Updating Your GPS
Updating Your GPS
Updating Your GPSWhen choosing a GPS, it is important to bear in mind that each type will be updated in a different way. For example, dedicated in-vehicle units tend to be updated via a CD, which has to be purchased from the road map data supplier.
Those which are attached to a PDA, as well as most handheld dedicated GPS devices, are usually updated via a PC. They also need maps, but said maps can usually be acquired at a much lower price than the dedicated branded ones needed for other systems.Being able to update the device easily and at a reasonable cost is a very important part of the decision process; unlike other consumer devices that you purchase, the cost of ownership of a GPS unit is proportional to its usefulness.
The less you spend on maintaining it, the less useful it becomes since the road networks are always changing. This is perhaps less important for devices aimed at hiking and orienteering, but could be a factor in deciding whether a multi-function device is better than one dedicated to a specific use.
However, a recent trend has seen PDA manufacturers attaching a GPS antenna, and providing sophisticated software and maps which use the power of the PDA to give an excellent solution. They might not be rugged, but they do provide a very good base for both in-vehicle and general navigation. Rather than having a direct connection, many PDA - based GPS solutions use Bluetooth as a means to communicate with the GPS receiver. This makes them more easily installed in, and transported from, vehicles.