subject: The Truth About Gps Units [print this page] Global Positioning Satellite units have become a staple for many drivers in the world today. After all, who would argue with something that takes the guesswork out of wherever it is you are going? Now, instead of having to extensively study a physical map in order to find a location that you've never been to, all you have to do is type in the final ending address for wherever it is you are traveling and let the navigation do the work. This is a highly effective way to get where you are going in less time. There are exceptions, however.
When using a Global Positioning unit, you should be cognizant of the fact that not all GPS units are created equal, and in fact, depending on how 'new' of an area you are heading to, your GPS may give you incorrect or inaccurate directions that will take you to someplace that is not where you ought to be. Take my boyfriend's GPS device. It is portable and fits into any car by way of a suction cup attachment to the windshield. Recently, we were trying to leave our neighborhood to travel to a park, but as we started driving out of our neighborhood, the GPS device indicated that the road we were on was going to end in a few yards. Clearly, the road was not going to end, but rather- it continued for another mile before spilling out onto the main road in the area. The problem was that the road we were traveling on was a new road- one which did not exist a year ago. As a result, the GPS device kept trying to re-route us off the path that we were taking.
When I asked my boyfriend why it was doing that, he informed me that the navigation needed to be updated, something that could easily be accomplished by purchasing the software to update it. However, for the cost to update the navigating device, you could just as easily purchase another Global Satellite device! It didn't even seem worth it. So, as a word to the wise for all of you who own GPS devices, they are great when they work correctly, but beware of how long you've had your navigation unit as it may need an update in a year. The best way to check this is to ask an associate when you are purchasing it or look up the information within the package when you buy it.
While GPS device thefts are not as commonly reported, if you know that your navigation unit was expensive or even if you're just planning on leaving it in your car, make sure that you store it in your vehicle out of sight PRIOR to arriving at your final destination. The last thing that you want is someone else watching you to see where you are putting your GPS device. Also, you don't want to give a thief an excuse to break into your vehicle.
