| Reading a map and trying to find out where on | | | | or other appropriate space, which can be |
| earth you are before realising you are well | | | | taken out and fitted into another car within |
| and truly lost may be a thing of the past. No | | | | seconds. These types of satellite navigation |
| longer do you have to be capable of reading a | | | | systems are usually plugged into the |
| map thanks to satellite navigation systems. | | | | cigarette lighter socket and powered in this |
| | | | way, whilst the fitted systems are hardwired |
| Sat nav systems are one of the biggest | | | | into the electrics of the car. |
| breakthroughs in navigation technology and | | | | |
| after being used for years for military | | | | Price, as always, plays a big part in the |
| application, they have in the last few years | | | | quality of your satellite navigation system. |
| become available for civilian drivers. | | | | Cheaper systems, particularly the earlier GPS |
| Satellite systems are often fitted as | | | | in-car systems, would malfunction and for |
| standard in cars and it is thought that | | | | various reasons the mapping would be out of |
| within the next 10 years, 90% of cars will | | | | date and other errors would abound. Since |
| have them. | | | | in-car GPS has been around for a few years |
| | | | now it has had time to be refined immensely, |
| Satellite navigation is powered by GPS | | | | making such rudimentary issues more or less a |
| (Global Positioning System). GPS is a | | | | thing of the past. Many people may find it |
| collection of over 2 dozen satellites which | | | | difficult, if not unnerving to visually read |
| orbit the earth, sending exact timing signals | | | | a GPS system's on screen information whilst |
| by radio transmission whereby GPSr (Global | | | | driving, so there is always the option of |
| Positioning System Receiver, ala you're | | | | purchasing a more expensive unit which will |
| Satellite Navigation System) will be able to | | | | talk to you whilst you drive, giving you |
| determine its location within a few metres. | | | | audible directions and information. |
| | | | |
| Satellite navigation systems can be purchased | | | | If you want a good, reliable GPS system, you |
| from most good car shops for anywhere between | | | | should check out some of the review sites on |
| one to a few hundred pounds. Sat nav systems | | | | the internet where buyers and owners have |
| come in a whole variety of forms, from full | | | | written about their own experiences with |
| systems which are wired into the car, to ones | | | | their systems, which may help you to make the |
| which are simply mounted onto the dash board | | | | choice of which one to purchase yourself. |