easily made as to what the right unit is
for you. In the end, unless you are in
the military, an explorer or service provider on an uncharted continent, a PDA
GPS receiver is a luxury and the choice should be made by personal preference
and not by usability.
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