Top brands offer various reliable choices
Historically, the people who needed handheld GPS units the most — the chronically lost — were the same people who couldn’t figure out how to use them.
But there are several user friendly, handheld GPS navigation systems now on the market. Some of the most reliable helpers in this diverse group are manufactured by Cobra, Delphi, Garmin, Jensen, Lowrance and Magellan. All are described and sold at the online consumer electronics retailer, Solid Signal.
A full menu of about 50 handheld GPS units, with features explained, is at http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_displ…COM&sort=&DIR=
At Solid Signal, three of the most popular handheld GPS choices are:
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The Cobra GPS1000DLX Global Positioning System with Rand McNally StreetFinder Software (GPS1000DLX) for $290.99.
This unit’s exclusive ASAP II makes it start up and run twice as fast as other recreational GPS receivers. It has 4 MB of internal memory, stores up to 500 waypoints, is preprogrammed with coordinates for hundreds of world cities, and can calculate average speed, ETA, altitude, date, and miles traveled.
The Cobra includes a PC interface and cable, 32 MB of memory on an SD card, and Rand McNally StreetFinder software.
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Garmin manufactures about 30 handheld GPS models, specializing in everything from hunting and fishing use to multi-function units that include a personal organizer.
Garmin prices range from $104.99 to $549.99. A pair of Garmin units with two-way communication runs $559.99. See all of the Garmin units at http://www.solidsignal.com/manu_cat_…11&manu=Garmin
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http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_disp…p?PROD=NAV200: The Delphi NAV200 Handheld GPS Navigation System with MP3 and Movie Player (NAV200). This versatile unit offers the budget-conscious customer a unique blend of advanced navigation and entertainment features to get users to their destinations on time, every time — in style.
The NAV200 comes preloaded and ready to quickly calculate your route. Just insert its 1.5 GB SD card (included), which carries U.S. and Canadian maps.This GPS unit also sports an MP3 and movie player. You must download the entertainment onto an additional SD card (sold separately). The Delphi’s product’s other major virtue is its real-time traffic readiness, which allows city commuters to use Traffic Monitoring Channel (TMC) programming. (TMC is a new subscription-based service that sends up-to-the-minute traffic information over certain radio stations.) Using TMC on the NAV200 requires an optional adaptor. After receiving TMC traffic information, the NAV200 adjusts your route accordingly. More NAV200 features include a photo viewer, game, world clock and calculator. This handheld GPS has a 3.5-inch bright, anti-glare, full-color LCD touch screen. It has dashboard and windshield mounts.
For more information on a GPS unit or other consumer electronics, go to http://www.solidsignal.com. Solid Signal was named to the 2007 Inc. 500 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in America.