GPS units are now common place and you'll see people everyday using them to help guide them around the country, but should we trust them? Like any technology then they have their flaws that's for sure, and if you are totally dependent on them then what will you do when they go wrong? Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your GPS:
Update your maps: This has to be the most obvious thing to do to keep your GPS in tiptop condition, yet so many people either neglect to do it or choose not to. Your GPS uses maps to navigate you to your destination, so if they are old then it can lead you astray down roads that no longer exist and to gas stations that have moved etc. Make sure you update your maps every 2 weeks or you might find it lets you down just when you really need it.
Backup paper maps: I know that the whole idea of a GPS is to do away with your paper maps, but I still think you need to have them in your car just in case. The GPS is a piece of technology, so it can malfunction, breakdown, the batteries can go, it could be stolen etc, and if any of them happen and you don't have some good old fashioned paper maps with you, then you are stuck.
Plan your route on a map for a long journey: This ties in with the point above about having paper maps. If you are going on a long journey then your GPS can make mistakes and either take you a really long way to get to your destination, or take you along little farm tracks that are awful to drive on etc. If you spent a few minutes at the start of the journey to plan which way you need to go, then you can spot if it tries to take you an odd way and you can carry on along your choice of road and force it to recalculate the route for you.
Read reviews before you buy: There can be a huge difference in the abilities and reliability of different units and different companies. By seeking out reviews online and/or opinions off your friends about units they own, then you can make sure you weed out any that are hard to use or plan routes badly, before you waste any money on them or buy one and it gets you lost.
Using those tips then you should be able to minimise problems with your GPS so you can enjoy the freedom that it gives you instead. In the future I am sure a lot of new features will come out for them, and they will only get better and more reliable too, but remember anything electronic can break or have problems, so don't forget to put those paper maps in the trunk!
Update your maps: This has to be the most obvious thing to do to keep your GPS in tiptop condition, yet so many people either neglect to do it or choose not to. Your GPS uses maps to navigate you to your destination, so if they are old then it can lead you astray down roads that no longer exist and to gas stations that have moved etc. Make sure you update your maps every 2 weeks or you might find it lets you down just when you really need it.
Backup paper maps: I know that the whole idea of a GPS is to do away with your paper maps, but I still think you need to have them in your car just in case. The GPS is a piece of technology, so it can malfunction, breakdown, the batteries can go, it could be stolen etc, and if any of them happen and you don't have some good old fashioned paper maps with you, then you are stuck.
Plan your route on a map for a long journey: This ties in with the point above about having paper maps. If you are going on a long journey then your GPS can make mistakes and either take you a really long way to get to your destination, or take you along little farm tracks that are awful to drive on etc. If you spent a few minutes at the start of the journey to plan which way you need to go, then you can spot if it tries to take you an odd way and you can carry on along your choice of road and force it to recalculate the route for you.
Read reviews before you buy: There can be a huge difference in the abilities and reliability of different units and different companies. By seeking out reviews online and/or opinions off your friends about units they own, then you can make sure you weed out any that are hard to use or plan routes badly, before you waste any money on them or buy one and it gets you lost.
Using those tips then you should be able to minimise problems with your GPS so you can enjoy the freedom that it gives you instead. In the future I am sure a lot of new features will come out for them, and they will only get better and more reliable too, but remember anything electronic can break or have problems, so don't forget to put those paper maps in the trunk!
About the Author:
If you are sick of the suction mounts for your GPS which can make your car a target for thieves, then consider getting a Garmin portable friction mount which sits on the dash instead.
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